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Balsamiq for Desktop FAQs: end of sales and support, and purchasing

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What's happening to Balsamiq for Desktop, and when?

We stopped developing Balsamiq for Desktop to focus on Balsamiq Cloud. We don't plan any more versions: 4.8.6, from October 2025, is the latest.

When What changes
Until December 31, 2026 You can still buy Desktop licenses, add users to a license, and upgrade a Mockups for Desktop license at half price.
December 31, 2026 Sales end. An estimate made by then can still be paid until it expires, 60 days after it was made.
December 31, 2027 Email help ends.
After that Desktop keeps working, with no updates, bug fixes or help.

Will my Desktop license stop working?

No. Desktop licenses you bought are perpetual: they don't expire, before or after 2027 (only trial and other time-limited keys have an end date). The end of support doesn't end your license, as our EULA says.

What stays online after 2027?

With no end date:

  • the installer of the latest version, 4.8.6, on the download page;
  • the update check built into the app;
  • the license lookup, which emails your purchase address a link to your license details page, with your full license key and invoice.

What we can't promise: that future versions of macOS or Windows will keep running Desktop. After 2027 there are no fixes and no help.

Do I need to do anything?

No, with two exceptions:

  • On Balsamiq for Desktop 4.0 to 4.7.3? Update to 4.8.6 before you reinstall it or move to a new computer: those versions can no longer register a license key. Your key works with 4.8.6, and you don't need to unregister your old computer first.
  • Might your purchase email change? For example, if it belongs to someone who could leave your company. Keep a copy of your license key, or, until the end of 2027, ask us to move your license to a new email. The license lookup only emails the purchase address, and from 2028 we can't look keys up by hand.

If you plan to add users, do it by December 31, 2026, by upgrading your license.

Otherwise, the license lookup and the 4.8.6 installer stay online with no end date: see what stays online after 2027.

Have a Mockups for Desktop license (Mockups 3 or older)? Its key works with Mockups 3, not with Balsamiq for Desktop 4.8.6. To use 4.8.6, upgrade it at half price by December 31, 2026.

Can I add users to my license later?

Only until December 31, 2026: upgrade your license with your current license key. After that, Desktop licenses can't be bought or upgraded. Licenses are for named users, so if your team grows after 2026, Balsamiq Cloud is the way to add people.

What does support include until the end of 2027?

Email help at support@balsamiq.com: finding your license, registering, installing, and questions about the app. There are no new features. If a new version of macOS or Windows stops Desktop from working before the end of 2027, tell us and we'll try to fix it.

From January 1, 2028 we can no longer answer Desktop questions. This page, the Desktop docs and the license lookup stay online.

Is Balsamiq for Desktop safe to keep using?

Desktop gets no security updates. The Windows version runs on Microsoft .NET 6, which Microsoft stopped supporting in November 2024. If your organization only allows supported software, check with your IT team.

Can I move my work to Balsamiq Cloud?

Yes: Balsamiq Cloud opens your Desktop project files (.bmpr). See how to migrate from Desktop to Cloud. The move goes one way: projects edited in Cloud don't open in Desktop.

As an existing Desktop customer, you get 20% off the first payment of a new Cloud plan (a whole first year on annual billing) with the code CLOUD20 at checkout, until December 31, 2027. Try Balsamiq Cloud free for 14 days.

We can't use cloud software. What can we do?

Keep using Desktop 4.8.6. It works offline, and it checks your license key on your computer, without contacting our servers. It keeps working after 2027, without updates or help.

How do I decide which tool is right for me?

For most people, we recommend Balsamiq Cloud, our AI-powered wireframing and prototyping tool. It's the fastest, most modern, and most frequently updated option.

If you’re already working in Atlassian, our marketplace apps may fit better: Balsamiq for Confluence and Balsamiq for Jira. We recommend the Cloud versions, since those get the optional AI features and match Atlassian's platform focus.

Cloud and Atlassian products are all priced per user. To dig deeper, you can:

If you’re still interested in Desktop, just know it’s an older experience that no longer receives updates. It can be bought until December 31, 2026, and email help ends on December 31, 2027.

How can I buy Balsamiq for Desktop?

Balsamiq for Desktop is sold as licenses. Buy it by credit card on our website; we don't accept purchase orders or wire transfers.

After you buy, we email your license information to the email address you entered, along with a link to view, edit, or download your invoice.

How are users counted in Balsamiq for Desktop licenses?

Licenses are based on assigned (named) users, not machines. An assigned user is anyone who can create and edit wireframes in the app. We don't offer concurrent (floating) licensing.

Helpful to know:

  • Each assigned user can install Desktop on any machine they use regularly.
  • You can buy licenses for one or more people at a time. Volume licenses cover the number of assigned users on your invoice.
  • You can add users by upgrading your license with your current license key, until December 31, 2026.
  • You can transfer a license from one user to another.

How can I get a quote for Desktop?

You can create an estimate yourself on the license page: choose the number of users and fill in the form, then click "get an estimate" next to the Checkout button (it turns on once the form is complete). You get a page with your estimate, and an email with its link, where you can come back and pay by card until it expires. It's an estimate, not an official quote: it's in USD, and we honor its prices for 60 days.

If you only have the estimate number but not the link to the online estimate, someone else, such as a colleague, may have requested it. Ask them for the link, or email us with the estimate number and we'll help.

Can you help me with my procurement process?

Yes: Buying Balsamiq for your organization has our company and tax documents, security and privacy information, and our terms in one place. We don't register in vendor portals. You can also read about our approach to accessibility.

To opt out of publicity, email us at support@balsamiq.com (see how publicity opt-outs work).

Can you sign this form or contract?

We don't sign custom contracts, changes to our terms, or the terms on purchase orders: we use the same terms for every customer. We review mutual NDAs only for Balsamiq Cloud Enterprise customers, prospects who tell us they're buying Enterprise, and customers of our Confluence or Jira apps on Data Center or with 500+ users. Send us your vendor form and we'll answer its questions by email; a copy of our DPA countersigned by Balsamiq is available to download. See Buying Balsamiq for your organization.

I have two computers that I personally use. Do I need to purchase two Desktop licenses?

No, you do not need to purchase additional licenses. A Desktop license is tied to the user, not the machine, so one license covers all the computers you personally use.

Different operating systems are fine too: Balsamiq for Desktop runs on Windows and Mac, and system requirements are on the download page.

Transferring users or changing machines?

Do you offer any discounts or free licenses for Desktop?

No. We no longer offer discounts or free licenses for Balsamiq for Desktop, and any past discount or free-license program has ended. We do offer limited discounts for Balsamiq Cloud, including 20% off for Desktop customers with the code CLOUD20, until December 31, 2027.

Are there any applicable taxes?

Sales tax depends on your location. Learn more about how we handle sales tax and tax exemptions.

Can I get an audit of past Desktop purchases?

We can't provide a complete audit, since purchases may have come from different buyers, departments, or sister companies. Please keep your own records.

A few best practices:

  • Use your company name as the License Name when you buy.
  • Have employees purchase through one central purchasing email address.
  • Instead of buying separate licenses, upgrade to add users. We reissue one license for the full user count, so you have a single license to manage.

Need your license key or a past invoice? Look it up with the purchase email here.

Can I get a refund of a past Desktop purchase?

Yes, you can get a refund of a Desktop purchase if you bought within the last 60 days. Email support@balsamiq.com to request it. Purchases older than 60 days can't be refunded, per our EULA.

How do I register or transfer a Desktop license?

I lost my Desktop license.

No worries. Find your Balsamiq for Desktop license with your purchase email.

Still have an old Mockups for Desktop license? It's been discontinued for a few years, but you can find your Mockups license info too.

How do updates and upgrades work?

There are no maintenance or renewal costs for a Desktop license. No more updates are planned either: 4.8.6, from October 2025, is the latest version. More in Balsamiq for Desktop updates.

To add users, upgrade your license to a larger user count with your current license key, until December 31, 2026.

Using Balsamiq Cloud? See changing your plan.

Can you help us with a training or demo?

We don't have a dedicated training team (it would make Balsamiq cost a lot more), but you can build your own with: