Softwr

Design · head to head

Proto.io vs Subframe

Proto.io logo

Proto.io

Design

Hosted high-fidelity prototyping with device preview and no code

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Subframe logo

Subframe

Design

The AI-native design tool built for code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Subframe 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.; Subframe free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Proto.io and Subframe differ
AttributeProto.ioSubframe
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 Subframe

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 Subframe
  • Demonstrating a form-heavy or data-driven flow to stakeholders before any code existsnot Subframe
  • Testing a mobile interaction on the physical device it is designed for, with correct gesture behaviournot Subframe
  • Validating a concept for a client who needs to feel the product, not watch a video of itnot Subframe

Subframe

  • Creating production-ready interfaces without static mockupsnot Proto.io
  • Syncing design components with code as single source of truthnot Proto.io
  • Building responsive designs with auto layoutnot Proto.io
  • Real-time multiplayer collaboration with layer commentingnot Proto.io
  • Exporting Radix UI and Tailwind CSS code via CLInot 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.

Subframe

  • Free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Free plan includes limited AI features compared to Pro
  • Pro plan billed per editor, not per team

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

Subframe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • Up to 10 pages
    • 2 prototypes
  • Pro$29/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited pages
    • Unlimited prototypes

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 Subframe if

  • You want to start without paying.
Subframe review

Questions people ask

Is Proto.io or Subframe better?
Neither clearly leads. Proto.io starts at On request and Subframe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Proto.io or Subframe?
Subframe has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Proto.io and Free for Subframe.
Does Proto.io or Subframe run on more platforms?
Proto.io runs on Web, iOS, Android. Subframe runs on Web.
Can I use Subframe for free?
Yes. Subframe 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 Subframe is typically brought in for.
What can Proto.io do that Subframe 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.

Subframe: Is there a free version of Subframe?

Yes, Subframe offers a free plan with 1 project, up to 10 pages, 2 prototypes, unlimited team members, and limited AI features.

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.

Subframe: How is the Pro plan priced?

Subframe Pro costs $29 per editor per month, with unlimited projects, pages, prototypes, and AI usage.

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.

Subframe: Are viewer seats free?

Yes, Subframe offers free viewer seats across all pricing plans, allowing team members to view without an editor license.

Source
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