The best cloud-based collaborative design tools for 2021?

tags:clouddevelopmentweb designweb hosting

These are just a few of the best tools you can use today for design while you’re working remotely with your team. Each tool performs specific functions, and some have more capabilities than others.

For 2021, you’ll probably need a combination of tools to handle your entire design workflow, but in the future, more all-in-one tools are likely to become available.

1. Wondershare Mockitt

Sometimes the most effective way to get design concepts greenlit is to create a functional mockup. Wondershare Mockitt is a no code cloud-based prototyping tool to enable concepts and accelerate production workflows.

It’s a capable tool for professional UI designers or even large scale developers. It even has a sketch plugin to import slices, animate, and use a share link for global annotation and collab.

Pros:

• Built-in prototyping to create fully interactive designs
• Annotation share links work for anyone to collaborate with, even outside your team
• You can preview and share designs at any time and manage access
• Free plan for starters including design resources, cloud storage, and backups
• No coding required with automatic CSS generation for Swift and Android

Cons:

• Cloud-based means you’ll need a constant internet connection to use it

2. Visme

One such all-in-one tool is Visme. Visme is cloud design software built for both designers and non-designers.

It’s best suited for centralizing team activities while creating presentations, infographics, web content, and more.

Pros

• Built-in analytics to monitor user workloads, activity, and progress
• Ability to create a variety of file types, including hosted animations and video stock footage
• Massive library of templates, including Unsplash and media elements
• Brand libraries like palettes and typography settings for each client

Cons

• Not for fully custom designs requiring pen tool or extensive shape modification
• Data-driven graphics are beautiful but sometimes glitchy.
• Visme is free to use for up to 3 projects, then between $7-9 a month for premium options. It’s a reasonably low price for what you get.

3. Vectornator

Vectornator is an empowering piece of software, enabling original creativity with vector design.

Vectornator has excellent tools for inspiration, logo design, infographics and illustration, lettering, and vector art. It’s great for beginners and experienced designers alike.

Pros

• Cutting-edge unified codebase allows for an optimized desktop experience on iPhone, iPad, or, well, desktop.
• Apple Pencil, third-party stylus, and multi-touch features push the limits of the graphic design experience
• Real-time cross-device collaboration is coming soon
• Free pricing for all apps means anyone can have access to pro-level graphic design software

Cons

It is not as well integrated with the cloud yet as other collaborative design software, although it does allow sync across devices and import/export to common file types
It’s free and includes genuine pro-grade features like Adobe Illustrator, like its new “learn” site to help new users with graphic design basics. For iPad, iPhone, and Mac owners, it’s a must-have.

4. Basecamp

It’s primarily project management software, but it’s still an excellent tool for collaborating on both the internal and external elements of a design project.

Pros

• Ability to integrate with many other tools.
• It’s an excellent solution for mostly remote teams, which makes it perfect for the design process
• Ability to invite people outside your organization to view content and files
• No fluctuation in subscription price thanks to the flat fee offered

Cons

• A lack of design elements due to it being a project management software- some design documents don’t preview well in-app
• Basecamp offers a free trial but charges a $99 flat fee per month once the trial period is over.

5. Droplr

Droplr enables users to quickly share design ideas, whether that be through annotated visuals, screen recordings, etc. It aims to get work done faster and without the fuss that might come with project management software.

Pros

• All files are saved to the cloud and can be accessed whenever needed.
• Annotating on designs is much faster than sending chats, so it’s a significant timesaver.

Cons

• Droplr doesn’t include design creation or editing software as part of the app. It’s a collaboration tool that can help teams using desktop software to work remotely and on the cloud.
• You’re able to try Droplr for free for seven days. Individual users can get it for $7 per month, or teams of up to 15 for $7 per user per month.

6. GitHub

GitHub is a fit for teams working on design projects that are more code-oriented. Websites, apps, or front-end development designers need to collaborate with software to connect members worldwide.

Pros

• Github includes a well-trusted version control system
• It provides project management tools and customer support tools, too, so you can make design changes triggered by several stages of users, such as support tickets.
• Wiki pages enable Github to be a center for unified knowledge bases across teams and to brief or onboard new members
• Web-based code comparison and modification, but also bi-directional data synchronization to almost any desktop app.

Cons

It’s highly code-centric, so if you don’t have any code, it might not be a good fit.
The different user types and access permissions create a steeper learning curve than other collaboration tools.
There is a free plan for GitHub that accommodates most open-source users or private use. For business users or commercial development, users can upgrade with the $4/month plan.

There is also a $21/month plan, which primarily includes more cloud storage, and enterprise plans with the most capabilities. Or you can search for a cheaper alternative among the listed web hosting companies here at hostclue.com.

7. Moqups

Perfect for web designers specializing in UX, Moqups helps with wireframing and prototyping tools while also creating design mockups.

Because it handles several stages of the design process, it’s a little more universally friendly for all types of designers.

Pros

• It’s an all-in-one platform, so perfect for streamlining work processes.
• It’s great for those who specialize in web design and user experience.

Cons

• Some users complain about customer service and opaque renewal terms for the service.
• The all-in-one capabilities appeal to non-designers, but some more in-depth capabilities like deep hotspot interactions are missing.
• Moqups provides a free plan for new users to try out the tool as long as they want. The paid packages are $16 per month for three editors and $49 per month for unlimited editors.

Today, there are many cloud-based tools – with some specialized and some appealing to all-in-one users. In the coming years, it’s undoubted that many more will continue to pop up.