Free Wireframe Tools For Mac

Visio is a free online tool by Microsoft that is used to create excellent flowcharts and other diagrammatic representations of text content. The tool was first developed and introduced in 1992 by Shapewear Corporation and was taken over by Microsoft in 2000. It was then included and integrated with the prevalent MS office software as people started taking advantage of the seamless connectivity between Visio and other MS Office tools like MS Powerpoint, MS Word, MS Access, and more. With this context, we'll here be thoroughly examining the top 5 Visio equivalents for macOS that are widely appreciated across the world.

  1. Wireframe.cc is a software company based in Poland and offers a software product called Wireframe.cc. Pricing starts at $12.00/month. Wireframe.cc is wireframe software, and includes features such as collaboration, interactive elements, mobile interface, revision history, and wireframe creation. Wireframe.cc offers a free version.
  2. I work at a 5-designer team and recently use an online wireframing tool called Mockplus. Honestly, we firstly searched it out over the internet to use it as a design collaboration tool. Its handoff feature helped us save much time and energy.

The reason for such a topic is, everyone seems not pretty confident or comfortable working with MS Office, and also with Windows set-up. Considering the fact our discussion goes on here. If you are in the same boat, stick around till the end as we'll cover all the important features, pros & cons, pricing, and more of the best 5 Visio Replacement for macOS.

Free wireframe tools for mac computers

The fast and free wireframe tool to make wireframes, websites & apps. Adobe XD is a powerful and free wireframing tool for UI/UX designers, built by the world’s leader in creative technologies. With XD, you can quickly mock up and wireframe layouts, create UI elements, and define user flowcharts, navigational structure, and information.

The Availability of Diagramming Tools of Mac Version

When it comes to macOS, there are no such options to use any diagramming tools for free. It's hard to believe, but really there is none of them. To beat the heat, you can use a few popular online tools for free and there are EdrawMax, ASCII Flow, Draw.io, etc.

But if you are still looking for a desktop application, then you can use these applications in offline mode. With the quantity of using MacBook over the world, the users who got used to Visio to make diagrams and other jobs will be disappointed that Visio could be able to utilize on the Mac version, at that time, the replacement or alternatives of Visio on the iOS system seem to be urgent to satisfy users’ demands.

What to Consider before Choosing Visio Equivalent for Mac?

Selecting a tool for personal/professional purposes requires a lot of research through online surveys and 'trial and error' methods. To help you find the best Visio equivalent for MAC, I have enlisted a few important points to consider before selecting the one.

  • Usability

Irrespective of how powerful the tool is, you need to check out whether the tool meets your requirements. The Visio alternative software for Mac must be able to cater to your diagramming needs.

  • Connectivity/ Portability

To sustain in today's fast work environment, only being powerful doesn't work anymore. Apart from the software abilities, it should also be well-integrated and portable with other platforms (example, just look at MS Visio for an example, it's not highly mobile, and that's why you are reading this). So the tool should produce such outputs that can be integrated and ported on other platforms.

  • Pricing

Try for a free tool if your budget is not sufficient. But also check with your requirements. Based on the needs and pricing, select the one that suits you the best.

  • Security
Free Wireframe Tools For Mac

Sometimes you might need to work on very sensitive/confidential data that has to be highly secured. So check carefully with the security as well, then make a decision.

Best 5 Free Visio Equivalent for Mac

1. EdrawMax

Source:EdrawMax

The software is available to download for free and use it as a desktop version. You can create unlimited flow charts, mind maps, org charts, network diagrams, and stunning floor charts in just a few clicks. Choose your favorite templates from the dashboard equipped with plenty of options.

Pros:
  • Platform Independent
  • Output available in PDF format
  • User-friendly interface
Cons:

Mac Ui Design Software

  • Lack of online help on “how to use EdrawMax
  • Relational databases are not appropriately functional while creating complex flowcharts
Why We Picked It:
  • Highly recommended by professionals and beginners who are interested in diagramming, since its substantial icons, charts and templates, as well as its strong storage.
Price
  • Free trail with limited functions
  • Starting price $99 per year for a single user
  • The one-time purchase price is $245 (for a single user) validity: lifetime
Link of official websitehttps://www.edrawsoft.com/edraw-max/


EdrawMax

All-in-One Diagram Software
Create more than 280 types of diagrams effortlessly
Start diagramming with various templates and symbols easily
  • Superior file compatibility: Import and export drawings to various file formats, such as Visio
  • Cross-platform supported (Windows, Mac, Linux, Web)
Security Verified | Switch to Mac >>
Security Verified | Switch to Linux >>
Security Verified | Switch to Windows >>

2. Omnigraffle

Source:Omnigraffle

This sophisticated data management tool and customizable diagramming software are highly portable, consisting of hundreds of customizable templates to efficiently work with the complex management data. Engineering designs, infographics, and highly complex business models can be created with ease.

Pros:
  • complex data-based drawings, flowcharts, mind maps, etc
  • An easy drag-and-drop mechanism
Cons:
  • No free version is available
  • Features are very limited in the free version
Why We Picked It:
  • Many people look for purchasing a premium tool that charges a one-time payment with life-long validity and support. That is the reason this premium super-powerful data management, and the diagramming tool is in our top 5 Visio alternatives for MAC OS list.
Price 14-day free trial available for Omnigraffle
Link of official websitehttps://www.omnigroup.com/omnigraffle//


3. Dia Diagram Editor

Source:Dia Diagram Editor

One of the best Visio equivalents for macOS using an extremely professional interface with lots of features to create awesome flowcharts and vector diagrams. Ease of use is its priority for the users, especially for the beginners.

Pros:
  • Dia editor is open-source software, download for free
  • Platform independent
  • Easy user interface
Cons:
  • Hard to find the download link
Why We Picked It:
  • When we did online surveys on feedback about MS Visio equivalent for macOS, we received excellent feedback about the Dia diagram editor, which is freely available across all platforms. Hence, it ranks in our top 5 MS Visio alternatives for macOS list.
Price Open-source tool
Link of official websitehttp://dia-installer.de/download/macosx.html.en


4. ConceptDraw

Source:ConceptDraw

A highly advanced diagramming tool for use in creating flowcharts, business mapping, managing and maintaining business data, charts, workflow models, and also integrating them seamlessly through the cloud environment. Stuffed with plenty of useful, robust templates for using multiple times with designing accurate data-driven use cases, charts, infographics, and architectural models.

Pros:
  • Simple and easy to use
  • Plenty of in-built templates
  • It can create infographics starting from the scratch with customizable designing templates.
Cons:
  • Keyboard shortcuts are too complex
  • Rearranging the set-up in case of business scaling is not easy
Why We Picked It:
  • We found the cons of ConceptDraw are not that superior, having an overall good score ConceptDraw retains its position in the top 5 list of Visio equivalent for MAC.
Price Licensing price
Link of official websitehttps://www.conceptdraw.com/


5. Lucidchart

Source:Lucidchart

One of the best free MS Visio equivalent for Mac users, that comes with lots of features, online help, and a very simple User interface. You will not require any kind of technical skillset to use this tool. It’s so easy to use and step-by-step explanations with images are available as a complete tutorial/guide!

Pros:
  • Available for free
  • Easily Portable
  • A bunch of ready-to-use templates is available
  • Simple User Interface
Cons:
  • Many features are available only in the paid version
  • Extremely complex data cannot be handled perfectly
Why We Picked It:
  • The software extremely easy to use, with a simple yet powerful user interface. Moreover, the tool is available for free across all platforms. The software is also voted as the top 5 Visio replacement for Mac in our online surveys. Thus, it has appeared on the list.
Price $9.95 month to month
Link of official websitehttps://www.lucidchart.com/pages//


Recommendation

Though it is not easy to suggest a single tool to the users with a variety of requirements, especially when it is the Aternative to Visio for MAC users. But still, from our top 5 list of MS Visio replacement for Mac, I would recommend you one software which I liked the most - Edraw Max. I recommend the tool due to its user-friendliness, portability, and robustness. Unlike the other tools with similar functionalities, Edraw Max’s UI(User Interface) is more comfortable with excellent online user manuals that guide the beginners correctly in a stepwise manner explaining each step thoroughly. I also am a satisfied user of Edraw Max, and can assure you with the security and performance.

The wireframing process is the straight-to-the-point and completely non-tech stage of any web project. It only requires that you define a skeletal outline of essential page elements such as headers, footers, navigation and content area and should illustrate how to cater and respond to any possible interaction from a user.
It is the most important, yet underused, stage of any web or apps development.

Please note that this post is quite old, so some of these apps may not longer be free. Tread with caution.

There are several avenues you could take for sketching a wireframe, most notably pen and paper (the easiest and most cost effective way), but for the sake of this article we have focused on apps that are not only highly effective and easy to use, they are also completely free.

We have covered free wireframe apps before (here), but a year is a long time in web development – some of the apps we had previously covered are either no longer completely free or are no longer available. And as such, we felt that we should compile a new list with more detail and covering all areas of design including web pages, mobile apps and application dev.

As well as showcasing a variety of free apps (11 in total), at the bottom of the post, we have also highlighted some premium wireframing services that do offer free, yet limited, options. You may like to try them.

Unlimited Downloads: Wireframe Templates, UI Kits & Web Templates for Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, Sketch & XD

Lumzy – Quick Mockup Creation and Prototyping Tool

With Lumzy, you can create mockups of how your site or application will function by adding events from the extensive list of controls on offer.

As well as having great tools for creating your mockup, you can also create Message Alerts, interactive Page Navigation, add Links to external content, and much more. It does offer a great set collaboration tools for live team editing and a chat engine for deliberating over designs. All of this and it is absolutely FREE.

Mockup Builder – A Killing Prototyping App

Mockup Builder has just recenly been released and looks very promising. It is feature-rich and versatile by allowing you create various prototyping styles, including: UI mockups, interactive wireframes, website layouts, desktop software prototypes and even sitemaps & screen navigation.

Of course, it does come with great collaboration tools for sharing with clients and colleagues.

Free Wireframe Software Windows

Tiggr – Creating Prototypes Collaboratively

The idea behind Tiggr (currently in beta) is to give you the resources needed to create prototypes (for web, app or mobile) that look and feel like the final product. It allows you to design from a large number of components, share (via email, Twitter or Facebook), you can collaborate with any number of users and will generate an HTML/JS/CSS so that you can preview your UI mockups very quickly. A 10 second registration (email & password) is the only thing you have to go through to use this fantastic FREE tool.

Frame Box – Lightweight Online Tool for Creating Mockups

Frame Box does not have an extensive list of features (like the web based apps above). You can drag and drop, re-size and copy/paste the UI units, but its main focus, and why we like it so much, is that it allows you to create your mockup/prototype very, very quickly by using its very easy to use drag and drop interface. Again, this app is FREE and only requires a quick registration.

SimpleDiagrams Free Edition (Adobe Air App)

SimpleDiagrams (free version) is a tiny Adobe Air app that helps you express your design ideas quickly and simply. Drag & drop symbols from its libraries, add images or post-notes, export as a PNG are all of its features, adding up to just just enough functionality to create a decent mockup.

iPhone Mockup

With iPhone Mockup you have a choice of using either the Pencil styled editor (screenshot above) or the Illustration editor (screenshot below). Whichever editor you decide to use, the functionality remains the same: Its a very simple and easy to use app that allows you to create your own iPhone mockups very quickly, share them with other people at the click of a button, and any changes you make will by synced to everyone who has the mockup’s URL.

fluidIA

fluidIA is a downloadable web based design tool for prototyping rich user interfaces. It allows for rapid refinement and exploration of concepts using an object-oriented approach to design. The original idea behind fluidIA is to discover whether a group of interaction designers, IA’s, UX professionals and developers can create there own prototyping tool in an open way.

Progress on FluidIA has been a little bit slow recently, but the actual app works perfectly for designing a wireframe mockup.

Pencil Project (Firefox Extension)

Pencil Project is a free and opensource Firefox addon for designing GUI prototypes. With its built-in stencils you can create linked multi-page UI documents and finally export your mockup in either HTML, PNG, Openoffice.org document, Word document or PDF.

What more would you want from a wireframing app? This truly is an essential Firefox extension that any serious developer or designer should use.

CogTool – General Purpose UI Prototyping Tool (Standalone Application for Win & Mac)

CogTool is a FREE and powerful general purpose UI prototyping tool with a difference – it automatically evaluates your design with a predictive human performance model (a “cognitive crash dummy”). You simply create a storyboard of your design idea with sketches, images or on a canvas with CogTool’s widgets, demonstrate tasks on that storyboard, then press a button to produce a valid cognitive model predicting how long it will take a skilled user to complete those tasks.

CogTool offers a lot of support via its extensive user guides, step-by-step tutorials (video and articles), its forum and also offers example files to help you get started.

Free Wireframe Tools For Mac Download

Prototype Composer (Community Edition)

Prototype Composer makes it possible to simulate how an application will look and function before any code is ever written. Instead of endless text entries, complex data hierarchies, or too technical UML diagrams, Serena Prototype Composer makes it easy for business users and business analysts to collaborate on requirements by building simple, high fidelity prototypes that simulate a working application.

It is a tool for prototyping data, processes, activities and most importantly, user interfaces. The application also works as a fairly easy to use Project Management tool.
The Community Edition is its free version which allows users to work in a sample project as well as in one user-defined project.

DUB – DENIM (Standalone Application for Win, Linux & Mac)

DENIM is a free desktop application that is available for Windows, Unix, and Mac OS X. DENIM describes itself as “an Informal Tool For Early Stage Web Site and UI Design”.
It combines many of the benefits of paper-based sketching with existing electronic prototyping tools.

It allows designers to quickly sketch an interface, preserving the important properties of pencil and paper: a rough drawing can be produced quickly and the medium is flexible. However, unlike a paper sketch, this electronic sketch is interactive and can easily be annotated and modified.

Wireframing Software Free

Premium Wireframe/Prototype Apps with a Free Option Available

All of the Wireframe & Prototype & Mockup web-based applications below are premium services that do offer a free, yet limited, option. You may like to try them:

  • FlairBuilder – Wireframes. Mockups. Prototypes
  • Mockabilly – iPhone app mockup

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