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Design Tools · head to head

Balsamiq Wireframes vs Zeplin

Balsamiq Wireframes logo

Balsamiq Wireframes

Design Tools

Low-fidelity wireframing that keeps focus on structure and content

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeplin logo

Zeplin

Design Tools

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: Balsamiq Wireframes starter plan is capped at 10 projects and costs $16 per editor per month ($192/year); Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Balsamiq Wireframes and Zeplin differ
AttributeBalsamiq WireframesZeplin
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryDesign ToolsUnknown
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Zeplin does not also cover.

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.

Balsamiq Wireframes

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

Zeplin

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

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

Balsamiq Wireframes

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Balsamiq Wireframes review.

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 Balsamiq Wireframes if

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

Balsamiq Wireframes 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 Balsamiq Wireframes or Zeplin better?
Neither clearly leads. Balsamiq Wireframes 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, Balsamiq Wireframes or Zeplin?
Zeplin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Balsamiq Wireframes and Free for Zeplin.
Does Balsamiq Wireframes or Zeplin run on more platforms?
Balsamiq Wireframes runs on 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. Balsamiq Wireframes starts at On request.
What can Balsamiq Wireframes do that Zeplin cannot?
Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens.
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