Balsamiq vs Visio

Lucidchart

Figma

EdrawMax

SmartDraw

Axure

Marvel

Compare Balsamiq and Visio based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Figma is a cloud-based UI designing and prototyping tool, which allows multiple teams to collaborate on creating, testing, and deploying interface or product designs. Features include version history, project management, commenting, user-based permissions, plugin creation, and single sign-on (SSO).

Marvel is an all-in-one prototyping platform for web and mobile app building that allows solo designers, growing teams & enterprises to collaborate within a shared environment boasting tools including template-based wireframing, codeless interactivity, centralized feedback & third-party integration

Axure RP is an interactive wireframe and prototyping software designed to help professionals create functional software prototypes without coding and hand these off to developers. Key features include team collaboration, note creation, revision history tracking, animations, and a widget library.

Balsamiq is the only product tool that creates more time than it takes. Show your team exactly what to build with wireframes—no design skills needed.

Access Controls/Permissions

Brainstorming

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Component Library

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Data Linking

Design Management

Design Templates

Desktop Interface

Drag & Drop

Drag & Drop Editor

Feedback Management

For Mobile

For Websites

Ideation

Image Library

Mobile Access

Mobile Interface

Mockup Creation

Multiple Projects

Multiple User Accounts

Offline Access

Presentation Tools

Prototype Creation

Real-Time Updates

Reporting/Analytics

Single Sign On

Software Prototyping

Synchronous Editing

Third-Party Integrations

UI Prototyping

Usability Testing

User Management

UX Prototyping

Version Control

Whiteboard

Widgets

Wireframe Creation

Balsamiq

Web-based

Windows

Have only been using for 5 months now but I'm a great fan of the simplicity bundled with endless options for quick iterations.

Solutions Engineer

It makes my job incredibly easy and produces a super clean wireframe immediately. The pre-set buttons that you can drag are the best and I just won't use anything else for Wireframing.

Mobile Developer

It is a good desktop and mobile mock-up tool with a good quantity of functionalities. For sure is one of the best free solutions for small projects in LF stages.

Web Operations Manager & Co-Founder

What I like the most is its price, compared to its competition, it is one of the most economical and perfectly fulfills its function.

Search Engine Evaluator

I loved this software because it helps me to create my own website design.

It's super easy to use and I've never had anything but a great experience. It's so fast and gets the job done.

Business Process Consultant 

This is the best product around for creating wire frames. I've used it on countless projects and have great reviews for it.

web developer

I like that balsamiq is light wireframing tool, fast and most importantly very easy to learn. The price for the product is also very fair , considering what you get for the money.

Product Owner Lead

The following things I don't like. No walk through/onboarding, sometimes makes you feel lost.

SEO Analyst

Balsamiq is intuitive and oddly fun to use. I was able to get what I need out of it pretty easily, and would definitely use it again.

Scrum Master

Versioning is very great. Community support is good.

Junior Dev

This software is best one for wireframing and making mockups, here are some pros. Free trial for 1 month in order to try it out.

Project Coordinator and Analyst

Additionally, creation of site-maps is limited with no scope of customization.

Software Developer

So it is perfect to integrate mockups, wireframes into other files, or send them as a single file.

Solution Architect

Wireframes can look child-like and unprofessional with some settings. Currently based on Adobe Air technology which is outdated.

Thanks to its simplicity, I achieve complete mockups in no time. In addition to the elements that made the community libraries accelerate the process.

programmer

It doesnt include the material design components, you need to find them on internet and it's difficult to use them.

Senior UX Designer

The tool is excellent and lets you produce really rapid lo-fi prototypes. Learning curve is quite shallow because if you ever used another design tool everything is pretty much intuitive.

Balsamiq screenshot: Balsamiq user interface

Balsamiq screenshot: One way to collaborate with your team is by adding comments

Balsamiq screenshot: You can export your wireframes to PDF and PNG

Balsamiq screenshot: Add wireframes to Confluence pages to clarify ideas, make specs visual, and align teams instantly

Balsamiq screenshot: Add wireframes to Jira issues to clarify specs, reduce rework, and help teams build the right thing

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Public Administrations

Small Business

SmartDraw makes professional drawings and diagrams accessible to everyone. With leading floor-planning tools, data integrations, and an intuitive interface, SmartDraw delivers enterprise power without complexity.

Edraw Max is an all-in-one diagram creation solution that allows businesses to design a range of diagrams for illustrating workflows, floor plans, organizational charts, and more. The platform allows users to create flow charts, mind maps, fishbone diagrams, UML diagrams, and more.

Lucidchart is a cloud-based diagram solution that enables users to create various types of flowcharts and visual documentation online. The platform supports multiple use cases including technical diagramming, process documentation, and team visualization, while offering AI-powered features that transform text prompts into polished diagrams. It integrates with popular workplace applications to facilitate seamless collaboration across teams.

Microsoft Visio is a cloud-based flowchart and diagram creation tool, designed to aid collaboration and connect real-time data with business workflows. The platform enables communication of complex information through data-linked diagrams, flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, and more.

Auto Update

Business Process Automation

Charting

Color Codes/Icons

Customizable Dashboard

Data Management

Data Visualization

Diagramming

Document Embedding

Document Management

Document Storage

Employee Photos

File Management

File Sharing

Flowchart

Forms Automation

Freehand Sketch

Graphical Workflow Editor

Hierarchical Mapping

Interactive Elements

Map Exporting

Mind Maps

Multi-Language

Network Diagram

No-Code

Organizational Charting

Process Change Tracking

Process Modeling & Designing

Publishing/Sharing

Real-Time Data

Relational Display

Rules-Based Workflow

Search/Filter

Task Management

Template Management

Templates

Visual Discovery

Visual Workflow Management

Workflow Management

Visio

Android

Linux

iPad

iPhone

Senior Technical Officer

Visio has great Product functionality when compared to other software and also it has a very good & strong user community who we can reach out when in need.

Corrosion and Materials Engineer

Overall I'm glad to have spent the time to learn it and enjoy using Visio very much. It's been very helpful and useful for my day-to-day responsibilities at work.

Department business administrator

This program is awesome for developing organizational chart. I love it because it makes it super easy for you to do it as well.

Software Consultant

More than once I had to make the same changes to a diagram cause I misplaced or lost an updated version. That is my biggest pain with visio, and is ultimately why I switched to Lucid Chart.

Director

Formatting is the biggest challenge, especially when you have large projects it is difficult to view all and you loose track.

Administration Manager

It has all the features and functionalities that I need for my job and gives me the ability to get creative with my work. I recommend this software to anyone in the design world and beyond.

MFG Engr Manager

Ease of use, good quality of results and professional. When creating detailed process flow diagram, it is easy to use with minimal learning requirements.

Governance and QA Lead

It makes visuals clear, easy to understand and helps users better understand processes enabling training opportunities, risk/control reviews, etc. within an organization.

Project Manager

Visio is a great modeling tool, ready to use shapes and stensils help tremendously to present an excellent diagram.

Account administration Analyst

What I like the most about Visio is that it allows me to put my ideas in a logical way and to present it further to others. It is very easy to use and you have a lot of features that can help you.

Special Assistant

Visio is good for those who are more visual types of users, it is good at mapping out floor blueprints and things of that sort.

Director of IT

The integration with other Office products is great and it is nice to be able to find so many example diagrams on the internet for various use cases.

Food and Beverage specialist

Using auto-arrange features can result in errors such as wrong diagram arrangement.

Sr Consultant

Visio is a great tool for modeling and any other format to produce a diagram. It is simple to use and worth the money spent on a Microsoft suite bundle.

Technical Designer

Many different styles, grouped by specific fields with integrated search, quickly find the best suitable for the required application.

Strategic Partnerships Manager

Visio is quite expensive compared to its competitors which can be a barrier for some businesses.

Student

With Visio, I've drawn out my Network topology, rack layout, and much more with ease. Although it's expensive, my student discount really helps bring it down to a reasonable price.

Balsamiq vs Visio Comparison (2026)

Balsamiq

Visio

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives