22 Top UX Design Tools

User experience (UX) design plays a critical role in creating successful digital products. To deliver exceptional user experiences, designers rely on a range of UX design tools. These tools aid in wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and collaborative design. In this article, we will explore 22 top UX design tools that can elevate your design process and help you create outstanding user experiences.

What are UX tools?

UX tools are software applications specifically designed to assist UX designers in various stages of the design process. These tools provide a wide array of features and functionalities to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and create visually appealing and intuitive interfaces. From wireframing to prototyping, user testing, and design system creation, UX tools are indispensable for modern design teams.

Which software is best for UX Design?

Choosing the right UX design software depends on your specific needs and preferences. Different tools offer unique features and functionalities that cater to different aspects of the design process. Let's explore 22 top UX design tools that have gained popularity among designers worldwide.

1. Sketch

Website: https://www.sketch.com/

Pricing:

• Individual License: $99/year

• Business License: $9/month per contributor

Use case: Sketch is a powerful vector-based design tool favored by many UX designers. It excels in creating high-fidelity interface designs and interactive prototypes. With its intuitive interface and extensive plugin ecosystem, Sketch allows designers to create pixel-perfect designs and collaborate seamlessly.

2. InVision Studio

Website: https://www.invisionapp.com/studio

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Individual plan: $15/month

• Team plan: $25/month per user

Use case: InVision Studio is an all-in-one design and prototyping tool. It enables designers to create rich, interactive prototypes with advanced animations and transitions. With InVision Studio, designers can collaborate in real-time, share designs with stakeholders, and gather feedback effortlessly.

3. Axure

Website: https://www.axure.com/

Pricing:

• Standard: $29/month per user

• Pro: $49/month per user

• Team: Contact sales for pricing

Use case: Axure is a robust prototyping tool widely used for complex interactions and user flows. It allows designers to create dynamic and interactive prototypes with conditional logic and data-driven interactions. Axure also facilitates collaboration and version control, making it a popular choice among UX professionals.

4. Craft

Website: https://www.invisionapp.com/craft

Pricing: Free

Use case: Craft, a plugin by InVision, extends the functionality of design tools like Sketch and Adobe XD. It offers features such as real data integration, prototyping, and syncing design elements with InVision projects. Craft streamlines the design workflow by automating repetitive tasks and enabling designers to work more efficiently.

5. Proto.io

Website: https://proto.io/

Pricing:

• Freelancer: $24/month

• Startup: $59/month

• Agency: $119/month

Use case: Proto.io is a cloud-based prototyping platform that allows designers to create interactive and animated prototypes. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for designing, testing and sharing prototypes. With Proto.io, designers can test their designs on different devices and gather valuable user feedback.

6. Adobe XD

Website: https://www.adobe.com/products/xd.html

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Single App: $9.99/month

• All Apps: $52.99/month

Use case: Adobe XD is a popular choice among UX designers due to its seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. It offers an extensive set of features for designing and prototyping user interfaces. Adobe XD's collaboration features and design systems capabilities enhance team productivity and consistency.

7. Marvel

Website: https://marvelapp.com/

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Pro: $12/month

• Team: $42/month for up to 5 users

Use case: Marvel is a user-friendly prototyping tool that enables designers to transform their static designs into interactive prototypes without coding. It offers features like hotspot linking, screen transitions, and user testing. Marvel's simplicity and affordability make it an attractive option for designers of all levels.

8. Figma

• Website: https://www.figma.com/

• Pricing:

• Starter: Free

• Professional: $15/editor/month

• Organization: Contact sales for pricing

Use case: Figma is a cloud-based design and prototyping tool that has gained significant popularity among design teams. Its real-time collaboration capabilities, cross-platform compatibility, and design system functionalities make it a powerful choice for UX designers. Figma also offers an extensive plugin ecosystem to enhance the design workflow.

9. Framer X

Website: https://www.framer.com/

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Plus: $15/month

• Teams: Contact sales for pricing

Use case: Framer X is a powerful interactive design and prototyping tool that combines visual editing with a React-based code editor. It allows designers to create complex interactions and animations using code components. Framer X's integration with popular design tools makes it a versatile choice for advanced UX designers.

10. Origami Studio

Website: https://origami.design/

Pricing: Free

Use case: Origami Studio, developed by Facebook, is a design tool specifically designed for creating interactive prototypes for mobile apps. It offers a visual interface for designing and prototyping complex user interfaces. Origami Studio's integration with other design tools and native app development frameworks makes it a valuable asset for mobile app designers.

11. Webflow

Website: https://webflow.com/

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Lite: $16/month

• Pro: $35/month

• Team: $35/month per seat

Use case: Webflow is a visual web design and development platform that empowers designers to create responsive websites without writing code. It offers an intuitive interface, a comprehensive set of design and prototyping features, and robust hosting options. Webflow's ability to bridge the gap between design and development makes it a popular choice for web designers.

12. FlowMapp

Website: https://www.flowmapp.com/

Pricing:

• Solo: $19/month

• Team: $99/month for up to 10 users

• Agency: $199/month for up to 20 users

Use case: FlowMapp is a user flow planning tool that helps UX designers create and visualize user flows, sitemaps, and information architecture. It offers features like collaboration, real-time editing, and project management. FlowMapp streamlines the process of mapping user journeys and organizing content, enabling designers to create intuitive user experiences.

13. Balsamiq

Website: https://balsamiq.com/

Pricing:

• Web App: $9/month per user

• Desktop App: $89 (one-time purchase)

Use case: Balsamiq is a wireframing tool that allows designers to create low-fidelity wireframes quickly. Its simple and sketch-like interface makes it easy to ideate and iterate designs. Balsamiq's focus on rapid wireframing and its extensive library of pre-built UI components make it a preferred choice for UX designers.

14. VisualSitemaps

Website: https://www.visualsitemaps.com/

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Personal: $10/month

• Professional: $20/month

Use case: VisualSitemaps is a tool specifically designed for creating visual sitemaps and organizing website structures. It helps UX designers and information architects plan and communicate website hierarchies effectively. VisualSitemaps' intuitive interface and collaboration features make it an ideal choice for organizing and documenting complex website structures.

15. Treejack

Website: https://www.optimalworkshop.com/treejack

Pricing:

• Pay-as-you-go: $119/project

• Unlimited: $199/month

Use case: Treejack, developed by Optimal Workshop, is a user-testing tool for evaluating and optimizing information architecture and navigation. It allows UX designers to test and analyze how users navigate through website structures. Treejack's powerful analytics and reporting capabilities provide valuable insights for improving website usability.

16. Wireframe.cc

Website: https://wireframe.cc/

Pricing:

• Pay-as-you-go: $16/project

• Monthly: $27/month

Use case: Wireframe.cc is a straightforward online wireframing tool that allows designers to create low-fidelity wireframes quickly. Its minimalistic interface and focus on simplicity make it an excellent choice for rapid ideation and collaboration. Wireframe.cc's intuitive features enable designers to communicate design concepts effectively.

17. Optimal Workshop

Website: https://www.optimalworkshop.com/

Pricing:

• Plans start from $109/month

Use case: Optimal Workshop offers a suite of user research and testing tools that help UX designers make data-driven design decisions. The suite includes tools like OptimalSort for card sorting, Chalkmark for first-click testing, and Reframer for qualitative research analysis. Optimal Workshop's tools provide valuable insights into user behavior and preferences.

18. Lucidspark

Website: https://lucidspark.com/

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Individual: $7.95/month

• Team: $20/user/month

Use case: Lucidspark is a collaborative whiteboarding tool that facilitates brainstorming, ideation, and collaboration among design teams. It offers an intuitive interface, real-time collaboration, and a wide range of visual templates. Lucidspark enhances team productivity and creativity by providing a virtual canvas for capturing and organizing ideas.

19. UserTesting

Website: https://www.usertesting.com/

Pricing: Contact sales for pricing

Use case: UserTesting is a user research platform that allows designers to gather valuable insights through remote user testing. It enables designers to test their designs with real users and obtain feedback on usability and user satisfaction. UserTesting's platform provides detailed video recordings and analytics to help designers make informed design decisions.

20. Zeplin

Website: https://zeplin.io/

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Starter: $19/month

• Organization: $99/month

Use case: Zeplin is a collaboration platform that bridges the gap between designers and developers. It allows designers to generate style guides, export assets, and provide design specifications to developers seamlessly. Zeplin's integration with popular design tools and its developer-friendly features make it an essential tool for efficient design handoff.

21. Uizard

• Website: https://uizard.io/

• Pricing: Contact sales for pricing

Use case: Uizard is an AI-powered design tool that allows designers to transform hand-drawn sketches into digital designs automatically. It uses machine learning algorithms to interpret sketches and generate editable digital designs. Uizard's innovative approach to design creation can significantly speed up the design process and bridge the gap between analog and digital workflows.

22. Visily

Website: https://visily.io/

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Plus: $15/month

• Team: $30/month

Use case: Visily is a visual collaboration tool that enables designers to gather feedback and collaborate with stakeholders effectively. It allows users to annotate and comment on designs, simplifying the review and approval process. Visily's intuitive interface and real-time collaboration features enhance communication and streamline design iterations.

The Future of UX Design Tools

As technology advances and user expectations evolve, the field of UX design continues to transform. The future of UX design tools holds great potential for further enhancing the design process and improving user experiences. Here are some key trends and advancements to watch out for:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration

Artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize the way UX designers work. AI-powered design tools can automate repetitive tasks, generate design recommendations, and even predict user behavior. These tools can analyze vast amounts of data, extract insights, and provide designers with valuable suggestions for optimizing their designs. By leveraging AI integration, designers can streamline their workflows and create more personalized and intuitive user experiences.

2. Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) Design Tools

Virtual and augmented reality technologies are gaining traction, opening up new possibilities for UX designers. VR/AR design tools allow designers to create immersive experiences and design interfaces specifically tailored for these emerging platforms. These tools provide spatial design capabilities, allowing designers to place elements in a 3D environment and simulate user interactions. As VR and AR become more mainstream, UX designers will increasingly rely on specialized tools to craft engaging experiences in these immersive mediums.

3. Design Collaboration in Virtual Environments

With remote work becoming the new norm, collaborative design tools are essential for enabling effective teamwork and communication among distributed design teams. The future of UX design tools will likely see the emergence of virtual environments that facilitate real-time collaboration. These virtual workspaces will enable designers to meet, brainstorm, and collaborate as if they were physically present in the same room. By providing an immersive and interactive setting, virtual collaboration tools will enhance the creative process and foster more seamless teamwork.

4. Integration of Design and Development

The gap between design and development continues to be a challenge in many projects. However, the future of UX design tools will likely see increased integration between the two disciplines. Design tools that seamlessly connect with development environments and coding frameworks will enable designers to create designs that are more feasible and easier to implement. This integration will facilitate smoother handoffs and reduce the friction between designers and developers, leading to faster and more efficient product development.

5. Emphasis on Ethical and Inclusive Design

As the importance of ethical and inclusive design practices grows, UX design tools will evolve to support these principles. Tools that help designers consider accessibility, inclusivity, and ethical implications during the design process will become more prevalent. These tools may provide guidelines, accessibility checkers, and automated audits to ensure that designs adhere to best practices and cater to a diverse range of users. By integrating ethical and inclusive design considerations into the tooling, designers can create products that are more equitable and user-friendly.

6. Cross-platform Design Tools

With the proliferation of multiple platforms and devices, designing for a consistent user experience across different screen sizes and operating systems is essential. Cross-platform design tools will play a significant role in enabling designers to create cohesive designs that seamlessly adapt to various platforms. These tools will provide features for responsive design, multi-platform previews, and reusable design components to ensure consistency and efficiency across different devices and screen resolutions.

The importance of streamlined UX design

Streamlined UX design is crucial for creating digital products that deliver exceptional user experiences. UX design tools provide designers with the necessary functionalities and features to ideate, prototype, and test their designs efficiently. By utilizing these tools, designers can save time, collaborate effectively, and create visually appealing and intuitive interfaces.

In conclusion, the 22 UX design tools mentioned in this article offer a wide range of capabilities to suit various design needs. Whether you are wireframing, prototyping, conducting user research, or collaborating with stakeholders, there is a tool available to enhance your design process. Consider exploring these tools and finding the ones that best align with your design workflow and project requirements. Happy designing!