Creating a website is made easier by using the best wireframe tools. They visually strip the product down and enable all involved to focus purely on user interactivity and functions. Wireframe tools will enable your clients to understand how your proposed app or website will work, much more comprehensively than simply explaining. Not having to rely on imagination to understand suggested functions lessens the room for error.

Finding those tools, however, can be an arduous process as there is now such a variety available, all offering different levels of functionality. We've found the best tools around right now to take the hard work out of it.

If you want to create an app from scratch, our step-by-step tutorial on how to make an app will be just what you need.

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Taking advantage of trial downloads or free software to find the one that fits in with the way you work is the best way of finding out which one is right for you. So here are our top wireframe tools choices. Enjoy...

01. Miro

Miro includes collaboration as well as wireframing tools (Image credit: Miro)

Platform: MacOS, iOS, Windows

MacOS, iOS, Windows Price: From free / $8 (team)

From free / $8 (team) Download here

Miro is a collaboration system that creates a hub for remote teams to work within. With impressive tools such as an infinite whiteboard, widgets and prebuilt templates, it claims to standardise the digital workspace to make it feel like everyone is in the same room.

It presents an entire toolkit for wireframing, user story or customer journey maps, as well as brainstorming processes. Miro also integrates with over 20 applications including Slack, Jira, Google Drive and Sketch, creating a seamless experience. With over two million users worldwide, it's definitely hitting the right mark.

02. Justinmind

Justinmind offers a library of UI elements and custom styling for use in your wireframes (Image credit: Justinmind)

Platform : Mac OS, Windows

: Mac OS, Windows Price: $19/month

$19/month Download here

Web-based Justinmind includes a library of UI elements, from buttons and forms to generics shapes and a range of widgets for iOS, SAP and Android. Custom styling is included, so you can add rounded corners, cropped images or colour gradients, or import graphics by dragging them into the browser. Prototypes can be exported as HTML.

03. Wireframe.cc

Wireframe.cc offers a clean, minimal interface (Image credit: Wireframe.cc)

Platform : Web browser

: Web browser Price : From free / $16 (solo)

: From free / $16 (solo) Download here

Wireframe.cc offers a simple interface for sketching your wireframes that eschews the toolbars and icons of a typical drawing app and has therefore made it to our best wireframe tools list.

There's a limited colour palette to help you avoid that particular avenue of procrastination, and UI elements are context-sensitive and only appear when you need them. Whether or not you enjoy this is a matter of personal taste.

04. Adobe Xd

Adobe's Xd is a powerhouse of wireframing and prototyping (Image credit: Adobe )

Platform : MacOS, Windows

: MacOS, Windows Price: From free to $19.99 per month as part of Adobe Creative Cloud

From free to $19.99 per month as part of Adobe Download here

Adobe Xd allows you to wireframe as just part of its suite of prototyping tools, which takes you through the whole process of sketching wireframes; collaboration with your team; creating site maps, flowcharts and storyboards; building functional prototypes; and much more. You can try Adobe Xd out for free but as usual you need a Creative Cloud subscription to take full advantage of Xd's incredible smorgasbord of features.

05. UXPin

Quick tutorials show you how to build advanced animations in the UXPin editor (Image credit: UXPin)

Platform : Web browser

: Web browser Price : From free (basic) / from $24 per user per month (premium)

: From free (basic) / from $24 per user per month (premium) Download here

You can put together wireframes in UXPin at top speed by dragging and dropping custom elements. There are regularly updated libraries for Bootstrap, Foundation, iOS and Android, and your wireframes can be quickly converted to high-fidelity mockups. From there you can create fully interactive and animated prototypes of your final product.

Alternatively, you can also start your designs in Photoshop CC or Sketch and import into UXPin for prototyping. To support the full UX process, you can then create and pin documentation to your prototypes and auto-generate specs and style guides for developers.

06. Fluid UI

Each project generates a QR code you can scan to get the prototype working on your phone (Image credit: Fluid)

Platform : Web browser and desktop client on Mac/Windows/Linux, plus Android/IOS app to preview designs

: Web browser and desktop client on Mac/Windows/Linux, plus Android/IOS app to preview designs Price : From $8.25 (solo)

: From $8.25 (solo) Download here

Fluid UI has built-in libraries with over 2000 builti components for iOS, Android, Windows and more, and pages are created by dragging in elements from these libraries.

This system provides a great way for you to map out your projects visually by creating links to join screens, forming a diagram of how everything fits together. Hovering over a link gives you the option to change the kind of transition you're using.

07. Balsamiq Mockups

Balsamiq Mockups aims to replicate the experience of sketching on a whiteboard (Image credit: Balsamiq Mockups)

Platform : MacOS, Windows, web browser

: MacOS, Windows, web browser Price: From $9 (2 projects) per month

From $9 (2 projects) per month Download here

Balsamiq Mockups includes several drag-and-drop elements, from buttons to lists, each styled as a hand-drawing. The basic premise behind this wireframing tool is to keep the mock-ups 'intentionally rough and low fidelity', to encourage as much feedback as possible.

08. Axure RP

Axure RP lets you create interactive HTML mockups for websites and apps (Image credit: Axure RP)

Platform : MacOS, Windows

: MacOS, Windows Price: From $29 (pro) per user per month

From $29 (pro) per user per month Download here

As well as creating mockups, Axure RP allows you to add functionality to your layout and create an interactive prototype. Features of this wireframing tool include sitemaps and various widgets in the form of various UI elements.

Interactive HTML mockups (see more about website mockups here) can be created for both websites and apps, and you can even view your app design on your phone with a built-in share function.

09. Pidoco

Pidoco includes a handy library of drag-and-drop interface elements (Image credit: Pidoco)

Platform : Web browser and Android/IOS app to test prototypes

: Web browser and Android/IOS app to test prototypes Price: From free

From free Download here

Pidoco is similar to Axure in that it includes library of various drag-and-drop interface elements, as well as the ability to add multiple pages and layers.

Your prototypes can be shared online with clients, and includes functions for collaborative feedback and discussion. Viewing your prototypes on your phone is as easy as downloading the Pidoco app.

10. Visio

Visio's interface will be familiar if you're used to using Microsoft Word or Excel (Image credit: Microsoft)

Platform : Windows

: Windows Price: $5 (simple) / $15 (pro) per user per month

$5 (simple) / $15 (pro) per user per month Download here

Viseo's real strength lies in technical diagrams rather than wireframing; however, for those already accustomed with other Microsoft apps such as Word or Excel, the interface will be very familiar. Although quite clunky, Viseo does offer add-on tools such as Swipr, which allows you to create and export a usable HTML prototype.

11. InDesign CC

InDesign lets you use animations and videos in your wireframes (Image credit: Adobe)

Platform : MacOS, Windows

: MacOS, Windows Price: From $19.99/month as part of Adobe Creative Cloud

From $19.99/month as part of Adobe Creative Cloud Download here

By including animations, video and object states, InDesign can be used to create an interactive PDF that acts as a wireframe for your website or app.

The software also includes the ability to create libraries of page elements, so you can create collections of various reusable interface graphics.

12. Photoshop CC

Never thought of Photoshop as a wireframing tool? Think again! (Image credit: Adobe)

Platform : MacOS, Windows

: MacOS, Windows Price: From $19.99 per month as part of Adobe Creative Cloud

From $19.99 per month as part of Adobe Download here

Photoshop doesn’t offer libraries of interface elements, but for straightforward, fast wireframing, it is a very easy choice for designers.

If you're familiar with Adobe products, it's simple to sketch out quick ideas, group various elements and layers, and build an effective wireframe. Check out our article Photoshop for web design: 20 pro tips for more.

Next page: More wireframe tools for designers