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Design · head to head

Balsamiq Wireframes vs Linearity Curve

Balsamiq Wireframes logo

Balsamiq Wireframes

Design

Low-fidelity wireframing that keeps focus on structure and content

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Linearity Curve logo

Linearity Curve

Design

Professional vector design for Mac and iPad

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Balsamiq Wireframes starter plan is capped at 10 projects and costs $16 per editor per month ($192/year); Linearity Curve limited to Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, iPhone) with no Windows or Linux support
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Balsamiq Wireframes and Linearity Curve actually diverge.

Attributes where Balsamiq Wireframes and Linearity Curve differ
AttributeBalsamiq WireframesLinearity Curve
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebMac, Ios
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Balsamiq Wireframes

Nothing recorded that Linearity Curve does not also cover.

Only in Linearity Curve

  • Vector editing
  • Auto Trace
  • Typography tools
  • Pen tool
  • iCloud sync
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Sketch
  • Figma

What people use each for

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

Balsamiq Wireframes

  • Creating wireframes for idea communicationnot Linearity Curve
  • Prototyping interfaces faster than design toolsnot Linearity Curve
  • Collaborating on wireframes with unlimited reviewersnot Linearity Curve
  • Exporting designs to PDF and imagesnot Linearity Curve

Linearity Curve

  • Vector illustrationnot Balsamiq Wireframes
  • Logo designnot Balsamiq Wireframes
  • UI designnot Balsamiq Wireframes
  • Print designnot 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

Linearity Curve

  • Limited to Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, iPhone) with no Windows or Linux support
  • Requires annual or monthly subscription for commercial use, unlike competitors offering lifetime purchase options
  • Free plan is severely limited to only 3 Curve files and 5GB storage

Pricing, plan by plan

Balsamiq Wireframes

Free
  • Starter$16/month
    • Up to 10 projects
    • Unlimited reviewers
    • 500 monthly AI credits per editor
  • Teams$24/month
    • Up to 100 projects
    • Unlimited reviewers
    • 1000 monthly AI credits per editor
  • Enterprise$35/month
    • Up to 400 projects
    • 2500 monthly AI credits per editor
    • SSO with SAML

Linearity Curve

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 50 lifetime credits
    • 3 Curve files
    • 5GB storage
  • Pro$11.99/month
    • 250 monthly credits
    • Unlimited files
    • 100GB storage
  • Business$65/month
    • 500 monthly credits
    • 500GB storage
    • Brand management

Which should you pick?

Choose Balsamiq Wireframes if

  • You want to start without paying.
Balsamiq Wireframes review

Choose Linearity Curve if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Ios.
  • You also want auto trace.
Linearity Curve review

Questions people ask

Is Balsamiq Wireframes or Linearity Curve better?
Neither clearly leads. Balsamiq Wireframes starts at Free and Linearity Curve at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Balsamiq Wireframes or Linearity Curve?
Balsamiq Wireframes starts at Free and Linearity Curve at Free.
Does Balsamiq Wireframes or Linearity Curve run on more platforms?
Balsamiq Wireframes runs on Web. Linearity Curve runs on Mac, Ios.
Can I use Balsamiq Wireframes for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Balsamiq Wireframes best used for?
Balsamiq Wireframes is most often used for creating wireframes for idea communication, prototyping interfaces faster than design tools, collaborating on wireframes with unlimited reviewers, exporting designs to pdf and images. Of those, creating wireframes for idea communication and prototyping interfaces faster than design tools are not what Linearity Curve is typically brought in for.
What can Balsamiq Wireframes do that Linearity Curve cannot?
Linearity Curve covers Vector editing, Auto Trace, Typography tools, Pen tool.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Balsamiq Wireframes: How much does Balsamiq Wireframes cost per editor?

Balsamiq charges $16/month (Starter), $24/month (Teams), or $35/month (Enterprise) per editor when billed annually. Monthly billing costs $192/year, $288/year, or $420/year respectively. Only editors who actively make changes are counted, not viewers or stakeholders.

Source
Linearity Curve: Does Linearity Curve have a free plan?

Yes, Linearity offers a free Starter plan with 50 lifetime credits, 1 basic brand kit, and 5GB cloud storage. No credit card is required to access the free tier.

Source
Balsamiq Wireframes: What AI credit limits does Balsamiq provide by plan?

Starter includes 500 monthly AI credits per editor, Teams includes 1000 monthly credits per editor, and Enterprise includes 2500 monthly credits per editor. Additional on-demand credits can be purchased at $15 per 500 credits across all tiers.

Source
Linearity Curve: Can I use Linearity Curve on multiple devices?

Yes, Linearity Curve is available on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, with real-time collaboration allowing teams to see changes instantly across devices.

Source
Balsamiq Wireframes: What are the project limits across Balsamiq plans?

Starter allows up to 10 projects, Teams allows up to 100 projects, and Enterprise allows up to 400 projects per workspace. All tiers support unlimited boards within each project.

Source
Linearity Curve: What file formats can I export from Linearity Curve?

Linearity Curve supports exporting to industry-standard formats including .ai, SVG, PDF, PNG, JPG, and TIFF, making it compatible with other design tools.

Source
Balsamiq Wireframes: Is there a free trial for Balsamiq Wireframes?

Balsamiq offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required for new users to evaluate the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Source
Linearity Curve: Does Linearity Curve have AI-powered vectorization?

Yes, Linearity Curve includes an Auto Trace feature with three modes (Sketch, Photography, Illustration) that uses AI to instantly vectorize images into editable paths. It also includes AI-powered background removal.

Source
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