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Software · head to head

Principle vs ProtoPie

P

Principle

Software

Animate your ideas, design better apps

From
$129/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProtoPie logo

ProtoPie

Software

Create advanced interactive prototypes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ProtoPie has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Principle macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available; ProtoPie the free plan allows 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype and 50MB of cloud storage
  • They diverge on capability: Principle covers Timeline-based animation, ProtoPie covers Interactive prototyping.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Principle and ProtoPie actually diverge.

Attributes where Principle and ProtoPie differ
AttributePrincipleProtoPie
Starting price$129/one-timeFree
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOSWindows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android
Founded20152013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Principle

  • Timeline-based animation
  • Interactive prototypes
  • Touch gestures
  • Component reuse
  • Video export
  • Sketch import
  • Figma import
  • Driver animations

Only in ProtoPie

  • Interactive prototyping
  • Data binding
  • Advanced interactions
  • Animation
  • Collaboration
  • Cloud sharing
  • Device testing
  • Code export

Both cover

  • Sketch
  • Figma
  • Desktop deployment

What people use each for

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

Principle

  • Mobile app prototypesnot ProtoPie
  • Micro-interactionsnot ProtoPie
  • Animation designnot ProtoPie
  • User flow designnot ProtoPie
  • Gesture-based interfacesnot ProtoPie

ProtoPie

  • Building high fidelity interactive prototypes without codenot Principle
  • Prototyping multi device and hardware interactionsnot Principle
  • Sharing prototypes with stakeholders for testingnot Principle

Where each one falls short

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

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

ProtoPie

  • The free plan allows 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype and 50MB of cloud storage
  • Free prototypes carry a watermark and shareable links require the Basic plan
  • Saving prototypes locally requires the Pro plan
  • Team libraries and handoff recordings require the Pro plan
  • Basic caps storage at 500MB and prototypes at 20
  • Single sign on, private servers, custom fonts and custom hardware integrations are Enterprise only
  • Enterprise requires a minimum of 3 seats and is priced by quote
  • Connect Core is a paid add on at $20 per user per month

Pricing, plan by plan

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

ProtoPie

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited prototypes
    • Cloud storage
    • Basic sharing
  • Professional$25/month
    • Unlimited prototypes
    • Advanced interactions
    • Collaboration
  • Enterprise$75/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Team features
    • Advanced security

Which should you pick?

Choose Principle if

  • You need timeline-based animation.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want interactive prototypes.
Principle review

Choose ProtoPie if

  • You need interactive prototyping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want data binding.
ProtoPie review

Questions people ask

Is Principle or ProtoPie better?
Neither clearly leads. Principle starts at $129/one-time and ProtoPie at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Principle or ProtoPie?
ProtoPie has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $129/one-time for Principle and Free for ProtoPie.
Does Principle or ProtoPie run on more platforms?
Principle runs on macOS. ProtoPie runs on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use ProtoPie for free?
Yes. ProtoPie has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Principle starts at $129/one-time.
What is Principle best used for?
Principle is most often used for mobile app prototypes, micro-interactions, animation design, user flow design. Of those, mobile app prototypes and micro-interactions are not what ProtoPie is typically brought in for.
What can Principle do that ProtoPie cannot?
Principle covers Timeline-based animation, Interactive prototypes, Touch gestures, Component reuse. ProtoPie covers Interactive prototyping, Data binding, Advanced interactions, Animation. Both handle Sketch, Figma, Desktop deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Principle: 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.

Source
Principle: 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.

Source
Principle: 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.

Source
Principle: 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.

Source
Principle: 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
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