Design · head to head
InVision vs Principle
The short version
- Only InVision has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: InVision service discontinued as of end of 2024; no longer available or supported; Principle macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
- They diverge on capability: InVision covers Design collaboration, Principle covers Timeline-based animation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which InVision and Principle actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 InVision
- Design collaboration
- Freehand whiteboarding
- Design system manager
- Inspect mode
- Comments & feedback
- Version control
- User testing
- Photoshop
Only in Principle
- Timeline-based animation
- Touch gestures
- Component reuse
- Video export
- Sketch import
- Figma import
- Driver animations
- Figma
Both cover
- Interactive prototypes
- Sketch
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
InVision
- Prototype creationnot Principle
- Design feedbacknot Principle
- Whiteboarding sessionsnot Principle
- Design handoffnot Principle
- User testingnot Principle
Principle
- Mobile app prototypesnot InVision
- Micro-interactionsnot InVision
- Animation designnot InVision
- User flow designnot InVision
- Gesture-based interfacesnot 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
Principle
- macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
- No vector morphing capability for complex shape transformations
- Limited asset creation tools; cannot create vectors or shapes directly within Principle
- Sketch import flattens certain properties including paths, fills, borders, masks, blur effects, and text layers
- Limited variable support, logical loops, and data input capabilities compared to tools like ProtoPie or Origami
Pricing, plan by plan
InVision
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the InVision review.
Principle
$129/one-time- License$129/one-time
- One year of upgrades
- Full access to all features
- Upgrade License$99/year
- Annual renewal for ongoing upgrades
Which should you pick?
Choose InVision if
- You need design collaboration.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Macos, Windows, Ios, Android.
- You also want freehand whiteboarding.
Choose Principle if
- You need timeline-based animation.
- You work on macOS.
- You also want touch gestures.
Questions people ask
- Is InVision or Principle better?
- Neither clearly leads. InVision starts at Free and Principle at $129/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, InVision or Principle?
- InVision has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for InVision and $129/one-time for Principle.
- Does InVision or Principle run on more platforms?
- InVision runs on Web, Macos, Windows, Ios, Android. Principle runs on macOS.
- Can I use InVision for free?
- Yes. InVision has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Principle starts at $129/one-time.
- 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 Principle is typically brought in for.
- What can InVision do that Principle cannot?
- InVision covers Design collaboration, Freehand whiteboarding, Design system manager, Inspect mode. Principle covers Timeline-based animation, Touch gestures, Component reuse, Video export. Both handle Interactive prototypes, Sketch.
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.
SourcePrinciple: Does Principle run on Windows or Linux?
No. Principle is macOS only and runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. There is no Windows or Linux editor available; however, prototypes can be shared and viewed on any platform via web link.
SourceInVision: 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.
SourcePrinciple: What is the cost of Principle?
Principle costs $129 for a one-time purchase with 1 year of upgrades included. After 1 year, upgrade licenses cost $99/year. A 14-day free trial is available with all features included.
SourceInVision: 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.
SourcePrinciple: Can I import designs from Figma or Sketch into Principle?
Yes. Principle supports importing designs from Figma and Sketch with intelligent merging of re-imported files. Some Sketch properties such as paths, fills, borders, blur effects, masks, and text layers are flattened upon import.
SourceInVision: 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.
SourcePrinciple: How do I share Principle prototypes with others?
Prototypes can be shared via web link with one click (File > Export > Share to Web). Recipients can view and interact with prototypes in any browser on any platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. No installation required.
SourceInVision: 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.
SourcePrinciple: Can I create vector shapes and morphing animations in Principle?
Principle does not support vector morphing, where vector objects transform into other vector shapes. It also has limited asset creation capabilities and editing is restricted to basic operations like scale and rotate.
Source