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Balsamiq

Website

Information

Usage
Rating
★★★★★(1)
Platform
WebMacWindows
Cost
$ 192

Other Info

No
FreeNo
Yes
DesignCan create designs from scratch
Import
No
AnimationsNo micro-interactions
No
TransitionsNo transitions between screens
No
DataOnly static text supported
No
CodeNo coding functionality
No
InputsNo dynamic inputs
No
VariablesVariables not supported
SharingWebPDF
No
HandoffNo developer handoff
No
SensorsNo device sensors
No
ExportCan't detect gamepad input
No
VoiceNo voice support
No
TasksNo guided tasks
No
AnalyticsNo supported analytics
No
HeatmapNo heatmap support

About Balsamiq

Balsamiq is a low-fidelity wireframing tool made by Balsamiq. Its sketch-style UI controls keep attention on structure and flow rather than visual polish. Product managers, founders, consultants and designers use it for early-stage wireframes and simple clickable prototypes.

The main product is Balsamiq Cloud, which runs in the browser. Balsamiq also offers integrations for Confluence, Jira and Google Drive. Balsamiq AI generates wireframes and interactive prototypes from a prompt or a screenshot, and an MCP server connects Balsamiq to developer tools.

Balsamiq for Desktop (Windows and macOS) is being retired. It is available only until December 31, 2026 and does not include the AI features.

Best for: Teams and non-designers who need fast, low-fidelity wireframes to agree on structure before any visual design.

Strengths

  • Very quick to learn, with a deliberately limited, sketch-style UI kit.
  • Unlimited reviewers at no extra cost on every plan.
  • AI generates wireframes and prototypes from prompts or screenshots.
  • Integrations for Confluence, Jira and Google Drive.
  • 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

Limitations

  • Low fidelity only, so it is not suited to final visual design.
  • No free plan beyond the trial.
  • Plans cap the number of projects (10, 100 or 400).
  • The desktop app is being retired at the end of 2026.

Pricing

Balsamiq Cloud Starter is US$16 per editor per month billed annually ($192 per year), Teams is $24 ($288 per year) and Enterprise is $35 ($420 per year). A 14-day free trial is available and reviewers are free. Checked October 2026.

When to pick something else

  • Moqups: pick it if you want wireframes and diagrams in one browser tool
  • Whimsical: pick it if you want wireframes alongside flowcharts and docs
  • Figma: pick it if wireframes need to turn into high-fidelity designs
  • Visily: pick it if you want an AI-first wireframing tool

Checked against Balsamiq’s own website in October 2026.

Balsamiq is a prototyping tool for Web, Mac and Windows. A paid plan costs about $192 a year, with no free plan. In our comparison it supports design. It does not offer animations, transitions, data, code, inputs, variables, handoff, sensors, export, voice, tasks, analytics and heatmap.

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