Any “top X” list is going to be subjective, but at Creatie, we built our platform based on our experiences as UI/UX designers and creatives. This list is a reflection of those collective experiences. 

That said, we’ll first walk through how to choose the right app design software based on your needs, including any important features you should consider. Then, we’ll get into our list of the ten best app design tools that you should know.

How to choose app design software

The design tools you choose aren’t just tools; they’re an extension of your creative process and how you like to work. Want to save time, have more control over your layouts, or smooth the handoff from design to development? There’s a tool out there that’s right for your needs. 

Here’s the process we recommend you follow to find the right tool for you:

Understand your project’s requirements

When selecting app design software, it’s important to consider your project’s specific requirements first. You can start by looking at your project’s breadth and complexity. Is it a simple landing page or a multi-screen mobile app? Simple projects may only need basic wireframing to map out their structure. But for large-scale apps with interactive elements and detailed interfaces, you’ll want advanced prototyping capabilities to showcase user flows and dynamics. 

Evaluate your tool’s UI capabilities and integrations with other tools

Your project requirements should be the first factor that influences your search for the right design tool. However, you’ll also want to evaluate your tool’s UI design capabilities, integrations, and responsiveness across devices. 

Specifically, you should look for tools that offer robust UI libraries with customizable components, like icons, buttons, and bars, to accelerate prototyping. You can also leverage AI-powered tools like Creatie that let you build your own reusable components by entering a simple prompt.

From here, you’ll also want to ensure that your graphic design tool of choice integrates with the rest of your tech stack to streamline your design workflow. For example, developer handoff tools, like Zeplin and GitHub, allow you to auto-generate specs from your web design files.

Assess your tool’s features, plug-ins, pricing, and collaboration features

In terms of plug-ins, a robust ecosystem can expand the functionality of your design tool and automate repetitive tasks. For example, Figma's plug-in ecosystem allows you to add features such as spell-checking, content placeholders, or even integration with third-party tools like Notion or Trello. That being said, it’s definitely not the most affordable software on our list of tools, which brings us to the next factor you should take into account: pricing. 

Pricing is always a critical factor, especially when working with teams of varying sizes. Otherwise, you run the risk of SaaS sprawl taking a sizable chunk out of your company or personal budget. However, some tools (like Creatie, for example) provide free trials or entry-level plans for freelancers or small teams, allowing you to test the software before fully committing. 

Important features of app design software

Once you’ve defined your project requirements and made a list of non-negotiables for your design tool, you’ll want to start prioritizing which features will matter the most to you and your team members. Here are the app design features we recommend you look out for, regardless of what’s on your wish list:

Design management and collaboration

More than pre-built UI components, the most important app design software capabilities are robust editing tools, design systems management, and real-time collaboration.

Strong editing features are a must as they make it possible to customize all your design elements, from buttons to icons to navigation bars. But you also need real-time collaboration features to walk through these potential design changes with your team, developers, or stakeholders.

You’ll also want to consider an asset library that stores your UI elements, color palettes, typography, and other design elements for easy reuse. For example, Creatie offers all of these features, including an automatic style guide generator that allows you to generate unique design elements and store them in an asset library.

UI/UX design features

Creating a beautiful interface is only half the battle. Your app also needs to be easy to navigate and intuitive for users. Look for user interface and experience (UI/UX) design tools that help you map out the user journey, conduct usability testing, and build wireframes. 

Wireframing tools, in particular, are essential for visualizing the app’s structure before diving into detailed design work. Balsamiq, for example, does a great job of helping designers spin up quick wireframes.

In terms of UI features, your app design software should also give you access to advanced vector tools (at a minimum), as these will ensure your designs adapt visually across any screen size. Prototyping capabilities are also especially important if you want to demonstrate how your app functions in real time without getting your developers involved too early on.

Compatibility and available integrations

UX/UI design features are a great place to start, but no design tool exists in isolation. For a streamlined workflow, your design software also needs to integrate seamlessly with other tools that you and your team already use. Whether it’s importing assets from Adobe Creative Cloud, syncing design specs with development platforms like GitHub, or integrating with project management tools like Jira and Slack, leveraging this kind of compatibility can save you countless hours during the design process.

Auto-generated CSS

Once the design phase is complete, the next step is handing off your work to the development team. The more seamless this handoff process is, the fewer mistakes or misinterpretations will occur during app development. 

Depending on the app design software you’re using, you may even be able to automate the design handoff process. Creatie, for instance, allows users to enable “dev. mode” so they can instantly transform their design files into developer-friendly assets in one click. 

How designers are using AI in app design

There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding AI’s role in creative processes like design, but like with any other technology, AI is meant to augment and support the work you’re already doing. Some designers are already using AI design tools like Creatie to completely transform the way they navigate the design process.

Here are a few of the ways designers are using AI in app design:

Streamlining repetitive tasks

As far as time-savings go, designers can use AI to shave hours off of repetitive tasks such as resizing assets to multiple dimensions, optimizing file sizes, and adjusting layouts across screen sizes. Not only does this allow you to iterate faster, but it also allows you to refocus your efforts on creative problem-solving.

Enhancing UX and personalization

AI enhances UX by providing data-driven insights that can help you optimize your user journeys and make your apps more intuitive. This is because many AI technologies are capable of analyzing user behavior, enabling you to create interfaces that are easy to navigate and meet users' needs effectively. 

Automating checks on design profiles to ensure WCAG compliance

AI also plays a crucial role in ensuring that your app designs meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) by automatically assessing design elements like color contrast, font sizes, and text readability. This streamlines the process of making your apps accessible to users with disabilities, saving you time and minimizing errors.

The top 7 app design software

This list covers a range of ten app design tools you can use to suit your individual design preferences, whether you want to save time, have more control over the design process, or anything in between.

1. Creatie

Creatie is an AI design tool made by creatives for creatives. It rapidly streamlines your design workflows by automating repetitive tasks like:

• Resizing elements
• Adjusting layouts
• Generating design suggestions
• Creating style guides
• Migrating design files between tools
• Optimizing your design assets for different platforms

Its built-in collaboration tools also make it easy to communicate and share feedback in real time.

Another one of Creatie’s standout features is its AI-driven design suggestions. These smart recommendations help designers create layouts and components faster, cutting down on time spent manually fine-tuning each element. This makes it an excellent choice for those who want to speed up their design process without sacrificing quality. 

Pros:

• Creatie cuts down on manual tasks, helping you focus on the creative aspects of design.
• The platform also allows teams to collaborate on their design wireframes in real time.
• The intuitive interface allows users to get started quickly, even if they're new to design software.
• Creatie’s ability to seamlessly transfer files makes it easier to switch between projects or tools.

Cons:

• For larger teams, the lack of features, like single sign-on, may be a drawback.

Pricing:

• Starter: Free for beginners and those exploring AI.
• Pro team: $10/month for freelancers, small teams, startups, and agencies.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for expanding teams with diverse product needs.

2. Marvel

Marvel is a user-friendly design tool that’s perfect for beginners or small teams looking to quickly create prototypes and gather feedback, though it lacks advanced prototyping features.

Pros:

• Its clean interface makes it easy for beginners to get started without any technical barriers.
• Marvel works with popular tools like Slack and Dropbox for easy team collaboration.
• The platform is also excellent for gathering insights from real users and improving designs quickly.

Cons:

• While it’s great for basic prototyping, Marvel lacks some more advanced features, such as interactive prototyping or complex animations, found in other tools.

Pricing:

• Pro plan: $12 per user/month (billed annually).
• Team plan: $42 per user/month (billed annually).

3. Figma

Figma is popular for real-time collaboration, its vector network, and a large plug-in ecosystem, but its steep costs can quickly add up for larger design teams.

Pros:

• Real-time collaboration enables teams to work together without the need for file syncing or version control issues.
• Includes features that simplify the process of converting designs into code for developers.
• Figma has a large community that contributes tutorials, plug-ins, and templates.

Cons:

• While the pricing is reasonable for individuals and small teams, the costs can skyrocket for larger organizations.

Pricing:

• Free plan: Available for individuals, making it accessible for freelancers or small projects.
• Professional: $12 per editor/month (billed annually) for more advanced features and team collaboration.
• Organization: $45 per editor/month for larger teams needing more robust management and collaboration tools.

4. Sketch

Favored by Mac users for its simplicity and vector design capabilities, Sketch lacks cross-platform support and real-time collaboration.

Pros:

• Sketch’s clean interface is easy to navigate, making it a favorite among designers who prefer a streamlined workspace.
• It has a large, active user base, which means plenty of tutorials, resources, and templates are available.
• The platform also stands out for its strong vector design tools and is ideal for creating detailed, pixel-perfect UI/UX projects.

Cons:

• Sketch is exclusive to macOS, which limits its use for teams or individuals who work across different platforms.
• It’s primarily an offline tool, meaning you won’t have cloud-based access without additional integrations.
• Unlike Figma, Sketch doesn’t offer real-time collaboration out of the box, which can slow down team-based workflows.

Pricing:

• $12 per user/month (billed annually).
• $120/year for a single user.

5. Axure RP

A powerhouse for enterprise-level projects that need detailed, interactive prototypes, Axure also has a steep learning curve.

Pros:

• Axure excels in creating detailed, interactive prototypes, making it a go-to tool for enterprise-level projects with sophisticated requirements.
• Its advanced features, like conditional logic and dynamic content, make it invaluable for large-scale, intricate designs.

Cons:

• Axure is not the most beginner-friendly tool, and its advanced features can be overwhelming for those who don’t need them.
• For straightforward projects or basic wireframes, Axure’s extensive feature set may feel unnecessarily complex.

Pricing:

• Axure RP Pro: $29 per user/month (billed annually).
• Axure RP Team: $49 per user/month (billed annually).
• Axure for Enterprise: Custom pricing based on security and licensing options.

6. Balsamiq

Balsamiq is great for low-fidelity wireframes and early-stage design, though it doesn’t support high-fidelity design or complex interactivity.

Pros:

• Balsamiq’s interface is intuitive, making it accessible even for non-designers who need to quickly create wireframes.
• Perfect for rapid brainstorming and getting ideas down without spending time on high-fidelity details.
• A cost-effective option for small teams focused on early-stage design work.

Cons:

• It doesn’t offer advanced tools to create detailed, high-fidelity designs, interactive prototypes, or test user flows.

Pricing:

• $9/month for individual projects.
• $49/month for team plans.

7. Proto.io

Useful for both low- and high-fidelity designs, with strong user testing features, Proto.io may be overwhelming for simpler projects.

Pros:

• Great mobile app design tool for designing mobile interfaces with responsive layouts, transitions, and user flows.
• The ability to validate designs through interactive user testing ensures that your products are user-friendly and functional before development.

Cons:

• Proto.io’s robust feature set might feel like overkill for teams working on smaller, less complex designs.
• While it excels at prototyping and interaction, Proto.io doesn’t offer the same depth in design tools as other software like Creatie or Figma.

Pricing:

• Freelancer: $29/month for one user.
• Startup: $49/month for two users.
• Agency: $99/month for five users.
• Corporate: $199/month for ten users.

Generate new designs in minutes with Creatie

You can spend hours comparing different design tools, or you can generate new designs, wireframes, and design components in minutes using Creatie. Get started for free and build your first design today.