InVision

What is InVision?

InVision is a digital product design platform that revolutionized how designers create, prototype, and collaborate on user interface and user experience projects. Founded in 2011, InVision pioneered the concept of clickable prototypes that allow stakeholders to experience designs interactively before development begins, fundamentally changing the design workflow from static mockups to dynamic, testable experiences. The platform enabled designers to transform static screens into interactive prototypes with transitions, animations, and user flows that demonstrate exactly how the final product will function.

What distinguished InVision in the design tool landscape was its focus on collaboration and handoff. Beyond prototyping, InVision provided design systems management through Design System Manager, feedback and commenting tools through Freehand, and developer handoff specifications through Inspect. The platform created a complete ecosystem where designers, stakeholders, and developers could communicate effectively throughout the product development process, reducing miscommunication and iteration cycles that plague traditional design workflows.

InVision reached peak popularity serving millions of users at companies from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. However, the company announced in late 2022 that it would sunset most of its products to focus on Freehand, its collaborative whiteboarding tool. While InVision Studio and other tools have been discontinued, the platform’s influence on design tooling remains significant, having pioneered concepts that became industry standards. Freehand continues as InVision’s collaborative offering for teams needing visual collaboration capabilities.

Key Features

• Freehand Collaboration: Infinite canvas for visual collaboration with drawing, sticky notes, templates, and real-time teamwork for brainstorming and planning.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple team members work simultaneously on the same canvas with presence indicators and instant updates.
• Templates Library: Pre-built templates for workshops, brainstorming, user story mapping, and design sprints accelerate project setup.
• Drawing and Sketching: Freeform drawing tools with shapes, arrows, connectors, and pen tools for visual thinking and diagramming.
• Sticky Notes: Digital sticky notes with color coding and grouping for organizing ideas during brainstorming sessions.
• Comments and Feedback: Contextual commenting allows discussion directly on canvas elements for clear communication.
• Presentation Mode: Present canvases in fullscreen mode for meetings and workshops with navigation controls.
• Integration: Connect with Slack, Jira, and other tools to bring Freehand into existing workflows.
• Export Options: Download canvases as images or PDFs for documentation and sharing outside the platform.
• Version History: Access previous versions of canvases to review changes and restore earlier states if needed.

What’s New

As InVision pivoted to focus exclusively on Freehand, development concentrated on enhancing collaborative whiteboarding capabilities for modern distributed teams.

• Enhanced Performance: Faster loading, smoother interactions, and better handling of large canvases with many elements.
• Template Updates: New templates for modern workflows including remote workshops, agile ceremonies, and design thinking exercises.
• Improved Drawing: Better pen tools, shape recognition, and drawing smoothing for more natural digital sketching.
• Collaboration Features: Enhanced presence indicators, better cursor tracking, and improved real-time synchronization for distributed teams.
• Integration Expansion: Additional connections to popular productivity and project management tools.
• Mobile Experience: Improved mobile app functionality for viewing and contributing to canvases on phones and tablets.
• Accessibility: Better keyboard navigation and screen reader support for inclusive collaboration.
• Organization Tools: Improved workspace organization and project management for teams with many canvases.

System Requirements

Web Application

• Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (latest versions recommended)
• Internet: Stable broadband connection for real-time collaboration
• Display: 1280 x 800 minimum resolution
• Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS

Mobile Apps

• iOS: iPhone or iPad with iOS 13.0 or later
• Android: Devices with Android 8.0 or later
• Storage: 100 MB for app installation

How to Install InVision

Web Access (Primary Method)

1. Visit invisionapp.com in your web browser
2. Click Sign Up or navigate to Freehand
3. Create account with email or sign in with Google/SSO
4. Choose plan (Free or paid tier)
5. Start creating canvases immediately
6. No installation required for web version

iOS Installation

1. Open App Store on your iPhone or iPad
2. Search for “InVision Freehand”
3. Tap Get to download the app
4. Open and sign in with your InVision account
5. Access canvases on mobile device

Android Installation

1. Open Google Play Store
2. Search for “InVision Freehand”
3. Tap Install to download
4. Open app and sign in
5. View and contribute to canvases

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Real-Time Collaboration: Excellent synchronization allows distributed teams to work together effectively with minimal lag or conflicts.
• Ease of Use: Intuitive interface makes it accessible to non-designers, enabling broad team participation in visual collaboration.
• Template Library: Pre-built templates accelerate common workflows like brainstorming, retrospectives, and user journey mapping.
• Cross-Platform: Works in any browser and on mobile devices for flexibility in how and where teams collaborate.
• Free Tier: Generous free plan allows small teams and individuals to use Freehand without payment.
• Integration Options: Connections to Slack, Jira, and other tools embed Freehand into existing team workflows.
• Presentation Mode: Built-in presentation capabilities make it easy to share work in meetings without additional software.

Cons

• Legacy Products Discontinued: InVision Studio, Craft, and other tools have been sunset, limiting the platform to only Freehand.
• Not a Design Tool: Freehand focuses on collaboration and ideation, not detailed UI design work that requires dedicated design software.
• Limited Compared to Competitors: Miro and other whiteboard tools offer more extensive feature sets and integrations.
• Company Uncertainty: Multiple product discontinuations and layoffs raise questions about long-term platform stability.
• Export Limitations: Export options are basic compared to some competitors, limiting reuse of canvas content.

InVision vs Alternatives

Who Should Use InVision?

InVision Freehand is ideal for:

• Existing InVision Users: Teams already using InVision who need collaborative whiteboarding can leverage their existing accounts.
• Simple Collaboration Needs: Teams wanting straightforward whiteboarding without complex features find Freehand accessible and sufficient.
• Small Teams: Smaller groups benefit from the free tier for brainstorming and planning without software costs.
• Remote Workshops: Facilitators running remote workshops and design sprints can use templates and collaboration features effectively.
• Quick Ideation: Teams needing fast visual collaboration for brainstorming and concept development without heavy tooling.
• Budget-Conscious Teams: The free plan provides basic whiteboarding capability for teams without collaboration tool budgets.

InVision may not be ideal for:

• UI/UX Design Work: Since InVision Studio is discontinued, teams should use Figma or similar tools for actual interface design.
• Complex Workflows: Teams needing extensive integrations, advanced features, or complex diagramming should consider Miro.
• Long-Term Commitment: Company’s product discontinuations raise concerns about betting on InVision for critical workflows.
• Large Enterprises: Organizations needing robust enterprise features and support may prefer more established whiteboard platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to InVision Studio and other products?

InVision discontinued most of its product line in late 2022 to focus exclusively on Freehand. InVision Studio, Craft, Inspect, and the original prototype tool are no longer actively developed or available for new users. Existing users received migration timelines and were encouraged to export their work. This strategic pivot reflects the company’s decision to focus on collaborative whiteboarding rather than compete directly with design tools like Figma.

Is InVision still worth using?

For UI design work, no—use Figma, Sketch, or other active design tools. For collaborative whiteboarding, InVision Freehand remains functional and has a generous free tier, though competitors like Miro and FigJam offer more features and arguably better long-term stability. Consider InVision Freehand for simple collaboration needs, but evaluate alternatives for critical workflows given the company’s recent changes.

Can I still access my old InVision prototypes?

Access to legacy prototypes depends on when they were created and current account status. InVision provided export options and migration timelines for users to preserve their work before discontinuing services. If you have old prototypes, log into your account to check availability and export any important work. Contact InVision support for specific questions about accessing historical projects.

How does Freehand compare to Miro?

Both are collaborative whiteboard tools, but Miro offers more extensive features, integrations, and templates. Miro has a larger user base and more active development. Freehand provides simpler, more streamlined experience that some teams prefer for basic collaboration. Miro is generally recommended for teams needing comprehensive whiteboarding, while Freehand may suit those wanting simplicity and already in InVision ecosystem.

Is there a free version of InVision Freehand?

Yes, InVision offers a free tier for Freehand with limitations on number of canvases and team members. The free plan allows small teams to collaborate without payment, though paid plans unlock unlimited canvases, more participants, and additional features. Check InVision’s current pricing for specific free tier limitations as they may change.

Final Verdict

InVision’s legacy as a pioneering force in digital product design remains significant, having fundamentally changed how teams approach prototyping and collaboration. However, the company’s dramatic pivot away from design tools to focus solely on Freehand whiteboarding has left its current offering in an uncertain position. Freehand provides capable collaborative whiteboarding for teams with simple needs, but the platform no longer serves the comprehensive design workflow it once promised.

For teams specifically needing whiteboarding and ideation tools, Freehand delivers functional collaboration with an accessible interface and reasonable pricing. The real-time collaboration works well, templates accelerate common workflows, and the free tier enables small teams to start without investment. However, the company’s history of discontinuing products raises legitimate questions about building critical workflows on InVision.

InVision Freehand can be recommended for simple collaborative whiteboarding needs, particularly for teams already in the InVision ecosystem or seeking straightforward tools without complexity. For UI/UX design work, look to Figma or Sketch. For comprehensive whiteboarding and workshop facilitation, Miro offers more features and stability. InVision’s story serves as a reminder of how quickly the design tool landscape can shift, making it wise to evaluate alternatives carefully before committing to any platform.