Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Balsamiq VS Proto.io

Compare Balsamiq VS Proto.io and see what are their differences

Balsamiq logo Balsamiq

Balsamiq. Rapid, effective and fun wireframing software.

Proto.io logo Proto.io

Create fully-interactive high-fidelity prototypes in minutes that look and work exactly like your app should. Sign up for a free 15-day trial and get started.
  • Balsamiq Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-05-19
  • Proto.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-12

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.

Proto.io features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Proto.io offers a highly intuitive and straightforward interface, making it accessible even for users with minimal design experience.
  • Interactive Prototypes
    The platform allows for the creation of highly interactive prototypes that can simulate the final product's user experience effectively.
  • Collaboration Features
    Proto.io includes robust collaboration tools, enabling multiple designers and stakeholders to work together in real-time.
  • Extensive Asset Library
    The tool provides access to a vast library of built-in assets, templates, and UI components which can accelerate the design process.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Proto.io supports cross-platform prototype testing, ensuring designs can be easily tested on various devices and operating systems.

Possible disadvantages of Proto.io

  • Pricing
    The cost of Proto.io can be a drawback for smaller teams or individual designers, as it is relatively expensive compared to some other prototyping tools.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are straightforward, there can be a steep learning curve for mastering its more advanced functionalities.
  • Browser-Based Performance
    Because it operates through a web browser, Proto.io’s performance can sometimes be slower compared to native desktop applications.
  • Limited Export Options
    The export options are somewhat limited, which can be a challenge when needing to transfer prototype designs to other formats or tools.
  • Offline Access
    Proto.io requires an internet connection to function, meaning offline access to projects is not available, which could be inconvenient in certain situations.

Analysis of Proto.io

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Proto.io is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface and robust features that cater to both beginner and experienced designers. It is well-suited for teams that need to develop and iterate on prototypes quickly, and its emphasis on interactive design makes it a valuable tool for creating realistic user experiences.

Why this product is good

  • Proto.io is a popular tool for building interactive prototypes of mobile apps with ease. It offers a range of features that enable users to create high-fidelity prototypes without needing to write code. The platform supports numerous interactive features, allowing designers to simulate real user experiences. It also supports collaboration, making it easier for teams to work together and get feedback, and it integrates with various design and communication tools. Additionally, Proto.io provides a range of templates and UI components that speed up the design process.

Recommended for

  • UI/UX designers who need to create interactive prototypes.
  • Product managers who require quick iterations and feedback loops.
  • Startups and teams that need to validate ideas with stakeholders.
  • Developers who want to test design concepts without writing code.
  • Educational purposes for teaching design and prototyping concepts.

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)

Proto.io videos

Proto.io Review: My Experience

More videos:

  • Review - Top 7 Features | Proto.io Prototyping Tool
  • Review - Core features of Proto.io

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Balsamiq and Proto.io)
Prototyping
62 62%
38% 38
Design Collaboration
60 60%
40% 40
Design Tools
67 67%
33% 33
Mockups, Wireframing And Prototyping

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 Proto.io

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.

Proto.io Reviews

10 Best Figma Alternatives in 2024
Proto.io is used for developing interactive web and mobile applications. It enables the production of high-quality models that closely match the finished product by designers and developers. It is also one of the best Figmaseveral alternatives.
Figma Alternatives: 12 Prototyping and Design Tools in 2024
Proto.io is also one of the best prototyping solutions for UX designers, marketers, product managers, and anyone with an idea. This design tool uses an intuitive drag-and-drop interface to get you started immediately. Check out below Proto.io’s main features and why we like it.
10 Best Adobe XD Alternatives (Free & Paid)
Proto.io is an online designing and prototyping tool, focused mainly on mobile applications. This tool offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for designers to create prototypes. It also includes a wide array of design elements, interactive functions, and components to add stars to your UI creations & prototypes. What’s more? You can build realistic...
10+ Best Prototyping Tools for UI/UX Designers in 2018
Mature and feature-rich, Proto.io is best used by designers looking to create high-fidelity and highly-animated prototypes in the browser. This prototyping tools software allows you to change your static designs into appealing prototypes for mobile apps and web … in a few minutes, literally. You can either upload your files directly from Dropbox or drag-and-drop files manually.

Social recommendations and mentions

Balsamiq might be a bit more popular than Proto.io. We know about 32 links to it since March 2021 and only 28 links to Proto.io. 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
View more

Proto.io mentions (28)

  • The Best 100 Free UI/UX Resources for Every Designer & Developer
    Proto.io Proto.io Interactive prototyping tool with a 15-day free trial. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Tips for short hackathon?
    As it will be a team project then in the beginning I suggest to define the least minimum your team is going to deliver. And then divide up the tasks on who does what. As a backup plan somebody should know how to use Figma or proto.io for prototyping. Like that even when you do not manage to finish a fully working product in these 17 hours then you can still present a prototype. With prototyping tools you can make... Source: about 2 years ago
  • When do I know it's time to get my first jr role?
    A prototyping tool. Figma, proto.io or something else. Often you have to make a mock up first, for a client or for a business side, before you start working on the code. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Thousands of requests to an API common?
    First request, break out the calls using WhenAll() as you're doing or even use a divide and conquer approach using a background worker service or using an actor system (proto.io) or simple threading w/ Task.Run() and splitting the work load among the threads. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I will probably have my first round of interviews in less than a week. How to best utilize my time?
    For sure I suggest you to learn to use Figma and/or proto.io . These are prototyping tools. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Balsamiq and Proto.io, you can also consider the following products

Invision - Prototyping and collaboration for design teams

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

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.

Zeplin - Collaboration app for UI designers & frontend developers

Flinto - The prototyping tool designers have been waiting for.

Figma - Team-based interface design, Figma lets you collaborate on designs in real time.