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Balsamiq Wireframes vs Framer

Balsamiq Wireframes logo

Balsamiq Wireframes

Software

Low-fidelity wireframing that keeps focus on structure and content

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Framer logo

Framer

Software

Design and publish stunning sites

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Framer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Balsamiq Wireframes starter plan is capped at 10 projects and costs $16 per editor per month ($192/year); Framer free tier limited to 500 credits and 1 GB bandwidth

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Balsamiq Wireframes and Framer actually diverge.

Attributes where Balsamiq Wireframes and Framer differ
AttributeBalsamiq WireframesFramer
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Macos
FoundedUnknown2013

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

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 Balsamiq Wireframes

Nothing recorded that Framer does not also cover.

Only in Framer

  • Visual design editor
  • Interactive components
  • Responsive design
  • CMS integration
  • SEO optimization
  • Custom code
  • Team collaboration
  • Version control

What people use each for

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

Balsamiq Wireframes

No use cases recorded yet. See the Balsamiq Wireframes review.

Framer

  • Marketing websitesnot Balsamiq Wireframes
  • Landing pagesnot Balsamiq Wireframes
  • Portfoliosnot Balsamiq Wireframes
  • SaaS productsnot Balsamiq Wireframes
  • E-commerce sitesnot Balsamiq Wireframes

Where each one falls short

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

Balsamiq Wireframes

  • Starter plan is capped at 10 projects and costs $16 per editor per month ($192/year)
  • Teams plan raises the cap to only 100 projects at $24 per editor per month; even Enterprise tops out at 400 projects
  • AI credits are metered per editor per month (500 on Starter, 1,000 on Teams, 2,500 on Enterprise), so AI features have a hard usage ceiling beyond the base seat price

Framer

  • Free tier limited to 500 credits and 1 GB bandwidth
  • CMS collections capped at 10 on Pro tier; unlimited only on Enterprise
  • Free tier does not include custom domain support
  • Paid editor slots cost extra at $20/month per additional editor

Pricing, plan by plan

Balsamiq Wireframes

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Balsamiq Wireframes review.

Framer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 500 credits
    • Free Framer domain
    • 1 GB bandwidth
  • Basic$10/month
    • Custom domain
    • 2 CMS collections
    • 50 GB bandwidth
  • Pro$30/month
    • All Basic features
    • 10 CMS collections
    • 100 GB bandwidth
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom limits
    • Unlimited editors
    • 99.99% uptime guarantee

Which should you pick?

Choose Balsamiq Wireframes if

Nothing in the data separates Balsamiq Wireframes from Framer on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Balsamiq Wireframes review

Choose Framer if

  • You need visual design editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Macos.
  • You also want interactive components.
Framer review

Questions people ask

Is Balsamiq Wireframes or Framer better?
Neither clearly leads. Balsamiq Wireframes starts at On request and Framer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Balsamiq Wireframes or Framer?
Framer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Balsamiq Wireframes and Free for Framer.
Does Balsamiq Wireframes or Framer run on more platforms?
Balsamiq Wireframes runs on Web. Framer runs on Web, Macos.
Can I use Framer for free?
Yes. Framer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Balsamiq Wireframes starts at On request.
What can Balsamiq Wireframes do that Framer cannot?
Framer covers Visual design editor, Interactive components, Responsive design, CMS integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Framer: What's included in Framer's free tier?

The Free plan provides 500 credits to try the platform, a free Framer domain, and 1 GB bandwidth for exploring the builder.

Source
Framer: Can I use my own custom domain with Framer?

Custom domains are included in Basic ($10/month) and higher plans. Free tier is limited to a free Framer domain.

Source
Framer: What AI features does Framer offer?

Framer includes an AI design agent that works on the canvas to generate and refine designs in real-time, plus a CMS agent for managing content directly on the canvas.

Source
Framer: How many CMS collections can I create on different plans?

Basic ($10/month) includes 2 CMS collections, Pro ($30/month) includes 10 CMS collections. Enterprise plans offer custom limits.

Source
Framer: Does Framer support staging environments and previews?

Staging environments and branching with previews are included on the Pro plan ($30/month). Standard plan includes published-only access.

Source
Framer: What uptime guarantee does Framer provide?

Framer offers 99.99% uptime guarantee on paid plans. Enterprise plans include dedicated support and custom SLAs.

Source
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