# ProtoPie — Design

ProtoPie by ProtoPie Inc. holds a panel rating of 2/5 from 6 AI judges (category median 2.5/5), as of 2026-11-04. Provenance: provenance unknown; sovereignty: 1 of 6 dimensions proven.

- Vendor: ProtoPie Inc. (https://www.protopie.io)
- Category: [Design](https://whats-best.ai/software/design.md)
- Provenance (editorial classification): provenance unknown
- Canonical page: https://whats-best.ai/software/design/protopie
- Alternatives: https://whats-best.ai/software/design/protopie/alternatives ([markdown](https://whats-best.ai/software/design/protopie/alternatives.md))
- Data as of: 2026-11-04 · evaluated 2026-11-04 · oldest source captured 2026-11-03

**AI-generated.** Every score, rationale and verdict here is written by a panel of AI judges from public evidence — an analysis, not a hands-on test. Every fact quotes the vendor page it was read from. No score can be bought. How scores are made: https://whats-best.ai/methodology

## At a glance

- Vendor: ProtoPie Inc.
- Headquarters: Not stated on the vendor’s pages as of 3 Nov 2026
- Data hosting: Outside the EU by default [S8]
- Free plan: Yes, per the vendor’s own page [S1]

## The panel's verdict

ProtoPie, from Studio XID, is an interaction prototyping tool. Design and prototyping scores cluster at 6 to 7: prototypes driven by logic, variables and formulas, with sensors, voice and cross-device interactions, and reusable components. AI and content rights scores cluster at 5 to 6: retention capped at 90 days at ProtoPie and 30 at providers, though Basic and Pro (Plus) inputs may be used to improve the services with no opt-out described. Brand asset governance is weakest at 0 to 2: no brand kit, locked templates or rights metadata is documented. Sovereignty scores sit at 1 across the bench: AI data is processed through Anthropic PBC in the United States, data residency selections are unsupported, and Studio XID's jurisdiction and prototype hosting are unstated. Collaboration and handoff sits at 4 to 5 and file ownership and portability at 4 to 6: sharing is password-protected with Enterprise link expiry, but we found no public information on comments, co-editing, version history or documented export formats. No paid price appears on any captured page; judges scored close together with no significant split.

**Speaks for it:**
- Prototypes run on logic, variables and formulas, with component instances that follow main-component edits, plus sensors, voice and cross-device interactions
- Figma import is documented in depth, with components carrying full variant support and reimport updating layers while preserving edits made in ProtoPie
- Shared links support password protection, team-space restriction, per-link view-or-download control, and Enterprise-only expiry of 1 day, 3 days or 1 week
- The Handoff button pairs prototypes with interaction recordings so engineers get the interaction specifications they need for development
- The AI terms name the providers, cap retention at 90 days at ProtoPie and 30 days at providers, and state that users own the outputs

**Held against it:**
- Brand asset governance scored 0 to 2, with no public information on a brand kit, locked templates, guidelines or rights and expiry metadata
- Sovereignty scored 1 across the bench: AI data is processed through Anthropic PBC in the United States, data residency selections are listed among unsupported options, and where stored prototypes are hosted is unstated
- For Basic and Pro (Plus) users, ProtoPie AI may use submitted inputs to improve the services, with no opt-out described on the captured pages
- Moving work out: we found no public information on a documented file format, structured export, or what happens to files after a downgrade or cancelled contract
- Review loops: we found no public information on comments, mentions, real-time co-editing, version history or an inspect view with measurements

**Best for:**
- You build advanced interactive prototypes from Figma designs — logic, variables, formulas, sensors, voice, cross-device — and hand them to engineers via interaction recordings and specifications
- You share prototypes with clients or testers under control: passwords, team-space restriction, per-link view-or-download choice, and Enterprise expiry of 1 day, 3 days or 1 week
- You want AI assistance under explicit terms: named providers, 90-day ProtoPie and 30-day provider retention, outputs you own, and an Enterprise organization-level off switch
- You test prototypes on real devices — desktop, iPhone, iPad, Android and Huawei — including per-scene links for platforms like Maze

**Avoid if:**
- You need brand governance inside the tool — brand kits, locked templates for non-designers, rights and expiry metadata; the pages document prototype components and sharing, and brand asset governance scored 0 to 2
- Your review workflow depends on comments, mentions and real-time co-editing; the documented collaboration mode is controlled link sharing with handoff recordings
- Your AI inputs on Basic or Pro (Plus) must not be used for service improvement; the terms reserve that use for those plans with no opt-out described

## Scores by judge and criterion

Scores out of 5, each judge scoring independently against the published rubric (v2). "n/r" = not rated: the vendor publishes no price, or the judge found no public information on that criterion.

| Criterion | The Product Designer | The Frontend Engineer | The Brand Marketer | The Agency Owner | The Data Protection Officer | The Skeptic |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Design, prototyping & design systems | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Collaboration, review & developer handoff | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2.5/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Brand assets & governance | n/r | n/r | 0.5/5 | n/r | 0.5/5 | 1/5 |
| Files, formats & portability | 3/5 | 2.5/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| AI features & rights to the work | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| European sovereignty | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 | 0.5/5 |
| Pricing transparency | n/r | n/r | n/r | n/r | n/r | n/r |
| **Weighted verdict** | **2.5/5** | **2/5** | **1.5/5** | **2.5/5** | **1.5/5** | **2/5** |

### The judges

- **The Product Designer** (v1.0): Owns the design system of a B2B software product. Wants components with variants, tokens with modes, prototypes that test a real flow, and library releases that are versioned and reviewable — a design system is a product, not a page of nicely arranged buttons.
- **The Frontend Engineer** (v1.0): Turns the designs into code and gets the ticket when they disagree. Wants an inspect mode without a paid seat, tokens exported in a documented format, components mapped to the code ones, and an API that reads the whole file rather than a screenshot of it.
- **The Brand Marketer** (v1.0): Keeps the brand consistent across twelve sales offices that make their own flyers. Wants locked templates non-designers can use, guidelines inside the tool, licence and expiry dates on every stock image, and a clear answer on whether a generated image may go on a trade-fair stand.
- **The Agency Owner** (v1.0): Runs a design agency of fifteen and hands every project over to the client at the end. Wants files that export with layers and components intact, guests who are not billed as editors, and terms that say the client owns the work — and what happens to it after a cancellation.
- **The Data Protection Officer** (v1.0): Reviews every tool where unreleased products, customer screenshots and employee photos end up. Wants the contracting entity and hosting region named, the AI providers on the subprocessor list, and training on customer files excluded for the whole organisation in the terms — not behind a toggle each user has to find.
- **The Skeptic** (v1.0): Has read "free for viewers", "commercially safe AI" and "export anytime" on every page in this category. Reads instead for the click that turns a reviewer into a billed editor, the plan the IP indemnity actually covers, and whether the export keeps a single component.

## European sovereignty — proven facts

Built only from facts on the vendor's own pages; a dimension we could not prove is left open, never scored as zero. Headline: 1 of 6 dimensions proven.

| Dimension | Finding | Points | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Not determined | — | — |
| Hosting location | Outside the EU | 0/4 | [S8] |
| Hosting options | Not determined | — | — |
| Open source | Not determined | — | — |
| Data processing agreement | Not determined | — | — |
| Transfer impact assessment | Not determined | — | — |

## Key facts

Each fact is the vendor's own statement, cited to the source page it was read from ([S*n*] → Sources).

**Compliance**
- HIPAA baa: yes [S8]

**Data**
- Basic pro inputs training: Basic · Pro (Plus) · yes [S8]
- China no storage: no [S8]
- China training optin: no [S8]
- Model training API: no [S8]
- Retention period: 90 · 30 [S8]

**Hosting**
- China infrastructure: mainland China · Microsoft Azure Global · Alibaba Cloud [S8]
- Cloud login: yes [S1]

**Legal**
- AI terms last updated: 2026-05-28 [S8]
- Copyright holder: Studio XID [S7]
- Copyright holder: Studio XID [S5]
- Entity: Studio XID [S1]
- Patent: yes [S1]

**Pricing**
- AI excluded plans: Free Plan · Perpetual Plan · Individual Plan · Enterprise On-premise [S8]
- Team access plans: Pro · Enterprise [S5]

**Product**
- Affiliate program: yes [S1]
- AI features: AI-assisted interaction creation · AI-powered document Q&A [S8]
- AI interactions: AI-driven prototyping; AI generates interactions, perfected credit-free, hands off specs [S1]
- Auto layout applicable targets: containers · components · multiple objects [S3]
- Auto layout apply methods: Property Panel · Right-Click Menu · Shift+A shortcut [S3]
- Auto layout audio limitation: Auto Layout does not affect resizing or interactions with audio layers [S3]
- Auto layout import: basic Auto Layout properties supported; editing advanced settings in Studio may reset them [S6]
- Auto layout mask layer limitation: Auto Layout on a mask layer replaces the mask option [S3]
- Auto layout purpose: Auto Layout automates alignment and spacing for layout creation and adjustment [S3]
- Auto layout remove shortcut: Option+Shift+A · Alt+Shift+A [S3]
- Auto layout single layer access: For single non-container layers, Auto Layout only via shortcuts or right-click menu, not Property Panel [S3]
- Change scene links: generate dedicated share links per scene [S5]
- China plan limits: Pro (Plus) · Enterprise · document Q&A only [S8]
- Component creation: Components created by selecting layers and clicking the Component icon or via context menu 'Convert to Component'; also created from scratch via plus icon in component panel [S2]
- Component editing mode: Main component edited via component editing mode; changes apply to all instances [S2]
- Component grouping: Components grouped using slash '/' in component name (e.g. Button / Primary / Normal) [S2]
- Component instance creation: Instances created by dragging a component from the Component panel onto the scene canvas [S2]
- Component mode behavior: main components exported to local Library · instances linked references · variants with full variant support [S6]
- Component mode scope: Scene · Object · Flattened [S6]
- Components definition: Components save sets of layers and interactions for reuse throughout a prototype; instances update automatically when the main component changes [S2]
- Credit reset: individual billing date anniversary · monthly reset [S8]
- Credit sharing: team-level pooling (Editor permissions) · organization-level pooling [S8]
- Cross device interactions: yes [S1]
- Detach instance: Detach breaks connection with component, turns instance into a container; requires Labs feature enabled; adds Detached_ prefix to detached interaction name [S2]
- Device testing support: Prototypes can be tested on desktop, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Huawei devices, or shared through the cloud [S7]
- Dynamic interactions: dynamic interactions using logic, variables, and formulas [S1]
- Enterprise admin control: no · yes [S8]
- Export types: Scene · Object · Flattened [S6]
- Figma import alternative: Figma designs can still be imported into ProtoPie using the ProtoPie plugin for Figma, supporting dynamic interactions, conditional logic, text input, multi-touch, and sensor-based interactions [S7]
- Figma import methods: 2 · plugin (recommended) · legacy import [S6]
- Free tier: yes · interaction_recordings · shareable_links [S1]
- Free trial: yes [S4]
- Gallery: yes [S1]
- Genie plugin deprecation: ProtoPie Genie plugin for Figma is being deprecated on September 9, 2026 [S7]
- Genie removal from figma community: ProtoPie Genie will no longer be available on the Figma Community after September 9, 2026 [S7]
- Handoff button: Handoff button creates interaction recordings for engineers [S5]
- Import design tools: yes [S1]
- Instance overrides: Instance sublayer property overrides are unique to the instance, persist through main component edits, and can be reset via 'Reset Overrides' context menu [S2]
- Instance swap: Component instances can be swapped with another from the right-side property panel [S2]
- Integrations real data: yes [S1]
- Interaction import: Figma frame interactions imported as Jump responses [S6]
- Interaction recording pairing: prototypes can be paired with interaction recordings for developer handoff [S5]
- Layer tracking: each imported object has a unique internal ID; only same-file objects reimportable [S6]
- Legacy import version requirement: ProtoPie 9.1.0 or higher [S6]
- Link expiry: Enterprise · yes [S5]
- Link expiry periods: 1 day · 3 days · 1 week [S5]
- Maze testing: per-scene links useful for testing on Maze [S5]
- Mobile usability testing: ProtoPie Player recommended for mobile/tablet usability testing [S5]
- Native device sensors: yes [S1]
- New capabilities: AI-powered workflows · MCP integrations · user testing [S7]
- Output ownership: yes · yes [S8]
- Password protection: yes [S5]
- Platforms: automotive · website · mobile_tablet · tv_productions · smartwatches · game [S1]
- Plugin capabilities: sections/frames/objects · top-level frames as scenes · selection · vector layers as SVG · text layers as SVG · constraints · Auto Layout properties · components with variant support via Component Mode [S6]
- Plugin local processing: Import is done locally without latency [S6]
- Plugin version requirement: ProtoPie 9.5.0 or higher [S6]
- Protopie mcp: yes [S1]
- Reimport behavior: layers updated automatically on reimport; ProtoPie edits preserved [S6]
- Reimport preserved edits: modified objects · moved layers · deleted layers · component overrides [S6]
- Share access control: Share dialog lets you choose who can view and download prototypes [S5]
- Smart animate import: Smart Animate transitions imported as Jump responses with Smart transitions [S6]
- Supported properties: Visibility · Lock · Position · Size · Rotation · Opacity · Constraints · Fill (solid color & image) · Borders · Shadow · Auto Layout (core properties) [S6]
- Svg import: vector layers imported as SVG; not all SVG properties supported [S6]
- Team restricted access: restrict prototype access exclusively to team space members [S5]
- Unsupported features: custom model endpoints · data residency selections · on-premise AI models · region-specific data storage · Anthropic PBC, United States [S8]
- Use as main component: Use as Main Component lets you edit the main component via an instance [S2]
- Variable overrides: Variable initial values can be overridden by enabling 'Make Overridable' on the variable in the main component [S2]
- View options: shareable display options include device frame, cursor type, hotspot hints [S5]
- View options list: Original Size (100%) · Scale to Fit · Hotspot Hints · Device Frame · ProtoPie UI · Cursor Type · Background · Playback Speed [S5]
- Voice interactions: yes [S1]
- Warranty disclaimer: as-is, no warranties [S8]

**Subprocessors**
- AI providers: Anthropic PBC (US) · OpenAI, LLC (US) · Microsoft Corporation (Azure Global, mainland China residents) · Alibaba Cloud (mainland China residents) [S8]

**Support**
- Community: yes [S1]
- Demos: yes [S1]
- Documentation: yes [S1]
- School: yes [S1]

## Questions

### Is ProtoPie European?

Not determined: the vendor’s pages as captured do not say where ProtoPie is based.

### Where does ProtoPie store data?

ProtoPie stores customer data outside the EU by default, per [the vendor’s page captured 3 Nov 2026](https://whats-best.ai/evidence/17117).

### Does ProtoPie have a free plan?

Yes. ProtoPie has a free plan, per [the vendor’s page captured 3 Nov 2026](https://whats-best.ai/evidence/17110).

### What are the best alternatives to ProtoPie?

As of 4 Nov 2026, the panel rates [Penpot (3.5/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/design/penpot), [Sketch (3/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/design/sketch) and [Collaboard (3/5)](https://whats-best.ai/software/design/collaboard) highest among the other 21 Design products evaluated. Ratings that look equal are rounded to half stars; the order uses the unrounded rating, then the name. The highest-rated European alternative is [Penpot](https://whats-best.ai/software/design/penpot) (EU-Made). Ratings are the AI panel’s opinion, formed from public evidence: [how scores are made](https://whats-best.ai/methodology#ordering). The full list, with European products first: [ProtoPie alternatives](https://whats-best.ai/software/design/protopie/alternatives).

## What this page leaves out

- 16 product facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 3 support facts could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and were left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 1 legal fact could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and was left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 1 pricing fact could not be confirmed on the vendor’s page as captured and was left out of this page and of the panel’s material.
- 1 sovereignty dimension could not be confirmed on the vendor’s own pages and is shown as unknown.

## Sources

- [S1] Vendor page: https://www.protopie.io (checked 2026-11-03)
- [S2] Design, prototyping & design systems — found from sitemap: https://www.protopie.io/learn/docs/components-getting-started (checked 2026-11-03)
- [S3] Design, prototyping & design systems — found from sitemap: https://www.protopie.io/learn/docs/auto-layout-getting-started (checked 2026-11-03)
- [S4] Collaboration, review & developer handoff — found from sitemap: https://www.protopie.io/features/developer-handoff (checked 2026-11-03)
- [S5] Collaboration, review & developer handoff — found from sitemap: https://www.protopie.io/learn/docs/cloud-sharing-prototypes (checked 2026-11-03)
- [S6] Files, formats & portability — found from sitemap: https://www.protopie.io/learn/docs/import-importing-from-figma (checked 2026-11-03)
- [S7] Files, formats & portability — found from sitemap: https://www.protopie.io/learn/docs/import-protopie-genie-plugin-figma (checked 2026-11-03)
- [S8] AI features & rights to the work — found from sitemap: https://www.protopie.io/legal/ai-terms (checked 2026-11-03)

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Cite as: whats-best.ai, "ProtoPie — Design", AI panel analysis, as of 2026-11-04. https://whats-best.ai/software/design/protopie

Corrections: https://whats-best.ai/correct/1400?target=page