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Developer Tools · head to head

Helm vs Proto.io

H

Helm

Developer Tools

The package manager for Kubernetes

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit HelmFull 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

  • Helm is a Kubernetes package manager, licensed Apache 2.
  • Helm is free; Proto.io prices on request.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Helm and Proto.io differ
AttributeHelmProto.io
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen-sourcePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

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 Helm

Nothing recorded that Proto.io does not also cover.

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.

Helm

  • Kubernetes package manager and deployment toolnot Proto.io

Proto.io

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

Where each one falls short

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

Helm

  • Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose

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

Helm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.

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 Helm if

  • You want to start without paying.
Helm 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 Helm or Proto.io better?
Neither clearly leads. Helm 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, Helm or Proto.io?
Helm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helm and On request for Proto.io.
Does Helm or Proto.io run on more platforms?
Helm runs on Web. Proto.io runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Helm for free?
Yes. Helm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Proto.io starts at On request.
What is Helm best used for?
Helm is most often used for kubernetes package manager and deployment tool. Of those, kubernetes package manager and deployment tool is not what Proto.io is typically brought in for.
What can Helm do that Proto.io cannot?
Proto.io covers Event and condition system, Timeline animation, Device preview, Component library.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Helm: How much does Helm cost?

Helm is free and open-source. It is a graduated project in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) with no commercial pricing model.

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.

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.

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.

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