When you decide to create a website, several steps must be followed to ensure the smooth running of this project.
One of them is particularly important since it ensures the quality of the design and visual appearance of your site: this is the creation of your website model.
But if this development requires certain essential skills, there is also software that can help you design the most effective website model possible.
What is a website mockup?
A website mockup allows you to present your graphic elements, layout and design in the form of a prototype.
It must be carried out before the creation of the site, in parallel with the technical and functional dimension on which the developers are working.
This is an essential step which allows web designers to visualize the design of the current project, but also to validate the different web interfaces as they go.
The mock-up work makes it possible to test both him (the design of the graphical interface), UX Design (related to the user experience) and the ergonomics of the site pages.
It can take on different aspects such as zoning, wireframing or the creation of dynamic mockups in HTML/CSS, for example.
This last solution aims in particular to test the tree structure and the quality of navigation on the different pages of the website.
5 Best Website Mockup Building Tools
For design a website mockup relevant, different SaaS type software can be used.
These solutions, which should not be confused with website creation software or landing page creation software, can allow you to save time in terms of production, while ensuring a very high quality result.
Balsamiq
Wireframes Balsamiq is a mockup creation software simple to use, Flash-based and with a fairly large library of interface elements.
It allows you, among other things, to design models and carry out user tests to obtain precise feedback and thus improve your work throughout the project.
Thanks to its numerous models and varied features, Balsamiq offers the possibility of creating a quality website model, even if you are new to web design.
On the other hand, while this software is ideal for building small websites, it is not highly recommended for carrying out large-scale projects.
Finally, be aware that to use Wireframes Balsamiq, you will have to pay around $90 per month after the 30-day free trial period.
Wireframe CC
Wireframe CC is a very simple to use and very useful tool for design simple website prototypes or even mobile applications.
Thanks to its intuitive interface, this graphic design software offers the possibility of mastering its different aspects in a very short time, even if you are not a modeling expert.
However, if you want to develop a fairly substantial and original website, be aware that this software remains quite basic in terms of functionality and does not present presentation or prototyping tools.
In addition, to use Wireframe CC, you will have to pay the sum of $16 per month, after the 7-day free trial period.
Figma
Based on a Cloud, the mockup creation software Figma is ideal for businesses based on collaborative work.
It makes it easy to share your project with team members and create multiple designs within a single folder.
Its features are quite developed and can allow you to carry out your wireframing simply and efficiently.
To have all the available features, note that you will have to pay the sum of $12 per month.
Pencil Project
Pencil Project is software dedicated to creation of website models completely free and very useful for designing wireframes.
This open source application is downloadable on Windows and Mac and is based on the concept of using a pencil to draw your own website.
It also offers various interfaces and gives you the ability to create cables and diagrams relevant to your development project.
On the other hand, although this solution is completely free, it still has some limitations, particularly with regard to the extent of its functionalities.
Ninjamock
If you are looking for a tool suitable for teamwork and particularly efficient for creating mobile applications and Internet pages, Ninjamock is the solution for you.
This tool is easy to use and presents various elements to allow you to design your site quickly.
Available on iOS, Android and Windows, this application is fast, efficient and gives you the possibility to modify your project in no time.
The free version of Ninjamock allows you to develop a site mockup made up of 200 elements.
If you want to purchase the premium version, know that you will have to pay around $7 per month.
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Why use software to create a website mockup?
There creating a model for a website is an essential step for different reasons.
This work results in the quality of the website interface and its tree structure.
To work on UX Design and UI in an intelligent and efficient way, the use of software for creating website models therefore remains an alternative that should not be neglected.
On the other hand, thanks to the ability of certain solutions to carry out user tests, you can evaluate the performance of your website with users and adjust any problems as your web development progresses. .
This feature allows you, for example, to limit the number of unwanted bugs that may occur when developing your site and putting it online using a CMS like WordPress or one of its alternatives.
Finally, it is important to keep in mind that the website you imagine is not necessarily the most optimized.
Using software, like those we presented to you in this article, allows you to develop a real prototype and to concretely visualize all the elements of your site, both in terms of design, but also in terms of fluidity of the navigation.
We hope that these few tips about website mockup creation software will be useful to you.
You just have to make the right choice!
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