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Design · head to head

InVision vs PhpStorm

InVision logo

InVision

Design

Digital product design platform

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit InVisionFull review
PhpStorm logo

PhpStorm

Developer Tools

JetBrains IDE for PHP web development

From
$24/month
Free plan
No
Visit PhpStormFull review

The short version

  • InVision is a digital product design platform.
  • InVision has a free plan, then $25/mo; PhpStorm starts at $24/mo.
  • Only InVision lists interactive prototypes; only PhpStorm lists PHP-aware coding assistance.
  • Where InVision falls short: service discontinued as of end of 2024; no longer available or supported.
  • Where PhpStorm falls short: requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which InVision and PhpStorm actually diverge.

Attributes where InVision and PhpStorm differ
AttributeInVisionPhpStorm
Starting priceFree$24/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, AndroidWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryDesignDeveloper Tools
Founded20112000

Not yet recorded: pricing model for InVision.

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 InVision

  • Interactive prototypes
  • Design collaboration
  • Freehand whiteboarding
  • Design system manager
  • Inspect mode
  • Comments & feedback
  • Version control
  • User testing

Only in PhpStorm

  • PHP-aware coding assistance
  • Integrated debugger
  • Front-end tooling
  • Database tools
  • Version control integration
  • Docker and remote deployment

What people use each for

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

InVision

  • Prototype creationnot PhpStorm
  • Design feedbacknot PhpStorm
  • Whiteboarding sessionsnot PhpStorm
  • Design handoffnot PhpStorm
  • User testingnot PhpStorm

PhpStorm

  • Building PHP web applications with Laravel or Symfonynot InVision
  • Debugging PHP code with Xdebugnot InVision
  • Working across PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one projectnot InVision
  • Managing databases alongside application codenot InVision

Where each one falls short

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

InVision

  • Service discontinued as of end of 2024; no longer available or supported
  • Workflow required constant switching between design software (Sketch/Photoshop) and InVision for prototyping, creating inefficiency
  • Performance issues and glitches reported, especially with larger projects
  • Limited development capabilities; required additional hosting and developer support for deployment
  • Could not export working web or mobile applications without additional development

PhpStorm

  • Requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use
  • Heavier and slower to start than lightweight code editors
  • Some advanced framework-specific tooling requires additional configuration or plugins
  • Renewal pricing rises for lapsed subscriptions after the grace period

Pricing, plan by plan

InVision

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the InVision review.

PhpStorm

$24/month
  • Individual$24/mo
    • Personal use license
    • Access to PhpStorm
    • Free for students and open-source maintainers
  • Organization$34/mo
    • Business use license
    • Access to PhpStorm
    • Volume and renewal discounts

Which should you pick?

Choose InVision if

  • You need interactive prototypes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want design collaboration.
InVision review

Choose PhpStorm if

  • You need php-aware coding assistance.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want integrated debugger.
PhpStorm review

Questions people ask

Is InVision or PhpStorm better?
Neither clearly leads. InVision starts at Free and PhpStorm at $24/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, InVision or PhpStorm?
InVision has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for InVision and $24/month for PhpStorm.
Does InVision or PhpStorm run on more platforms?
InVision runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. PhpStorm runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use InVision for free?
Yes. InVision has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PhpStorm starts at $24/month.
What is InVision best used for?
InVision is most often used for prototype creation, design feedback, whiteboarding sessions, design handoff. Of those, prototype creation and design feedback are not what PhpStorm is typically brought in for.
What can InVision do that PhpStorm cannot?
InVision covers Interactive prototypes, Design collaboration, Freehand whiteboarding, Design system manager. PhpStorm covers PHP-aware coding assistance, Integrated debugger, Front-end tooling, Database tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

InVision: Is InVision still active and supported in 2026?

No. InVision announced discontinuation of all services by end of 2024. The platform is no longer available or supported.

Source
PhpStorm: How much does PhpStorm cost?

PhpStorm is sold via JetBrains Toolbox subscription starting around $24/month for individuals and $34/month for organizations, with free licenses for students and open-source maintainers.

Source
InVision: What were InVision's core features?

InVision allowed designers to transform designs into interactive prototypes and mockups for web and mobile. It supported Craft Player for Sketch, Craft Sync for Photoshop, and preview mode in Studio, enabling design-to-prototype workflows.

Source
PhpStorm: Is there a free trial?

JetBrains offers a free trial of PhpStorm so developers can test it before subscribing.

Source
InVision: What were InVision's pricing plans?

InVision offered Free ($0), Starter ($25/month), Professional ($99/month), and Team plans. Annual billing provided a 10% discount. Free plan included basic prototyping; paid plans added collaboration and file access.

Source
PhpStorm: What platforms does PhpStorm support?

PhpStorm is a desktop IDE available on Windows, macOS, and Linux via JetBrains Toolbox.

Source
InVision: Why did InVision fail in the market?

InVision's market position was disrupted by Figma, which unified design, prototyping, and collaboration in a single web-based platform. InVision required switching between design software and prototyping, creating friction and reducing competitiveness.

Source
InVision: What integrations did InVision support?

InVision integrated with design tools like Sketch and Photoshop, and supported sharing and collaboration workflows. The platform did not support deployment or direct development integration.

Source
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