Link copied to clipboard

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

Share
[
Export
](/compare/balsamiq/pencil/export.csv)

BalsamiqPencil[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**Balsamiq** [

4.2/5(501)

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

**Pencil** [

4/5(20)

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

Pricing

**Balsamiq**
Free Trial

No pricing available

**Pencil**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Balsamiq**
1 month

Based on 28 responses

**Pencil**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**Balsamiq**
8 months

Based on 24 responses

**Pencil**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**Balsamiq**
$$$$$

**Pencil**
Not enough reviews yet

Average Discount

**Balsamiq**
6%

**Pencil**
Not enough reviews yet

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)

**Pencil**
Not enough data

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)

**Pencil**
 ![Pencil 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/45194/expirable-direct-uploads_2Fbc903fe3-34c7-41ee-a2c7-6f17ce329553_2FPencil_ScreenShot_.png)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Balsamiq**

8.3

8.3450

**Pencil**

8.1

8.113

Ease of Use

**Balsamiq**

8.9

8.9449

**Pencil**

8.5

8.513

Ease of Setup

**Balsamiq**

9.1

9.1104

**Pencil**
Not enough data

Ease of Admin

**Balsamiq**

8.6

8.690

**Pencil**
Not enough data

Quality of Support

**Balsamiq**

8.1

8.1251

**Pencil**

6.9

6.96

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Balsamiq**

8.7

8.777

**Pencil**
Not enough data

Product Direction (% positive)

**Balsamiq**

6.6

6.6442

**Pencil**

5.9

5.920

Features

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

8.3

11

Not enough data

Platform Basics

Importing Abilities

8.5(won by default)

10

Not enough data

Content Design Tools

8.7(won by default)

10

Not enough data

Framework Libraries

8.3(won by default)

10

Not enough data

Outlining Tools

8.3(won by default)

10

Not enough data

Mockup Creations

8.8(won by default)

10

Not enough data

Presentation Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Offline Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Wireframe Creation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform Additional Functionality

Collaboration Software Integration

7.9(won by default)

8

Not enough data

Feedback Communication

7.5(won by default)

8

Not enough data

Exporting Capabilities

8.3(won by default)

11

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Whiteboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

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

Design Management

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

UI Prototyping

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

Real-Time Updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Interactive Elements

Not enough data

Not enough data

Commenting/Notes

Not enough data

Not enough data

Show 3 feature categories with incomplete data

Diagramming[Hide 58 FeaturesShow 58 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Chat/Messaging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Commenting/Notes

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mind Maps

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Network Diagram

Not enough data

Not enough data

Graphical Workflow Editor

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Data

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Task Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Organizational Charting

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Import/Export

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Flowchart

Not enough data

Not enough data

Auto Update

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Planning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Reports

Not enough data

Not enough data

Image Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Language

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Embedding

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Freehand Sketch

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Brainstorming

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Sharing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Wiki

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop

Not enough data

Not enough data

Graphical Data Presentation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Communication Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Strategic Planning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Whiteboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Gantt/Timeline View

Not enough data

Not enough data

Bottleneck Identification

Not enough data

Not enough data

Process Builder

Not enough data

Not enough data

Team Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Process Modeling & Designing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Status Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Diagramming

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Video Conferencing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audit Trail

Not enough data

Not enough data

Screen Sharing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Change Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Visual Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

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

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform Basics

Modeling Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Feedback and Communication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Framework Libraries

Not enough data

Not enough data

Editing Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Image Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform Additional Functionality

Sharing Components

Not enough data

Not enough data

Error Documentation

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Interface Testing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Presentation Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

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

Not enough data

Multi-step Planning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Cross-system Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Natural Language Interaction

Not enough data

Not enough data

Proactive Assistance

Not enough data

Not enough data

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

Not enough data

Platform Basics

Mockup Creations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Outlining Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Import Graphic Design Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Feedback Communication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Libraries

Not enough data

Not enough data

Export Wireframes and Prototypes

Not enough data

Not enough data

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

Not enough data

Presentation Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Error Documentation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Sharing Components

Not enough data

Not enough data

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

Not enough data

Collaboration Capabilities

Not enough data

Not enough data

Diagramming and Collaborative Whiteboard Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Documenting Trial Errors

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform Additional Functionality - Software Design Platforms

Editing Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Framework Libraries

Not enough data

Not enough data

Feedback and Communication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Modeling Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

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%

[![Pencil](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566719/pencil.jpg "Pencil")](https://www.g2.com/products/pencil/reviews)

Pencil

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

65.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

25.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

10.0%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

48.0%

65.0%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

32.9%

25.0%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

19.1%

10.0%

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%

[![Pencil](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566719/pencil.jpg "Pencil")](https://www.g2.com/products/pencil/reviews)
Pencil

Information Technology and Services

30.0%

Computer Software

20.0%

Internet

15.0%

Design

10.0%

Program Development

5.0%

Other

20.0%

Alternatives

**Balsamiq Alternatives**

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

[
Figma
](/products/figma/reviews)

 ![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)

**Pencil Alternatives**

 ![Draw.io](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1540849688/draw-io.svg "Draw.io")

[
Draw.io
](/products/draw-io/reviews)

 ![Visio](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/7a8d999cab3a98ccc85f15dc3423d763/visio.svg "Visio")

[
Visio
](/products/visio/reviews)

 ![Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/e02e4d0701c1bc00190c146b8d01e31b/lucid-software-inc-lucid-visual-collaboration-suite.svg "Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite")

[
Lucid Visual Collaboration...
](/products/lucid-software-inc-lucid-visual-collaboration-suite/reviews)

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

[
Moqups
](/products/moqups/reviews)

## Balsamiq vs Pencil

- Reviewers felt that Balsamiq meets the needs of their business better than Pencil.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Balsamiq is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Balsamiq over Pencil.