If you’re new to the world of UI design, you’re probably aware of the popular UI design tools in use by top designers. However, not all of them are easy to get started on. So, before we dive into actual examples, let’s look at some of the key aspects of a UI design tool for beginners.
Mockitt was designed to be intuitive and collaborative. It comes with a rich library of components for all screen and format types, extensive design features in the design tool, a flowchart maker, a prototyping tool, and the soon-to-come mind-mapping tool for discussion and brainstorming. The collaboration tools include co-editing, live commenting, and instant feedback, as well as easy sharing via secure links, frictionless developer handoffs, and lots more.
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Figma was the first platform to offer a design tool as a web application. In 2015, it was unheard of, but Figma quickly showed that it was far more efficient and productive than using a native desktop utility. Over the years, the platform has introduced several new features such as co-editing and component states. In 2019, they introduced Figma Community, a marketplace where users could upload UI kits, design systems, plugins, and other premium as well as free products. Figma now has over 2 million users, as advertised on its website.
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Adobe XD was launched after Figma, but as a desktop solution integrated with the Creative Cloud app collection from Adobe. As such, it is an installable application but works in tandem with the CC Library app, which is installed alongside it. Users can add files to the cloud in order to collaborate with others on tasks such as co-editing, live commenting, and so on. The biggest problem with XD is that it is a heavy application, and if you’re running other CC apps such as Photoshop and Illustrator, it can cause a major drain on system resources. You definitely don’t want this setup on an older machine.
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Sketch is probably the biggest design tool in terms of design volume today but it is quickly losing ground to newer players like Figma and Mockitt. Sketch is restricted to Mac, although you can run a Parallels or Fusion VM on Windows to get it to work. Nevertheless, it is definitely one of the top design tools today despite being on the market since 2010 and winning the Apple Design Award two years later.
#5: InVision
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InVision is a professional online prototyping tool that offers fairly robust graphic design capabilities as well. The primary role is that of a prototyping software but it comes with a rich component library, templates, and other resources. It is also a highly collaborative tool with presentation tools, revision history, multi-user support, automatic synchronization, preview mode, and other advanced features.
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Balsamiq is the wireframing expert. Users can create stunningly intricate wireframes to showcase user flows and process flows. The advantage of using wireframes is that it removes any visual distraction and focuses on the functional aspect of your website or application. This is critically important in many cases where the functionality is complex, there are overlapping features, and the overall logic needs to be fully understood by all parties before the designing phase begins. Balsamiq can also be used to create click-through prototypes from these wireframes, which allow stakeholders to experience the various interactions in their rawest form.
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Protopie is an online prototyping tool that comes with all the elements you need to import and prototype a design. It does offer some simple built-in vector shapes but it’s not ideal for elaborate vector drawings. However, you can import your SVG files, edit them, and use them as layers in your design. The most interesting feature is the interaction libraries and interaction recipes, which allow you to clearly communicate how exactly a particular interactive process should work. This helps all stakeholders understand the underlying design logic, saving valuable time otherwise spent on going back and forth discussing details.
#8: Flinto
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Flinto is a powerful vector design and prototyping tool for Mac. The advanced vector drawing tools help you create rich designs right inside Flinto, or you can import Figma and Sketch designs, edit them, and prototype them. Specifically designed for the iOS environment, Flinto is the perfect tool to use when designing an IPhone or iPad app. It comes with a whole range of trigger gestures, animated transitions, and interactions.
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Moqups, as the name suggests, is a design tool for creating diagrams, flow charts, whiteboard sessions, and mockups. It is an online tool that can be accessed on any modern browser on a connected computer or mobile device. It also supports prototyping of designs with advanced transitions and interaction elements. The best part is the ‘invite to collaborate’ feature that supports unlimited users working on the same design without conflict. There’s no companion mobile app to validate your prototype on a smartphone, for instance, but the prototypes can be shared and previewed online by other stakeholders.
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Zeplin is more of a collaborative platform for smoother developer handoffs. It acts as an intermediary between pure play design tools such as Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch and the production side, enabling developers to get code snippets that they can actually use in the development phase. It can integrate with project management and team collaboration tools like Jira, Slack, Trello, VS Code, Teams, etc. to make it even more suitable as the meeting ground between designers and developers.
What Should the Best UI Design Tool for a Beginner Offer?
The key consideration here is the learning curve: the gentler, the better. But there are several factors that contribute to this. Let’s see what they are:- Layout, menus, iconography, and navigation - Knowing your way around intuitively makes a great deal of difference in your efficiency and speed
- Easy access to design components - Eliminating the need to import everything saves time and effort
- Convenient design creation actions (drag-and-drop, double-click, keyboard shortcuts, etc.) - The tool must make it easy to add a design, move it around, modify it, etc.
- Extensive options to control and change design elements - Attributes should be easily customizable to suit the needs of the project
- Collaborative platform to communicate with mentors and project stakeholders - Collaboration is very important for a new designer so they can learn from feedback and advice
#1: Wondershare Mockitt
Mockitt was designed to be intuitive and collaborative. It comes with a rich library of components for all screen and format types, extensive design features in the design tool, a flowchart maker, a prototyping tool, and the soon-to-come mind-mapping tool for discussion and brainstorming. The collaboration tools include co-editing, live commenting, and instant feedback, as well as easy sharing via secure links, frictionless developer handoffs, and lots more.
Features
- Collaborative editing with the new design tool - co-edit documents with other designers to create synergistic designers.
- Vast libraries of components and other resources - The built-in library contains hundreds of symbols, icons, widgets, etc. but beginners will also appreciate the many templates, UI kits, design systems, and other packages that can help them get started.
- Instinctive UI - The layout of the interface is simple. Every feature is highlighted by a clear icon, and any feature can be accessed from the main canvas view.
- Guidelines and rulers - The basic rule and manual guidelines give you additional constraints for pixel-perfect vector editing.
- Design tool - Advanced operations to create and modify vector shapes and other design components. Boolean operations, Bezier Curves, extensive color palettes, blur, stroke, shadow, etc.
- Flowcharts - The new flowchart tool comes with custom themes, shape styles, and other tools to create user flows and other types of cascading structures.
- Prototyping - Rapid prototyping is possible with drag and drop linking and easy link editing to add gestures, transitions, effects, and animation. You can also use dynamic widgets to show in-screen animation without the use of multiple page states.
- Collaborate in real-time - Co-edit projects in your Enterprise workspaces by inviting others, add and see comments in real-time, get instant feedback on your work.
#2: Figma
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Figma was the first platform to offer a design tool as a web application. In 2015, it was unheard of, but Figma quickly showed that it was far more efficient and productive than using a native desktop utility. Over the years, the platform has introduced several new features such as co-editing and component states. In 2019, they introduced Figma Community, a marketplace where users could upload UI kits, design systems, plugins, and other premium as well as free products. Figma now has over 2 million users, as advertised on its website.
Features
- Built-in library of components and a vast array of options from Figma Community
- Easy design creation and prototyping
- Unique vector drawing tools such as Vector Networks, Arc tool, etc.
- Live commenting
- Easy sharing of designs and prototypes
- Instant preview of interactions
- Easy accessibility across all platforms
#3: Adobe XD
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Adobe XD was launched after Figma, but as a desktop solution integrated with the Creative Cloud app collection from Adobe. As such, it is an installable application but works in tandem with the CC Library app, which is installed alongside it. Users can add files to the cloud in order to collaborate with others on tasks such as co-editing, live commenting, and so on. The biggest problem with XD is that it is a heavy application, and if you’re running other CC apps such as Photoshop and Illustrator, it can cause a major drain on system resources. You definitely don’t want this setup on an older machine.
Features
- Excellent design tools and features for intricate vector drawings such as icons, logos, etc.
- Integrated with other Adobe software as part of the Creative Cloud Apps bundle
- Can be installed as a standalone app but that requires getting a special download link from the company
- Extensive UI components to build complex designs
- Ideal for UI/UX designers of all experience levels
- Collaborate on cloud documents
#4: Sketch
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Sketch is probably the biggest design tool in terms of design volume today but it is quickly losing ground to newer players like Figma and Mockitt. Sketch is restricted to Mac, although you can run a Parallels or Fusion VM on Windows to get it to work. Nevertheless, it is definitely one of the top design tools today despite being on the market since 2010 and winning the Apple Design Award two years later.
Features
- Large libraries of components to create designs from
- Extensive plug-ins to integrate with prototyping apps and other design apps
- Smart guides and grids
- Template libraries
- Preset artboards for various device types
- Web app for feedback and developer handoff
- Workspace for collaborative editing and access to custom component libraries
- Shared Library notifications for when assets are modified
- Mirror apps for mobile previews
#5: InVision
SourceInVision is a professional online prototyping tool that offers fairly robust graphic design capabilities as well. The primary role is that of a prototyping software but it comes with a rich component library, templates, and other resources. It is also a highly collaborative tool with presentation tools, revision history, multi-user support, automatic synchronization, preview mode, and other advanced features.
Features
- Component libraries with static and interactive elements
- Sketch import feature
- Permission-based shared libraries
- Hotspot creation
- Preset transitions and interactions
- Digital whiteboard for brainstorming design ideas
- Desktop and mobile interfaces
- Transition animation
- Screen design
- Integration with several third-party tools
#6: Balsamiq
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Balsamiq is the wireframing expert. Users can create stunningly intricate wireframes to showcase user flows and process flows. The advantage of using wireframes is that it removes any visual distraction and focuses on the functional aspect of your website or application. This is critically important in many cases where the functionality is complex, there are overlapping features, and the overall logic needs to be fully understood by all parties before the designing phase begins. Balsamiq can also be used to create click-through prototypes from these wireframes, which allow stakeholders to experience the various interactions in their rawest form.
Features
- Helps focus on functionality, which is often an issue with clients worry about the visuals while reviewing features
- UI component library for wireframes with Quick Add feature to work faster
- Ideal for offline work
- Keyboard shortcuts for all functions
- Collaboration by sharing downloads
- Fast mockups and wireframes with drag and drop feature
#7: Protopie.io
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Protopie is an online prototyping tool that comes with all the elements you need to import and prototype a design. It does offer some simple built-in vector shapes but it’s not ideal for elaborate vector drawings. However, you can import your SVG files, edit them, and use them as layers in your design. The most interesting feature is the interaction libraries and interaction recipes, which allow you to clearly communicate how exactly a particular interactive process should work. This helps all stakeholders understand the underlying design logic, saving valuable time otherwise spent on going back and forth discussing details.
Features
- Support for native hardware such as keyboard, camera, etc. that can be added to your designs
- SVG import and edit
- Different types of interactions - formula, variable, detect, chain
- Interaction recipes for easy communication
- Interaction libraries that are shareable
- Multi-screen support
#8: Flinto
SourceFlinto is a powerful vector design and prototyping tool for Mac. The advanced vector drawing tools help you create rich designs right inside Flinto, or you can import Figma and Sketch designs, edit them, and prototype them. Specifically designed for the iOS environment, Flinto is the perfect tool to use when designing an IPhone or iPad app. It comes with a whole range of trigger gestures, animated transitions, and interactions.
Features
- Advanced vector drawing and vector editing
- Support for Sketch and Figma imports
- Large pool of learning resources
- Layering for video and GIF components
- Integrated with Dribbble
- 3D rotation tools
- Haptic support for iOS device previews
- Built-in transitions, sound effects, scrolling, and other features
- Rapid prototyping with easy page linking
- Export prototypes as videos or GIFs
- Behavior Design for creating in-screen animation
#9: Moqups
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Moqups, as the name suggests, is a design tool for creating diagrams, flow charts, whiteboard sessions, and mockups. It is an online tool that can be accessed on any modern browser on a connected computer or mobile device. It also supports prototyping of designs with advanced transitions and interaction elements. The best part is the ‘invite to collaborate’ feature that supports unlimited users working on the same design without conflict. There’s no companion mobile app to validate your prototype on a smartphone, for instance, but the prototypes can be shared and previewed online by other stakeholders.
Features
- Built-in UI components to create designs
- Interactive elements for in-page animation
- Easy creation of wireframes, mockups, flow charts, etc.
- Rapid prototyping
- Great collaboration tools to work in real-time with several other users
- Collaborative live commenting and feedback
- Integrations with Confluence and other project management tools
#10: Zeplin
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Zeplin is more of a collaborative platform for smoother developer handoffs. It acts as an intermediary between pure play design tools such as Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch and the production side, enabling developers to get code snippets that they can actually use in the development phase. It can integrate with project management and team collaboration tools like Jira, Slack, Trello, VS Code, Teams, etc. to make it even more suitable as the meeting ground between designers and developers.
Features
- Access UI components directly from the central codebase
- Link components to documentation on GitHub and Storybook
- Easy to manage design systems and make them accessible and understandable
- Quick onboarding of new designers by giving full access to documentation
- Rich plugin ecosystem
- CLI tool to connect the JSON config file to the design system
- Extensions for various languages and platforms
