A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a visual interface that lets users interact with computers using icons, buttons, and menus instead of text commands. For software developers, these tools offer a bridge between complex coding and visual design, allowing for greater focus on core functionality. UI/UX designers rely on GUI software to experiment with layouts and interactions.
The problem is many struggle to find tools that balance enhanced functionality with ease of use. Developers often face challenges in customizing pre-built components to meet specific project needs, while designers may feel limited by inflexible templates. Plus, the high cost of some GUI solutions can put them out of reach for smaller teams or individual developers.
This article presents the top 10 GUI software tools of 2024 that offer high customization, robust features, and seamless integration capabilities. So, by the end, you'll have a clear understanding of which tools can help you prototype interfaces quickly and streamline the interface design process.
What is GUI software?
GUI software refers to tools that enable designers and developers to create visual interfaces for applications, websites, and other digital products. These tools allow users to design, prototype, and sometimes even code interfaces using graphical elements rather than relying solely on text-based programming.
Why use GUI software?
Let's explore three key advantages of using GUI software:
- Rapid prototyping: GUI software allows designers to quickly create and iterate on interface designs. With drag-and-drop functionality and pre-built components, you can assemble prototypes in a fraction of the time it would take to code them from scratch. This speed enables more experimentation which often leads to better design outcomes.
- Improved collaboration: Most GUI tools offer features that facilitate teamwork, such as real-time editing, commenting, and version control. This collaborative environment allows designers, developers, and stakeholders to work together seamlessly.
- Consistency and scalability: Many GUI tools include design systems and component libraries, making it easier to maintain consistency across large projects. This feature is particularly valuable for creating cohesive user experiences in complex applications.
Top 10 GUI software tools in 2024
We've rounded up 10 awesome GUI development tools that'll make your interface design work a whole lot easier and more efficient.
Tool 1: Softr
Softr is a GUI software that allows users to build web applications, client portals, internal tools, and websites without writing code. The platform provides a user-friendly interface where users can drag and drop elements, configure data sources, and customize the design, making it accessible for individuals without programming skills.
Small business owners and freelancers love Softr for its ready-to-use templates that cover many different fields. These templates make it easy to start projects quickly without needing to design from scratch.
While Softr caters well to smaller operations, it also offers the advanced security, scalability, and integration capabilities that larger companies require. This versatility has led to its adoption across different departments within organizations. Marketing and product development teams have found value in Softr's ability to develop custom applications and interfaces tailored to their specific needs.
Discover how Tech Ladies, a thriving community for women in tech, used Softr to build a fully functional job board and community platform—without any coding.
Key features
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Pre-built and customizable building blocks
- Dynamic search with filters and sorting
- Customizable lists and grids
- List filtering with URL
- Customizable form destinations
- reCaptcha integration
- Team collaboration and sharing
- Role-based access control
- Form submission triggers for automated workflows
- Support for one-time and recurring payments
- Payment integration with membership sites
- Ability to set up coupon codes and discounts
- Integration with Airtable, HubSpot, and SQL
Pros
- Free plan available
- Highly customizable for diverse needs
- Easy interface for non-technical users
Cons
- Occasional issues with specific data display
- More AI features would be great
Ideal use cases
- Rapid prototyping of web interfaces for non-technical teams
- Building data-driven web apps using Airtable
- Creating member-only portals or communities
- Developing internal tools and dashboards for businesses
- Building client portals for service-based businesses
Pricing
Softr offers a free plan that includes unlimited app visitors, 5 workspace collaborators, and 100 external users. The best part? This plan gives you access to all data sources, just like the paid plans, so you won't hit any data source integration limits.
For paid options, the Basic plan starts at $49 /month and supports up to 1000 external app users. If you need features like email code sign-in, conditional forms, Kanban view, eSignature, and application transfers across workspaces, then you’ll want to go for the Professional plan at $139 /month. Before opting for a paid plan, you can enjoy a 30-day free trial.
Tool 2: Justinmind
Justinmind is a no-code design and prototyping tool for creating interactive UI designs for web and mobile applications. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows designers and non-designers alike to create high-fidelity prototypes without coding skills.
Key features
- Rich library of UI elements and templates
- Mobile gestures and transitions
- Master elements for reusable components
- Conditional logic for complex interactions
- Data-driven prototyping
- Design handoff for developers
- Interactive HTML and JavaScript
- Dynamic content simulation
- Responsive design capabilities
- Dynamic data simulation
- Mobile app previews and testing
- Simultaneous co-edit
- Version control
- Sketch plugin
- Offline prototype viewing capabilities
- Usability testing integration
- Integration with Figma and Adobe
- Integration with Jira and Confluence
Pros
- Free plan available
- Drag-and-drop builder
- Easier to start for most users
Cons
- It can be glitchy at times
Ideal use cases
- High-fidelity prototyping
- Wireframing
- Complex web application design
- User flow and navigation testing
Pricing
Justinmind offers both subscription plans and perpetual licenses, giving users flexibility in how they purchase the software. For example, the cheapest subscription on Justinmind is called "Standard", and it starts at $9/editor/month (billed annually). This plan includes advanced interaction design, forms design, team management, mobile device testing, variables, and shared UI libraries. Alternatively, its perpetual licenses start at $295/editor.
Tool 3: Framer X
Framer X is a UX and interaction design software. What makes it one of the top GUI tools is that it allows designers to create interactive prototypes with advanced animations, while also providing the flexibility for developers to extend functionality using React components.
Key features
- Responsive layout adjustments
- Reusable smart components
- Auto-layout for fluid design
- Customizable grid systems
- Pre-built layout styles
- Customizable navigation bars
- Interactive menu components
- Smooth transitions between pages
- Hierarchical navigation structures
- Layer blending modes
- Realistic background blur effects
- Interactive hover effects
- Animated transitions
- Password-protected prototypes
- AI-generated design suggestions
Pros
- Free plan available
- Affordable paid plans
- Template marketplace
- Extensive learning resources
Cons
- No offline capabilities
- Occasional issues with rendering
- Fewer integration options
Ideal use cases
- Rapid prototyping of interactive designs
- Designings high-fidelity UI/UX elementsa
- Building production-ready web experiences
- Collaborative design projects in remote teams
Pricing
The cheapest plan on Framer is the "Mini" plan, which costs €5/month if billed annually (or €10/month if billed monthly). It's ideal for small teams or individuals looking to create professional websites with core functionalities.
Tool 4: Balsamiq
Balsamiq is a user-friendly tool for creating simple, hand-drawn style wireframes. It helps designers and teams quickly visualize and communicate ideas for websites and apps without getting bogged down in details.
Key features
- Built-in UI components and icons
- A library of drag-and-drop UI elements
- Optimized for speed with quick add and keyboard shortcuts
- Export to PNG and PDF for easy sharing
- Reusable symbols and customizable component libraries
- Interactive prototypes with linking for demos
- Designed for collaboration, supporting multiple users
- Usability testing through click-through prototypes
- Integration with Jira, Confluence, and Google Drive
Pros
- Low-fidelity wireframing
- Real-time collaboration
- Extensive component library
Cons
- No advanced animation support
- Pricing depends on the number of active projects (not users)
Ideal use cases
- Low-fidelity wireframing
- Collaborative design
- Simple interactive prototyping to test user flows
Pricing
Balsamiq offers two plans: Business and Enterprise. Pricing is based on the number of active projects. For example, the Business plan starts at $9/month (or $108 annually) for up to 2 active projects. Both plans include unlimited wireframes and a 30-day free tria
Tool 5: Figma
Figma is a cloud-based design and prototyping tool primarily used by designers, engineering teams, and product managers for creating user interfaces and digital products. Figma's versatile platform bridges the gap between design and development, which helps simplify the product creation process from concept to implementation.
Key features
- Auto-layout for responsive designs
- FigJam for collaborative whiteboarding
- Dev Mode for improved developer handoff
- Vector networks for flexible design
- Component libraries and design systems
- Version history and file recovery
- Audio conversations for real-time team communication
- Advanced typography controls
- Smart selection and distribution tools
- Plugins and integrations ecosystem
Pros
- Free plan available
- Comprehensive design system features
- Cross-platform compatibility (works on Mac, Windows, Linux)
Cons
- Limited offline support
Ideal use cases
- UI/UX design
- Design system development
- Product development
- Wireframing
- Diagramming
- Cross-functional collaboration
Pricing
Besides its free plan, Figma provides three paid tiers that start at $15/seat/month. All paid plans include unlimited Figma files, team libraries, and unlimited version history. Users also get enhanced prototype-sharing permissions with paid plans.
Tool 6: MockFlow
MockFlow is another easy-to-use GUI software and online wireframing tool that enables designers, developers, and product managers to create interactive mockups and prototypes for websites and applications. It offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, allowing teams to collaborate on designs in real-time and iterate quickly.
Key features
- Interactive prototyping capabilities
- Cloud storage for easy access and sharing
- Customizable templates for various device types
- Comments and annotation tools for feedback
- Design approval workflow system
- Export options in multiple formats (e.g., image, PDF)
- AI-assisted UI content generation (Genius AI)
- AI-assisted design review
- Integration with popular tools (e.g., Google Drive, Slack, Office 365, Trello)
Pros
- Free plan available
- Easy to learn
- Desktop app for offline mode
Cons
- Fewer integration options
Ideal use cases
- User flow mapping
- Design system creation
- Responsive design testing
- Cloud architecture mapping
- Process flowchart development
- UML diagram modeling
Pricing
MockFlow's starting plan costs $14/editor/month when billed annually or $19/editor/month when billed monthly. It comes with 10 design spaces, unlimited projects, unlimited reviewers, and 20 Genius AI credits per day. This plan also offers access to editor addons, a commercial license, and removes all project restrictions.
Tool 7: Proto.io
Proto.io is a web-based prototyping platform for creating interactive and animated prototypes of mobile apps and websites. It allows users to design, test, and share high-fidelity prototypes without coding. The tool caters to UX designers, entrepreneurs, product managers, and marketers.
Key features
- Animated icons library
- Sound effects library
- Advanced animations
- 1000+ templates
- 250+ UI components
- Scrollable containers
- User flows and screen linking
- HTML code components
- Fonts manager
- Eyedropper tool
- Gradient colors
- Version control
- Plugins for Sketch, Figma, XD, and Photoshop
- Voice commands and speech recognition integration
Pros
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Native apps for iOS and Android
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Some prototyping workflows are complicated
Ideal use cases
- Rapid prototyping of mobile apps
- User testing with functional prototypes
- Cross-platform UI consistency checks
Pricing
The cheapest Proto plan costs $24/month if billed annually (or $29/month if billed monthly). This plan includes only 1 user, 5 active projects, and unlimited reviewers. All plans offer features such as previewing in the Proto.io app, exporting to various formats, and importing from design tools. This plan is ideal for individuals or small teams starting with prototyping. After your 15-day trial period, you can downgrade to a free plan with fewer features if the paid subscriptions are too expensive for you.
Tool 8: UXPin
UXPin is another popular UI design and prototyping tool tailored for designers and developers. What we like about UXPin is that it combines wireframing, prototyping, and design system management into a single tool.
Key features
- Customizable UI kits
- Version control
- Real-time collaboration
- Cloud storage
- Usability testing tools
- Copy/paste interactions
- Slack and Jira integration
- Custom font upload
- Password-protected prototypes
- Advanced interactions with conditional logic
- Canvas properties (grids, adaptive screen sizes, scrolling)
Pros
- Free plan available
- Image and file sharing is easy
- Integrated user testing within the same platform
Cons
- Slow performance on complex prototypes
Ideal use cases
- Detailed wireframe development
- High-fidelity mockups creation
- User interface design
- Design systems management
- Design handoff to development teams
Pricing
UXPin offers a free plan that allows users to create up to 2 interactive prototypes. Its paid plans start at $8/editor/month, offering 20 prototypes. If you need custom font support and conditional logic, expressions, and variables, then you'll have to opt in for the "Advanced" plan that starts at $39/editor/month.
Tool 9: Flinto
Flinto is a prototyping tool developed for Mac users. It allows designers to create interactive and animated prototypes for mobile and web applications.
Key features
- Animated transitions
- Video or GIF file upload
- Sound effects
- Drawing tools
- 3D rotation
- Scrollable sections within prototypes
- Figma & Sketch import
Pros
- Easy to learn
- Extensive documentation
- Active community
- iOS app
Cons
- No free plan
- Limited to Mac users only
- Fewer integration options
Ideal use cases
- High-fidelity animation implementation
- Transition animation development
- User experience testing
Pricing
Flinto offers a one-time purchase plan for its Mac app, priced at $99. This plan includes access to all features, updates, and support without any recurring fees. You can also use their free trial to explore the app's capabilities.
Tool 10: Axure RP
Axure RP is a powerful wireframing and prototyping solution, and it's popular among UX professionals, product managers, and business analysts.
Key features
- Browser-based prototypes without coding
- Dynamic panels and repeaters
- Animated transitions
- Adaptive views for various screen sizes
- Conditional logic and expressions
- Scrolling container widget
- Team projects and version control
- Widget libraries
- Pen tool for vector drawing
- Built-in support for Google Fonts
- User-testing plugin capabilities
- Axure Cloud for sharing and feedback
- Offline prototype viewing capabilities
- Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD integration
- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript integration
- Commenting for feedback
- Team collaboration tools
Pros
- 30-day free trial
- iOS and Android mobile apps
- Large community
Cons
- No free plan
- Learning curve
- Higher price point than some competitors
- Resource-intensive for complex projects
Ideal use cases
- Complex web application prototyping
- Mobile app interface design
- Data-driven prototype testing
- Responsive design demonstrations
Pricing
Axure's cheapest plan starts at $25/user/month when billed annually (or $29 month-to-month). This plan includes advanced prototyping, design, and documentation functionalities. But its team collaboration features come with the "Axure RP Team" plan that costs $ 42/user/month when billed annually.
How to choose the right GUI software
Choosing GUI software doesn't have to be a headache. Check out these important factors before you decide:
- Ease of use: The interface is just the beginning of understanding a tool's usability. Complex tasks, like creating interactive prototypes or setting up design systems, will show you the true depth of user-friendliness. After a week of use, the tool's intuitiveness becomes apparent, so you'll probably come across any quirks or shortcuts you've had to learn. Plus, the keyboard shortcuts can impact ease of use and save you a few clicks, so don't neglect this one.
- Integration capabilities: Smooth integration with current tools is essential for maintaining a seamless workflow. Adobe Creative Suite and Sketch are common integrations but look beyond these. Consider integrations with project management tools like Jira or Confluence for better team coordination. Data-driven design? Check for Airtable, Typeform, or database connections to power dynamic prototypes. Don't forget about communication tool integrations like Slack, which can improve team collaboration.
- Export options: Standard formats like PDF and various image formats (PNG, JPG, SVG) should be available, but that's just the baseline. Look for options to export design specs or developer handoffs in formats that your development team prefers. Check if you can export to HTML/CSS for quick prototypes. Some tools offer the ability to export to other design software formats, which can be useful for cross-tool workflows.
- Pricing and plans: Analyze the pricing structure across different tiers and calculate the long-term cost based on your expected usage and team growth. For example, look for any hidden limits, such as restrictions on file storage, export options, or the number of collaborators on each plan. Also, check for any volume discounts for teams or educational pricing if applicable. For larger organizations, inquire about custom enterprise plans that might offer better value. Many companies, like Softr, provide enterprise tiers with advanced security and integration capabilities.
- Trial availability: The trial period should accommodate a real project timeline - 14-day trials are common, but longer is better. Then, check if the trial requires a credit card - no-card-required trials reduce the barrier to testing. Look for any limitations during the trial period, such as export restrictions or team size limits. Some companies even offer a money-back guarantee period after purchase, so you can consider this as well.
- Learning resources: Evaluate the depth and breadth of learning materials available. For example, check for a comprehensive, regularly updated knowledge base or documentation. Then, if applicable, assess the activity level and helpfulness of user forums or community platforms offered by the company since a community can be an invaluable resource for problem-solving. Also, evaluate any certification programs or academies offered. Lastly, look for interactive workshops, similar to what Softr provides, for hands-on learning experiences.
You're all set to improve your work with GUI software
We've explored GUI software tools and their importance in interface design. Among all the solutions, Softr emerges as a versatile platform, catering to both small businesses and large enterprises with its customizable templates and scalable features. Softr's user-friendly approach allows both tech-savvy professionals and those without coding experience to create impressive web applications and interfaces. Sign up for Softr's free plan today and start building amazing GUIs.
What is Softr
Softr is the easiest way to turn your data into powerful business apps—no code required. Connect to your spreadsheet or database, customize layout and logic, and share with your team or clients.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
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Pasha Abdulov
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