Free vs Premium Mockups – A Comparison
Are you at that point in time where you’re in a mix between premium and free product mockups? Mockups for any product are an absolute necessity because of the fact that a sense of realism is added. Maybe you have a logo for your brand or a design that you’re using for marketing purposes. Whatever the case may be, a realistic representation of your design will point you in the right direction.
There are plenty of platforms that offer premium and free product mockups. But the decision can be a tough one as there are a lot of differences in not only prices but also representation.
Let’s discover together on whether you should go for free mockups or premium ones. Here’s a quick guide that can help you decide between the two:
Free Mockups:
There are plenty of platforms where you can find free mockups. Some websites allow editing mockups but the general perception among these platforms is that they have premade mockups for only specific products.
Here are some of the advantages of using free mockups platforms:
1- Costs:
Let us just point out the fact that the biggest advantage free mockups provide is that they are free of cost and can be used instantly. All you have to do is to download the file and you’re good to go. However, at times they might try to fool you by adding a watermark that can only be removed after you make payment.
2. Availability:
Another advantage free mockups platforms can provide is the fact that there a lot of platforms for free mockups. Some of the most prominent ones include Mockup World, Unblast & Free Design Resources. Some platforms do provide a mix of premium and free product mockups, and these platforms can be an excellent way to explore your options.
Let’s take a look at some of the disadvantages of free mockups.
3. Sub-Standard Quality:
The biggest issue with free mockup platforms is the fact that the quality is sub-standard. The purpose of mockups is to add a real sense to design and this is exactly what these platforms fail to deliver.
4. Limited Stock:
These platforms are free for a reason. Their stock is limited and there’s not a lot you can do in finding the proper branding material. You’ll end up going through tons of places and might end up in disappointment.
5. Branding Limitations:
Let’s say you found a mockup for a product that you think might serve your purpose. However, free mockups have branding limitations and you just can’t do much design-wise to make it look better or morph it into your branding scheme. You’ll have to settle with something that doesn’t really represent you.
Premium Mockups:
There’s a demand for premium mockups and this is the reason many people prefer premium over free. Premium mockups are paid mockups and certain tools and platforms can provide these for a fee. Premium and free product mockups cover a wide range of tools, platforms, and pricing structures. Hence making the decision might get take some time. Premium mockups are not necessarily the ones that can be bought. Premium mockups can also include personalized and custom mockups that cater to your specific needs.
Here are some of the advantages of Premium Mockups:
1- No Branding Restrictions:
Within premium mockups, there are no branding restrictions. You can morph your product according to your branding scheme and requirements. For example, Invision is a platform where you can design product mockups however you’ll need to figure out how to work with tools. MockupCloud is another place where you can buy editable mockups.
2. Rich & Interactive:
Quality of a mockup is one thing, but some platforms can help you build rich and interactive mockups. These mockups are not only visually appealing but they tend to present a different outlook and even realism.
3. No Limitations & No Fixed Templates:
There are no limitations when it comes to using products within mockups on most platforms. Mockup Machine is one platform that delivers on-demand mockups within your requirements and you don’t even need any tools or experience to build these mockups.
Here are some of the disadvantages of using premium mockups:
4. Costs:
Of course, premium mockups must be bought. However, in most cases, the costs can be manageable.
5. Expertise:
Tools like Invision require expertise that requires a lot of time and skill.
Platforms like Invision and moqups require expertise and it can get hard for a layman to use these tools. Learning these tools requires time and patience but the biggest problem is that you might not be able to get the best out of it unless you become an expert. However, there are other platforms such as Mockup Machine that allocates a dedicated resource that can make the mockup for you to save you from the hassle.
In a Nutshell:
The decision you make when it comes to premium and free product mockups solely depends on your requirements and what your aim is. If you want to create an impact in the market, then premium mockups are the way to go. Or if you simply want to test a product then free mockups aren’t exactly a bad option. You can explore mockup tools like Invision & Moqups but if you don’t have the time, then let Mockup Machine handle your mockups.
