A successful mobile application is more than just coding. To stand out in the competitive app market, your application needs to combine a solid tech foundation with an attractive mobile app design that caters to real user needs. Because aesthetics and usability are top priorities for mobile app developers, designers work tirelessly to deliver a one-of-a-kind user experience.
But here’s the thing: designers can’t achieve success alone. They need a like-minded, loyal sidekick – an application design tool. Just like any good partnership, these two need to click for long-term, efficient collaboration.
To help designers choose the right mobile app design software, we’ve reviewed the 25 best app design tools for mobile app development. Let’s dive in and explore them together!
Adobe After Effects
One of the best mobile app design tools out there is Adobe After Effects. It’s a visual effects powerhouse that helps design and development teams navigate the dynamic world of motion design and animations. With this tool, you can animate your mobile app design and even work with videos. What’s really nice about Adobe After Effects is that it offers presets and a wide range of effects to make your graphic design memorable.
Recently, Adobe After Effects has expanded its 3D capabilities to create a unified 3D environment, making it easier for users to switch between separate applications. Additionally, Adobe After Effects now offers AI-driven features, such as the Enhance Speech feature, filler word detection, and removal in text-based editing. These features automate time-intensive tasks and enhance the overall design process.
At Orangesoft, we love the LottieFiles plugin integrated into Adobe After Effects. This plugin allows you to create unique vector animations without writing a single line of code.
Platforms: macOS, Windows.
Pricing: $22.99/month.
Free trial: 7 days.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is an industry-standard vector graphics editor and design software. It enables designers to create complex illustrations, drawings, designs, and layouts. The tool is renowned for its precision drawing tools, color management features, and seamless integrations with other Adobe products.
Like other Adobe tools, Adobe Illustrator has incorporated AI-powered features to make the design process easier. By leveraging traditional and generative AI, this tool allows users to turn a text prompt into a fully editable vector graphic, transform artwork tone in a few clicks, and automatically identify fonts.
Platforms: macOS, Windows, iPadOS.
Pricing: $22.99/month.
Free trial: 7 days.
Adobe XD
Another gem from the Adobe suite, Adobe XD is a vector-based design tool for creating mobile user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX). It’s a must-have for designers as it allows them to streamline the design process from initial wireframing to interactive prototyping.
Adobe XD offers 3D transforms, allowing designers to create realistic 3D looks in seconds. It also automatically adjusts text height and enables component changes within other elements.
While Adobe XD’s former popularity has waned, the tool remains useful. Adobe is focused on supporting existing customers through bug fixes and addressing security needs, rather than shipping new features.
Platforms: macOS, Windows.
Pricing: Part of the Creative Cloud All Apps plan.
Free trial: Not available.
Affinity Designer
Trusted by over 3 million users, Affinity Designer is the go-to tool for creating complex multi-layered graphics, logos, and mockups. As a vector graphic editor, Affinity Designer boasts a wide variety of useful functionalities that help to create mind-blowing graphics.
What sets Affinity Designer apart from Adobe Illustrator is its speed, lower disk space requirements, and the absence of additional packages. With regular updates, Affinity Designer continually improves user experience and productivity. New features like variable fonts, the Stroke Width Tool, the QR Code Tool, and more make design a breeze.
Platforms: macOS, iPadOS, Windows.
Pricing: One-off price: $9.29 for iPadOS, $34.99 for PC.
Free trial: 6 months.
Axure RP
Axure RP is a powerful tool for creating highly functional, rich prototypes, and specifications for mobile apps. Backed by major companies like Salesforce and Amazon, Axure RP has solidified its position in the market as a feature-rich tool that empowers UX designers.
Axure RP offers a vast library of widgets and components, collaboration features, and wide integration capabilities. For rapid prototyping, the tool provides tools and techniques to visualize the end goal. The latest version, Axure RP 10, introduces dynamic panels on display, a new all-states view for efficient dynamic panel management, and enhanced UX prototypes using Microsoft .Net Core and Apple Metal.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Pricing: Plans start at $25 per user/month.
Free trial: 30 days.
Figma
Figma is a collaborative interface design tool that speeds up the design process by enabling real-time teamwork. Figma’s real-time collaboration is a game-changer, making it a favorite tool at Orangesoft for streamlining design processes and enhancing teamwork.
Figma is more than just a design tool; it’s a thriving community of professionals. The Figma Community is like GitHub for professional designers, where specialists share their work, explore market trends, and seek inspiration. Figma has recently unveiled significant updates, such as AI features, a redesigned UI, Figma Slides, and a new view into Dev Mode.
Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
Pricing: Free. Paid plans start at $15 per editor/month.
Flinto
Flinto is a Mac app used by top designers to create high-fidelity prototypes. With this tool, you can create interactive prototypes that feel realistic. You can adjust layouts, design screens with layers, add links and gestures, work with transitions, and much more.
Flinto simplifies smooth transitions between screens with built-in animations. Designers can also create micro-interactions using Flinto’s Behavior Designer, add incredible animations, and incorporate UI sound effects. Plus, you can easily share your work directly to Dribbble.
Platforms: macOS, iOS.
Pricing: One-year license for $99.
Free trial: 14 days.
FluidUI
FluidUI is a mobile and web design tool for prototyping. With this tool, you can quickly and easily create web and mobile prototypes for Android, iOS, web, and desktop. Choose from over 2,000 built-in components and benefit from its intuitive linking system.
FluidUI’s collaborative features enable the entire team to contribute in real-time, making mobile app design a breeze. Interactive previews further accelerate the design process.
Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS.
Pricing: Plans start at $8.25/month.
Free trial: Not available, but they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
HotGloo
HotGloo is a UX prototyping and wireframing app that offers everything a mobile app designer needs. With over 2,000 elements, UI widgets, and icons, you can easily showcase prototypes to clients and stakeholders.
HotGloo allows modern app designers to test prototypes across devices and seamlessly send mobile projects to mobile devices. Team collaboration is a breeze with HotGloo, as it allows you to invite co-workers and collaborate in real-time.
Platforms: Web.
Pricing: Plans start at $11/month.
Free trial: 7 days.
IconJar
IconJar is an icon organizer for macOS. This tool allows you to make your icons perfect and export them in any size and file type. IconJar provides presets for Apple and Android-powered devices, making it a useful tool for both platforms.
Platforms: macOS.
Pricing: Annual license for €25, lifetime license for €65.
Free trial: 14 days.
Icons8
Icons8 is a design kit for creatives and developers that offers over 50,000 icons, illustrations, photos, music, and AI-powered tools. With Icons8, you can recolor icons within seconds, add overlays, work with fonts, and more. The platform also provides plugins for popular design software like Adobe XD, Sketch, and Microsoft Office, allowing for seamless integration into your workflow.
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Pricing: Free. Paid plans start at $15/month.
InVision
InVision is an all-in-one collaborative tool, a cloud-based design software that allows you to share designs and collaborate with your colleagues. InVision offers a wide range of functional features for enhanced animation and is one of the best app prototyping tools.
InVision’s collaborative whiteboard, Freehand, helps design teams establish a centralized hub for projects. Recently augmented with Intelligent Canvas, Freehand adds intelligent and automated capabilities to each step. While Freehand has been acquired by Miro, InVision’s other services, such as prototypes, specs, boards, and DSM, will be discontinued at the end of 2024.
Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS.
Pricing: Free.
Justinmind
Justinmind is an app prototyping tool that you can use for free. It allows you to create fully interactive prototypes, UI assets, and simulations without typing a single line of code. With its rich functionality, you can create outstanding mobile gestures and web interactions.
Justinmind is constantly updated to make the tool faster and easier to use, with new prototyping tools, collaboration options, and UX/UI add-ons being added to the ecosystem.
Platforms: macOS, Windows.
Pricing: Free. Pro plans start at $9 per user/month.
Marvel
Marvel is a one-stop shop for designers, providing hundreds of utilities for rapid prototyping, testing, and handoff. With Marvel, you can create stunning wireframes in minutes, test the compatibility of user interfaces, and easily share outcomes with stakeholders.
Marvel seamlessly integrates with Sketch, JIRA, Slack, and similar tools. Additionally, Marvel offers a powerful GraphQL API for custom integrations.
Platforms: Web, macOS, Android, iOS, Windows.
Pricing: Free. Paid plans start at $12/month.
Mockplus
Mockplus offers a suite of products that guide designers in creating outstanding visuals. The platform comprises a free UI design tool and a standalone prototyping tool. With a vast collection of UI/UX widget libraries, Mockplus supports iOS, macOS, Android, Web, and Material Design.
Unlike Axure, Mockplus focuses on simplifying the prototyping workflow with drag-and-drop interactions. Mockplus also allows users to import Axure files for instant editing, reviewing, inspecting, and handoff.
Platforms: Web, macOS, iOS, Android, Windows.
Pricing: Free. Paid plans start at $14.95 per user/month.
Moqups
Moqups is a one-stop-shop UI design tool that helps streamline the mobile app development process and enables real-time collaboration on wireframes, mockups, diagrams, and prototypes.
With Moqups’ simple drag-and-drop user interface, you can create prototype designs in no time. The built-in library, which includes thousands of popular icon sets, supercharges creativity and accelerates time to release.
Platforms: Web.
Pricing: Free. Paid plans start at €9 per user/month.
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle allows you to create precise diagrams, exceptional prototypes, and professional-grade vector graphics. Despite its formidable set of utilities, OmniGraffle has a straightforward and user-friendly interface that allows you to drag and drop predefined objects onto diagrams.
What sets OmniGraffle apart is its stencils, which cover virtually any kind of diagram, including AWS diagrams and site mapping. OmniGraffle is not only a feature-rich prototyping tool but also a versatile, all-purpose design asset.
Platforms: macOS, iOS, iPadOS.
Pricing: Subscription starts at $12.49 per month, one-off license starts at $149.99.
Free trial: 14 days.
Origami Studio
Origami Studio is a free design hub created by Meta that allows users to design, animate, and prototype interactive interfaces in one place. The canvas in Origami Studio offers a flexible environment for users to craft their interactive designs, allowing for freeform drawing, text editing, and the creation of dynamic visual components.
The tool taps into native hardware APIs, enriching prototypes with hardware-specific capabilities such as GPS and audio recording. Origami Studio’s companion app, Origami Live, allows users to take prototypes on the go.
Platforms: macOS.
Pricing: Free.
Principle
Principle enables you to create animated and interactive user interfaces with ease. It allows designers to create unique interactions even for multiple-screen apps. If you prefer using another app but want to add animation using Principle, you can easily import files and start working.
Principle 6, the latest version, is now also available on the web, enabling design pros to create unique visuals for mobile, web, and desktop in an offline mode.
Platforms: macOS.
Pricing: License for $129 a year.
Free trial: 14 days.
ProtoPie
ProtoPie is an advanced prototyping tool used to create multimodal interactions. With ProtoPie, you can prototype interactions across devices and test them in real-time. The tool also allows design teams to validate designs for wearable technology, smart TVs, and web experiences.
ProtoPie integrates with popular design tools like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD, enabling users to import their designs directly into the tool. ProtoPie also lets users create prototypes that can interact with each other across multiple devices.
Platforms: macOS, Windows.
Pricing: Free. Paid plans start from $25/month.
Proto.io
Proto.io is an outstanding prototyping tool that brings hundreds of fully interactive and customizable native UI items to the table, including those from iOS, Material Design, and Windows. Proto.io has everything you need to build low- or high-fidelity prototypes, from ready-to-go sound effects to advanced animation and version control.
Moreover, Proto.io isn’t limited to app prototypes. You can design graphics for any gadget with a screen. The user interface has been revamped in version 6.0, making core functionalities and tools even easier to access and use.
Platforms: Web.
Pricing: Plans start at $24/month.
Free trial: 15 days.
SF Symbols
SF Symbols is a useful tool from Apple that provides designers with symbols to implement in various mobile apps. The latest version, SF Symbols 6, contains over 6,000 highly configurable symbols, enhanced animations, and updated annotation tools. Apple regularly updates this iconography library with localized symbol versions, variable colors, and more.
Platforms: macOS.
Pricing: Free.
Sketch
Over a million designers choose Sketch as their loyal companion in mobile app design. Sketch aims to engage a new generation of designers and offers discounts to academic institutions and students.
With Sketch, you can easily add animation and data to designs thanks to its simplicity. It also supports shared libraries, facilitating collaborative work. Sketch has introduced new features like Overlay, which assists designers in creating rich and interactive experiences, as well as better prototype sharing and two new workflow-boosting tools. You can also make anything in your prototype scroll in any direction, enjoying more flexibility during the prototyping process.
Platforms: Web, macOS, iOS.
Pricing: Plans start at $10 per user/month.
Free trial: 30 days.
UXPin
UXPin is a mobile app prototyping tool that saves time by allowing you to update all components at once. With UXPin, interactive prototypes and wireframes are no longer a challenge. The tool streamlines the design process by auto-generating tables, forms, and other components with the help of ChatGPT. UXPin also offers built-in React libraries, advanced interactions, and rich integration capabilities.
Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
Pricing: Plans start at $6 per editor/month.
Free trial: 14 days.
Zeplin
Zeplin is a design delivery platform that facilitates collaboration between engineers and designers. By combining granular design documentation with powerful project organization, Zeplin accelerates the design process and reduces back-and-forth within the team.
Zeplin automatically creates style guides based on imported designs, enables side-by-side design comparisons, links components to the codebase directly in the design, and provides accurate dimensions and specifications for developers. Zeplin also integrates with popular developer tools like Jira, VS Code, Sketch, and more.
Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows.
Pricing: Free. Paid plans start at $8 per seat/month.
In conclusion, you don’t have to limit yourself to a single mobile app design tool. Feel free to combine features from multiple tools to take advantage of their strengths. After all, success in UI/UX design depends on both talent and powerful design tools working together in perfect synergy.