Web Design: Top 7 Wireframing Tools (Updated)

By Marisa Peacock (@marisacp51) Feb 10, 2009

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It's been more than six months since we published our popular list of the Top 5 Wireframing Tools. Since then various readers have been eager to share with us their experience with the tools they have used for wireframing, information architecture and interaction design. We hear you!

Therefore, herewith we are are expanding the list, adding details and tying-in updates on the latest releases.

For Navigable Designs

iPlotz

Originally started as an internal project of the Virtual Training Company to help communicate ideas between different members of the team based in Australia, USA and India. Offered to the rest of us, iPlotz is a web-based tool for quickly sketching wireframes of websites and demonstrating navigation between pages.

A straightforward interface allows designers to create rough sketches of web pages and link them together. Combining drag-and-drop functionality with representational elements that enable wireframe designers to focus clients on concepts and functions without getting into design specifics, iPlotz lets users rapidly create clickable, navigable mockups and wireframes for prototyping websites and software applications.

Once a project is created, wireframe pages are added, users can share and discuss with others.

iPlotz User Interface

Features of iPlotz include:

Compatibility with windows, mac or linux with flash enabled browsers
Add, delete, rename multiple pages for your sitemap
Upload, drag and drop your own images onto a page
Export pages as png, jpg or pdf
Invite others to comment on pages
Share editing rights with others on projects, so that they can modify wireframes too
Add tasks for project members to handle coding and design

Users can open one project with up to 20 pages for free. The subscription price is US$ 99 per year.

For the Windows User

Visio

The crowd cried foul when we neglected to include Visio in our first list of wireframing tools. Visio 2007 boasts itself as a tool for IT and business professionals who need to visualize systems, processes and other information for insight and communication.

Users can create simple layouts using Microsoft Office Visio. There are a few tools that provide website mapping by allowing you to create an up-to-date, basic graphical representation of the site's structure and contents.

When you map your site, Visio follows each link within the parameters you've specified and tracks any errors it encounters. In addition, users can track their work using the Web Site Map comparison report, where two versions of your site can be compared to quantify the changes made over a given period of time. This might be helpful if there are multiple people working on the project.