When comparing Fireworks vs Axure, the Slant community recommends Fireworks for most people. In the question“What are the best mockup and wireframing tools for websites?” Fireworks is ranked 4th while Axure is ranked 15th. The most important reason people chose Fireworks is:
From lo-fidelity wireframe, into clickable prototype and then assemble the images for the final hi-fi build as well.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Can be used for the entire life-cycle of the design
From lo-fidelity wireframe, into clickable prototype and then assemble the images for the final hi-fi build as well.
Pro Layer Sharing
Features such as 'Layer Sharing' allows you to quickly update shared components such as headers across multiple pages. Other mockup tools such as Mockingbird will require you to manually propagate changes across all the pages.
Pro PSD compatible
Open PSD files
Pro Awesome Symbol Libraries
A significant advantage over web-app style mockup tools are the symbol libraries for Fireworks.
From boagworld:
Both symbols, styles and vector shapes can be saved for re-use and collected into useful library resources. In addition Fireworks ships with a common library of useful objects including buttons, browser and application elements for both Mac and Windows look and feel.
http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ui_templates_02.jpg
Pro Supports web and mobile prototyping
Allows creation of interactive HTML mock-ups which is accessible for both websites and mobile applications.
Pro Lots of options for sharing your work
Great web options, but you can also save your wire frames out to Word and convert the notes to annotations.
Pro Resuable components
You can create a component (widget) that you can use over and over again.
Pro Cross-platform
Available for use on Windows and Mac.
Pro Collaboration tools
You can set up a project with SVN-like check-in/out system to work with others.
Pro Offers resources to help you get proficient with the software
There is a wealth of online training including videos for getting the basics down, a great community to mine, and support team to help assist with more technical details.
Cons
Con Is being phased out
Adobe is ditching Fireworks. So those nasty bugs will never get fixed.
Con Moderate learning curve
Con Expensive [$289-$589]
There is a free trial to work with Axure, but there is a hefty price for the standard edition at $289. Even more so, the Pro edition will cost $589.