Free UX design tool to create experiences that truly delight users

In today's digital-first world, user experience (UX) can make or break your product. Whether you're building a startup app, redesigning a website, or launching a SaaS platform, great UX design is no longer a luxury—it’s expected. Users now demand smooth navigation, intuitive interfaces, and a journey that just feels right. And behind every delightful experience is a UX designer equipped with the right tools.

But here’s the catch: many of the most popular UX design tools come with hefty price tags, confusing subscriptions, or “free” plans that lock away essential features. If you're a freelancer, a student, part of a lean startup, or even a design team trying to keep costs down, finding a truly free UX design tool can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

That’s where this guide comes in.

We’ve curated a list of the best free UX tools available in 2025—no trials, no sneaky upsells, and no compromised features. These tools are not only budget-friendly but also powerful enough to help you design experiences that truly delight users. Whether you're wireframing a mobile app, prototyping a web dashboard, or collaborating with teammates across the world, you’ll find tools here to support every stage of your workflow.

From open-source platforms like Penpot to user-friendly tools like Excalidraw and Wireframe.cc, there’s something here for every skill level and need. We’ll also cover freemium tools that still offer great value, so you can choose what fits your workflow best.

Let’s dive in and explore how you can create standout digital experiences—without spending a cent.

Truly Free UX Tools — No Trials, No Catches

When you’re designing with a tight budget—or no budget at all—the dream is to find tools that are 100% free yet powerful enough to compete with premium alternatives. Fortunately, a new wave of open-source and community-driven platforms has made this possible. These tools don’t just eliminate costs; they empower you to design freely, collaborate efficiently, and iterate quickly.

Let’s explore some of the most reliable truly-free UX tools in 2025:

Penpot: A Free, Open-Source Figma Alternative

Penpot is quickly gaining popularity among designers and product teams looking for a completely free and open-source design solution. Built for teams that value transparency, customization, and control, Penpot allows you to create high-fidelity wireframes and prototypes without limitations.

• Browser-based: No downloads required; works across platforms

• Real-time collaboration: Great for remote teams and design sprints

• Customizable components: Ideal for developers and UX designers

• Self-hosting option: Run your own instance for full control

Whether you're designing interfaces solo or working in a team, Penpot's clean interface and feature-rich environment offer a professional-grade UX workflow—minus the subscription.

Pencil Project: Desktop UX Prototyping Made Easy

If you're looking for a reliable offline tool for prototyping, Pencil Project is a hidden gem. It’s a free, open-source desktop app that allows you to sketch UI ideas, build screen flows, and export visuals easily.

• Built-in UI stencils for web, mobile, and desktop

• Export to PNG, PDF, and SVG

• No sign-up required — just install and design

• Lightweight and ideal for quick mockups or pitch decks

Perfect for students, teachers, or anyone needing a fuss-free design tool with zero learning curve.

Excalidraw & Tldraw: Whiteboard-Style UX Thinking

Need to quickly sketch out flows or brainstorm interface ideas with a team? Tools like Excalidraw and Tldraw offer the perfect balance of simplicity and collaboration.

• Excalidraw: Mimics hand-drawn sketches with auto-save, offline support, and easy sharing

• Tldraw: A visually smoother alternative, ideal for real-time collaboration and group ideation

• No account needed: Just visit the site and start sketching

• Minimalist by design: Helps you focus on flow and logic, not pixels

These tools are a great fit for early-stage UX brainstorming, MVP mapping, or even agile retrospectives.

Freemium UX Tools That Are Still Worth Using

While fully free UX tools are amazing, some freemium platforms offer exceptional value even on their free plans. These tools strike a balance between functionality and accessibility, making them perfect for designers who need more advanced features but aren’t ready to invest in premium software.

Let’s break down the top freemium tools that still give you plenty to work with—for free.

Figma (Free Plan): Collaborative UX Design Powerhouse

No list of UX tools is complete without Figma. Its free tier is incredibly generous, allowing individuals and small teams to collaborate in real-time, design high-fidelity interfaces, and create interactive prototypes.

• Multi-platform & browser-based

• Real-time team collaboration

• Access to a massive library of templates & plugins

• Free for up to 3 Figma files + unlimited personal projects

Even though some features like version history and advanced team libraries are paid, the free version covers nearly everything a solo designer or small team needs.

Canva & Mockflow: Visuals, Wireframes & Flowcharts

If you’re a beginner or non-designer looking to get your ideas visualized fast, Canva and Mockflow offer intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components for UX projects.

• Canva: Ideal for building user flows, UI mockups, and marketing visuals

  • Thousands of templates and design elements

  • Useful for UX storytelling and stakeholder presentations

• Mockflow: Focused more on wireframing and information architecture

  • Create quick blueprints and export them

  • Useful for early planning stages of UX design

Both tools offer free plans with core features intact, and paid upgrades for teams or advanced use cases.

Wireframe.cc & Moqups: Minimalist Prototyping Platforms

Sometimes less is more. Wireframe.cc and Moqups provide distraction-free environments where you can focus on structure, not visuals—ideal for rapid UX ideation.

• Wireframe.cc:

  • Super minimal interface

  • Shareable unique URLs for instant feedback

  • Great for low-fidelity wireframes

• Moqups:

  • Offers flowcharts, sitemaps, and UI components

  • Collaboration tools included

  • Limited free version perfect for solo or testing work

These tools help streamline your process when you want to get ideas down without navigating complex features.

Conclusion:

Creating a delightful user experience doesn't have to come with a hefty subscription fee or a complex learning curve. In 2025, UX designers—whether freelancers, students, startups, or even large teams—have access to an impressive suite of free UX tools that rival even the most premium options.

Whether you're mapping out rough wireframes, building high-fidelity mockups, or collaborating with teammates in real-time, the tools we’ve covered—Penpot, Pencil Project, Excalidraw, Figma, Canva, and more—equip you to design smarter, faster, and for free.

What makes these tools truly stand out isn’t just the price tag—it’s the freedom they give you to focus on creativity and user impact. You’re no longer limited by expensive licenses or trial periods. Instead, you can dive right into creating user flows, interface layouts, and interactive prototypes that solve real problems and bring joy to users.