Microsoft Visio is used by most of the major corporations and fortune 500 companies as a diagramming tool. With a large collection of built-in templates and 4000 unique shapes, it is the go-to tool for anyone who wants to display information that can be easily visualized. With the diagramming software, you can create business diagrams, process diagrams, flowcharts, floor plans, and more with better precision. Beyond these notable pros, there are some cons as well including a less intuitive interface and a touch expensive pricing ($6/month, $18/month). If you are on the lookout for an able substitute, check out these 12 best Visio alternatives.

Probably the biggest highlight of Visio is the seamless connection with various data sources such as Excel, SQL Servers, and SharePoint. It pulls the data on a live-basis keeping your diagrams up to date, giving you a one-stop solution for all your data visualization needs. While choosing Visio replacement software, we have kept in mind these aspects so that you can have a suitable alternative.

So, Which Diagramming Software Should You Choose?

As to which diagramming software could be better for you, it all boils down to your specific needs. Just in case you are looking for a tool that can comfortably fit into your personal needs with all the basic features, go for free diagramming software or the one that comes with all the bells and whistles without costing an arm and a leg.

If you search Google for Microsoft Visio, LucidChart will be just next to the Visio results, and rightly so. LucidChart is the biggest competitor to Visio and they don’t shy from making fun of its competition. But, advertisement aside, this is one of the best diagramming software available in the market today.

If you are just starting out and don’t have a team, then LucidChart is best for you, as it’s free for personal use. You need to pay only if you are buying this for a team. Secondly, it offers a seamless transition experience from Visio, as it can easily import Visio files. This means if you are collaborating with an external team that uses Visio, you will have no problem.

  • Neat interface
  • Visio compatible (can import.vdx, .vsd, or .vsdx files)
  • Fully integrated with other productivity tools (such as G-Suite, Confluence, etc)
  • Multiple sharing options (PDF, Image, embed into a webpage)
  • Several diagrams creation including flowcharts, wireframe diagrams, UML diagrams, smartphone mockups and more

Cons: 

Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux (since its a web app it works on any modern web-browser including Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari), iPad.

If you are looking for completely free diagramming software that runs on all the major platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux/Unix, take a look at yED Graph Editor. The best part about this software is that despite being cross-platform, it’s not a web app which means you get a native app irrespective of the platform you are using.

The first reason to opt for yED is that it is completely free and has native apps for all the major platforms. Secondly, although its feature set is not as rich as either Visio or LucidChart, it is good enough for 90% of the users.

  • Cross-Platform native apps
  • Automatic layout algorithms
  • High-quality diagrams
  • Multiple diagram creation including Flowcharts, UML diagrams, Family trees, and Semantic networks

Cons:

Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux/Unix (native applications).

If you work in a field where you constantly need to showcase complex information in easy to understand visual diagrams or graphs, Ardoq is the one for you. Let me make this clear first, it’s not cheap software, in fact, it’s the costliest software on this list by far, but it is worth every penny for its target customers.

As I mentioned earlier, Ardoq is best for people who work with large sets of complex datasets. If you are one of those people, this is a no-brainer for you. Also, you will love its live-data import feature.

  • Review and analyze data
  • Automatic diagram creation
  • Live data update, grouping, and conditional formatting
  • Global Search with revision history
  • Powerful built-in data editing tools
  • customizable Metamodels

Supported Platforms: Windows and macOS

OmniGraffle is by far the best looking diagramming tool out there. The only sad part is that it is only available for the macOS system, hence, Windows users cannot make use of this awesome software. When you open OmniGraffle, you will fall in love with its user interface.

I can recommend this software to anyone just for its beautiful and easy to learn user interface, but that’s not the only reason going for it. The second reason to go for this software is its developers. They are constantly pushing out new updates which include both performance fixes and the introduction of new features.

Pros:

Supported Platforms: macOS and iOS

5. Gliffy

Just like LucidChart Giffy is a web-based online diagram creation tool that can be used to create flowcharts, network diagrams, UML diagrams, org charts, mind maps, wireframes, and more. Since it is the web-based program it works on both Mac and PC. It’s also a really good collaborative tool if you are working remotely.

Gliffy is a pretty simple and yet powerful editor. If you are just starting out and need a simple tool that doesn’t overload you with features as soon as you open the app, this is for you.

6. Draw.io

If you are looking for web-based diagramming software that is completely free to use, you will love Draw.io. It is open-source software and is a truly cross-platform app. You can either use it as a simple web app or you can download native apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and even Chrome OS.

The biggest reason you should opt for Draw.io is that it is a truly cross-platform app with support for real-time collaboration between multiple users. This makes this app awesome for users working remotely. Secondly, the feature set is also good enough to cover most of the use cases.

The software also has multiple export options, It can export in HTML, JPEG, PDF, PNG, SVG, and XML. The best part is that it also supports imports from Visio, LucidChart, and Gliffy.

Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS

Visit: Website

ConceptDraw Diagram is a fully loaded professional diagramming tool that is really good. It is available for both Mac and Windows and offers a sleek native app for both the platforms.

Concept Draw Diagram 12 is one of the most capable diagramming app available in the market today. Its native app with a beautiful and functional user interface gives it an edge over its competitors. There is also no dearth of features here.

The software even supports the export and import of files in Visio format. It also has a great selection of templates which means most of the time you won’t have to create diagrams from scratch, which will save you a lot of time and effort. CDD 12 also has a great selection of powerful and comprehensive drawing tools.

Supported Platforms: macOS and Windows

Price: $199

Pencil Project is a very good open-source diagramming software that is totally free to use. One of the good things about this software is that its developer community is very active and hence you get updates on a fairly regular basis.

Why You Should Opt for Pencil Project?

Apart from the fact that the software is cross-platform and totally free to use, there are many things that go in favor of the Pencil Project. Firstly, the software ships with a large selection of templates and stencils.

Supported Platforms: macOS, Windows, and Linux

Price: Free

Just like Gliffy, Creately is yet another great web-based diagramming tool. It lets you create more than 50 different types of diagrams. Creately also supports real-time collaboration on projects. It has a very extensive library with examples of different kinds of diagrams.

Why You Should Opt for Creately?

Creately has many things going for it. It is good for teams working remotely as it is cross-platform with support with real-time collaboration. It is feature-rich and comes with many pre-built templates to get you started.

Supported Platforms: Windows, Linux, and macOS

Price: $4.95/month (personal, billed annually), $18/month (team, billed annually)

One of the biggest things that are going in favor of MyDraw is that it looks and feels similar to Visio. If you were stuck with Visio because you love Microsoft’s design language which it uses in all its Office 365 apps, you will feel right at home with MyDraw.

It also packs a mean punch and will handle everything that you can throw at it. Its good for small teams and businesses, however, big corporations will probably find it lacking in features.

MyDraw is a cheap yet excellent alternative to Microsoft Visio. It brings the familiar ribbon UI which is used in all Microsoft’s Office 365 apps. MyDraw is available for both macOS and Windows. It is also able to import and export files in Visio format (VSDX).

Cons: 

  • Automatic diagram layouts aren’t always in sync
  • Real-time collaboration isn’t top-notch

Claiming to be an all-in-one diagramming tool, Edraw Max promises to be a competent alternative to Visio. What puts this diagramming software at the forefront is a massive library of more than 280 types of diagrams such as fishbone diagrams, flowcharts, UML diagrams, and floor plans. Both in terms of flexibility and efficiency, Edraw Max’s library of diagrams looks a touch better than those of Visio’s offerings.

Moreover,  Edraw Max features a modern-looking interface that not only makes navigation straightforward but also runs smoothly across platforms. Thanks to the excellent file compatibility, you can import/export drawings to several file formats including PDF, Microsoft Office, images, and Visio.

Should you wish to have a large collection of diagram types, Edraw Max could be worth giving serious consideration. Besides, it also boasts an ever-growing library of templates and symbols that play a vital role in letting you create top-notch diagrams.

  • Demands steep learning curve
  • Modeling a database is a bit inconvenient

Supported platforms: macOS, Windows, and Linus 

Last but not least, D3m is a complete diagramming tool. Whether you are looking for a Microsoft Visio alternative for personal use or team, it can fit into the bill seamlessly.

Probably the biggest highlight of D3m is the collaboration tool. It allows the team to share the design information in one spot for seamless communication. Beyond collaboration, it also enables you to create topology and rack network diagrams that you can automatically sync with your project. In this aspect, it has looked more competent to me than Visio.

There is a lot to like in D3m. However, I would point out three features that make it stand out. First and foremost, it has got one of the best collaboration features which can play a pivotal role in keeping the entire team in sync.

  • Seamless collaboration
  • Pretty intuitive UI
  • A wide range of advanced tools
  • Runs smoothly

Supported platforms: Web-based 

What is the best software for flow diagrams?

While there are quite a few diagramming tools that are great for flow diagrams, LucidChat is widely considered to be the best for creating top-notch flow diagrams.

What are diagramming tools?

Diagramming software allows users to create detailed diagrams like floor plans and flow charts. Notably, diagramming tools feature templates for building diagrams.

Most moderns diagramming tools offer native apps for cross-platform. So, you can install them not only on your computer but also on mobile devices like the iPhone and Pixel to draw diagrams at your preferred device.

Everything considered; Microsoft Visio stands out as the best flowchart software for Windows.

So, are you ready to start creating your own diagrams? There are tools for everyone here. Some are free, some are cross-platform, and some are web-based. You can choose whichever one you like.

Despite being ten different software, the core features remain the same for all of them, so doesn’t matter which one you choose, you are getting good diagramming software. The only thing you need to consider while choosing your perfect software from the list is to keep in mind your budget and your requirements.