Flowmapp vs Figma: Which is Better?
Both FlowMapp and Figma are popular tools in the UX/UI design world, but they serve different purposes. FlowMapp focuses on user flow and information architecture, while Figma is a comprehensive design and prototyping tool. Here’s a breakdown of both tools to help you choose the right one based on your needs.
1. Overview
FlowMapp
- Primary Focus: FlowMapp is specialized in user flow diagrams, site maps, and information architecture. It’s a visual tool designed for teams to map out the structure of digital products, from websites to mobile apps, and it helps visualize the user journey and navigation.
- Founded: 2017
- Target Audience: UX/UI designers, product teams, and information architects focused on user flow planning and site mapping.
- Key Features: User flow creation, wireframes, sitemaps, persona mapping, and collaborative features.
Figma
- Primary Focus: Figma is a cloud-based design tool used for UI/UX design, prototyping, and real-time collaboration. It enables designers to create vector-based designs, interactive prototypes, and collaborate seamlessly across teams. Figma is a one-stop-shop for designing, prototyping, and sharing designs.
- Founded: 2012
- Target Audience: UI/UX designers, product teams, and developers who need a comprehensive tool for designing, prototyping, and collaborating.
- Key Features: UI design, vector editing, prototyping, collaboration, design systems, and plugin ecosystem.
2. Core Features Comparison
| Feature | FlowMapp | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| User Flow Creation | ✅ Designed specifically for user flows, site maps, and information architecture | ❌ No dedicated user flow creation, though it can be manually done using frames |
| Prototyping | ❌ No prototyping tools | ✅ Advanced prototyping with interactions and animations |
| Wireframing | ✅ Basic wireframe creation tools for user flows | ✅ Full-fledged wireframe capabilities |
| Collaboration | ✅ Real-time collaboration for flow mapping | ✅ Excellent real-time collaboration for design, prototyping, and feedback |
| Designing | ❌ Primarily focused on user flows, not on designing UI components | ✅ Powerful UI design tools with vector editing, layout tools, and auto-layout |
| Design Systems | ❌ No native design systems support | ✅ Extensive support for design systems, reusable components |
| Version Control | ✅ Version history for user flows | ✅ Version history and file management |
| Integrations | ✅ Integrates with other UX tools and platforms | ✅ Extensive plugin library, integrations with development tools |
| Ease of Use | ✅ Easy-to-use interface for flow mapping | ✅ User-friendly, clean design interface suitable for both beginners and professionals |
| Platform | ✅ Web-based tool | ✅ Web-based and desktop apps |
| Pricing | Starts at $15/month | Free plan available, paid plans start at $12/month |
3. User Flow & Information Architecture
FlowMapp
- Core Strength: FlowMapp is specifically designed for creating user flows, site maps, and information architecture. It’s built to help visualize the structure and flow of a digital product from start to finish.
- User Flow Creation: FlowMapp allows designers to map out how users will navigate through a website or application, helping to define user paths and interaction points. You can easily create visual representations of your user flow, making it an excellent tool for brainstorming and defining the user journey.
- Information Architecture: The tool’s focus on creating site maps allows teams to structure information hierarchies and plan navigation. You can map out the product’s architecture in a clear and visual manner, which is helpful in the early stages of product development.
Figma
- User Flow Creation: While Figma doesn’t have a dedicated feature for user flow mapping, you can create basic user flows using frames and components. Many designers manually create user flow diagrams in Figma by linking frames and adding interactions, but it’s not as specialized as FlowMapp.
- Information Architecture: Figma is more focused on designing the UI rather than structuring the information architecture. However, you can build wireframes, UI components, and create basic site maps, though it lacks some advanced features like automatic site map generation.
🏆 Winner: FlowMapp for dedicated user flow and information architecture tools, whereas Figma is more suitable for UI/UX design and prototyping.
4. Design and Prototyping
FlowMapp
- Designing: FlowMapp does not specialize in high-fidelity design work. It is meant for wireframing and mapping out information, not for creating detailed UI designs.
- Prototyping: FlowMapp does not offer prototyping features, as it’s focused on the planning stage of design rather than actual product design or interactive prototyping.
Figma
- Designing: Figma is a full-fledged design tool that allows you to create vector-based UI designs, manage layout grids, and build responsive designs with auto-layout. It’s widely used for creating high-fidelity, pixel-perfect designs, including mobile and web UI.
- Prototyping: Figma excels in prototyping, providing interactive features such as transitions, animations, and interactive links. You can link frames, define user interactions, and create clickable prototypes that simulate user flow.
🏆 Winner: Figma for UI design and prototyping capabilities.
5. Collaboration and Team Features
FlowMapp
- Collaboration: FlowMapp supports real-time collaboration for creating user flows and site maps. Teams can work together to map out user journeys, make changes, and leave feedback in the tool.
- Sharing: You can share flow maps with clients and stakeholders for easy review and feedback.
Figma
- Collaboration: Figma is best known for its real-time collaboration features. Multiple team members can edit the same design file simultaneously, leave comments, and share feedback directly within the file. It’s a cloud-based tool, making it ideal for distributed teams.
- Sharing: Figma also allows you to easily share live prototypes with stakeholders, making it easy to gather feedback and iterate on designs.
🏆 Winner: Figma for advanced collaboration across the entire design process.
6. Pricing
| Feature | FlowMapp | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ❌ No free plan for full features | ✅ Free plan with limited functionality |
| Paid Plans | Starts at $15/month | Paid plans start at $12/month |
| Team Plan | Custom pricing for teams | Starts at $12/month per user |
| Enterprise Plan | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
🏆 Winner: Figma offers a free plan, which makes it more accessible for individual designers and small teams.
7. Final Verdict: FlowMapp vs Figma
When to Choose FlowMapp?
- If you need a tool specialized in user flow creation and information architecture.
- If you’re in the early stages of a product design and need to map out the user journey and site structure.
- If you want a tool focused on wireframing and planning rather than high-fidelity design.
When to Choose Figma?
- If you need a comprehensive design tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration.
- If you want to create interactive prototypes and work on high-fidelity designs.
- If you’re working in a team environment and need real-time collaboration.
TL;DR:
- FlowMapp is ideal for user flow creation, information architecture, and mapping out site structures.
- Figma excels in UI design, prototyping, and real-time collaboration.
🏆 Winner: Figma for comprehensive UI design and prototyping, while FlowMapp is better for early-stage planning and user flow mapping.