Every page of a website has a purpose and helps users achieve their goals. If your site doesn't have meaningful navigation, your customers will leave before they reach their destination.
Designers who develop software and websites need to create a framework for the user journey and pages for each step.
Wireframe software helps you bring your framework to life. Much like a blueprint for a building, a wireframe helps create plans for websites, apps, and software. With wireframe software, you can show page structure, features, and content layout, from a low-fidelity sketch to a high-fidelity prototype.
Want to create wireframes? We've listed the top wireframe tools in alphabetical order.
1. cacoo: Track changes via version control
Cacoo lets you collaborate and share diagrams in real time. You can track changes and choose the version of your design that you like best. Collaborate with other team members via comments, in-app chat, and video chat.
Cacoo offers wireframe templates for websites, Android, and iOS. With these templates, you can customize your design to fit the device size. Boxes, shapes, and images help you visualize the layout better.
Each team has its own dedicated features, so they can contribute to the project as desired. For example, the development team can use Unified Modeling Language (UML) and network diagrams, the marketing team has marketing funnels and SWOT analysis, and the project management team can create Gantt and PERT diagrams.
In the free version you get unlimited users, 6 sheets, all integrations and collaboration features like in-app chat and video chat, comment & chat. However, the free version does not allow guest access.
Designers who develop software and websites need to create a framework for the user journey and pages for each step.
Wireframe software helps you bring your framework to life. Much like a blueprint for a building, a wireframe helps create plans for websites, apps, and software. With wireframe software, you can show page structure, features, and content layout, from a low-fidelity sketch to a high-fidelity prototype.
Want to create wireframes? We've listed the top wireframe tools in alphabetical order.
1. cacoo: Track changes via version control
Cacoo lets you collaborate and share diagrams in real time. You can track changes and choose the version of your design that you like best. Collaborate with other team members via comments, in-app chat, and video chat.
Cacoo offers wireframe templates for websites, Android, and iOS. With these templates, you can customize your design to fit the device size. Boxes, shapes, and images help you visualize the layout better.
Each team has its own dedicated features, so they can contribute to the project as desired. For example, the development team can use Unified Modeling Language (UML) and network diagrams, the marketing team has marketing funnels and SWOT analysis, and the project management team can create Gantt and PERT diagrams.
In the free version you get unlimited users, 6 sheets, all integrations and collaboration features like in-app chat and video chat, comment & chat. However, the free version does not allow guest access.
- Main features:Brainstorming
- Collaboration tools
- Comments/Notes
- Data import and export
- Data linking
- Mobile interface
2. creately: Variety of design templates
Creately is an online diagramming and design tool with templates for different teams like marketing, human resources, product team or engineering. With drag-and-drop features you can add templates, shapes, images, icons from Google search.
You can add stakeholders' email addresses to share your design drafts with them, or present designs in real-time during video calls and collaborate with team members. You can also download your designs as PDF, PNG, JPG, or SVG.
You can add comments in precise places in the design so your team members know what to change. The free wireframe tool also enables discussion threads so everyone can keep track of a conversation.
In the free version, you get a folder, 3 workspaces, 50 diagram types, and collaboration features like link sharing, real-time collaboration, and commenting. Guest view is not available in the free version.
Creately is an online diagramming and design tool with templates for different teams like marketing, human resources, product team or engineering. With drag-and-drop features you can add templates, shapes, images, icons from Google search.
You can add stakeholders' email addresses to share your design drafts with them, or present designs in real-time during video calls and collaborate with team members. You can also download your designs as PDF, PNG, JPG, or SVG.
You can add comments in precise places in the design so your team members know what to change. The free wireframe tool also enables discussion threads so everyone can keep track of a conversation.
In the free version, you get a folder, 3 workspaces, 50 diagram types, and collaboration features like link sharing, real-time collaboration, and commenting. Guest view is not available in the free version.
Main features:
- Desktop application
- Diagramming
- Document management
- drag and drop
- Feedback management
- Mindmaps
3. inVision App: Design and Development in One Platform
InVision App transforms design drafts into detailed specifications for simplified development and allows development teams to measure each element directly in the drafts. The software solution shows teams the design elements for which code already exists so they can focus on the elements that need to be developed from scratch.
InVision App is also a mockup tool that can turn static prototypes into realistic designs. Users can move the screen in different directions, switch from one screen to another, and create overlays. Team members and stakeholders can comment directly on the prototype to provide feedback.
Plus, the wireframe design tool integrates with multiple collaboration and task management tools, so you can make your design and development processes more seamless.
In the free version, you get up to 10 users, 3 documents, and integrations with Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Jira, among others. A guest view is available in the free version and you can comment and share public links.
InVision App transforms design drafts into detailed specifications for simplified development and allows development teams to measure each element directly in the drafts. The software solution shows teams the design elements for which code already exists so they can focus on the elements that need to be developed from scratch.
InVision App is also a mockup tool that can turn static prototypes into realistic designs. Users can move the screen in different directions, switch from one screen to another, and create overlays. Team members and stakeholders can comment directly on the prototype to provide feedback.
Plus, the wireframe design tool integrates with multiple collaboration and task management tools, so you can make your design and development processes more seamless.
In the free version, you get up to 10 users, 3 documents, and integrations with Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Jira, among others. A guest view is available in the free version and you can comment and share public links.
Main features:
- Desktop application
- Digital canvas
- Feedback management
- Idea management
- Interactive management
- Mobile interface
4. lucidchart: create and edit designs in offline mode
Lucidchart lets design teams communicate even complex design ideas. You can assign a status to each file to facilitate collaboration, such as "Draft," "Done," "Review Pending," "Approved," or "Rejected."
In Lucidchart, you can invite people to collaborate and allow them to open, edit, share, and comment on your designs. You can also embed design drafts on your intranet or website.
Using the tool's cloud infrastructure, you can visualize how your new plan will affect your current infrastructure. You can select the conditional formatting option to change shapes, icons, and designs based on rule-based criteria.
In the free version, you get unlimited users, 3 docs (up to 60 objects), access to integrations like Slack, Google Drive, and Teams, among others, and collaboration features like shareable links, invite via email, and follow a collaborator. You don't get guest access in the free version.
Main features:
Lucidchart lets design teams communicate even complex design ideas. You can assign a status to each file to facilitate collaboration, such as "Draft," "Done," "Review Pending," "Approved," or "Rejected."
In Lucidchart, you can invite people to collaborate and allow them to open, edit, share, and comment on your designs. You can also embed design drafts on your intranet or website.
Using the tool's cloud infrastructure, you can visualize how your new plan will affect your current infrastructure. You can select the conditional formatting option to change shapes, icons, and designs based on rule-based criteria.
In the free version, you get unlimited users, 3 docs (up to 60 objects), access to integrations like Slack, Google Drive, and Teams, among others, and collaboration features like shareable links, invite via email, and follow a collaborator. You don't get guest access in the free version.
Main features:
- Feedback management
- Flowchart
- Graphical workflow editor
- Interactive elements
- Access controls/permissions
- Diagram creation
5. marvel: gain insights into user interactions
Marvel is a no-code prototyping tool for designing, testing and developing in a centralized platform. It provides all the necessary features to create digital products. In addition to stock photos and icons, Marvel offers a set of pre-built wireframing elements such as navigation bars, widgets and buttons.
With Marvel's design handoff tool, development teams include access to the specifications of each element added to a design draft. The tool generates CSS, Android XML and Swift code for elements that you can copy to speed up the development process.
Marvel makes it possible to record how users interact with your prototype. Analytics give you insights into interactions and help you improve the prototype and user experience.
In the free version you get a user, a project and an active user test.
Main features:
Marvel is a no-code prototyping tool for designing, testing and developing in a centralized platform. It provides all the necessary features to create digital products. In addition to stock photos and icons, Marvel offers a set of pre-built wireframing elements such as navigation bars, widgets and buttons.
With Marvel's design handoff tool, development teams include access to the specifications of each element added to a design draft. The tool generates CSS, Android XML and Swift code for elements that you can copy to speed up the development process.
Marvel makes it possible to record how users interact with your prototype. Analytics give you insights into interactions and help you improve the prototype and user experience.
In the free version you get a user, a project and an active user test.
Main features:
- Collaboration tools
- Customizable templates
- Prototype creation
- Usability testing
- Software prototyping
- Offline access
6. miro: Real-time and asynchronous collaboration.
Miro Provides a shareable online whiteboard for brainstorming, design thinking, mapping, sketching, team meetings and more. It lets you build a roadmap from your initial audience persona to website design.
Miro enables scenario mapping, which lets you think through the goals you want to achieve with each page. You can create a user flow to define how people should interact with a page to achieve the defined goal. At each stage of the design, your team members can make real-time "Start/Stop/Continue" suggestions: What should you start with, stop with, and continue with?
The software solution offers templates for every stage of the design process, such as mindmaps, service pages, registration pages, customer journey maps and more. Miro is also great for task management: You can track which team member is working on which task in the design process.
In the free version you get unlimited users, 3 whiteboards, collaboration features like chat, screensharing and reactions and included integrations include Slack, Trello, Gmail, Drive. Furthermore, guest view is possible.
Main Features:
Miro Provides a shareable online whiteboard for brainstorming, design thinking, mapping, sketching, team meetings and more. It lets you build a roadmap from your initial audience persona to website design.
Miro enables scenario mapping, which lets you think through the goals you want to achieve with each page. You can create a user flow to define how people should interact with a page to achieve the defined goal. At each stage of the design, your team members can make real-time "Start/Stop/Continue" suggestions: What should you start with, stop with, and continue with?
The software solution offers templates for every stage of the design process, such as mindmaps, service pages, registration pages, customer journey maps and more. Miro is also great for task management: You can track which team member is working on which task in the design process.
In the free version you get unlimited users, 3 whiteboards, collaboration features like chat, screensharing and reactions and included integrations include Slack, Trello, Gmail, Drive. Furthermore, guest view is possible.
Main Features:
- Agile methods
- Asset library
- Backlog management
- Calendar management
- Change management
- Action Management
7. storyboard that: Templates for digital storytelling
Storyboard That offers a specialized version for teachers in which they can create stories, storylines, templates, infographics and posters. Through the tool, they can give storytelling tasks to learners. In addition to the free version, there is a version for businesses and one for individuals.
With the drag-and-drop whiteboard, you can add icons, wireframes for different devices, hand gestures and emoticons. The tool offers templates for different pages like settings, login, features, signup, product pages, and more.
You can start designing without creating an account. In the business variant, the software offers enterprise-class file encryption. You can also create accounts for multiple users and edit designs together.
In the free version, you get 2 storyboard per week.
Main features:
Storyboard That offers a specialized version for teachers in which they can create stories, storylines, templates, infographics and posters. Through the tool, they can give storytelling tasks to learners. In addition to the free version, there is a version for businesses and one for individuals.
With the drag-and-drop whiteboard, you can add icons, wireframes for different devices, hand gestures and emoticons. The tool offers templates for different pages like settings, login, features, signup, product pages, and more.
You can start designing without creating an account. In the business variant, the software offers enterprise-class file encryption. You can also create accounts for multiple users and edit designs together.
In the free version, you get 2 storyboard per week.
Main features:
- Mockup creation
- Mobile interface
- Revision history
- Screen capture
- Wireframe creation
- Data linking
8. whimsical: create custom color themes for boards
Whimsical offers five formats: Flowcharts, Wireframes, Mindmaps, Notes, and Documents. You can use community templates to create designs and have the option to use color themes that match your brand.
Whimsical offers a pre-built design system for creating wireframes. It prevents you from creating icons that you would also find uncomplicated in the template. Also, you can use shortcuts for frequently used options.
The tool lets you focus on content and page layout without worrying about high-fidelity design. That's why most of the icons are black and white. Only elements like buttons and links, for which actions are possible, are displayed in color to make navigation clearer.
In the free version you get an unlimited number of users, 1000 objects (e.g. boards, comments, images) in 2 workspaces and up to 10 guests per file or folder. Included integrations include Nuclino, Asana, Desktop.com and real-time collaboration is possible.
Main features:
Whimsical offers five formats: Flowcharts, Wireframes, Mindmaps, Notes, and Documents. You can use community templates to create designs and have the option to use color themes that match your brand.
Whimsical offers a pre-built design system for creating wireframes. It prevents you from creating icons that you would also find uncomplicated in the template. Also, you can use shortcuts for frequently used options.
The tool lets you focus on content and page layout without worrying about high-fidelity design. That's why most of the icons are black and white. Only elements like buttons and links, for which actions are possible, are displayed in color to make navigation clearer.
In the free version you get an unlimited number of users, 1000 objects (e.g. boards, comments, images) in 2 workspaces and up to 10 guests per file or folder. Included integrations include Nuclino, Asana, Desktop.com and real-time collaboration is possible.
Main features:
- Brainstorming
- Project management
- Real-time editing
- Wireframe creation
- Drag-and-drop editor
Create wireframes: How to find the right free wireframe software for your business
There are a few tools you can use to create wireframes for free, and choosing one isn't easy. Keep your business goals in mind and consider what features you need. The following considerations can help you decide:
There are a few tools you can use to create wireframes for free, and choosing one isn't easy. Keep your business goals in mind and consider what features you need. The following considerations can help you decide:
- Choose a tool with a low-fidelity option: Low-fidelity wireframe tools are beneficial in the early stages of the design process. This allows design teams to easily visualize their ideas with page layouts and navigation structures. This allows them to choose which design will best serve the desired purpose and be created as a high-fidelity prototype of the digital product.
- Choose a tool that integrates with collaboration applications: Design is a collaborative process and input from stakeholders is essential. If your wireframing tool integrates poorly with your communication tools, your team members will have a hard time contributing to a project. Integrated software enables synchronous and asynchronous collaboration and improves product development.
- Choose a tool that is designed for scalability: wireframing is not an isolated process. You'll likely create more and more layouts and need to be able to keep up with the navigation structure. Your online product will grow and evolve, and your wireframing tool should be able to map how new layouts fit into the existing structure.