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Design · head to head

Axure RP vs Zeplin

Axure RP logo

Axure RP

Design

Prototyping and specification tool for conditional, data-driven interfaces

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeplin logo

Zeplin

Design

Design handoff and developer collaboration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zeplin 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.; Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • They diverge on capability: Axure RP covers Conditional logic, Zeplin covers Design specs.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Axure RP and Zeplin differ
AttributeAxure RPZeplin
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, WebWeb, Desktop, Mobile
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Zeplin

  • Design specs
  • Asset export
  • Code snippets
  • Design tokens
  • Comments
  • Version control
  • Handoff workflow
  • Accessibility checks

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 Zeplin
  • Prototyping a data-heavy administrative screen where sorting, filtering and pagination must behave realistically in testingnot Zeplin
  • Working in an environment where prototypes may not be published to a vendor cloudnot Zeplin
  • Documenting conditional business rules in a form both designers and business analysts can reviewnot Zeplin

Zeplin

  • Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot Axure RP
  • Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot Axure RP
  • Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot 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.

Zeplin

  • The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
  • Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
  • Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
  • Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
  • Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

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

Zeplin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • 1 workspace
    • Basic specs
  • Starter$19/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Multiple workspaces
    • Advanced specs
  • Professional$49/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Team collaboration
    • Admin controls

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 Zeplin if

  • You need design specs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want asset export.
Zeplin review

Questions people ask

Is Axure RP or Zeplin better?
Neither clearly leads. Axure RP starts at On request and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Axure RP or Zeplin?
Zeplin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Axure RP and Free for Zeplin.
Does Axure RP or Zeplin run on more platforms?
Axure RP runs on Windows, macOS, Web. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Zeplin for free?
Yes. Zeplin 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 Zeplin is typically brought in for.
What can Axure RP do that Zeplin cannot?
Axure RP covers Conditional logic, Repeaters, Generated specifications, Axure Cloud. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens.

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.

Zeplin: How much does Zeplin Advanced cost?

Advanced costs $12 per seat per month when paid annually, with annual subscriptions offering 2 months off versus monthly rates.

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.

Zeplin: What's the difference between Free and Basic plans?

Free covers 1 project with 100 screens and 30-day version history. Basic offers 1-12 projects with practically unlimited screens per project and 1-year version history.

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.

Zeplin: Can I add unlimited team members?

Yes, Free and Basic plans allow unlimited team members. Advanced/Enterprise assign roles with Reviewers being free and unlimited.

Source
Zeplin: What can Reviewers do?

Reviewers can view designs and documentation and approve requests, but lack access to developer specs.

Source
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