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Developer Tools · head to head

GitHub vs Proto.io

GitHub logo

GitHub

Developer Tools

Where the world builds software

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit GitHubFull review
Proto.io logo

Proto.io

Design

Hosted high-fidelity prototyping with device preview and no code

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit Proto.ioFull review

The short version

  • GitHub is a development platform inspired.
  • GitHub starts at $4/mo; Proto.io prices on request.
  • Only GitHub lists git repositories; only Proto.io lists event and condition system.
  • Where GitHub falls short: acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitHub and Proto.io actually diverge.

Attributes where GitHub and Proto.io differ
AttributeGitHubProto.io
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelSubscriptionPer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

Not yet recorded: founded for Proto.io.

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 GitHub

  • Git repositories
  • Pull requests
  • Code review
  • Issues & projects
  • GitHub Actions CI/CD
  • GitHub Pages
  • Security scanning
  • Dependency management

Only in Proto.io

  • Event and condition system
  • Timeline animation
  • Device preview
  • Component library
  • User testing integration
  • Design import

What people use each for

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

GitHub

  • Version controlnot Proto.io
  • Code collaborationnot Proto.io
  • CI/CD pipelinesnot Proto.io
  • Project managementnot Proto.io
  • Documentation hostingnot Proto.io

Proto.io

  • Running usability tests where the prototype must respond to real input rather than replay a fixed click pathnot GitHub
  • Demonstrating a form-heavy or data-driven flow to stakeholders before any code existsnot GitHub
  • Testing a mobile interaction on the physical device it is designed for, with correct gesture behaviournot GitHub
  • Validating a concept for a client who needs to feel the product, not watch a video of itnot GitHub

Where each one falls short

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

GitHub

  • Acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy
  • Primary focus on source control differs from purpose-built project management tools like Jira
  • Pricing for enterprise features and private repositories adds up compared to some self-hosted alternatives

Proto.io

  • Prototypes live in the vendor cloud and offline export is a higher-tier feature, so the ability to archive completed client work is a plan-level decision rather than a given
  • Design is done elsewhere and interaction is rebuilt here, so every change to the visual design has to be reapplied by hand and the two artefacts drift apart
  • The event and condition model is layer based, so a genuinely complex flow becomes a large tree of triggers that nobody but its author can audit
  • Editor seats are priced individually and viewer access is limited on lower plans, so opening review to a wide stakeholder group pushes you up a tier for people who never edit anything
  • The market standardised on Figma, so hiring people who already know Proto.io is progressively harder and every new researcher is a training cost

Pricing, plan by plan

GitHub

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public/private repos
    • 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 500MB package storage
  • Team$4/mo
    • Everything in Free
    • 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 2GB package storage
  • Enterprise$21/mo
    • Everything in Team
    • 50,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 50GB package storage

Proto.io

On request
  • FreelancerOn request
    • Single editor
    • Limited active projects
    • Standard sharing
  • StartupOn request
    • Multiple editors
    • More projects
    • Team library
  • AgencyOn request
    • Higher project and storage limits
    • Client sharing controls
  • CorporateOn request
    • Largest quotas
    • Offline export on higher tiers
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose GitHub if

  • You need git repositories.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want pull requests.
GitHub review

Choose Proto.io if

  • You need event and condition system.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want timeline animation.
Proto.io review

Questions people ask

Is GitHub or Proto.io better?
Neither clearly leads. GitHub starts at Free and Proto.io at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitHub or Proto.io?
GitHub has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GitHub and On request for Proto.io.
Does GitHub or Proto.io run on more platforms?
GitHub runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Proto.io runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use GitHub for free?
Yes. GitHub has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Proto.io starts at On request.
What is GitHub best used for?
GitHub is most often used for version control, code collaboration, ci/cd pipelines, project management. Of those, version control and code collaboration are not what Proto.io is typically brought in for.
What can GitHub do that Proto.io cannot?
GitHub covers Git repositories, Pull requests, Code review, Issues & projects. Proto.io covers Event and condition system, Timeline animation, Device preview, Component library.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GitHub: What is a Git repository and how does GitHub use it?

A repository is the centralized database that stores the complete collection of files and folders for a codebase, along with the revision history. GitHub uses Git to provide distributed version control access to repositories with version tracking, branching, and collaboration features.

Source
Proto.io: Can it replace Figma?

No. It has no design system or file-handoff role. It sits alongside Figma for the prototypes Figma cannot express.

GitHub: How does GitHub authentication work?

When you connect to a GitHub repository from Git, you need to authenticate with GitHub using either HTTPS or SSH. GitHub supports multiple authentication methods including passwords, personal access tokens, SSH keys, and GitHub Apps.

Source
Proto.io: What happens to prototypes if we stop paying?

They stop being accessible unless you have exported them, and offline export is restricted to higher plans, so plan archiving before you cancel.

GitHub: How long has GitHub been operating?

GitHub was founded in 2008 and launched publicly on April 10, 2008, making it the dominant git hosting platform for nearly two decades.

Source
Proto.io: Is it worth learning now that InVision has gone?

If your work is usability research on conditional flows, yes. If you need click-through demos of static screens, Figma already does that at no extra cost.

GitHub: Who owns GitHub and when did the acquisition occur?

Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion USD, with the deal announced June 4, 2018 and completed October 26, 2018. GitHub operates as an independent subsidiary within Microsoft.

Source
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