Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Balsamiq VS iOS Design Kit

Compare Balsamiq VS iOS Design Kit and see what are their differences

Balsamiq logo Balsamiq

Balsamiq. Rapid, effective and fun wireframing software.

iOS Design Kit logo iOS Design Kit

The newest library of native iOS templates
  • Balsamiq Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-05-19
Not present

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.

iOS Design Kit features and specs

  • Comprehensive Library
    The iOS Design Kit provides a complete collection of design resources for iOS apps, including UI elements, templates, and libraries that conform to Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.
  • Regular Updates
    The kit is regularly updated to reflect the latest iOS releases, ensuring that users have access to the most up-to-date design components and styles.
  • High-Quality Design
    The assets included in the iOS Design Kit are crafted with high attention to detail and quality, offering a professional standard for app UI designs.
  • Ease of Use
    The design resources are easy to use and integrate into various design tools such as Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD, making it accessible for designers with different software preferences.
  • Speeds Up Design Process
    By providing pre-made components and templates, the iOS Design Kit significantly reduces the time required for designing interfaces from scratch, allowing designers to focus on customization and refinement.

Possible disadvantages of iOS Design Kit

  • Cost
    The iOS Design Kit is a premium resource, which means it comes with a cost. Not all designers or small teams may find it affordable or within their budget.
  • Learning Curve
    While the resources are high quality, there may be a learning curve involved for designers who are not familiar with the supported design tools or the organization of the kit's components.
  • Over-Reliance Risk
    There is a risk of over-reliance on the pre-made components, which might lead to less originality in design as multiple apps use the same baseline resources.
  • Limitations in Customization
    Although the kit is comprehensive, some very specific custom elements or unique design requirements might not be fully covered, requiring additional custom design work.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Design tools frequently update, and there may occasionally be issues or delays in compatibility updates for the iOS Design Kit with newer versions of these tools.

Analysis of iOS Design Kit

Overall verdict

  • iOS Design Kit is a highly recommended resource for designers looking for a reliable and comprehensive toolkit to streamline the process of creating iOS applications. Its detailed components, ease of use, and commitment to staying updated with Apple's design standards make it a valuable tool in any designer's arsenal.

Why this product is good

  • Ease of use
    The kit is designed for ease of use, allowing designers to quickly integrate elements into their projects and maintain a consistent design language.
  • Time saving
    By utilizing pre-designed components, designers can save significant time on creating custom UI elements from scratch, thereby speeding up the design process.
  • Regular updates
    The creators of iOS Design Kit offer regular updates to ensure the toolkit stays relevant with the latest iOS releases and design standards.
  • Comprehensive resources
    iOS Design Kit provides a comprehensive set of resources, including UI elements, icons, and design templates that are highly detailed and adhere to Apple's iOS guidelines.

Recommended for

  • UI/UX designers who specialize in iOS app development.
  • Teams looking to maintain a consistent design language across different projects.
  • Designers in need of a quick start or reference guide for iOS design standards.
  • Freelancers and agencies that require a robust library to enhance productivity.

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)

iOS Design Kit videos

iOS Design Kit: How to use in Sketch

More videos:

  • Review - iOS Design Kit. Prototyping in Figma (timelapse)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Balsamiq and iOS Design Kit)
Prototyping
86 86%
14% 14
Design Tools
73 73%
27% 27
Design Collaboration
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

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 iOS Design Kit

Balsamiq Reviews

Figma Alternatives: 12 Prototyping and Design Tools in 2024
Balsamiq is a design tool that has been available since 2008. It’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 you’re a newbie.

iOS Design Kit Reviews

We have no reviews of iOS Design Kit yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Balsamiq seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 32 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 (32)

  • 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 / 2 months ago
  • Three important steps before jumping to the code
    You can still produce something useful even if you’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 / 11 months 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 1 year 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 1 year ago
  • Build Products that don’t SUCK
    Create a low-fidelity mockup or wireframe of your MVP using tools like Balsamiq, Sketch, or Figma. Or use an easier-to-use tool like Uizard, which also has text-to-design capabilities. Source: almost 2 years ago
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iOS Design Kit mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of iOS Design Kit yet. Tracking of iOS Design Kit recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Balsamiq and iOS Design Kit, you can also consider the following products

Invision - Prototyping and collaboration for design teams

iOS 12 GUI - Free collection of UI components and screens of iOS 12

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

Nucleus UI - Free UI component library to create mockups in Figma quickly

Zeplin - Collaboration app for UI designers & frontend developers

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.