About Principle
Overview
Principle is a native macOS design tool for creating animated and interactive user interfaces. It covers short animations, brand-new interactions, and multi-screen app flows using artboards, a timeline, and magic animations.
Designers import work from Figma or Sketch, share prototypes to the web with one click, or export video and animated GIFs of their designs.
Key Benefits
- Timeline editor makes it fast to craft bounce, ease, and pop motion.
- Experiment freely with new interactions instead of picking pre-defined transitions.
- Design multi-screen app flows and view every screen in a bird's-eye overview.
- Import Figma and Sketch files; re-importing intelligently merges your changes.
- Share designs to the web for viewing on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS.
- Record feature exports a video or animated GIF for Dribbble, Twitter, and elsewhere.
How It Works
Pick a device preset or custom artboard size, then animate with the timeline. When done, share the design to the web in one click or export a recording as video or GIF.
Use Cases
- UI designers prototype the flow of a multi-screen app.
- Interaction designers test brand-new interactions without template limits.
- Product designers import Figma or Sketch work and keep changes in sync.
- Teams share interactive prototypes with stakeholders on any device, no install required.
- Designers export polished video or GIF previews for Dribbble and Twitter.
Why Choose This Product
Principle is a native macOS app that runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs with a small download, full-screen mode, a Retina interface, and Auto Save. A one-time $129 license covers each computer, with a 14-day free trial that only counts the days you actually use.
Principle Pros & Cons
- One-time $129 license per computer with a 14-day free trial
- Imports designs from Figma and Sketch with intelligent merging
- One-click web sharing viewable on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS
- Record feature exports video or animated GIF for Dribbble and Twitter
- Native macOS app supporting Intel and Apple Silicon
- macOS only, no native Windows or Linux app
- New features after the first year require a $99 per-computer renewal
Key Features
Timeline animation
The timeline makes it quick to craft bounce, ease, and pop motion effects in your designs.
Freeform interactions
Design new interactions without being limited to pre-defined transitions.
Multi-screen flows
Design the flow of a multi-screen app and view a bird's-eye overview of all screens.
Figma/Sketch import
Import designs from Figma or Sketch, and re-importing intelligently merges your changes.
One-click web sharing
Share designs to the web for viewing on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS without installs.
Video/GIF export
The record feature exports a video or animated GIF shareable on Dribbble, Twitter, and elsewhere.
Device presets
Choose device presets or custom artboard sizes, with hover events and mouse wheel scrolling for web and desktop prototypes.
macOS-native build
Native macOS app with full-screen mode, a Retina interface, and Auto Save on Intel and Apple Silicon.
Principle Pricing
View full pricing →- Per-computer license
- All new features released within a year of purchase
- Full version for 14 days free trial before buying
Pricing extracted from the product website and may change. Check the source for current details.
Frequently asked questions about Principle
How much does Principle cost?
A Principle license costs $129 for each computer you want to use it on. The license includes all new features released within a year of purchase.
Can I keep using Principle after the first year?
Yes. You can continue using Principle after a year, but new features released after that point require a renewal, which costs $99 per computer.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. You can try the full version of Principle free for 14 days, and only the days you actually use it are counted.
Can I import designs from Figma or Sketch?
Yes. Principle lets you import your designs from Figma or Sketch, and importing again after making changes intelligently merges your work.
What platforms does Principle run on?
Principle is a native macOS app that runs smoothly on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and includes full-screen mode, a Retina interface, and Auto Save.
Is Principle free?
Principle is a paid product. See the pricing section for current plans and starting prices.
