Production: Every morning, you can see people are rushing to their offices by different communications. Some people take a taxi for time-saving, some others take buses for cost-saving, and also some people chose to walk to office for exercising. This scene reminds me of the designers choose wireframe tools for Mac.
In fact, this is the same reason for the designer to choose wireframe tools. Before making a choose, designers always consider the cost, effectiveness, and speed. What is wireframe? It is an indispensable part of job for UI/UX designers. Thus, you should have a careful comparison of these wireframe tools. I learned that most of the designers prefer to design on mac. Here we've selected 9 of the best wireframe tools for Mac to get you started. Enjoy!
Nov 16, 2019 Balsamiq Mockups 3.5 for Mac is free to download from our application library. This Mac download was checked by our antivirus and was rated as malware free. The file size of the latest installer available for download is 16.2 MB. This Mac application was originally created by Balsamiq Studios, LLC. The program belongs to Developer Tools. WireframeSketcher is a wireframing tool that helps designers, developers and product managers quickly create wireframes, mockups and prototypes for desktop, web and mobile applications. It’s a desktop app and a plug-in for any Eclipse IDE. Wireframing Tool for Professionals. Create wireframes in minutes; Get quality feedback fast. A wireframing tool that gets you to the best idea, fast. Wireframe for any device. Go from idea to wireframe within minutes for any device, iPhone, iPad, Android and desktop. Perfect for the early stages of the design process when you’re trying to form your concept into something tangible and translate it to your team, clients or stakeholders.
1. Axure
When we talk about prototyping tools, we should mention Axure in the first place. Everyone knows that it’s a powerful tool with a variety of functions. Such as wireframe, flow chart, and interaction design. It charges $29-99 per user per month.
2. Mockplus
Mockplus for Mac is a concise and rapid prototype design tool. Mockplus is very easy to use. Even the novice can quickly make a prototype. Its unique sketch style and low fidelity coincide with the features of the wireframe.
Promised New Features in Mockplus version 3.2:
1. UI Flow Design Mode
2. Repeater
3. Demo Projects and Templates
4. Sketch Import
5. Mind Map Design Mode
…
3. Sketch
As a professional wireframe tool for Mac, Sketch aims to improve the design efficiency for designers. It’s convenient to edit contents. You can achieve the commonly used function by a key. It is suitable for lightweight design, such as drawing wireframe.
4. OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle is a drawing tool that is only suitable for Apple Devices. All kinds of chart is a piece of cake for it. Designers can make a good wireframe with its rich template. This software will cost you around $50.
5. Balsamiq Mockups
Balsamiq Mockups is one of the wireframe tools for Mac. It not only includes a lot of drag elements but also achieves automatic alignment. It also can export PNG pictures and insert any projects. The whole interface is very simple and clean. However, the price of $79 does not seem cheap. Maybeit’s worth it!
6. InDesign
InDesign is considered as a great wireframe tool. It can add animation and video into wireframes, which can contribute to a vivid presentation effect. It aims to build an interactive wireframe. If you want to make your wireframe stand out, it’s a good choice.
7. Photoshop
In general, the designers have never thought to draw a wireframe by Photoshop. It can combine the different elements and graphicsinto a wireframe. If you are very familiar with Adobe, this tool should be considered. You can draw a wireframe quickly by it. The trial version of Photoshop is free in 30 days.
8. FlairBuilder
Like other wireframe tools for Mac, FlairBuilder can create a wireframe by dragging and clicking. If you are still entangled fidelity problem, FlairBuilder is a good choice. It can upgrade from the low-fidelity sketches to the high-fidelity wireframes. The only downside is that the price is expensive. You have to pay $99 to use it.
9. Fluid UI
Fluid UI is a mobile prototype design tool. Fluid UI owns more than 1700 models of the wireframe and mobile phone UI widgets, and it will often update. It can create an application prototype that applies to a variety of platforms. Such as Windows, Mac, and Android. It’s very suitable for cross-platform designers. This tool also supports free trial before buying.
No matter what’s your choice, you can finally complete the design of the wireframe. Simply speaking, the only differences of these tools are quickness, usability, and price. Now the software companies are keeping in a rapid iteration, the best wireframe tools are also iterated rapidly. What you should do is keeping up with the trends, not only focus on a tool out of date. At last, I hope you find the right wireframe tools for Mac.
Extend or mirror your Mac desktop with Sidecar
- Make sure that your Mac and iPad meet the Sidecar system requirements.
- You can use Sidecar wirelessly, but to keep your iPad charged during use, connect it directly to your Mac with the USB charge cable that came with your iPad.
- Click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar on your Mac, then choose the option to connect to your iPad. Or use Sidecar preferences to connect.
If you don't see the AirPlay icon, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, then make sure that ”Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available” is selected. - Your iPad should now show an extension of your Mac desktop. You can move windows to it and use it like any other display.
- To mirror your Mac display so that both screens show the same content, return to the AirPlay menu, which is a blue rectangle while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display. This is a great way to share your Mac screen with others.
- To end your Sidecar session, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect. Or click the Disconnect button in the sidebar on your iPad.
Learn more about using external displays. For example, you can use Displays preferences to arrange displays so that your iPad extends the left, right, top, or bottom of your desktop.
Move a window to your iPad display
If you hover your pointer over the full-screen button of a window, you can choose to move that window to or from your iPad display. It's faster than dragging the window, and the window is perfectly resized for your display.
The sidebar puts commonly used controls on the side of your iPad screen. It includes Command, Shift, and other modifier keys, so you can choose essential commands with your finger or Apple Pencil instead of a keyboard.
Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the sidebar or change its position.
Tap to show or hide the menu bar when viewing a window in full screen on iPad.
Command. Touch and hold to set the Command key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Option. Touch and hold to set the Option key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Control. Touch and hold to set the Control key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Shift. Touch and hold to set the Shift key. Double-tap to lock the key.
Undo the last action. Some apps support multiple undos.
Use the Touch Bar
Many apps on Mac have Touch Bar controls that make common actions even easier. With Sidecar, you get a Touch Bar on your iPad screen even if your Mac doesn’t have a Touch Bar. It works just like the Touch Bar on Mac, and you can tap its controls with either your finger or Apple Pencil.
Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the Touch Bar or change its position.
If the Touch Bar doesn't appear when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Mission Control, then make sure that “Displays have separate Spaces” is selected.
Wireframing Mac
Use gestures for scrolling and other actions
Multi-Touch gestures on iPad remain available when using Sidecar. These gestures are particularly useful with Sidecar:
- Scroll: Swipe with two fingers.
- Copy: Pinch in with three fingers.
- Cut: Pinch in with three fingers twice.
- Paste: Pinch out with three fingers.
- Undo: Swipe left with three fingers, or double-tap with three fingers.
- Redo: Swipe right with three fingers.
Use Apple Pencil
Mobile App Wireframe
Wireframing App Mac Os X
To point, click, select, and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos, and manipulating objects on your iPad while it's extending or mirroring your Mac display, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac.
Sidecar also supports double-tap, which you can turn on in Sidecar preferences. Double-tap enables apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
Use a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad
During your Sidecar session, you can type using a keyboard connected to either your Mac or iPad, including the Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard for iPad.
To point, click, or select with a mouse or trackpad, use the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac, or use an Apple Pencil on your iPad.
Use iPad apps
While using Sidecar, you can switch to an iPad app, then interact with that app on your iPad as you normally would. This suspends your Sidecar session until you switch back to the Sidecar app or disconnect Sidecar. The Sidecar app appears on your home screen only while using Sidecar.
Use Sidecar preferences
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sidecar. These preferences are available only on computers that support Sidecar.
- Show Sidebar: Show the sidebar on the left or right side of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
- Show Touch Bar: Show the Touch Bar on the bottom or top of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
- Enable double tap on Apple Pencil: Allow apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
- Connect to: Choose an iPad to connect to, or click Disconnect to stop using Sidecar.
Sidecar system requirements
Sidecar requires a compatible Mac using macOS Catalina and a compatible iPad using iPadOS 13:
Mac using macOS Catalina
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
- iMac introduced in 2017 or later, plus iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac Pro
- Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
- Mac Pro introduced in 2019
iPad using iPadOS 13
- iPad Pro: all models
- iPad (6th generation) or later
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
Additional requirements
- Both devices must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.
- To use Sidecar wirelessly, both devices must be within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other and have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on. Also make sure that the iPad is not sharing its cellular connection and the Mac is not sharing its Internet connection.
- To use Sidecar over USB, make sure that your iPad is set to trust your Mac.
Learn more
- Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference, which can affect Sidecar performance when using Sidecar wirelessly.