19 Best UI/UX tools to empower your product design team

What makes a user keep coming back to your product? How do you design a product that looks great and feels just right? These questions are at the heart of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX)—where creativity meets empathy.

The best UI/UX tools offer a structured framework for organizing data, mapping the user journey, and bringing your design concepts to life. But remember, it's not about having every platform in your tech stack—it's about finding the ones which best serve your specific needs and complement your existing workflow.

Whether you're building an intuitive website or working on a must-have invention, we’ve compiled a list of the best UI and UX tools, so you can transition your design process from 'it works' to 'truly exceptional'.

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Types of UI and UX tools to look out for

First, let's look at the difference between UI and UX. While they’re often used interchangeably, they both have distinct roles.

  • UI design refers to visual elements—color schemes, typography, and button styles
  • UX focuses on the overall experience of the user—how the product feels, how easy it is to navigate, and how intuitively it meets the user's needs

UX designing is about understanding the overall journey of your users and turning it into a product, while UI design is about using typography, images, and other visual design elements to turn a basic interface into something digestible and usable.

Jonathan Widawski, Founder & CEO at Maze

Whether you're a seasoned designer or a beginner, here are the most common types of UI and UX design software:

User testing tools

User testing tools are essentially the ‘try before you buy’ mindset applied to the design process. You can test your designs with real users, gain insights into their experiences, and fine-tune your product based on their feedback. The best remote user research and usability testing tools, like Maze, provide features like task analysis, screen recording, A/B testing, surveys, and automated reports to guide your ideas into customer-centric products.

Wireframing tools

Wireframing tools help you create blueprints of your ideas, arrange content and functionality, and build the basic structure of your design before going into the details. These are low-fidelity, simplified frameworks of your design. Popular wireframing platforms like Balasmiq, Sketch, and UXPin let you sketch out your plans early on, so you can ensure your team and stakeholders are aligned on design objectives, and then conduct user research to test key functionality.

Prototyping tools

While wireframing tools set the foundation of your design, prototyping tools bring the wireframes to life. Prototypes simulate actual user experience, allowing users to navigate through the interface, interact with elements, and test functionality of the design. User testing software like Maze integrates with popular prototype tools like InVision, Figma, and Adobe XD to gather feedback, test and track usability metrics, and validate design decisions before moving forward with development.

Visual design tools

Once wireframing and prototyping tools focused on structure and interaction, visual design tools focus on aesthetic elements—color selection, typography customization, image editing, and layout composition. These platforms often provide extensive libraries of pre-designed assets, templates, and style guides to streamline the design process and maintain consistency. It’s important to note that most prototyping tools also aid in visual designing.

Handoff tools

Handoff tools are the bridge between design and product development. They eliminate the need for tedious manual documentation and serve as a centralized hub for design handoff. Popular handoff software like Framer, InVision, and Marvel offer features like design asset extraction, style guide generation, code snippets, annotation, commenting systems, and version control—resulting in accurate and pixel-perfect implementations of the design every time.

19 Best UI and UX tools for user research and design

We’ll go into detail about the industry’s best design platforms in a moment—but first, here’s a quick overview of the toolse.

Tool Price Tool type Supported platforms
Maze Free for individual projects, with paid plans from $99 per user/month
  • In-depth tests with or without prototypes
  • Remote, rapid user testing and research
Browsers
Sketch $9 per editor/month
  • Prototyping
  • Visual design
  • Collaboration
macOS
Adobe XD Adobe Creative Suite is available for $54.99/month
  • Prototyping
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
Figma Starts at $12 per editor/month
  • Prototyping
  • Visual design
  • Collaboration
Browsers
InVision Starts at $9.95 per user/month
  • Prototyping
  • Wireframing
  • Developer handoff
Browsers
Marvel Pro plan starts at $10 per month and Team plan starts at $30 per month
  • Wireframing
  • Prototyping
Browsers, Android, iOS
Framer Pro plan starts at $25 per month/ site
  • Wireframing
  • Prototyping
  • Visual design
Browsers, macOS (paid only)
Axure RP Pro plan starts at $25 per user/month and Team plan starts at $42 per user/month
  • Wireframing
  • Rapid prototyping

Browsers and app for MacOS, Android, iOS

Origami Studio Free
  • Prototyping
  • Visual design
macOS, Android, iOS
Proto.io $29 per user/month for one user or $49 per user/month for up to 2 users
  • Prototyping
  • Collaboration
Browsers
Balsamiq $9/month for a 2-project space
  • Wireframing
  • Mockups and user flow
Browsers, macOS and Windows
FlowMapp $54 for up to 5 seats and $199 for unlimited teams
  • Collaboration
Browsers
UXPin $24 per editor/month
  • Prototyping
Browsers, macOS and Windows
Wireframe.cc Free for public wireframes and $16 per user/month for private wireframes
  • Wireframing
Browsers
Webflow Free for one website, then $19/month or $49/month for multiple users
  • Wireframing
  • Developer handoff
Browsers
JustInMind $9 per user/month
  • Prototyping
  • Collaboration
macOS, Windows
Miro Free for public boards, then from $8 to $16 per user/month
  • Wireframing
  • Collaboration
Browsers
Mockflow Free for one project, then from $19 per user/month onwards
  • Wireframing
  • Collaboration
macOS, Windows
ProtoPie Free for two prototypes, then from $79 per user/month
  • Prototyping
  • Collaboration
macOS, Windows

1. Maze: Best for continuous product discovery

Maze UX/UI design tool

Maze

Type: User research and continuous discovery tool

Maze is a continuous product discovery platform that empowers product teams to collect and analyze user insights at every stage of the product lifecycle. Maze has solutions for participant recruitment, product research, and reporting. You can run in-depth usability testing—with or without prototypes—and test or validate ideas, concepts, and copy.

The platform supports various user research methods, including usability testing, live website testing, card sorting, tree testing, and prototype testing. Since it's code-free, anyone on your team can quickly create and share a test, regardless of technical expertise. The drag-and-drop functionality and ready-to-use templates help you generate insights in hours, not days.

Key features

  • Template library: 50+ pre-built templates, from copy testing to usability tests, help your team customize, launch and collect insights right away, with no learning curve
  • Design integrations: Directly upload your existing prototypes from Figma, Sketch, InVision, and Adobe XD into Maze for making collaborative and impactful design decisions
  • Testers panel: Find your target audience within Maze’s expansive participant pool and get high-quality results in just two hours
  • Reach: Send tests and surveys to existing customers in your CRM with personalized email domains and signatures
  • Automated reporting: Track and analyze metrics like bounce rates, misclicks, and heatmaps—plus, download or share reports across your favorite tools like Slack, Notion, FigJam, and Miro with stakeholders

Pricing

Maze offers pricing options for organizations and product teams of all sizes, including a free plan for a taste of what’s possible with Maze. The Starter plan comes in at $99 per month and provides added features and greater flexibility, with custom pricing available for the Organization plan, which includes more studies per year and additional solutions, like Open Card Sorting.

2. Sketch: Best user interface designing tool for macOS

Sketch UX/UI design software

Sketch

Type: Wireframing, prototyping, and handoff tool

Sketch is a vector-based platform with features tailored specifically for designing user interfaces and creating digital assets. It also provides real-time collaboration for easy design feedback, and workflow automation. However, Sketch is only available for macOS—so Linux and Windows users will have to opt for another tool.

Key features

  • Prototyping: Build interactive prototypes by adding hotspots and transitions between artboards to simulate user flows and interactions
  • Design handoff: Generate design specifications, CSS code snippets, and assets for developers to ensure accurate implementation of the design
  • Exporting and asset management: Export designs in multiple formats like PNG, JPG, and TIFF, and automatically optimize assets for different screen resolutions
  • Plugins and integrations: Use existing plugins from the official library or create custom plugins to automate tasks and integrate with tools like ProtoPie, Maze and Flinto

Pricing

The pricing ranges from $9 to $12 per editor for Standard monthly plans, and $99 to $120 per editor for Standard yearly plans.

3. Adobe XD: Best UI design tool for Adobe Creative Cloud suite

Adobe XD design tool

Adobe XD

Type: Prototyping tool

Adobe XD is a UI design software to create product prototypes, mobile apps, and websites. Its features help you create fully-fledged prototypes; including workflows, element creation, animated transitions, and other dynamic elements. If you’ve used the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, you’ll get a hang of this design tool easily. It’s supported on Windows, macOS, and Android devices.

Key features

  • 3D Transforms: Convert complex designs into 3D objects and transfer information between artboards
  • Animation designs: The auto-animate feature turns your static prototypes into working designs with real micro-interactions through triggers like a tap, drag and hover
  • Repeat grid: Duplicate responsive designs for headers, footers, and other repeated content across multiple artboards
  • Integration with Creative Cloud: You can easily access Adobe Photoshop files and digital assets in Adobe XD

Pricing

Adobe XD is available as part of the Creative Cloud subscription, and starts at $9.99 per month for up to 100 GB of cloud storage. If you want access to all the Creative Cloud apps, including Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat Pro, the plan starts at $54.99 per month.

4. Figma: Best collaborative design tool

Figma UI design software

Figma

Type: Prototyping and visual design tool

Figma is a design and prototyping platform for exploring different UIs. Its browser-based functionality and collaborative features allow multiple users to make changes to a design simultaneously, without downloading files locally. You can use Figma to create moodboards, wireframes, product roadmaps, and mockups for websites or mobile apps. Plus, FigJam, a brainstorming and whiteboard tool by Figma, gives your team a playground to collaborate and map out design processes.

Key features

  • Figma’s interaction model: Create interactive prototypes with advanced editing and boolean commands like Subtract, Union, and Intersect
  • Integration between FigJam and Figma: Directly copy and paste your FigJam designs into Figma after a brainstorming session
  • Design-to-development handoff: Give development teams access to design specs, assets, and CSS code for iOS and Android
  • Integrations: Connection with popular design tools like Adobe Photoshop and Sketch makes it easy for teams to stay connected and collaborate

Pricing

The free plan is available for up to three projects, with paid plans starting at $12 per editor/month.

5. InVision: Best for all-in-one design and handoff

InVision UX/UI design platform

InVision

Type: Wireframing, prototyping and handoff tool

InVision is versatile design software that lets you create low-fidelity prototypes with basic animations at an early stage. You can go from outlining the user journey to collaborating on early design, to wireframes and prototypes, and finally to its design handoff features. Since it’s a cloud-based tool, InVision works across all operating systems and devices.

Key features

  • Design system management: Create and maintain design systems with shared components, styles, and libraries, ensuring consistency across projects
  • Design handoff: Generate design specs, redlines, and assets for developers, ensuring accurate implementation of your designs
  • Digital whiteboard: Freehand is InVision’s centralized whiteboard for brainstorming, strategy and planning, and wireframing. Import designs into Freehand from Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch
  • Real-time collaboration: Collect feedback and comments directly on designs, enabling seamless collaboration and iterative design processes

Pricing

InVision is free for up to 10 users and three documents. The Pro plan gives you access to unlimited documents and up to 15 users starting at $9.95 per user/month.

6. Marvel: Best for design beginners

Marvel UX design software

Marvel

Type: Prototyping and wireframing tool

Marvel is an all-in-one design tool for quickly generating prototypes and designing simple and effective user interfaces. While this platform isn’t as sophisticated as other tools on this list, it’s a top choice for new designers and developers looking for a platform that can get them up and running quickly. Since Marvel is browser-based, it works across all devices, including Windows, Linux, Android, and Apple products. However some users do complain that the mobile app doesn’t offer as many options, and plugins make the app slow.

Key features

  • Interface prototyping: Directly upload design mockups from Photoshop and Sketch to convert them into interactive prototypes
  • Real-time collaboration: Share designs and collect feedback from internal teams, or invite clients as guests to collaborate
  • Integrations: Integrations with popular tools like Sketch, Figma, Jira, and Slack make it easy to add Marvel to your existing workflows

Pricing

The Free plan is available for a single user and project. The Pro plan comes in at $10 per month with unlimited projects. If you need more seats, opt for the Team plan at $30 per month for up to three users.

7. Framer: Best for creating high-fidelity prototypes

Framer UX/UI platform

Framer

Type: Prototyping and visual design tool

Framer (formerly Framer X) is a great tool for creating high-fidelity prototypes. It’s known for having somewhat of a high learning curve, as you’ll need a basic understanding of CSS and HTML code for interactions and animations. However, prototypes made with Framer are about as close to a final product as a prototype can get. The level of detail and interactivity in these prototypes enables designers and stakeholders to get a realistic sense of how the final product will function and behave.

Key features

  • Templates: Ready-to-use templates include UI kits for landing pages, project management, interactive designs, and app design
  • Figma plugin: Directly copy and paste your Figma pages into Framer without any customizations
  • Sticky scroll functionality: Create navigation bars and sidebars that need to stay visible on your websites as users scroll through

Pricing

Framer is free for up to three projects, and the Pro plan starts at $25 per site/month (charged annually) with access to analytics, CMS collections, and 100k visitors per month.

8. Axure RP: Best for interactive HTML prototype designing

Axure design software UI

Axure

Type: Prototyping and wireframing tool

Axure RP is a rapid prototyping tool with a focus on building realistic, functional prototypes through mouse, touch, and keyboard event triggers. It’s a great platform for designing customer journeys, wireframes, and other UX documentation. You can use Axure Cloud in your browser or download the app for Mac, PC, iOS, and Android devices.

Key features

  • Widgets: Create and customize flowcharts with connectors, wireframes, and interactive prototypes
  • Notes: Add detailed annotations and notes directly within your designs for design decisions
  • Developer inspect: Generate design specifications and assets for a smooth design-to-development handoff process
  • Integrations: Embed prototypes into your existing tools like Jira, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Figma, and Sketch

Pricing

Axure RP offers a 30-day free trial, after which you can opt for the Pro plan with unlimited prototypes at $25 per month per user. Alternatively, choose the Team plan at $42 per user/month for cloud hosting.

11 Notable mentions

You’ve seen our top eight, but if you’re looking to expand your search further, consider any of these platforms for your UI/UX kit:

  1. Origami Studio: Visual design and prototyping tool
  2. Proto.io: High-fidelity prototyping and design tool
  3. Balsamiq: Low-fidelity design and wireframing tool
  4. FlowMapp: Prototyping tool
  5. UXPin: High-fidelity prototyping and design tool
  6. Wireframe.cc: Low-fidelity wireframes
  7. Webflow: Visual design and design-to-code generator handoff tool
  8. JustInMind: Visual design and prototyping tool
  9. Miro: Visual design and wireframing tool
  10. Mockflow: Wireframing tool
  11. ProtoPie: Visual design and prototyping tool

How to choose the right UX tools

There’s no single UI/UX design tool that perfectly fulfills the needs of all designers, so you’ll need to build a tech stack that’s tailored to your team.

While considering your options, it’s worth asking:

  • Does this platform help achieve the team’s goals?
  • How usable is it—and how quickly can I start using it well?
  • Is this an affordable option for our company?
  • How does it enable collaboration with other team members?
  • How well does it integrate with other UI/UX design tools?
  • What operating systems can the software run on?
  • Will it help me keep the essential UX design principles in mind (user needs, usability, accessibility, and visual aesthetics)?

Ready to build your UI/UX toolkit?

UI/UX design is all about understanding the experience of your users and the make-up of your product. From wireframing initial concepts to prototyping interactive experiences, every step aims to create a design that resonates.

Ultimately, your UI/UX toolkit should be able to fully test a prototype that closely resembles the final product, collecting valuable feedback from your target audience and ensuring a delightful user experience. You can also test the UI/UX of your product after launch—especially if you have the support of a continuous product discovery platform like Maze.

Whether you want to run prototype testing, concept testing, usability testing, or live website testing—with Maze, you can do it all in one place. Plus, you can directly import your designs from apps like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD. Maze can also help you communicate data and win over stakeholders through digestible automatic reports, making it one of the best tools to support UI/UX design teams to achieve their goals.

De-risk your UX design investment

Confidently validate ideas, test prototypes, and optimize user experience to maximize returns and deliver exceptional customer value.

Frequently asked questions about UX/UI design tools

What are UX tools?

UX tools are the products and software UX designers use during product development to plan, research, design, and test their work. These platforms offer functionalities for wireframing, prototyping, design concept validation, and collaboration tools for effective teamwork and stakeholder engagement. Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision are some popular UX tools.

What is the best tool for UI UX?

The best UI/UX tool depends on your personal preferences, project requirements, team collaboration needs, and design workflow. Our top 13 design tools are:

  1. Maze: Remote testing for agile teams (get started for free)
  2. Sketch: The digital design platform
  3. Adobe XD: The UI/UX design solution for websites, apps, and more
  4. Balsamiq: The rapid, effective, and fun wireframing software
  5. Figma: The collaborative interface design tool
  6. InVision: Digital product design, workflow, and collaboration
  7. Marvel: The design platform for digital products
  8. Axure: UX prototypes, specifications, and diagrams in one tool
  9. Framer: The prototyping tool for teams
  10. UXPin: UI design and prototyping tool
  11. FlowMapp: UX software for web design
  12. Origami Studio: Design, animate, and prototype
  13. Proto.io: Prototyping for all

When are UX tools used?

UX tools are used throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from the initial stages of planning and research to the final stages of testing and iteration. Here are some key points when UX software are typically used:

  • Planning and research to gather user preferences
  • Wireframe and prototyping for validating design concepts
  • Visual design and branding for creating appealing interfaces
  • Collaboration with team members, stakeholders, and clients
  • Design handoff and documentation to developers

What are the benefits of using UX tools?

The benefits of using UX tools are:

  • Streamlined workflow from research and ideation to prototyping and testing
  • Clear communication and collaboration among designers, stakeholders, and developers
  • Visual consistency through customized design libraries, style guides, and components
  • Smooth transition from design to development teams
  • Easy adoption for different project sizes and complexities