Looking for the best prototyping tools for mobile apps? Check out our top 5 picks that will help you create functional and visually appealing app prototypes quickly and easily.

1. Best Prototyping Tools for Mobile
Apps in 2023
Overview
Looking for the best prototyping tools for mobile apps? You’ve arrived at the correct spot.
In the fast-paced world of mobile app development, it is crucial to design and create
mobile apps that are intuitive and user-friendly.
Prototyping tools play a vital role in the process of creating high-quality mobile apps that
meet users’ needs and preferences.
These tools enable designers and developers to create interactive and functional
prototypes that mimic the user experience of a finished mobile app.

2. There are a variety of prototyping tools available for mobile app development, ranging
from basic wireframing tools to advanced tools that enable designers to create
high-fidelity prototypes.
Importance
In addition to this, prototyping plays a critical role in the mobile app development process.
Furthermore, it enables designers and developers to test and refine their ideas before
building the final product.
Thus, by creating interactive prototypes, designers can get feedback from stakeholders and
users early in the development process, enabling them to make informed design decisions
and iterate quickly.
Additionally, prototyping helps to identify potential usability issues and allows designers
to test different design solutions to find the best user experience. By creating prototypes,
developers can test the functionality of the app and ensure that it works as intended.
Before creating a prototype for your mobile app project, it is crucial to determine whether
you need MVP or a prototype. Our guide on MVP vs prototype can help you get the
required insights.
Criteria for Selection

3. When it comes to selecting the right prototyping tool for mobile app development, there
are several important factors that should be considered. The following criteria were used
to evaluate and select the best prototyping tools for mobile apps in 2023:
● Ease of Use: A prototyping tool should be intuitive and easy to use, even for
non-designers. The tool should have a user-friendly interface and a low learning
curve.
● Functionality: The tool should have a wide range of features and functionality to
allow for flexibility in designing and testing mobile apps. This includes features
such as interactive elements, animations, and the ability to create responsive
designs.
● Integrations: The tool should integrate well with other tools and platforms
commonly used in mobile app development, such as design software and project
management tools.
● Cost: The cost of the tool should be reasonable and provide good value for its
features and functionality.
● Collaboration: The tool should allow for easy collaboration among team
members, including sharing and commenting on designs.
● Prototyping for multiple devices: The tool should have the capability to create
prototypes for multiple devices including smartphones, tablets, and wearables.
Are you interested in getting a better understanding of the costs associated with app
development in Singapore? Read our guide on the cost of developing an app in Singapore
to get the right estimate.

4. ● Testing and feedback: The tool should enable easy testing and feedback
collection from users to improve the mobile app design and functionality.
5 Best Prototyping Tools for Mobile Apps to
Streamline Development Process
1. Figma
Figma is a web-based design tool that allows teams to collaborate on interface design,
prototyping, and design systems. It offers a range of features for designing interfaces, such
as vector editing tools, prototyping capabilities, and design libraries.

5. It allows designers to work on projects in real-time, making it ideal for collaborative design
work. Designers can import and export design assets effortlessly with support for a variety
of file formats, such as Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, and SVG files.
Features
● Vector Editing: It allows users to create and edit vector shapes, icons, and
illustrations with ease. Its powerful vector editing tools provide users with the
ability to manipulate shapes, paths, and points to create complex designs.
● Prototyping: Users can create interactive prototypes with advanced animations
and transitions. The prototyping feature allows designers to test and validate
their designs before they move into development.
● Collaboration: One of its key strengths is its collaboration capabilities. Multiple
team members can work on the same project in real time, making it easy for
designers, developers, and stakeholders to collaborate and provide feedback.
Benefits
● Accessibility: It is a cloud-based tool, which means that designers can access
their projects from anywhere, on any device with an internet connection. This
makes it easy for teams to collaborate remotely and work on projects while on
the go.

6. ● Cost-Effective: It offers a free plan for individuals, making it an affordable option
for small design teams and independent designers. The paid plans are also
reasonably priced, offering advanced features at a competitive price point.
● Versatility: It can be used for a range of design projects, from UI/UX design to
web design and mobile app design. Its versatility makes it a useful tool for
designers who work on multiple projects across different industries.
2. Sketch
Sketch is a widely-used vector graphics editor and digital design tool that has become
increasingly popular among designers in recent years. With a focus on UI/UX design, It
offers a range of features and benefits that make it a go-to tool for many designers.
Features
● Plugins: Its plugin ecosystem provides users with a range of additional features
and integrations, making it a versatile and customizable design tool.

7. ● Libraries: Its library feature allows designers to share design assets, such as
symbols and styles, across multiple projects and teams. This feature streamlines
the design process and ensures consistency across projects.
● Symbols: Its symbols feature allows designers to create reusable elements, such
as buttons and icons, across multiple pages and projects. This feature reduces
design inconsistencies and speeds up the design process.
Benefits
● Efficiency: Its intuitive interface and focus on UI/UX design allow designers to
work more efficiently, reducing design time and increasing productivity.
● Collaboration: Its cloud-based collaboration features allow multiple team
members to work on the same project in real time, making it easy for designers,
developers, and stakeholders to collaborate and provide feedback.
● Cost-effective: It is a relatively affordable design tool, with a one-time payment
for a perpetual license. This makes it a cost-effective option for small design
teams and independent designers.
3. Adobe XD

8. Adobe XD is a user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design tool that allows
designers to create and prototype websites, mobile apps, and other digital interfaces. It is
part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of software.
XD has a range of features that make it a popular choice for UX and UI design, including a
responsive design tool that allows designers to create designs for multiple device sizes
and screen resolutions, the ability to design and prototype interactive experiences, and the
ability to collaborate and share designs with team members and stakeholders.
Features
● Design Tools: It offers a range of design tools, including vector and raster
graphics, as well as text tools and shape tools. These tools allow designers to
create complex designs and customize every aspect of their designs.

9. ● Responsive Design: Its responsive design feature allows designers to create
designs that adapt to different screen sizes and orientations, making it easy to
create designs for desktop, mobile, and tablet devices.
● Collaboration: Its cloud-based collaboration capabilities allow multiple team
members to work on the same project in real-time, making it easy for designers,
developers, and stakeholders to collaborate and provide feedback.
Benefits
● Integration: It integrates seamlessly with other Adobe Creative Cloud products,
such as Photoshop and Illustrator, making it easy to create designs across
different platforms and tools.
● Efficiency: Its intuitive interface and versatile design features allow designers to
work more efficiently, reducing design time and increasing productivity.
● Cost-effective: It is a relatively affordable design tool, with a monthly
subscription model that includes access to all Adobe Creative Cloud apps. This
makes it a cost-effective option for design teams and independent designers.
4. InVision Studio

10. InVision Studio is a design tool that allows designers to create responsive and interactive
user interfaces for websites, mobile applications, and other digital products.
With its impressive array of tools and features, designing, prototyping, and animating
becomes a breeze.
The design system utilized employs vectors, enabling designers to create and modify
designs with great accuracy. This system encompasses a diverse selection of design tools,
including drawing instruments, typography management, layout grids, and symbols.
Furthermore, it also has an extensive library of pre-built UI components that can be easily
customized and reused across different projects.
Features

11. ● Advanced Design Tools: It offers a robust set of design tools that enable
designers to create stunning visuals, including vector editing, text tools, and
shape tools. Additionally, it also offers a range of prototyping tools, making it
easy to create interactive and engaging designs.
● Animation and Motion Design: It comes with a powerful animation and motion
design tool that allows designers to create complex animations, transitions, and
interactions. This feature enables designers to bring their designs to life and
create engaging user experiences.
● Design System Management: It includes a design system management feature
that allows designers to create and manage a design system for their
organization. This feature makes it easy to maintain consistency across projects
and ensures that everyone is using the same design elements.
Benefits
1. Streamlined Workflow: It streamlines the design workflow, allowing designers
to focus on creating great designs without being bogged down by technical
details. The software is easy to use, and its intuitive interface makes it easy to
learn and use.
2. Improved Collaboration: With real-time collaboration, it makes it easy to work
with team members, stakeholders, and clients. Everyone can work together on
the same project, and changes are automatically synced, eliminating the need for
back-and-forth emails.

12. 3. Better Design Quality: Its advanced design tools and animation and motion
design features enable designers to create stunning visuals and engaging user
experiences. This feature ensures that designers can produce high-quality
designs that meet the needs of their clients and users.
5. Axure RP
Axure RP is a powerful wireframing and prototyping tool used by UX designers to create
interactive and dynamic designs for websites and applications. It allows users to create
and edit wireframes, prototypes, and specifications for various design projects.
A vast array of functionalities are provided, including the convenience of drag-and-drop
operations, the option to design personalized libraries and templates, and the availability
of sophisticated animations and interactions.

13. Team collaboration is facilitated through the provision of version control, commenting, and
sharing features.
Feature
● Drag-and-Drop Interface: Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for
designers to create prototypes without needing to write code. This feature
enables designers to create complex interactions and animations quickly.
● Interactive Widgets and Components: It offers a wide range of interactive
widgets and components, including buttons, forms, and sliders. These features
make it easy to create interactive prototypes that simulate real-world user
interactions.
● Customizable Design Libraries: It allows designers to create custom design
libraries that can be used across multiple projects. This feature makes it easy to
maintain consistency across projects and ensures that everyone is using the
same design elements.
Benefits
● Streamlined Prototyping Workflow: Its drag-and-drop interface and interactive
widgets and components enable designers to create prototypes quickly and
efficiently. This feature allows designers to iterate on their designs faster and get
feedback from stakeholders and clients.

14. ● Improved Collaboration: With real-time collaboration, It makes it easy to work
with team members, stakeholders, and clients. Everyone can work together on
the same project, and changes are automatically synced, eliminating the need for
back-and-forth emails.
● Better Design Quality: Its interactive widgets and components enable designers
to create engaging and interactive prototypes that simulate real-world user
interactions. This feature ensures that designers can produce high-quality
designs that meet the needs of their clients and users.
Comparison Between the Best Prototyping Tools for Mobile
Apps
Tool Figma Sketch Adobe XD InVision Studio Axure RP
Platform Web-based Mac-only Mac/Windows Mac/Windows Mac/Windows
Price Free/Paid Paid Free/Paid Paid Paid
Collaboration Real-time Not real-time Real-time Real-time Not real-time

15. Prototyping Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Design System Yes Limited Yes Yes Limited
Plugins Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Vector Editing Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Code Export Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Conclusion
Mobile app prototyping has become an essential part of the app development process, and
there are a number of excellent tools available to assist designers and developers in this
task. The 5 best prototyping tools for mobile apps we have highlighted in this article offer
a range of features and capabilities that make them well-suited for mobile app
prototyping.
Notably, each tool has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. However, all of them
offer the ability to create and test interactive app prototypes quickly and efficiently.
Whether you’re looking for real-time collaboration, robust design systems, or seamless
code export, you’ll find a tool on this list that can help you achieve your goals.

16. Are you seeking to develop a clickable prototype for your mobile app project? Look no
further! Our mobile app design agency specializes in building cutting-edge mobile app
prototypes.