When it comes to building a mobile app, swift app development requires a solid foundation in prototyping. In this guide, we'll explore the best mobile-first app prototyping tools for builders in 2026.
Mobile-First App Prototyping
Mobile app prototyping is an essential step in the app development process. It allows you to test and refine your ideas before investing time and resources into building a functional app. When choosing a prototyping tool, consider the following factors:
- Mobile-first design elements and components
- Native-responsive interactions
- Multi-platform and mobile device previews
- User flows and conditions for mobile devices
Best App Prototype Tools: A Guide
There are numerous prototyping tools available, each with its unique features and pricing plans. In this guide, we'll explore the best six mobile-first app prototyping tools that cater to different needs and preferences.
1. Natively
Natively is an all-in-one tool that offers more than just simple prototype building. Its no-code AI app builder allows you to create functional prototypes and iterate as you go. The platform works by prompting, making it easy to create an app's first look or add a new feature without coding.
Pricing:
- Micro: $5 per month (for individuals who want to test app ideas)
- Agent: Adjustable pricing based on $25 per 50 prompts per month
- Consulting: $4,000 per month or custom pricing with advanced features
2. Figma
Figma is an intuitive platform that excels in creating design-first prototypes. While it doesn't allow for functional prototyping, you can create user flows, animations, and other interactions. Figma also supports variables and conditional logic to give your prototype a more realistic feel.
Pricing:
- Free: For individuals who need basic prototyping tools
- Professional: $20 per user per month (for small teams who need more advanced prototyping tools)
- Organization: $55 per user per month (for unlimited teams and centralized assets)
- Enterprise: $90 per user per month (for custom workspaces with advanced features and security)
3. Balsamiq
Balsamiq is a low-fidelity prototyping tool that's perfect for creating rough sketches of your ideas before diving into the actual design process. It keeps your digital pen-and-paper designs collaborative, allowing teams to work together to sketch out basic user interfaces and app screens.
Pricing:
- Up to 2 Projects: $12 (Business) and $18 (Enterprise) per month
- Up to 5 Projects: $22 (Business) and $33 (Enterprise) per month
- Up to 10 Projects: $34 (Business) and $51 (Enterprise) per month
4. Justinmind
Justinmind is a powerful tool that lets you create advanced mobile app prototypes with core features, components, and functionality. Its extensive library of gestures, effects, and templates makes it easy to create prototypes in no time.
Pricing:
- Free: For individuals who need UI design and wireframing only
- Standard: $19 per editor per month (for teams who need advanced interactive design tools)
- Professional: $29 per editor per month (advanced features such as data simulation)
- Enterprise: $59 per editor per month (collaboration on internal servers with full control)
5. Mockplus
Mockplus is a tool that lets you build prototypes faster by providing an extensive template library. You can customize these templates with thousands of pre-built assets, icons, components, and widgets.
Pricing:
- Free: For up to 10 users and three prototypes
- Ultimate: $29.50 per user per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for advanced features
6. ProtoPie
ProtoPie is an advanced prototyping tool that's perfect for creating high-fidelity prototypes, especially for mobile apps. It supports all kinds of advanced interactions to create realistic prototypes.
Pricing:
- Free: For up to two prototypes with two scenes each
- Basic: $29 per month for individuals (with up to 20 prototypes)
- Pro: $5