Softwr

Design · head to head

Proto.io vs Recraft

Proto.io logo

Proto.io

Design

Hosted high-fidelity prototyping with device preview and no code

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Recraft logo

Recraft

Design

AI image and vector generation for design teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Recraft has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Recraft free plan images are owned by Recraft and made publicly visible; commercial ownership rights only apply while subscribed to a paid plan
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Proto.io and Recraft differ
AttributeProto.ioRecraft
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: 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 Proto.io

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

Only in Recraft

Nothing recorded that Proto.io does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Proto.io

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

Recraft

  • AI-powered image generation and design creationnot Proto.io
  • Commercial-licensed asset creation for businessesnot Proto.io

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Recraft

  • Free plan images are owned by Recraft and made publicly visible; commercial ownership rights only apply while subscribed to a paid plan
  • Subscription credits reset every month and do not carry over, unlike separately purchased top-up credits which never expire
  • Refunds are only considered within 30 days and only if fewer than 30 credits have been used
  • Annual billing is required to get the 20% discount over paying monthly

Pricing, plan by plan

Proto.io

On request
  • Freelancer$undefined/month
    • Single editor
    • Limited active projects
    • Standard sharing
  • Startup$undefined/month
    • Multiple editors
    • More projects
    • Team library
  • Agency$undefined/month
    • Higher project and storage limits
    • Client sharing controls
  • Corporate$undefined/month
    • Largest quotas
    • Offline export on higher tiers
    • Priority support

Recraft

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Recraft review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Proto.io if

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

Choose Recraft if

  • You want to start without paying.
Recraft review

Questions people ask

Is Proto.io or Recraft better?
Neither clearly leads. Proto.io starts at On request and Recraft at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Proto.io or Recraft?
Recraft has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Proto.io and Free for Recraft.
Does Proto.io or Recraft run on more platforms?
Proto.io runs on Web, iOS, Android. Recraft runs on Web.
Can I use Recraft for free?
Yes. Recraft has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Proto.io starts at On request.
What is Proto.io best used for?
Proto.io is most often used for running usability tests where the prototype must respond to real input rather than replay a fixed click path, demonstrating a form-heavy or data-driven flow to stakeholders before any code exists, testing a mobile interaction on the physical device it is designed for, with correct gesture behaviour, validating a concept for a client who needs to feel the product, not watch a video of it. Of those, running usability tests where the prototype must respond to real input rather than replay a fixed click path and demonstrating a form-heavy or data-driven flow to stakeholders before any code exists are not what Recraft is typically brought in for.
What can Proto.io do that Recraft cannot?
Proto.io covers Event and condition system, Timeline animation, Device preview, Component library.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Recraft: Is Recraft free?

Recraft offers a free plan where images generated are publicly visible in the community gallery and not licensed for commercial use. Paid plans (Basic, Pro, Teams) unlock full ownership and commercial rights but specific prices are not published.

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.

Recraft: How does Recraft's credit system work?

Recraft charges based on monthly credit allocation included with each plan. Additional top-up credits can be purchased separately and never expire, used automatically after monthly credits run out.

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.

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