Wireframing. User journeys. Content maps. User-centered design. Information architecture. Animated prototypes. Conversion paths. Iterative features. Sitemaps. Uhh, what?
Let’s be honest, the world of UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) is full of jargon and overcomplicated terms. Take, for example, this real line I copy-pasted from a job description for a senior content specialist position at a university:
"Creates templates that produce a consistent content strategy approach including guidelines for site maps, content inventories and audits, data analysis and user experience exercises."
That’s a lot of fancy phrases that could be simpler. But if you work in web design or content strategy, you’re probably too familiar with these terms. The irony of this is that the goal of UX (that’s user experience) is literally to make things (aka content) easier to understand (aka more navigable) for people (aka users).
Wireframes and UI kits are two industry terms that sound complicated, but are actually super simple to understand.
What Is a Wireframe?
Have you ever brainstormed a new website idea with a colleague at lunch, or with a friend at a bar? You feel inspired, grab a napkin and a pen, and start sketching out what the site might look like: that’s wireframing. Essentially, wireframing is an outline or sketch of what a website (or app) will look like. It’s the blueprint, the map, the bare-bones concept.
Of course, a sketch on a napkin will only get you so far. Therefore, designers have created templates for wireframes that are easily transferred to presentations or design software. (I recommend this article, A Beginner’s Guide to Wireframing, if you want a more detailed and resource-heavy breakdown of wireframes.)
What Is a UI Kit?
UI stands for user interface, in other words: the thing you’re making that people are going to interact with.
A UI kit contains helpful files and graphics that you’re likely to need, like checkboxes, icons, and more. Essentially, it’s a kit that exists so that you don’t have to build every component of your website or app from scratch–and the standardization means that it’ll be well–designed and easy for your audience to use.
There’s no single “right” way to design a button, but there certainly are ways that are better than others, and lots of design research. By using UI kits, you’re trusting the experts and making sure the details of your site are polished and professional.
Best Wireframe Templates and UI Kits For 2021
If you're a web designer or developer, and constantly create websites and apps, you'll love Envato Elements. For a low monthly price, you can enjoy unlimited downloads of graphic elements such as: UX and UI kits, wireframe templates, website templates, product mockups and more.
And it gets even better: for a limited time, you can now get a 30-day free trial. So you can download as many wireframe templates and other web design resources as you want, and you only pay if you decide to continue your subscription after the first month. No fee, no risk!
To lock in your free month, just sign up using this link, or enter this code when you're joining:
elements_cont_tuts-freemonth1-nqy1uf
Wireframe templates and UI kits are two different things, but the content of these templates often overlap. So we’ve put them together in this list of the best and most useful wireframes and UI kits to add to your collection:
1. Concrete Mobile Wireframe Kit
Concrete is a simple Android and iPhone wireframe template kit for modern apps. All you need to do is add in the components you need and edit text. You can use it to plan out your mobile projects like landing pages and corporate apps.
2. Makeapp Wireframe Kit
With more than 100 template components, the Makeapp Sketch wireframe kit is perfect for planning your projects. Objects are fully editable and are clearly categorized so it's easy to use. You can also use Makeapp in Adobe XD and Photoshop.
3. UX Wireframe Kit
Looking for simple UX templates for Illustrator to map out your projects? Then you'll want to check out this option. It lets you create neat flowcharts so you can easily plan how you want your desktop app or website to work. This is an Illustrator wireframe kit you'll want to keep handy.
4. Tulist - Blogger Writer Mobile App
Tulist is a wireframe kit for apps and digital projects. It's crafted specifically with Figma and Adobe XD in mind. Not only is Tulist fully customizable, but its layers are also well organized to make editing easy. Give it a shot if you've been looking for an Android or iPhone wireframe template.
5. Website Wireframe Template
This website wireframe template has everything you need. Create a website design from a collection of 100+ layouts, 13 categories, and 1500+ UI combinations.
This Sketch wireframe kit is compatible with Adobe XD, Adobe Photoshop and Sketch. All shapes are vector and 100% customizable.
6. iPhone Wireframe Template Kit
The iPhone wireframe template will help you give life to your ideas and prototypes.
This Sketch wireframe kit comes with 90+ wireframe screens with components and styles for iPhone X, XS and iPhone 11 Pro. Some of its best features are:
- Compatible and specifically made for Sketch and Figma
- 8-point grid
- All elements are grouped into categories and properly named for quick navigation
- Fully responsive. Elements can easily be resized
7. Bones Wireframe Template Kit
This website wireframe template is designed on a grid and divided into 10 categories.The result: 120 ready to use elements in 3 file formats: Photoshop, Sketch and Adobe XD.
This Sketch wireframe kit also features:
- Retina ready
- Vector shapes
- Free fonts used
- Properly named layers
- Organized structure
8. Codama iOS Wireframe UI Kit
Codama is an iOS wireframe created with Sketch, a top design software. The Sketch wireframe kit is well-organized and the files are named in ways that make sense to use in Sketch. The font choice in this iPhone wireframe template is Montserrat, which is a classic for Apple design.
9. Greyhound UX Flowcharts
Greyhound is a unique kit that comes with 100+ mini flowchart cards, plus action blocks, arrows, and more. The elements in this download are fully customizable, letting you experiment and prototype as you wish. It's a great premium alternative to a free vector wireframe kit.
10. WeDot - Wireframe UI Kit
Looking for good UI templates? WeDot is a popular wireframe template kit with 170+ layouts. This Sketch wireframe kit is especially good for dashboards, data, and charts. Work with this premium option instead of a free vector wireframe kit.
11. Blokk Wireframe Kit
Blokk is an awesome wireframe kit for one-page websites. All of the content blocks are based on Bootstrap, so it’s easy to go from a Photoshop or Sketch outline to a real, live website.
12. UX Workflow - Wireframe and Sitemap Creator
A sitemap is an outline of all the content on your website; from the home page, down to your pages, blog posts, contact page, etc. It all links together in some way. A site map is a visual representation of that. The UX Workflow sitemap creator is a great tool, especially if you need to present a website idea visually. Try it if you need UX templates for Illustrator.
13. Collector Wireframe Web Kit
The Collector Wireframe Web Kit is made for AdobeXD, a free UX design software from Adobe. It’s bootstrap-based and organized by popular categories like headers, portfolio, blog, contact, and price tables.
Note: it sells for nearly $40 on other design websites, which is more than the cost of an Envato Elements subscription (at time of writing)! It has a useful video demo on YouTube.
14. Turbo iOS Wireframe Kit
Designing an app that will have a sign-up page, walkthrough tutorials, a user profile, and social components? What about news, sales, or video? Try out this iPhone wireframe template, which has an Instagram-like look.
15. 6 Ecommerce Wireframes
The UI of e-commerce sites can be complicated: there’s item size and color options, purchase buttons, logos, images, cross-promotional items, and more. The last thing you want to do is confuse your user out of making a purchase!
16. Clean UI Kit for Rough Sketching
UI templates like this are great for you. A distraction-free UI kit, so you can make a website plan without getting too bogged down in the details. It's worth considering if you're looking for UI/UX templates for Illustrator.
17. Paper Wireframe Kit
“Like a sketch on paper”, Paper wireframe Kit is a simple, grid-based design tool.
18. W1 UI Kit For Watch Apps
Here’s one that’s a little different: a UI kit designed just for Apple Watch apps. Designing for such a tiny screen is tough, so it’s important that your design is precise and easy to follow!
19. Dashboard UI Kit
Creating a dashboard for reporting and project data? Don’t use screenshots from Excel or your Google Sheets. Design a dashboard that’s actually useful with this UI kit, which can be resized to a wide range of screen sizes. Try premium UI templates like this one.
20. Awesome Web UI Kit
A popular UI kit built on the Bootstrap grid, with Photoshop-ready files. It’s especially easy to change to adapt to your brand colors, which is a helpful feature if you already have a color scheme in mind.
21. Heavy UI Kit: Music
Play buttons, album artwork, pause: this UI kit is built for music apps, and has every component you’d need to design one. Comes with Photoshop and Sketch files. This designer has a few specialized UI templates in their portfolio, including ones for online magazines, travel apps, and Instagram stories.
22. Creative Mind UI Kit
Less minimal than a traditional wireframe, the Creative Mind UI Kit is designed for blogs and big headlines.
23. Social Media Kit
Planning a social media campaign, or architecting the look and feel of a new brand? Try out a kit like this Social Media Kit, which comes with graphics, banners, quote templates, and more.
24. Bones iOS Wireframe Kit
This iPhone wireframe template is perfect for your next iOS app. The wireframe template comes with 120 fully editable screens in 10 categories and in 3 file formats: Photoshop, Sketch and Adobe XD.
This Sketch wireframe kit stands out with features not found in many free vector wireframe kits, like:
- Retina ready
- Vector shapes
- Free fonts used
- Properly named layers
- Organized structure
25. Containers Website Wireframe Template Kit
The Containers website wireframe template will help you launch your ideas.
Choose the layout you need from a huge collection of 250+ blocks, 15 categories and 2000+ combinations. Light and dark versions. All blocks are symbol based, modular, and carefully organized for ease of use and customization.
This Sketch wireframe kit features:
- Compatibility for Sketch, Figma and Adobe XD
- 2 templates of landing page
- 5 mockups in 3 styles
- 250+ blocks in 15 categories
26. Sicoin - Cryptocurrency Mobile App UI Kit
Cryptocurrency has been skyrocketing in terms of popularity and mainstream use. If you've been looking to create an app that helps traders in this market, use the Sicoin wireframe template. Its niche design can help focus your ideas and create the best possible app for users. It'll be hard to find a free vector wireframe kit that can do the same.
27. Quirk Illustrator Wireframe Kit
Let's round out our list with this awesome website wireframe template. With this single download, you can create landing pages, mobile sites, blogs, and a whole lot more. This Illustrator wireframe kit also includes files for Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and other popular programs.
Discover More UI Kits, Wireframes, and Resources
I hope you've liked the selection of the best wireframe template kits and UI templates. Looking for more to add to your collection? Check out the full Envato Elements library with thousands of UX and UI kits. We've also got more useful resources:
UI DesignBest-Selling UX and UI Kits for Sketch, Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, and Figma
Adobe XDYour First Wireframe With Adobe XD
SketchHow to Use Sketch Symbols to Create Flow Diagrams
WireframingUX/UI Kits to Speed Up Your Design Process
Figma25 Figma UI Kits for Designers
Figma21+ Best Premium UI Kits for Adobe XD and Figma
Adobe XD15+ Adobe XD UI Kits for Your Next Project
FigmaCreating a Figma Design System: Typography, Spacing, and Sizing
Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Nathan Umoh. Nathan is a staff writer with Envato Tuts+.
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