Cairn vs Wireflow

Cairn is a macOS desktop app for mapping screens, data, roles, and CRUD operations before building a product. Users sketch low-fidelity pages, modals, and sheets, then connect them into scenarios with triggers and dependencies across roles. Cairn checks whether data used on a screen was created earlier in its causal flow and flags missing data. Its Fields and Journeys views show where data appears and how each role moves through a flow. The app works offline and saves projects as portable.cairn files on the user's Mac. The maker says Cairn has no accounts or telemetry and does not upload project files; it connects to the internet for update checks and Pro license validation. Cairn is positioned as a complement to Figma for later visual design. The free plan costs nothing and includes one project and up to two scenarios, but does not allow file import or export. Real-time collaboration is not available, and Cairn is not intended for pixel-perfect or high-fidelity design.

Wireflow is an online tool for creating user flow prototypes in a browser. It requires no installation and provides more than 100 custom-built graphics and cards for web elements, interactions, and use cases. Coworkers can be invited to design flows together in real time, with built-in live chat. Project permissions control access and let a flow be public or private. The editor autosaves flows in the browser and includes an Export JSON action. The site lists 102 flow templates across 10 categories. Wireflow is MIT licensed, developed in the open, and can be forked or self-hosted. Its README documents local development with yarn and Docker Compose. The Free plan is free, available forever without sign-up, and includes the graphics and cards, real-time collaboration, project permissions, live chat, and browser access. Listed platforms are web and self-hosted.