A website mockup is a polished, visual preview of what your pages will look like, while a wireframe is a simple layout sketch that shows structure and flow without design details.
Think of a wireframe as the blueprint: it answers “what goes where?” and “what happens when someone clicks?” A mockup is the paint and finishes: it answers “does this look like our brand?” and “does this feel trustworthy for the kind of client we want?” In Orlando, we see this matter a lot for service businesses like dental, law, and home services because people decide fast, and clarity on mobile usually wins the call.
| Element | Wireframe | Mockup |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Layout, hierarchy, user flow, content order | Visual design, brand look, readability, polish |
| Detail level | Low fidelity (boxes, labels, placeholder content) | High fidelity (fonts, spacing, colors, images, UI elements) |
| Typical questions it answers | Where is the CTA, phone number, form, menu, and trust content? | Do the colors, typography, and styling feel professional and on brand? |
| Best time to change things | Early, changes are fast and low cost | Later, changes can affect many components |
| Tools you might see | Simple frames in Figma or similar | Designed screens in Figma, often with reusable components |
Here’s how we use them in a typical build. We start with wireframes to lock the page sections and conversion path (for example: headline, proof, services, FAQs, location cues, then the booking step). Once the structure is approved, we move into mockups so you can review the actual look: button styles, spacing, photo treatment, and how trust signals read above the fold.
What you should review on a wireframe: page order, what goes in the header, what’s visible on mobile before scrolling, and whether the page answers the top questions your customers ask. If you want a deeper definition, our wireframes FAQ breaks down what they include and why they speed up approvals.
What you should review on a mockup: brand fit, readability, contrast, and whether the design matches the emotion your buyers need (calm for healthcare, confidence for legal, fast-response for pest control). If you’re sorting out who owns what in the process, our UI vs UX design FAQ helps you judge feedback that actually moves the project forward.
If you’re working with our web design services, we’ll usually recommend approving wireframes before debating colors or photos, because a strong layout saves rework later. After launch, we can keep the site stable and updated on WordPress hosting so you are not stuck chasing plugin issues when you just want leads.
