Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Balsamiq VS DevStack.co.nz

Compare Balsamiq VS DevStack.co.nz and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Balsamiq logo Balsamiq

Balsamiq. Rapid, effective and fun wireframing software.

DevStack.co.nz logo DevStack.co.nz

A free curated directory of 42 New Zealand property development tools, arranged in the order you use them on a real deal, plus three free calculators for infrastructure levies, development finance and feasibility.
  • Balsamiq Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-05-19
  • DevStack.co.nz Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-08-16

DevStack is a free hub for New Zealand property developers, bringing useful property development tools, calculators, data and resources together in one place.

Finding the information you need for a development often means jumping between council websites, property platforms, government databases and spreadsheets. DevStack makes this easier by organising useful tools around the way a property development actually happens, from site finding and due diligence through to feasibility, planning, finance and construction.

DevStack currently includes 42 curated property development tools and 3 free calculators, with a strong focus on Auckland and New Zealand property development.

Key features include:

  • 42 curated NZ property development tools
  • 3 free property development calculators
  • Development feasibility and residual land value analysis
  • Development finance comparison
  • Auckland zoning and planning resources
  • Property due diligence and market data
  • Development contributions and infrastructure costs
  • Construction and NZ Building Code resources
  • Environmental and natural hazard information
  • AI tools and workflows for property development
  • Free to browse with no account required

DevStack's free tools include a Development Feasibility Calculator, Development Finance Calculator and Watercare Infrastructure Growth Charge Calculator, helping developers quickly assess potential projects and understand development costs.

The platform also brings together useful resources from Auckland Council, Watercare, LINZ, Stats NZ, RBNZ and other organisations, alongside commercial property and construction tools.

Each resource includes practical information on what it does, when to use it, what it costs and where it fits into the development process.

The goal is simple: spend less time searching for information and more time working out whether a development actually stacks up.

DevStack.co.nz

$ Details
free
Release Date
2026 August
Startup details
Country
New Zealand
Founder(s)
James Guilford
Employees
1 - 9

Balsamiq features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Balsamiq offers an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for users of all skill levels to create wireframes quickly.
  • Rapid Prototyping
    The tool is designed for speed, allowing users to iterate and refine designs rapidly, aiding in quick decision-making and revisions.
  • Low-Fidelity Focus
    Balsamiq emphasizes low-fidelity wireframes, making it easier to focus on structure and user flow rather than getting bogged down in details like colors and fonts.
  • Collaboration Features
    It includes collaboration tools such as comments and real-time co-editing, making it easier for teams to work together and share feedback.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Balsamiq is available both as a web application and a desktop app for Windows and macOS, providing flexibility in how teams access the tool.
  • Extensive Library of UI Components
    The software comes with a rich library of pre-built UI components, icons, and templates that simplify the design process.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    Balsamiq integrates seamlessly with popular project management and development tools like Jira, Confluence, and Google Drive.

Possible disadvantages of Balsamiq

  • Limited Customization Options
    Due to its focus on low-fidelity wireframes, Balsamiq offers limited options for detailed customization, which might not be sufficient for high-fidelity design needs.
  • Cost
    Unlike some free wireframing tools, Balsamiq requires a subscription, which could be a barrier for small teams or individual users on a tight budget.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are easy to use, mastering more advanced functionalities might require additional learning and practice.
  • No Interactive Prototypes
    Balsamiq is primarily focused on static wireframes and lacks features for creating interactive, clickable prototypes, which can be a downside for more complex projects.
  • Performance Issues with Large Projects
    Users have reported performance slowdowns when working with very large or complex wireframing projects.
  • No Mobile App
    Unlike some competitors, Balsamiq does not offer a mobile app, which can limit accessibility for users who need to work on the go.

DevStack.co.nz features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

Balsamiq videos

UX Review: Balsamiq.com - Watch a Usability Expert Review Our Site!

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Balsamiq Mockups: Beginner Tutorial
  • Review - Balsamiq Wireframes for Desktop Overview (Windows)

DevStack.co.nz videos

No DevStack.co.nz videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Balsamiq and DevStack.co.nz)
Prototyping
100 100%
0% 0
Construction Estimating Software
Design Collaboration
100 100%
0% 0
Real Estate
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Balsamiq and DevStack.co.nz.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is primarily designed for people working in property development, including property developers, development managers and other property professionals in Auckland and across New Zealand.

However, you don't need to be a professional developer to find it useful. Property owners, investors and anyone researching their next property purchase can use DevStack to learn about the tools, data and resources available to help them make better-informed property decisions.

What makes your product unique?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel. It has vetted and identified which tools and resources are actually useful for property professionals working in Auckland and New Zealand.

Rather than being a long list of links, the tools are organised around the property development process, making it easier to find the right resource when you need it. The focus is on tools that are genuinely useful for property development, from site research and due diligence through to feasibility, planning, finance and construction.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is free to use, so rather than traditional customers, its users include property developers, builder-developers, property professionals, investors and property owners looking for better information and resources.

It's particularly useful for people involved in Auckland property development who want to understand what tools are available and how they can use them in real projects.

I also share practical examples of how I use AI in property development and construction. For developers and builder-developers who want to go further, I offer a separate guide covering 13 areas where I currently use AI to save time, improve workflows and get more from the information available to us in New Zealand.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

None of the third-party tools listed on DevStack are my own. DevStack itself started as a side project while I was learning to build websites and improve SEO for my own businesses.

What started as a simple place to organise the property development tools I use every day gradually became a passion project. I found it so useful in my own work that I decided to make it available to other property developers and property professionals in New Zealand.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is an easy choice because it's free, requires no sign-up, and lets you customise your own toolkit by pinning the resources you use most often in whatever order works for you.

You can also save tools you don't use regularly but don't want to forget. Instead of keeping links scattered across bookmarks, emails, spreadsheets and notes, DevStack gives you one place for the property development tools and resources you actually use.

What's the story behind your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

My background started with a university property degree, a BProp, followed by property valuations, development management, managing a subcontracting business, and eventually returning to property development.

Throughout that time, I used many of these tools constantly and realised I had links saved all over my computer. They were in email drafts, spreadsheets, notes, bookmarks and sticky notes. I wanted one consistent place I could trust to keep the tools I use, as well as the ones I only need occasionally but don't want to forget.

We're fortunate in Auckland to have a huge amount of property and development information readily available. The problem is that it can take some effort to find and extract it. DevStack grew from my own need to make that process easier.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Balsamiq and DevStack.co.nz

Balsamiq Reviews

Figma Alternatives: 12 Prototyping and Design Tools in 2024
Balsamiq is a design tool that has been available since 2008. Itโ€™s easy to use and even boasts active customer service if you need help. The software is beginner-friendly, so there is no learning curve if youโ€™re a newbie.

DevStack.co.nz Reviews

We have no reviews of DevStack.co.nz yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Balsamiq seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 33 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Balsamiq mentions (33)

  • A Map for the First-Time Software Creator
    Balsamiq is famously, deliberately low-fidelity. Everything looks like a napkin drawing, which is the point, because nobody argues about font choices when the mockup is gray boxes. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Revenge of the Junior Developer
    Usually my own way of working is to use Balsamiq[0] to have a visual prototype to test out flows, Figma|Sketch for the UI specs, then to just code it. Kinda the same when drawing where you just doodle until you have a few workable ideas, iterate of these to judge colors and other things, and then commit to one for the final result. [0]: https://balsamiq.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Three important steps before jumping to the code
    You can still produce something useful even if youโ€™re not a professional designer. For example, you can use a rapid wireframing tool like Balsamiq (my favorite) or Excalidraw. With such tools, you can sketch an idea quickly without spending time on minor visual details. Or, use a whiteboard or good old pencil and paper. Any sketch is better than nothing. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Tell HN: My Favorite Tools
    A few apps that are a joy to use: https://ia.net/writer for writing. https://usecontrast.com/ for checking contrast. https://sipapp.io/ for picking colors. https://nova.app/ for editing code. https://cleanshot.com/ for screenshots. https://getpixelsnap.com/ for measuring elements on screen. https://netnewswire.com/ for reading things via RSS. https://panic.com/transmit/ for file transfers. https://usefathom.com/... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Best UI design courses for hackers?
    I think the best practical approach for designing UIs is to download (and buy) Balsamic[0] and use that to design UIs. Cut through the nonsense of colours and pixels in the first instance and just lay things out logically and simply. [0] https://balsamiq.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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DevStack.co.nz mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DevStack.co.nz yet. Tracking of DevStack.co.nz recommendations started around Aug 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Balsamiq and DevStack.co.nz, you can also consider the following products

Moqups - The most stunning HTML5 app for creating resolution-independent SVG mockups, wireframes & interactive prototypes for your next project

Buildxact - Buildxact is an easy online estimating and job management software for custom builders and trades.

Invision - Prototyping and collaboration for design teams

Procore - Procore is the world's most widely used construction project management software. Easy to use, mobile platform with unlimited user licenses.

Axure - The most powerful way to plan, prototype and hand off to developers, all without code. Download a free trial and see why professionals choose Axure RP 9.

DevAssets - DevAssets is a place for any developer to find you the best free and paid resources available, submit your own ones and also get them featured on the top of every page!