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# Balsamiq vs Figma Comparison - What are their main differences?

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BalsamiqFigma[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**Balsamiq** [

4.2/5(501)

](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews#reviews)

**Figma** [

4.7/5(1,594)

](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**Balsamiq**
Free Trial

No pricing available

**Figma**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Balsamiq**
1 month

Based on 28 responses

**Figma**
1 month

Based on 84 responses

Return on Investment

**Balsamiq**
8 months

Based on 24 responses

**Figma**
8 months

Based on 72 responses

Perceived Cost

**Balsamiq**
$$$$$

**Figma**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Balsamiq**
6%

**Figma**
8%2% more

Pros & Cons

**Balsamiq**
[
Ease of Use (9)
](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2221249&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Drag (5)
](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2221247&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Limited Capabilities (3)
](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2221236&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Learning Curve (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2221235&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**Figma**
[
Ease of Use (164)
](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1383168&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Real-time Collaboration (108)
](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1388080&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Slow Performance (66)
](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1388648&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Performance Issues (59)
](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1386230&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**Balsamiq**
Not enough data

**Figma**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_2d6ad309a447dee0d5abbbd90062d20b/adobe-after-effects.png "Product Avatar Image")

After Effects

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-after-effects/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_7fe3ac866a6ee2c8e79ddc61b45ae7d2/adobe-illustrator.png "Product Avatar Image")

Illustrator

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-illustrator/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_0d6021e1f6253f85ed0eb22a67eb101b/adobe-photoshop.png "Product Avatar Image")

Photoshop

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-photoshop/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_aa578cab3c21b2b0c545c8192e037138/adobe-xd.png "Product Avatar Image")

Adobe XD

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-xd/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/integrations)

Screenshots

**Balsamiq**
 ![Balsamiq screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1512043/balsamiq.jpg)

**Figma**
 ![Figma screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/131452/Figma-General-Product-Shot.png)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Balsamiq**

8.3

8.3450

**Figma**

9.2

9.21,244

Ease of Use

**Balsamiq**

8.9

8.9449

**Figma**

9.0

9.01,263

Ease of Setup

**Balsamiq**

9.1

9.1104

**Figma**

9.2

9.2554

Ease of Admin

**Balsamiq**

8.6

8.690

**Figma**

8.6

8.6173

Quality of Support

**Balsamiq**

8.1

8.1251

**Figma**

8.8

8.8938

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Balsamiq**

8.7

8.777

**Figma**

8.9

8.9158

Product Direction (% positive)

**Balsamiq**

6.6

6.6442

**Figma**

9.3

9.31,182

Features

Wireframing[Hide 40 FeaturesShow 40 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.3

11

9.0

576

Platform Basics

Importing Abilities

8.5

10

8.6(won by 0.1)

385

Content Design Tools

8.7

10

9.1(won by 0.4)

422

Framework Libraries

8.3

10

8.7(won by 0.4)

384

Outlining Tools

8.3

10

8.8(won by 0.5)

378

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Mockup Creations

8.8

10

9.0(won by 0.2)

422

Presentation Tools

Not enough data

9.8(won by default)

8

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

9.4(won by default)

12

Offline Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Wireframe Creation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform Additional Functionality

Collaboration Software Integration

7.9

8

9.0(won by 1.1)

469

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Feedback Communication

7.5

8

8.9(won by 1.4)

425

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Exporting Capabilities

8.3

11

8.9(won by 0.6)

426

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

8.6(won by default)

7

Additional Functionality

Generative AI

Not enough data

6.3(won by default)

5

Design Management

Not enough data

9.8(won by default)

7

UI Prototyping

Not enough data

9.7(won by default)

6

Real-Time Updates

Not enough data

9.7(won by default)

5

Whiteboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Interface

Not enough data

Not enough data

Desktop Interface

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multiple User Accounts

Not enough data

Not enough data

Feedback Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Widgets

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multiple Projects

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mind Maps

Not enough data

Not enough data

Chat/Messaging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Annotations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Preview Functionality

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Linking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop Editor

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Brainstorming

Not enough data

Not enough data

Screen Capture

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Import/Export

Not enough data

Not enough data

Interactive Elements

Not enough data

Not enough data

Commenting/Notes

Not enough data

Not enough data

Prototyping[Hide 49 FeaturesShow 49 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

8.3

464

Platform Basics

Modeling Tools

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

413

Feedback and Communication

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

401

Framework Libraries

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

388

Editing Tools

Not enough data

9.2(won by default)

413

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Image Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform Additional Functionality

Sharing Components

Not enough data

9.1(won by default)

414

Error Documentation

Not enough data

7.6(won by default)

335

User Interface Testing

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

392

Presentation Integrations

Not enough data

8.7(won by default)

381

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Performance Testing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Usability Testing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Agentic AI - Prototyping

Autonomous Task Execution

Not enough data

7.5(won by default)

62

Multi-step Planning

Not enough data

7.8(won by default)

58

Cross-system Integration

Not enough data

7.9(won by default)

57

Natural Language Interaction

Not enough data

7.5(won by default)

59

Proactive Assistance

Not enough data

7.5(won by default)

56

Additional Functionality

Commenting/Notes

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Offline Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Ideation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Chat/Messaging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mockup Creation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Feedback Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop

Not enough data

Not enough data

UI Prototyping

Not enough data

Not enough data

Software Prototyping

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multiple Projects

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Agile Methodologies

Not enough data

Not enough data

Whiteboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Wireframe Creation

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Animation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Import/Export

Not enough data

Not enough data

UX Prototyping

Not enough data

Not enough data

Widgets

Not enough data

Not enough data

Interactive Elements

Not enough data

Not enough data

Software Design Platforms[Hide 68 FeaturesShow 68 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

8.8

420

Platform Basics

Mockup Creations

Not enough data

9.0(won by default)

357

Outlining Tools

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

337

Import Graphic Design Tools

Not enough data

8.6(won by default)

337

Feedback Communication

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

345

Content Libraries

Not enough data

8.7(won by default)

339

Export Wireframes and Prototypes

Not enough data

9.0(won by default)

350

Data Import/Export

Not enough data

Not enough data

Prototype Creation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform Basics - Software Design Platforms

User Interface Testing

Not enough data

8.4(won by default)

78

Presentation Integrations

Not enough data

8.6(won by default)

79

Error Documentation

Not enough data

7.9(won by default)

74

Sharing Components

Not enough data

9.2(won by default)

87

Social Media Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform Additional Functionality

Design and Editing Tools

Not enough data

9.3(won by default)

367

Collaboration Capabilities

Not enough data

9.3(won by default)

377

Diagramming and Collaborative Whiteboard Integrations

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

336

Documenting Trial Errors

Not enough data

7.9(won by default)

304

Platform Additional Functionality - Software Design Platforms

Editing Tools

Not enough data

9.1(won by default)

81

Framework Libraries

Not enough data

8.7(won by default)

81

Feedback and Communication

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

79

Modeling Tools

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

88

Feature Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

Visual Modeling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Design Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Web/Mobile App Development

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

For Low-Code Development

Not enough data

Not enough data

Offline Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Synchronization

Not enough data

Not enough data

For No-Code Development

Not enough data

Not enough data

Change Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Feedback Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Forms

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting & Statistics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Database Support

Not enough data

Not enough data

WYSIWYG Editor

Not enough data

Not enough data

Custom Development

Not enough data

Not enough data

Commenting/Notes

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Communication Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Fields

Not enough data

Not enough data

Media Upload

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Configurable Workflow

Not enough data

Not enough data

Template Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Role-Based Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Testing Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Forms Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Branding

Not enough data

Not enough data

Deployment Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Tagging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Task Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Application Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![Balsamiq](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_5954886973ef396efdaf1296f912ff00/balsamiq.jpg "Balsamiq")](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews)

Balsamiq

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

48.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

32.9%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

19.1%

[![Figma](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_3f8dfbd36c438447b2cb20b9565f2afd/figma.jpg "Figma")](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews)

Figma

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

57.3%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

31.4%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

11.3%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

48.0%

57.3%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

32.9%

31.4%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

19.1%

11.3%

Reviewers' Industry

[![Balsamiq](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_5954886973ef396efdaf1296f912ff00/balsamiq.jpg "Balsamiq")](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews)
Balsamiq

Computer Software

19.6%

Information Technology and Services

18.0%

Design

9.7%

Marketing and Advertising

7.3%

Internet

6.3%

Other

39.1%

[![Figma](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_3f8dfbd36c438447b2cb20b9565f2afd/figma.jpg "Figma")](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews)
Figma

Computer Software

20.9%

Information Technology and Services

15.9%

Design

15.2%

Marketing and Advertising

7.3%

Financial Services

5.1%

Other

35.6%

FAQs

## Balsamiq vs Figma FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between Balsamiq vs Figma?

Figma stands out from Balsamiq with a higher G2 rating, stronger support for real-time collaboration, and a more advanced feature set, while Balsamiq is favored for its simplicity and rapid low-fidelity wireframing.

| [Balsamiq](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews) | [Figma](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.2/5 (501 reviews) | 4.7/5 (1582 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| 9.1 | 9.2 |
| 8.1 | 8.8 |
| Ease of Use (9 all-time mentions) | Real-time Collaboration (108 all-time mentions) |

### How do the pricing models of Balsamiq and Figma compare?

Figma is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to Balsamiq.

- **Balsamiq:** Reviewers describe the pricing as fair but occasionally mention it feels high for the feature set.
- **Figma:** Reviewers highlight strong ROI and value, noting the free plan is genuinely useful and paid plans unlock significant workflow improvements.
- **Switching reasons:** Recent reviews cite Figma's collaborative features and advanced capabilities as key reasons for choosing it over simpler tools like Balsamiq.

### What are the best alternatives to Balsamiq and Figma?

The top three alternatives to Balsamiq and Figma are Sketch, InVision, and —.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Balsamiq](https://www.g2.com/products/balsamiq/reviews) | 4.2/5 (501 reviews) | Small-Business | Pricing is fair but can feel high for the feature set | Ease of Use (9 all-time mentions) |
| [Figma](https://www.g2.com/products/figma/reviews) | 4.7/5 (1582 reviews) | Small-Business | Strong ROI, free plan is genuinely useful | Real-time Collaboration (108 all-time mentions) |
| [Sketch](https://www.g2.com/products/sketch/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1226 reviews) | Small-Business | — | — |
| [InVision](https://www.g2.com/products/invision/reviews) | 4.4/5 (684 reviews) | Small-Business | — | — |

### Which Wireframing features should I prioritize when comparing Balsamiq and Figma?

Buyers comparing Balsamiq and Figma should prioritize collaboration, ease of use, prototyping capabilities, integration options, and performance.

- **Collaboration:** Figma is cited for Real-time Collaboration in 108 all-time reviews; Balsamiq receives fewer collaboration mentions.
- **Ease of Use:** Balsamiq is praised for Ease of Use in 9 all-time reviews; Figma scores 9.0 on Ease of Use.
- **Prototyping Capabilities:** Figma receives 18 all-time mentions for Prototyping Limitations, indicating higher expectations for advanced prototyping; Balsamiq is noted for rapid low-fidelity wireframing.
- **Integration Options:** Figma is mentioned in 137 reviews for Sketch integration, 33 for Slack, and 20 for Jira; Balsamiq has only qualitative mentions of easy integrations.
- **Performance:** Figma has 66 all-time mentions of Slow Performance and 53 for Slow Loading; Balsamiq receives fewer performance-related mentions.

### What are the pros and cons of Balsamiq vs Figma?

Balsamiq's headline strength is simplicity and rapid wireframing, while Figma excels in real-time collaboration and advanced design features.

- **Balsamiq strengths:** Ease of Use (9 all-time mentions), Drag-and-drop functionality (5), Shapes Variety (5), Easy Creation (4), User Interface (4), Simple (3), Templates (2), Time-saving (2).
- **Balsamiq trade-offs:** Limited Capabilities (3), Learning Curve (2), Limited Free Access (2), Exporting Issues (1), Drawing Tools (1), Complexity (1).
- **Figma strengths:** Real-time Collaboration (108 all-time mentions), Features (106), Collaboration (91), User Interface (72), Plugins (31), Easy Sharing (41), Online Accessibility (29).
- **Figma trade-offs:** Slow Performance (66), Slow Loading (53), Complexity (28), Prototyping Limitations (18), Learning Difficulty (12), Limited Prototyping (12).

### Is Balsamiq or Figma better for small businesses?

Both Balsamiq and Figma are primarily used by small businesses, but Figma is favored for its collaborative features and advanced capabilities.

- **Balsamiq:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers highlight its simplicity and rapid onboarding for small teams.
- **Figma:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers consistently praise its real-time collaboration and value for distributed small teams.

### Which Wireframing platform has better integrations?

Figma is favored over Balsamiq for integrations, with reviewers citing a broader and more robust integration ecosystem.

- **Balsamiq:** Reviewers mention easy integrations in qualitative terms, but no specific third-party tools are cited with high frequency.
- **Figma:** 137 reviews mention Sketch integration, 33 mention Slack, and 20 mention Jira, highlighting its strong integration capabilities.

### How do Balsamiq and Figma compare on customer support?

Figma scores higher on Quality of Support (8.8 vs. 8.1), but the difference is below the materiality threshold, indicating near-parity in support experiences.

- **Balsamiq:** Reviewers describe support as responsive and helpful, with scores ranging from 5.0 to 7.0 in recent reviews.
- **Figma:** Reviewers note generally positive support experiences, with scores from 5.0 to 7.0 and praise for community resources and onboarding materials.

### Which is easier to implement, Balsamiq or Figma?

Figma and Balsamiq are rated nearly identically on Ease of Setup (9.2 vs. 9.1), indicating both are easy to implement.

- **Balsamiq:** Reviewers consistently highlight quick setup and minimal learning curve, with recent scores of 6.0 to 7.0 for ease of setup.
- **Figma:** Reviewers describe straightforward onboarding and rapid adoption, with setup scores of 6.0 to 7.0 in recent reviews.

Alternatives

**Balsamiq Alternatives**

 ![Sketch](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/7b02ee76c23f8819c327aac6a9f832e8/sketch.svg "Sketch")

[
Sketch
](/products/sketch/reviews)

 ![InVision](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565766/invision.svg "InVision")

[
InVision
](/products/invision/reviews)

 ![Moqups](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5d5e440cba2df3d1a6aebd9b80b4f5f5/moqups.svg "Moqups")

[
Moqups
](/products/moqups/reviews)

 ![Miro](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/f43d71a5c7b1abb1b7d3dfc8d3668f9b/miro.svg "Miro")

[
Miro
](/products/miro/reviews)

**Figma Alternatives**

 ![Sketch](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/7b02ee76c23f8819c327aac6a9f832e8/sketch.svg "Sketch")

[
Sketch
](/products/sketch/reviews)

 ![InVision](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565766/invision.svg "InVision")

[
InVision
](/products/invision/reviews)

 ![Adobe XD](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/0bebab9bb1c4547c2407d1f73900c8a7/adobe-xd.svg "Adobe XD")

[
Adobe XD
](/products/adobe-xd/reviews)

 ![Marvel](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566721/marvel.svg "Marvel")

[
Marvel
](/products/marvel/reviews)