The world of mobile app design is evolving faster than ever. As user expectations rise, designers need cutting-edge tools that make their workflow faster, smarter, and more collaborative. From wireframing to prototyping and testing, the right tools can make all the difference between a good app and a great one.

In 2025, new technologies, AI integration, and cross-platform collaboration are reshaping how designers work. If you’re a UI/UX designer, developer, or product creator, this list of must-try mobile app design tools will help you stay ahead of the curve.

1. Figma – The All-in-One Design Powerhouse

Figma continues to lead the design world into 2025 with its cloud-based, collaborative environment. Perfect for teams, it allows multiple designers to work on the same project in real time.

Why it’s a must-try:

• Real-time collaboration across devices and teams
• Intuitive interface for both UI and UX design
• Extensive plugin ecosystem
• Built-in prototyping and handoff features

With Figma Dev Mode and AI-powered design assistance introduced in 2025, designers can now automate repetitive tasks and generate layouts effortlessly — making it the go-to tool for modern mobile app designers.

2. Sketch – The Classic Design Tool with a Modern Twist

Although Sketch started as a Mac-exclusive tool, it remains a favorite among designers who love a clean, vector-based interface.

In 2025, Sketch has evolved to include cloud collaboration, design tokens, and plugin automation, making it more competitive than ever.

Why designers still love Sketch:

• Precision vector editing
• Huge library of third-party plugins
• Smooth integration with Zeplin and Abstract
• Reliable performance for native iOS app design

If you’re a designer who values control and structure, Sketch remains a timeless choice.

3. Adobe XD – The Bridge Between Design and Prototyping

Adobe XD remains a strong contender in 2025, especially for designers already using Adobe’s ecosystem (like Photoshop and Illustrator).

It offers a clean interface, smooth animation capabilities, and integration with Adobe Creative Cloud.

Key highlights:

• Voice prototyping and micro-interactions
• Responsive resizing for multiple screen sizes
• Seamless collaboration with developers through shareable links
• Integration with Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects

With AI updates in 2025, XD now offers layout auto-adjustments and smart design suggestions — making your workflow more efficient than ever.

4. Framer – For High-Fidelity Interactive Prototypes

When you need to create realistic prototypes that feel like live apps, Framer is your best friend.

It allows designers to add micro-interactions, animations, and transitions with minimal coding.

What makes Framer special:

• Built-in motion design tools
• Ready-to-use interactive components
• Fast design-to-developer handoff
• Easy integration with React code

In 2025, Framer’s AI design assistant can generate interactive layouts instantly from text prompts — a massive time-saver for concept creation.

5. ProtoPie – Bring Your Prototypes to Life

ProtoPie is perfect for designers who want to create advanced interactive prototypes without writing a single line of code.

It simulates realistic behaviors like gestures, motion sensors, and voice commands — ideal for mobile app UX testing.

Top features:

• No-code interaction building
• Device sensors and variable controls
• Integration with Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD
• Cross-platform previewing

ProtoPie’s Smart Flow 2025 update allows linking multiple prototypes for end-to-end user journey testing — making it a must-try tool for UX professionals.

6. Zeplin – Perfect for Design-to-Developer Handoff

A well-designed app is only as good as its implementation. That’s where Zeplin comes in. It helps streamline collaboration between designers and developers.

Best for:

• Exporting assets and style guides
• Automatic code snippets (CSS, Swift, Android XML)
• Maintaining visual consistency across screens

In 2025, Zeplin’s AI consistency checker automatically detects design inconsistencies — ensuring pixel-perfect results every time.

7. Marvel – Simple Yet Powerful Prototyping

If you’re new to mobile app design, Marvel is one of the easiest tools to learn.

It offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for creating prototypes, user flows, and wireframes without complex features.

Why Marvel is great:

• Beginner-friendly interface
• Integrates with Figma, Jira, and Slack
• Supports usability testing and feedback collection
• Great for quick mockups and concept presentations

Marvel is ideal for startups or freelancers who need fast, functional prototypes to present ideas clearly.

8. InVision Studio – Collaboration Meets Innovation

InVision Studio continues to be a powerful tool for interactive app design and prototyping. It combines wireframing, motion design, and collaboration in one sleek interface.

Why use InVision in 2025:

• Advanced animation tools
• Shared team libraries and design systems
• Real-time commenting and collaboration
• Integrates with Sketch and Figma

With its latest update, InVision AI Assist can now generate complete design layouts based on project briefs — making the design process smarter and faster.

9. Axure RP – Ideal for Complex App Flows

If you’re designing apps that require dynamic content or logic-based interactions, Axure RP remains unmatched.

It allows you to build prototypes with conditions, variables, and adaptive views — perfect for enterprise-level applications.

Key advantages:

• Advanced interaction modeling
• Data-driven prototypes
• Responsive and adaptive design support
• Integrated team collaboration

Axure RP 2025 introduces AI-assisted documentation, helping teams create user flows and functional specs instantly.

10. Overflow – Visualize and Present User Flows Beautifully

A well-designed app isn’t just about screens — it’s about user journeys. Overflow helps you turn static screens into dynamic flowcharts that visualize how users move through your app.

Features:

• Auto-generated user flow diagrams
• Integrates seamlessly with Figma and Sketch
• Presentation mode for client reviews
• Great for stakeholder communication

With its 2025 real-time collaboration feature, multiple designers can now update and present flows together.

Bonus Tool: Penpot – The Open-Source Challenger

Penpot is gaining serious attention in 2025 as an open-source, cross-platform design tool. It’s free, powerful, and supports real-time collaboration — making it a fantastic choice for independent designers and startups.

Why try Penpot:

• 100% free and open-source
• SVG-native design system
• Real-time collaboration
• Continuous updates from the community

If you want flexibility and transparency in your design workflow, Penpot is definitely worth exploring.

Conclusion

The best mobile app design tools in 2025 don’t just make interfaces look great — they make your workflow faster, smarter, and more collaborative.

Whether you’re wireframing in Figma, creating interactive prototypes in Framer, or testing UX flows with ProtoPie, the right combination of tools can help you build apps users will love.

Remember, it’s not about using every tool — it’s about choosing the ones that align with your design style, team needs, and project goals. Master a few, stay updated, and keep experimenting — because innovation in design never stops.