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Design · head to head

Axure RP vs Subframe

Axure RP logo

Axure RP

Design

Prototyping and specification tool for conditional, data-driven interfaces

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Subframe logo

Subframe

Design

The AI-native design tool built for code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Subframe has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Axure RP a large prototype with variables and repeaters is effectively an application, but it has no version control diffing, no tests and no code review, so maintaining one for years is a genuine engineering cost carried by a designer.; Subframe free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Axure RP and Subframe actually diverge.

Attributes where Axure RP and Subframe differ
AttributeAxure RPSubframe
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, WebWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Design).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Axure RP

  • Conditional logic
  • Repeaters
  • Generated specifications
  • Axure Cloud
  • Adaptive views
  • Team projects

Only in Subframe

Nothing recorded that Axure RP does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Axure RP

  • Specifying an interface precisely enough that an external development contractor can build it without follow-up questionsnot Subframe
  • Prototyping a data-heavy administrative screen where sorting, filtering and pagination must behave realistically in testingnot Subframe
  • Working in an environment where prototypes may not be published to a vendor cloudnot Subframe
  • Documenting conditional business rules in a form both designers and business analysts can reviewnot Subframe

Subframe

  • Creating production-ready interfaces without static mockupsnot Axure RP
  • Syncing design components with code as single source of truthnot Axure RP
  • Building responsive designs with auto layoutnot Axure RP
  • Real-time multiplayer collaboration with layer commentingnot Axure RP
  • Exporting Radix UI and Tailwind CSS code via CLInot Axure RP

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Axure RP

  • A large prototype with variables and repeaters is effectively an application, but it has no version control diffing, no tests and no code review, so maintaining one for years is a genuine engineering cost carried by a designer.
  • The Windows and macOS builds have historically differed in behaviour and file handling, which causes conversion problems in mixed teams.
  • The output is never production code, so every rule you carefully modelled is reimplemented from scratch by engineers, and the two versions then diverge.
  • Subscription replaced the perpetual licence at RP 10, so teams that bought RP 9 outright must now pay annually to receive any new major version.
  • The visual design tooling is dated next to Figma, so most teams design elsewhere and import, which leaves two sources of truth to keep aligned.

Subframe

  • Free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Free plan includes limited AI features compared to Pro
  • Pro plan billed per editor, not per team

Pricing, plan by plan

Axure RP

On request
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • Full RP editor
    • Axure Cloud publishing
    • Generated specifications
  • Team$undefined/month
    • Team projects with check-in and check-out
    • Shared workspaces
    • Admin controls
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • SSO
    • Axure Cloud for Business on customer infrastructure
    • Priority support

Subframe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • Up to 10 pages
    • 2 prototypes
  • Pro$29/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited pages
    • Unlimited prototypes

Which should you pick?

Choose Axure RP if

  • You need conditional logic.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want repeaters.
Axure RP review

Choose Subframe if

  • You want to start without paying.
Subframe review

Questions people ask

Is Axure RP or Subframe better?
Neither clearly leads. Axure RP starts at On request and Subframe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Axure RP or Subframe?
Subframe has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Axure RP and Free for Subframe.
Does Axure RP or Subframe run on more platforms?
Axure RP runs on Windows, macOS, Web. Subframe runs on Web.
Can I use Subframe for free?
Yes. Subframe has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Axure RP starts at On request.
What is Axure RP best used for?
Axure RP is most often used for specifying an interface precisely enough that an external development contractor can build it without follow-up questions, prototyping a data-heavy administrative screen where sorting, filtering and pagination must behave realistically in testing, working in an environment where prototypes may not be published to a vendor cloud, documenting conditional business rules in a form both designers and business analysts can review. Of those, specifying an interface precisely enough that an external development contractor can build it without follow-up questions and prototyping a data-heavy administrative screen where sorting, filtering and pagination must behave realistically in testing are not what Subframe is typically brought in for.
What can Axure RP do that Subframe cannot?
Axure RP covers Conditional logic, Repeaters, Generated specifications, Axure Cloud.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Axure RP: Can I still buy a perpetual licence?

No. Axure moved to subscription with RP 10. Existing perpetual licences keep working but do not receive new major versions.

Subframe: Is there a free version of Subframe?

Yes, Subframe offers a free plan with 1 project, up to 10 pages, 2 prototypes, unlimited team members, and limited AI features.

Source
Axure RP: Can prototypes be hosted on our own servers?

Yes. Prototypes export as a self-contained HTML bundle, and Axure Cloud for Business can be deployed on customer infrastructure.

Subframe: How is the Pro plan priced?

Subframe Pro costs $29 per editor per month, with unlimited projects, pages, prototypes, and AI usage.

Source
Axure RP: Is it worth it if we already use Figma?

Only if you need conditional logic, data-bound components or generated specifications. For click-through review of static screens it adds cost without adding capability.

Subframe: Are viewer seats free?

Yes, Subframe offers free viewer seats across all pricing plans, allowing team members to view without an editor license.

Source
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