Balsamiq

balsamiq.com
Design & Prototyping
Weekend Project

Rapid, effective and fun wireframing software

How to Replace Balsamiq

Overview

Balsamiq is a user-friendly wireframing tool that helps teams quickly create mockups and prototypes for web and mobile applications. It emphasizes simplicity and speed, allowing designers and product managers to focus on ideas rather than pixel-perfect details.

Features

44 features across 9 categories

Administration(2)

Activity LogPremium

Track all changes and activities within projects for audit purposes.

User PermissionsPremium

Set different access levels for team members with granular control.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Smartsheet

Collaboration(5)

Comments & Feedback

Inline commenting system for team feedback and design discussions.

Project Sharing LinksPremium

Share projects with stakeholders via secure links without requiring accounts.

Real-time CollaborationPremium

Multiple users can work simultaneously on the same project with live updates.

Team WorkspacesPremium

Create separate workspaces for different teams and projects.

Wireframes CloudPremium

Web-based version enabling real-time collaboration and cloud storage.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Obsidian

Design(18)

Accessibility Features

Design accessible interfaces with alt text and WCAG compliance guidance.

Annotation Tools

Add notes, measurements, and specifications directly to wireframes.

Component Library

Pre-built UI components for common design patterns across platforms.

Custom BrandingPremium

Add company logos and colors to maintain brand consistency in mockups.

Design Assets LibraryPremium

Store and organize reusable design assets and component collections.

Desktop Mockups

Templates and tools specifically for desktop and web application design.

Drag-and-Drop Interface

Intuitive interface for quickly placing UI components without code.

Grid & Guides

Visual alignment tools with customizable grids and smart guides.

High-Fidelity Mode

More polished appearance for presentations to stakeholders.

Image Embedding

Insert and embed images directly into wireframes for visual references.

Low-Fidelity Mode

Sketch-like appearance to emphasize structure over visual polish.

Master Pages

Define layouts once and apply them consistently across multiple pages.

Mobile Mockups

Pre-sized templates for iPhone, Android, and tablet devices.

Mockups Editor

Desktop application for creating detailed wireframes and mockups offline.

Multi-select Editing

Select and edit multiple elements at once for efficient design work.

Responsive BreakpointsPremium

Create mockups for different screen sizes and responsive designs.

Symbols & Components

Create reusable components that update across all instances automatically.

Text Styling

Full typography controls including fonts, sizes, colors, and effects.

Also in: Squarespace, InVision, WordPress.com

Export(4)

Batch ExportPremium

Export multiple wireframes at once in various formats.

Documentation GeneratorPremium

Auto-generate design specifications and documentation from wireframes.

PDF Export

Export wireframes to PDF for offline sharing and documentation.

PNG/SVG Export

Export individual mockups as high-quality raster or vector images.

Also in: Looker, Hunter, MLflow

Integration(1)

API AccessPremium

Programmatic access to projects and wireframes via REST API.

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Localization(1)

Multi-language Support

Interface available in multiple languages for international teams.

Prototyping(2)

Interactive Prototyping

Create clickable prototypes with links and navigation flows between screens.

Prototype Preview

Preview interactive prototypes in fullscreen mode across devices.

Also in: Figma, Axure, Sketch

UI/UX(2)

Dark Mode

Toggle dark mode interface for comfortable extended design sessions.

Zoom & Pan

Flexible zoom levels and panning for detailed and overview work.

Workflow(9)

Auto-savePremium

Automatic saving of work to prevent data loss in cloud version.

Copy & Paste

Copy styles and elements between pages and projects seamlessly.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Extensive keyboard shortcuts for power users to work more efficiently.

Offline Mode

Work offline with Balsamiq Mockups desktop and sync when reconnected.

Project Organization

Organize wireframes into folders and projects for better file management.

Search & Find

Quickly search across all wireframes and elements in a project.

Undo/Redo

Comprehensive undo and redo functionality with history tracking.

User Flow Diagrams

Create flowcharts and user journey maps within the design tool.

Version HistoryPremium

Track and revert to previous versions of wireframes automatically.

Pricing

Free

Free
  • Desktop app
  • basic wireframing
  • local storage

Mockups

$5/mo
  • Single-user desktop application with unlimited projects and exports

Wireframes Starter

$19/mo
  • Cloud wireframing with up to 3 projects
  • 1 active workspace

Wireframes Team

Popular
$79/mo
  • Team collaboration with unlimited projects
  • real-time editing
  • version history

Wireframes Business

$159/mo
  • Advanced team features with SSO
  • advanced permissions
  • asset libraries

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Balsamiq

Monthly$5/mo
Yearly$60/yr
5-Year Total$300

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~3 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyVery Easy

Total Cost Comparison

1 Year
SaaS
$60
DIY
$240
3 Years
SaaS
$180
DIY
$720
5 Years
SaaS
$300
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 44 features at very easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Balsamiq alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 44 features.

Buy Balsamiq

Better Value
Monthly cost$50/mo
3-year total$1,800
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Balsamiq saves ~$35,160 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 44 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

28 known integrations