User interface (UI) design is concerned with how a digital product appears visually. It includes all of the colors, fonts, and artwork you see on the screen, as well as the elements used to traverse the interface, such as buttons, scrollbars, and swiping actions.
A nice user experience requires good UI design. So, if you’re a digital designer in any capacity, you’ll need some dependable UI design tools in your toolbox.
In this post, you’ll discover ten of the top 9 software for UI/UX design to try in 2024. We’ve detailed the essential features of each, so you can quickly discover the tools that are most suited to your requirements.
Top 9 Free Best UI Design Software
Here’s a brief overview of each UX/UI design software, highlighting the tool’s finest use case and most notable features.
1. Miro
Miro is a visual workspace application that helps with project management, diagramming, process mapping, and content visualization, all of which are necessary for collaborative and innovative projects.
Miro was chosen because it offers a comprehensive visual workspace that facilitates the entire design process, from ideation to prototyping. Its prominent features include visual project management, diagramming, process mapping, and content visualization, all of which are required for UX/UI design.
Miro, in my opinion, is the ideal tool for visual collaboration and innovation since it supports a diverse set of use cases, including technical diagramming, whiteboarding, and wireframing.
Real-time collaboration tools like sticky notes and comments, an infinite canvas, custom frames and shapes, presentation mode, TalkTrack for recording process explanation videos, Miro Assist AI, document and image embedding, voting and polling features, mind mapping tools, screen sharing, timeline and roadmap planning, access control, and permissions management are among the features available.
2. Figma
Figma is a collaborative design platform that offers a shared workspace for people from different teams and departments to brainstorm, prototype, and construct solutions in real-time. In addition to automatically responsive website design layouts, Figma has tools that they claim you won’t find anywhere else, such as a modern pen tool that allows users to draw in any direction, instant arc designs for clocks, pie charts, and watch screens, and OpenType for advanced font features to explore branding through text.
Figma hopes that their real-time collaboration tool will help team members align early in the project and stay in sync throughout—regardless of the project’s size or industry. To assist businesses in choosing a solution for their needs, they provide multiple tiers that may accommodate freelancers, startups, small businesses, and larger corporations.
3. Balsamiq
Balsamiq is design software for rapid wireframing that blends the ease of a paper sketch with the power of digital tools. All wireframe designs resemble sketches to ensure that stakeholders aren’t distracted by minor details and instead focus on the big picture.
Wireframing is becoming more accessible at all levels, including business owners, project managers, business analysts, developers, agencies, and anybody interested in pursuing a career in user experience. They provide complete wireframing resources through their Wireframing Academy, allowing anyone to learn the software.
It additionally improves accessibility by offering cloud-based software, a web-accessible interface, and a downloaded desktop version (Mac and Windows). This platform provides help for businesses working on up to 200 projects at once.
4. Sketch
Sketch is a Mac-based utility that includes prototyping, website building, illustration, feedback, and design systems for adaptable workflows and scalability.
While all users in your organization may use Macs, third parties and test users may not; therefore, Sketch includes versatile collaboration tools that can be viewed on multiple devices and operating systems. Windows and other non-Mac users responsible for product handoff, inspection, or feedback can access Sketch via the web in any browser.
It provides support for small and medium-sized businesses in two tiers: one for teams of up to 25 users and another for teams of more than 25 users. The platform is also free for all students and instructors, with access via Mac, iPhone, and the web.
CAD tools, collaboration tools, design management, prototype creation, picture library, visual modeling, data input and export, drag & drop, and configurable templates are among the features offered.
5. Origami Studio
Origami Studio is a free UI design software tool developed by Facebook. It is primarily a prototyping tool, allowing designers to quickly create and share interactive interfaces.
Origami Studio, which was originally designed for Facebook designers, is now available for free to macOS users. It’s a complicated UI tool with a steep learning curve, so don’t use it as your first UX/UI design tool. However, for expert designers trying to develop lifelike prototypes, it is certainly worth considering.
6. InVision Studio
InVision, a digital product design and development platform, helps design and developer teams create high-fidelity web and mobile prototypes by allowing users to connect every step of the design workflow, from ideation and feedback to in-progress design sharing.
Vector-based drawing with flexible layers is a popular tool among InVision Studio users. This tool enables teams to convert ideas into on-screen designs for prototyping, reviewing, refining, and testing digital goods without writing a single line of code. Users can also communicate and collect comments in real-time to help projects move forward faster.
InVision Studio caters to businesses of all sorts, from one-person shops to large corporations. They claim that every Fortune 100 firm uses InVision’s UI/UX products. Premade and bespoke templates are available, as well as micro-interactions such as voting, usability testing, version history, and guest permissions. Advanced team management and security capabilities are only available with enterprise plans.
7. Maze
Maze is a cloud-based software designed to test prototypes. It is used for marketing campaigns, design ideas, and user feedback through a single unified interface. This platform enables agile teams to test their tools and learn more about client preferences for quick response.
Maze has several vital functions, such as design and product validation. Users can test the usability of their designs before writing a single line of code, as well as the functionality of their products, before spending important resources on a whole production line. Find and filter research results to get specific, actionable insights that can propel projects forward.
With tiered pricing and remote collaboration options, this UX design software can help freelancers, SMBs, and large enterprises collaborate with internal and external teams regardless of location. Users can find solutions based on their use case, job, or sector, ensuring a package tailored to their specific requirements.
The features include a template gallery, a live website and prototype testing, tree testing, feedback surveys, card sorting, and in-product prompts. These tools are useful for validating concepts and ideas, as well as providing feedback and pleasure.
8. Zeplin
Zeplin is a cloud-based platform that connects UX/UI designers and front-end developers. It offers an organized workspace for publishing your designs and creating specs, materials, and code snippets for a smooth developer handoff.
UX and UI designers collaborate closely with developers, who turn your designs into fully functional websites and apps. As a result, it’s critical to supply developers with the technical specifications they require to create your designs exactly as you imagine them.
Zeplin handles the entire process: you simply post your finished designs in the platform and select the platform you’re developing for (e.g., web, iOS, or Android) to produce the required assets.
Flows for rapidly and efficiently mapping user journeys and documenting your designs. Global Styleguides organizes and updates your design system’s colors, text styles, and components in a single area.
9. Webflow
This visual web development tool enables users to design, create, and publish unique websites without writing any code. Webflow’s visual canvas converts any design into CSS3, HTML5, and Javascript when it’s ready for publication or handoff.
Webflow is designed to do more than just develop websites; it can also integrate with key marketing tools, allowing teams to collaborate on content, optimize SEO, and create logic-based processes. This design platform also provides extensive support and training, as well as the option to employ a Webflow-endorsed partner for assistance with any project.
Webflow provides support for both general and e-commerce websites, with plans suitable for organizations of all sizes. In addition to free plans for solo operations and low-cost options for small organizations, Webflow provides tailored solutions for those who aim to scale dramatically.
Website-building, optimization, and scaling tools are among the available features. Website-building tools include no-code design, interactivity, content management systems (CMS), e-commerce, and subscription content.
Integrations include accessiBe, BoomTown, CloudFlare, Cognito Forms, Ecwid, Fomo, HubSpot Marketing Hub, LiveAgent, LiveChat, and Shippo.
Conclusion
UI and UX design are critical components of the success of any digital product, whether it is a mobile app or a website. With outstanding design, you can minimize clunkiness and user irritation while providing a seamless digital experience for all.