Flinto for Designers: Mac App for Animated iOS and App Prototypes

Flinto is a Mac app for creating animated prototypes of mobile app designs. Launched in the mid-2010s when prototyping tools were fragmented, Flinto carved out a niche by making custom transitions easy to design without timelines or code. While newer tools have broader features, Flinto remains popular among Mac-based designers who value its focused, visual approach to animation.

Key Specs

How Designers Use Flinto

Flinto fits specific prototyping needs that broader tools handle less elegantly. Here’s when designers reach for it.

For Custom Screen Transitions

Import screens from Figma or Sketch. Select two screens and open the Transition Designer. Flinto shows before and after side by side. Drag elements to where they should end up, and Flinto interpolates the animation. No timeline scrubbing or keyframes. Change the curve (ease-in, spring, bounce) and preview instantly. Designers use this to prototype onboarding flows, tab switches, or modal presentations that feel native to iOS.

For Scroll-Based Animations

Add a scrollable area with one click. Use the Behavior Designer to tie animations to scroll position. As users scroll down, elements fade in, slide up, or parallax at different speeds. This is perfect for landing page prototypes or long-form content where you want to demonstrate how headers shrink, images zoom, or CTAs appear. Flinto makes scroll interactions visual, not code-based.

For Micro-Interactions Within Screens

Design button press states, toggle switches, loading spinners, or pulldown-to-refresh animations using the Behavior Designer. Unlike Figma where micro-interactions require variants and complex prototyping links, Flinto lets you visually define how elements respond to taps, hovers, or drags. Designers prototyping fintech apps or SaaS dashboards use this to show stakeholders exactly how interactions should feel.

For Client Presentations

Export a Flinto file and send it to clients who can open it with the free Mac app or iOS viewer. Clients tap through the prototype on their iPhone, experiencing transitions at 60fps without a browser. This feels more polished than web-based prototypes that stutter or require wifi. Designers presenting to non-technical clients appreciate how Flinto prototypes feel like real apps.

Flinto vs. Alternatives

How does Flinto compare to other prototyping tools designers might consider?

Choose Flinto if: You’re a Mac user who needs polished transitions, prefers one-time purchases over subscriptions, and primarily designs for iOS.

Choose ProtoPie if: You need Windows support, want advanced sensor-based interactions (device tilt, pressure sensitivity), or need to share prototypes across all platforms.

Choose Figma if: You want prototyping integrated with your design tool, need real-time collaboration, or want web-based access without installing apps.

Choose Principle if: You need precise timeline control over animations, prefer keyframe-based animation similar to After Effects, and only work on Mac.

Getting Started with Flinto

A quick introduction to creating your first animated prototype:

Step 1: Import your screens

Launch Flinto and create a new project. Go to File > Import and select your Figma or Sketch file. Flinto imports each artboard as a separate screen. Alternatively, drag PNG images of your screens into Flinto if you designed elsewhere. Flinto preserves layers if you import from Sketch or Figma, making elements editable.

Step 2: Create a transition

Select two screens (e.g., Home and Detail). Click the Link tool in the toolbar, then click an element on the Home screen (like a card) and drag to the Detail screen. Click “Design Transition” to open the Transition Designer. Move elements on the Detail screen to their final positions. Flinto automatically animates the transformation. Adjust timing curves (ease, spring) in the right panel.

Step 3: Preview on iPhone

Connect your iPhone to the same WiFi network as your Mac. Open the free Flinto iOS app on your phone. Your prototype appears automatically. Tap to navigate through screens and see your transitions at full framerate. Make changes in Flinto on your Mac and they update instantly on your phone. This live preview is faster than exporting to Figma or generating QR codes.

Flinto in Your Design Workflow

Flinto specializes in one thing, so it works alongside other tools rather than replacing them.

• Before Flinto: Design screens in Figma or Sketch, create components and layouts
• During prototyping: Flinto for transitions and animations, test on iPhone via WiFi preview
• After Flinto: Export video recordings of prototypes for stakeholders, or hand off static designs to developers with animation specs

Common tool pairings:

• Flinto + Figma for workflow where Figma handles design and components, Flinto adds high-fidelity animations
• Flinto + Sketch for designers who still use Sketch, leveraging Flinto’s tight Sketch integration
• Flinto + Loom for recording prototype walkthroughs to share with remote teams or clients without Mac/iOS devices
• Flinto + developer handoff tools by exporting animation specs (timing, curves, distances) to developers implementing in Xcode or React Native

Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

These issues come up when designers use Flinto for prototyping.

“My client can’t view the prototype (they have Windows)”

Flinto prototypes only work on Mac and iOS. Send clients a screen recording instead: use Flinto’s built-in recorder (File > Export > Record Movie) or use QuickTime to record your Mac screen while clicking through. Export as MP4 and share via Dropbox or Loom. Alternatively, use ProtoPie or Figma if cross-platform sharing is critical.

“Transitions feel laggy on older iPhones”

Complex transitions with many layers, blurs, or masks can drop frames on iPhone 8 or older devices. Simplify animations by reducing the number of animating elements, removing blur effects during transitions, or using opacity fades instead of scale transforms. Test early on the oldest device your users have, not just your new iPhone 15.

“I can’t create conditional interactions”

Flinto doesn’t support variables or conditional logic. If you need “if user taps 3 times, show X” or “remember user’s previous choice,” use ProtoPie or code the interaction. Flinto is for visual transitions, not complex state management. Design your prototype to avoid branching logic that Flinto can’t handle.

“My Figma import lost some layers”

Flinto imports basic shapes, text, and groups from Figma, but complex effects (advanced blends, some plugins, component overrides) may not translate. Before importing, flatten layers you don’t need to animate, and simplify blend modes. Import, check what’s missing, then simplify your Figma file and re-import. Keep a “Flinto export” version of your Figma file separate from your working design file.

“Animations don’t match iOS native feel”

Flinto’s spring curves approximate iOS animations but aren’t identical. Use the “iOS” curve preset in the Transition Designer as a starting point. Compare your prototype to actual iOS apps by screen recording both and playing them side by side. Adjust spring tension and friction sliders until they match. For pixel-perfect iOS motion, reference Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines motion specs.