Principle

Paid#23 of 27 in Interface Design Tools

Principle: Advanced animated prototyping with Figma and Sketch imports, but no collaboration or handoff. Ranked #23 of 27 in Interface Design Tools by our editors (6.7/10); pricing: 14-day trial; best for mac specialists creating advanced animated flows.

6.7/10Editor score

Visit Principle

Principle6.7 Visit Principle

At a glance

Editor score
6.7 / 10
Pricing
14-day trial
Best for
Mac specialists creating advanced animated flows
Free plan
No
Paid from
$129/device one-time
Developer handoff
No
Facts checked
24 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Timeline animation includes easing and spring controls.
- Build multi-screen flows with reusable components and embedded interactions.
- Import from Figma or Sketch; export as HTML, video, or GIF.
Where it doesn't
- The license costs $129 per computer as a one-time charge.
- Real-time collaboration and developer handoff are not supported.
- The native app is for macOS; iOS is a companion for mirroring.

Our verdict on Principle

Principle is a native macOS tool for designers building animated, interactive interface prototypes. Its artboards, transitions, events, and multi-screen flows suit solo designers and small teams that need to demonstrate how an interface behaves, especially Mac specialists working on advanced animated flows. Device presets and custom artboard sizes support mobile, web, and desktop designs, while an iOS companion app mirrors designs for review.

Animation is a central strength: the timeline offers easing and spring controls, and reusable components can contain their own interactions. Designers can import and re-import work from Figma and Sketch, then share interactive designs through the web or export them as HTML, video, or GIF. That makes Principle a focused prototyping companion for those ecosystems rather than a replacement for their design tools. Choose it when motion and interactive flows are the main deliverable; it is less suited to teams that need collaboration inside the prototyping workflow.

According to the vendor's pricing page, the Principle license is a one-time $129 charge per computer and includes new features released within one year of purchase. A one-time $99 per-computer renewal restores access to features released after that initial year. A 14-day trial is available. The tradeoff is clear: buyers pay per computer, and the product does not provide real-time collaboration or developer handoff. Principle fits individual Mac-focused designers prioritizing animated prototypes; teams that depend on shared editing or handoff should choose a tool with those capabilities.

Questions about Principle

Is there a free trial of Principle? Yes: a 14-day free trial.

What does Principle run on? macOS, iOS and Web. It runs as a desktop app and as a mobile app.

What does Principle integrate with? 2 integrations: Figma and Sketch.

Who is Principle built for? Solo users and small businesses (our editorial estimate).

Your product? Our editors can test Principle in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Principle pricing

Plans 14-day trialPaid No free plan — trial or paid only. Prices checked 24 Sep 2026.

See plans on principleformac.com

All 2 Principle plans and prices →

Principle fact sheet

Free plan	No
Paid from	$129/device one-time
Prototype capability	Advanced
Developer handoff	No
Design systems	Yes
Real-time collaboration	No
Offline desktop app	Not verified
Version history	Not verified
Supported platforms	macOS; iOS companion app; web viewing
Free trial	14 days
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	macOS, iOS, Web
Support	Email, Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Integrations	2 integrations: Figma, Sketch
Pricing	14-day trial (source)
Website	principleformac.com
Facts checked	24 Sep 2026

Principle integrations

Principle lists 2 integrations on its own site.

Figma
Sketch

Alternatives to Principle

See all Principle alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Principle is listed in our Interface Design Tools directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

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Last updated 14 Nov 2026 · How we research and update