What's the Difference Between a Figma Prototype and an MVP?

Starting your first tech company can feel like learning a new language. Two terms you'll hear a lot are "prototype" and "MVP." While they might sound fancy, they're actually pretty simple concepts that can save you tons of money and headaches.

Let's break down what each one is and when you should use them.

What is a Figma Prototype?

Think of a prototype as a really detailed movie trailer for your app. It looks and feels like the real thing, but it's not actually built with code yet.

A prototype is an interactive mockup that shows exactly what your app will look like and how users will move through it. It includes:

• Real colors, fonts, and images
• Clickable buttons that take you to different screens
• The actual flow users will follow
• All the visual details of your final product

The best part? You can create this in tools like Figma without writing a single line of code. It's like building a house with Legos before you pour the foundation.

Want to learn more? Check out our complete guide on why every tech product needs a prototype.

What is an MVP?

MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product. This is the simplest version of your idea that actually works and solves your customers' main problem.

An MVP is real, working software that:

• Has just the core features people need
• Actually functions (users can sign up, do the main task, etc.)
• Can be used by real customers
• Helps you learn what people actually want

Think of it like a bicycle instead of a car. It gets you from point A to point B, but it doesn't have all the bells and whistles yet.

You can dive deeper into what an MVP is and how to build one the smart way.

Key Differences

Cost:

• Prototype: Much cheaper (usually a few thousand dollars)
• MVP: More expensive (can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands)

Time:

• Prototype: Takes weeks to create
• MVP: Takes months to build

Purpose:

• Prototype: Shows your vision, gets feedback, impresses investors
• MVP: Proves people will actually use and pay for your product

Functionality:

• Prototype: Looks real but doesn't actually work
• MVP: Actually works but might look basic

When Should You Use Each One?

Start with a prototype when:

• You need to show investors your vision
• You want to test ideas with users before spending big money
• Your team doesn't fully understand what you want to build
• You're not 100% sure about your idea yet

Move to an MVP when:

• You've validated your idea with the prototype
• You have funding to build something real
• You're ready to get real users and start making money
• You've learned what features matter most

Why This Order Matters

Here's the thing many first-time founders get wrong: they jump straight to building an MVP without creating a prototype first. This is like building a house without blueprints.

We've seen startups waste $100,000+ because they started coding before they really knew what they wanted to build. The engineering team has to keep rebuilding features because the founder's vision wasn't clear.

A prototype helps you:

• Get everyone on the same page
• Spot problems before they're expensive to fix
• Show investors exactly what you're building
• Get user feedback without the high cost of changes

Real Example

One of our clients had a great idea for a podcasting platform. They could have jumped straight into building an MVP for $200,000+. Instead, they spent a few weeks and a fraction of that cost creating a detailed prototype.

The prototype helped them realize their original idea was too complicated. They simplified it, got investor buy-in, and then built an MVP that actually solved the right problem. The prototype saved them months of development time and probably $100,000 in mistakes.

The Bottom Line

Think of prototypes and MVPs as two steps in the same journey:

1. Prototype first: Figure out exactly what you want to build
2. MVP second: Build the simplest version that works

This approach helps you avoid the classic startup mistake of building something nobody wants. You'll save money, time, and a lot of stress.

Remember: it's much easier (and cheaper) to change a prototype than to rebuild real software.

Having trouble figuring out where to start? We've got you covered with a one-hour strategy call.

Ready to turn your idea into a clear plan? We help founders like you create prototypes that wow investors and guide development teams. Get in touch with us for all your software development and fractional CTO needs.