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Design Tools · head to head

Subframe vs Balsamiq Wireframes

S

Subframe

Design Tools

The AI-native design tool built for code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Balsamiq Wireframes logo

Balsamiq Wireframes

Design Tools

Low-fidelity wireframing that keeps focus on structure and content

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Subframe has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Subframe the free plan is capped at 1 project, 10 pages, and 2 prototypes with limited AI usage and only 24 hour version history, versus unlimited AI on the $29 per editor per month Pro plan, as of August 2026.; Balsamiq Wireframes starter plan is capped at 10 projects and costs $16 per editor per month ($192/year)

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Subframe and Balsamiq Wireframes actually diverge.

Attributes where Subframe and Balsamiq Wireframes differ
AttributeSubframeBalsamiq Wireframes
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Design Tools).

Where each one falls short

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

Subframe

  • The free plan is capped at 1 project, 10 pages, and 2 prototypes with limited AI usage and only 24 hour version history, versus unlimited AI on the $29 per editor per month Pro plan, as of August 2026.

Balsamiq Wireframes

  • Starter plan is capped at 10 projects and costs $16 per editor per month ($192/year)
  • Teams plan raises the cap to only 100 projects at $24 per editor per month; even Enterprise tops out at 400 projects
  • AI credits are metered per editor per month (500 on Starter, 1,000 on Teams, 2,500 on Enterprise), so AI features have a hard usage ceiling beyond the base seat price

Pricing, plan by plan

Subframe

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Subframe review.

Balsamiq Wireframes

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Balsamiq Wireframes review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Subframe if

  • You want to start without paying.
Subframe review

Choose Balsamiq Wireframes if

Nothing in the data separates Balsamiq Wireframes from Subframe on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Balsamiq Wireframes review

Questions people ask

Is Subframe or Balsamiq Wireframes better?
Neither clearly leads. Subframe starts at Free and Balsamiq Wireframes at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Subframe or Balsamiq Wireframes?
Subframe has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Subframe and On request for Balsamiq Wireframes.
Does Subframe or Balsamiq Wireframes run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Subframe for free?
Yes. Subframe has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Balsamiq Wireframes starts at On request.
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