Uncovering the Best Composite Alternatives for Your Design Workflow
Composite is a powerful tool for designers, automatically connecting to Photoshop documents and converting mockups into interactive prototypes using layer comps. It's fantastic for organizing documents into screens and defining hotspots for interactive elements. However, every tool has its limitations, and designers often seek out Composite alternatives that better fit specific project needs, budget constraints, or preferred operating systems. This article delves into some of the top competitors that offer similar, and in some cases, enhanced, functionalities for prototyping, wireframing, and design collaboration.
Top Composite Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a free solution, a more robust feature set, or a different platform, there's a Composite alternative out there for you. Here's a curated list of excellent options to consider for your design and prototyping needs.
Balsamiq Wireframes
Balsamiq Wireframes is a rapid low-fidelity UI wireframing tool that excels at reproducing the experience of sketching on a notepad or whiteboard, but using a computer. It's a commercial solution available on Mac, Windows, and Web, making it a highly accessible Composite alternative for quick conceptualization. Key features include drawing, real-time collaboration, and dedicated wireframing capabilities.
Edraw Max
Edraw Max is a versatile diagramming tool capable of creating flowcharts, organizational charts, business diagrams, science illustrations, network diagrams, mind maps, and much more. This commercial Composite alternative supports Mac, Windows, and Linux, making it highly cross-platform. Notable features include flow charts, Gantt charts, mind map view, floor plan creation, real-time collaboration, and export to PDF.
Marvel
Marvel offers a collaborative design platform for wireframing, prototyping, and online design, with the ability to create design specs in one place or integrate via API. It's a freemium Composite alternative available across a wide range of platforms including Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Apple Messages, and as Software as a Service (SaaS). Its strengths lie in prototyping, anonymous commenting, and a built-in commenting system.
Axure RP
Axure RP is renowned as a powerful way to plan, prototype, and hand off designs to developers, all without code. This commercial Composite alternative is available on Mac and Windows, and also integrates with Sketch. Its primary feature is its robust prototyping capabilities, making it a strong contender for complex interactive designs.
Gliffy
Gliffy emphasizes the power of visual communication, helping users understand information faster with pictures. It's a commercial web-based Composite alternative also available on Chrome OS. Key features include creating flow charts and defining workflows, making it ideal for visualizing processes and connections.
Diagramo
Diagramo is an online flowchart software that allows users to create, edit, and share diagrams, organization charts, and network diagrams. As a free and open-source Composite alternative, it's accessible directly through the web. Its features include export to PNG, flow chart creation, graphs, and its web-based nature.
MockFlow
MockFlow offers a no-download, no-install experience, allowing users to create and access mockups from anywhere. Users can add pages with templates and define links for clickable prototypes. This freemium Composite alternative is available as a web-based Software as a Service (SaaS). Its features include export to HTML, internal links, interface design, real-time collaboration, and wireframing.
Antetype
ANTETYPE is a ground-breaking design application that supports user interface designers at every step of their work, enabling them to design beautiful interfaces and invent new ones. It's a commercial Composite alternative exclusively available on Mac. Its core features revolve around interface and UI design, prototyping, user interface development, and the use of widgets.
POP (Prototyping on Paper)
POP helps you make interactive prototypes with ease, simplifying the process: design on paper, take pictures, and transform them into interactive app designs. This free Composite alternative is available on Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, and iPad, making it perfect for mobile-first designers. Its key feature is its innovative approach to prototyping from paper sketches.
Diagram Designer
Diagram Designer is a simple vector graphics editor designed for creating flowcharts, UML class diagrams, illustrations, and slide shows. This free Composite alternative is available on Windows. Its main features include general diagramming and flow chart creation, offering a straightforward solution for visual representations.
Ultimately, the best Composite alternative for you will depend on your specific design workflow, the complexity of your projects, your team's collaboration needs, and your budget. Explore these options to find the perfect fit that empowers your design process and brings your ideas to life.