What are the UX design tools you use to create flowcharts? What are the best tools for wireframing, prototyping, user testing, interaction design or real-time collaboration?

There are an overwhelming number of UX tools out there, and finding the best can be mind-boggling. If you’re looking for UX design tools to make your life easier, this post is written specifically for you. To help you create apps/websites with high productivity, we explore 13 amazing UX tools you should have for 2016.

UX tools for mind mapping: MindManager

A mind map is a diagram used to visually organize information. It is a great way to brainstorm, make a plan, or turn ideas into the steps needed to make it real. MindManager is one of the best mind mapping software application developed by Mindjet. The digital mind maps can be used a “virtual whiteboard” for brainstorming, managing and planning projects, compiling research, organizing large amounts of information, and for strategic planning.

Pricing

Plans start at $129

UX tools for flowcharts and diagrams: SmartDraw

SmartDraw lets you create and edit flowcharts and diagrams using any modern web browser. And if you need to work behind the firewall, you can still use SmartDraw for Windows. It includes hundreds of professional templates that you can quickly edit to make you own. Even the most novice users can become instantly productive with SmartDraw.

Pricing

One-time purchase from $197 (no monthly or annual fees)

UX tools for flowcharts and diagrams: Visio

With Visio, you are able to communicate complex information with data-linked diagrams in just a few clicks. Take advantage of Visio shapes to enhance your productivity. Visio shapes can be linked to multiple data sources including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel Services, Active Directory, Microsoft SharePoint Lists etc. You can also share your creations through a browser with Office 365 or SharePoint.

Pricing

Plans start at £279.99/$USD403.56 per month.

UX tools for rapid prototyping design: Mockplus

Mockplus is an excellent design prototyping app. It can be used to prototype for mobile, desktop and web apps quickly. Building a design prototype with Mockplus is much easier compared to a general-purpose graphics editor like Photoshop or Illustrator. The intuitive drag-and-drop UI makes it possible to start using the tool immediately. Even the first-time users can master it without having to go over tutorials and training manuals. If you are looking for a UX tool that is cheap and allows to create interactive prototypes in a minimum of time, Mockplus is an ideal solution you should not miss out on.

Pricing

Free for basic plan and Pro plans start at $29/month

UX tools for high-fidelity wireframes and prototypes: Axure

Axure RP is a desktop application that gives business and UX professionals diagramming, documentation, and interactive tools to design and share interactive prototypes and specifications. Unarguably, it is one of the most comprehensive (in terms of functionality) prototyping tools. Both static, low-fidelity prototypes and more sophisticated, interactive ones can be created by Axure. Because Axure is an extremely professional UX tool, it requires a steep learning curve.

UX tools for prototyping on iPad: AppCooker

App Cooker is a mockup & prototyping tool that runs on your iPad. It support linking, gestures and you can add a multitude of components to your screens. With AppCooker you can use and customize all the iOS UI Elements. You can also share editable projects with coworkers or clickable mockups with AppTaster file with clients and friends. AppCooker gives you the ability to export your work to Dropbox, Box, by email, to Photo Library and the iTunes folder. The price tool can help you define and track the costs of developing your app idea.

Pricing

$29.99

UX tools for prototyping on Mac: Flinto

Flinto for Mac is a comprehensive prototyping tool which lets designers quickly make interactive wireframe/prototypes of their mobile, desktop, or web apps. It provides the tools to quickly create transition-based animations and the screen management to handle a large number of app screens. When you want wireframe of iOS apps, it is the right choice.

Pricing

$99

UX tools for interface design: Sketch

According to founder Pieter Omvlee, Sketch was designed as an image editor for digital design. It is made specifically for Mac OS X users to design interfaces, websites and icons. Sketch works largely like Photoshop and Illustrator, but it is more flexible when it comes to UX design.

Sketch’s Vector shapes easily adapt to changing styles, sizes and layouts, allowing UX designers to avoid a lot of painful hand-tweaking. Every new object is automatically affixed to a new layer, which allow creative combinations and easier navigation. You can also export your layers very easily out of Sketch with one click.

Pricing

$99

UX tools for storing and organizing icons: Iconjar

Iconjar gives you the ability to store all your icons in one place so you don’t have to go searching for them. This tool also makes it super easy for you to search through all of our icons. With Iconjar, you can drag icons into Affinity, Sketch, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

Pricing

It’s Free

UX tools for interaction design and real-time collaboration: InVision

InVision is a web-based prototyping tool that make your design live quickly. With InVision, designers can upload their design files and add animations, gestures, and transitions to transform their static screens into clickable, interactive prototypes. It supports files in PNG, JPG, GIF, AI and PSD format. Clients can provide feedback in the form of comments on your designs , and you can keep them up to date with the project’s progress in real time through actionable to-do lists.

Pricing

Plans start at $15/month

UX tools for user testing：UserTesting

Usability testing is a technique used in user-centered interaction design to evaluate a product by testing it on users. It is a big deal for improving user experience.

UserTesting is an online usability testing tool that allows to get videos of real people speaking their thoughts as they use websites, mobile apps and prototypes. The service works for landing pages, emails, ad, prototypes, live sites, and apps. You can opt to have your test designed by an experienced in-house research team, or have a project manager come on to oversee that you accomplish your goals.

Pricing

Plans start at $49 per video for your first 10 videos

UX tools for A/B testing: Optimizely

Optimizely, like UserTesting, makes it easy to test and personalize your website and mobile app. However, Optimizely focuses on one specific type of test, A/B testing, so that designers can see how tweaking an interface will affect conversions.

Pricing

Free for starter plan and price of Enterprise plan (with full features) on request.

UX tools for online collaboration and project management: Trello

Trello is a web-based project management application originally made by Fog Creek Software in 2011. Trello’s boards, lists, and cards enable you to organize and prioritize your projects in a fun, flexible and rewarding way. With Trello you can create boards to organize anything you’re working on. It allows you to invite coworkers and clients to collaborate. You can assign tasks to yourself and coworkers and comment on items with your friends.

Pricing

Plans start at $8.33

Conclusion

Feel free to tell us what’s your favor UX design tool by replying on this post.

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