If your job involves creating graphical representations like circuit diagrams, business process maps, flowcharts, floor plans, or organizational charts, chances are high that you are familiar with Microsoft’s proprietary diagramming tool Visio.
5 Best Free Visio Alternatives. Microsoft Visio is by far one of the powerful tools for diagramming and Vector graphic applications. No doubt it gained popularity for its multiple features. The 5 free Visio alternatives mentioned here are carefully picked keeping all these factors in mind to provide you the best quality. Best 5 Free Visio Equivalent for Mac. Source: EdrawMax. The software is available to download for free and use it as a desktop version. You can create unlimited flow charts, mind maps, org charts, network diagrams, and stunning floor charts in just a few clicks. Choose your favorite templates from the dashboard equipped with plenty. YEd Graph Editor is one of the most versatile open-source alternatives to Microsoft Visio in the market. Like Visio, yEd is a desktop platform that runs on Windows. But unlike Visio, yEd also runs on Mac OS as well as Linux/Unix. Although freely available, yEd boasts such a rich user interface that makes it both easy and fun to work with.
The software has been around for nearly three decades now. During this length of time, Visio has gone through a load of updates.
They have acquired a reputation as the industry standard for designers, modeling artists, engineers, and other professionals like them. Besides, even for less formal uses, this service-in-software has served a wide and versatile application.
Yet, doesn’t it have its limits and limitations? Of course, it does – which certainly necessitates the need for its worthy alternatives here and there.
We are here to dwell on these, especially with respect to those Visio alternatives that are open-source (ie, free and collaborative). What are good open-source alternatives to Visio?
For instance, is there a great Google equivalent for it since we have them in word processing, spreadsheets, and more? Or, is it even possible that there is an open-source version of Visio itself?
Well, it’s worth saying, right away, that, so far, the freest Visio can go is as a trial version. So, let’s explore only those that are fully, or for that matter, significantly open-source. Here we go:
Best Open-Source Visio Alternatives
1. Creately
Although still relatively unknown compared to many other diagramming solutions in the market, Creately is by far our number one pick on this list of open-source alternatives to Microsoft Visio.
Why does it seem to be so different? Yes, they are endowed with an eye for discovering hidden treasures. Here are the reasons why Creately crowns this list:
First, apart from its cloud-based and desktop versions, Creately also exists as a mobile app across three operating systems – Android, iOS, and Windows.
As the web culture grows ever more mobile by the day, neither Visio nor any other diagramming service or product yet made by humans has cracked the mobile operating systems nut on a triple ground as Creately has done. So, this is not just an edge over Visio but also an industry-wide feat.
Creately uniquely spots a huge and ever-renewing library of templates that are numbered in the thousands. The software equally boasts a repertoire of elements, shapes, and connectors in a fun-looking user interface.
Speed is also another level on which users rate Creately above Visio. This is due to many drawing short-cuts that the software spots. Its learning curve is also among the least steep that we could find.
In terms of popularity and collaborative potential, Creately can connect with G-suite, Chrome as well as to Confluence and JIRA servers as a plug-in. This supersedes Visio and any other diagramming software we could find.
All these and more are available for free on two platforms: the web and OS. Apart from the excellent features available to the free users, there are other features and functionalities that are unlocked by throwing in some dollars.
The plans and pricing start from $5 per month per user just as it is with Visio. But considering the rich features in Creately, you might consider the value for the money to be higher here.
2. Pencil Project
Pencil Project is a downloadable diagramming tool that works on both desktop and mobile user interfaces. That’s a major edge that this software has over Visio. Also, Pencil Project’s desktop versions run on Windows and Mac OS, unlike Visio that works only on Windows.
Again, contrary to Microsoft Visio that is priced between $5 a month and $79.99 a year depending on the plan and/or platform, the main features of Pencil Project are available for free and they include the capability for data import/export, data linking, drag-and-drop editing, interactivity, template-based design, template libraries, and more.
The mobile version of Pencil Project has a rich library of iOS and Android stencils, shapes, and status bars to enable users to work on projects on the go.
While free users are largely limited from using the mobile features of this software, they are, no doubt, an interesting twist to the typical diagramming software that has been built over the years – including Visio of course.
3. Lucidchart
Lucidchart is a SaaS platform that can be used to create a wide range of graphic representations. It also allows for easy collaboration among team members. The members can co-author, co-edit, and/or co-view as well as comment on a file depending on the level of access allowed to each of them by a central or subsidiary admin.
This software also has a reputation for being intuitive. You can either create an account from scratch or log in with your Google or Microsoft Office 365 account. Unlike what obtains with Visio, Lucidchart pays extra attention to a user’s unique experience on the platform.
Thus, right from sign-up or first login, a new user is presented with a questionnaire in order to tailor the software’s features and functionalities to the user’s particular needs – for instance, based on his/her position in a company or the uniquely predominant needs of the user’s job position.
You can begin a design from scratch on a blank canvas or you can use a pre-designed template to help you in defining the skeleton of your project. Compared to their Visio counterparts, LucidChart templates are generally deemed to be richer in quality, detail, and variety.
There are distinct libraries for these templates as well as for shapes, objects, and connectors that are executed via a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface.
The libraries are placed in categories such as flowcharts, ERD, UI flows, Venn diagrams, mind mapping, swimlanes, wireframes, design diagrams, and many more. The software also allows you to create custom libraries.
However, the feature that probably makes Lucidchart stand out the most as a Visio alternative is its ability to let users import/export projects from/to Visio when they log in with their Microsoft Office 365 account. This allows a workflow to proceed seamlessly in case a user is transitioning from Visio, which is often more than likely.
Nevertheless, Lucidchart is not half as popular as Visio yet. So, the chances of a Lucidchart user’s remote collaboration are relatively limited. But, with its ability to integrate with Visio (through file import/export, for instance), the popularity gap may well be getting thinner by the day.
Also, Lucidchart is a bit pricier than Visio if you were to consider just the figures without reference to their corresponding values.
For instance, a Visio web plan for a single user goes for $5 per month while an equivalent plan for Lucidchart goes for $7.95. Click here for more detail on Lucidchart’s pricing.
Check out more :Lucidchart like tools here.
4. Google Drawings
In case you are one of those looking for a Google equivalent to Microsoft Visio, here you are. Google Drawings is only cloud-based, unlike Microsoft Visio that also has its desktop version. But, unlike the Visio cloud version, you can use the Google Drawings cloud version offline as a chrome add-on.
Also, since most web users own Google accounts, Drawings also has the added advantage of saving directly and automatically to the user’s Google account (specifically on Drive). As a result, Drawings benefits ebulliently from the global popularity of Google itself.
The collaborative potential of Drawings, therefore, makes it tough competition for Visio as you can easily share files and co-author a project with any Google user on the web, anywhere on the planet. You can also easily export projects on Drawings to other Google services.
So, as far as you are a Google subscriber, Drawings provides a great choice as a Visio alternative. Besides, Google Drawings has the other advantage of being mainly free, unlike Visio that has plans/pricing that many people may consider cutthroat.
5. Draw.io
Draw.io is a cloud-based interactive diagramming tool that integrates with a range of third-party platforms. Thus, the software has many versions depending on how it integrates. Each version is provided absolutely free of charge except for the one that runs on the Confluence server. But, the Confluence server version comes with enhanced security features.
Pricing is probably the major selling point of Draw.io as a Visio alternative. Added to this, Draw.io’s design features are considered by many users of it to be enough, especially as a completely free tool.
As for the tool’s popularity and collaborative potential, its ability to integrate with many platforms is an edge that may be second to none in the industry. For instance, it has an online version as well as versions that work with Google Drive, Docs, Dropbox, and Chrome.
Although Draw.io does not have collaborative features of its own, you can share files, co-view, and co-author projects using any of its Google integrations. This is to say that you can collaborate with anyone who has a Google account.
6. yEd Graph Editor
yEd Graph Editor is one of the most versatile open-source alternatives to Microsoft Visio in the market. Like Visio, yEd is a desktop platform that runs on Windows. But unlike Visio, yEd also runs on Mac OS as well as Linux/Unix.
Although freely available, yEd boasts such a rich user interface that makes it both easy and fun to work with. Its rich library of diagramming features and elements makes it possible to execute almost any design you can think of.
With yEd Graph Editor, you can either create a design originally just as it is with Visio. But, unlike what you get with Visio, you can also use yEd to import ready-made graphic content and tweak it or use it for data or process analysis.
The fact that you can also import projects from Visio makes it easy for Visio users when they need to transition to the yEd platform.
Apart from the fact that yEd’s main features are available to users absolutely free, its automation options endow it with yet another edge over Visio. For instance, if a flowchart design gets too unwieldy due to a lot of data that you may have incorporated, you can use yEd to automatically navigate and control the branch directions.
7. Dia Diagram Editor
Compared with the Visio user interface, Dia Diagram Editor may appear to be a much more basic diagramming tool. However, as far as a free replacement for Visio goes, Dia is among the best options to consider depending on your needs.
Unlike Visio that is available either to Microsoft Office 365 members only (membership starts from $59.99 per year) or online starting from $5 per month, Dia Diagram Editor is offered absolutely free.
As unattractive as the Dia UI may appear, many of its users appreciate a wide array of its applications as being adequate for a free tool. Its libraries include AADL, Assorted, BPMN, Chemical Engineering, Chronogram, Circuit diagram, Cisco computer, network, switch, telephony diagrams, Civil Engineering, Cybernetics, ER, Gane and Sarson, Flowchart, FS, etc.
All these are available for absolutely free. However, this is not without its opportunity costs. For instance, there is no support for Dia users, unlike Visio users who can reach out using many options such as email, phone, and chat and are supported with FAQs, a rich knowledge base, and many video tutorials.
8. Continuity
Continuity is a downloadable desktop diagramming app. Of all the diagramming tools we sampled, none gives attention to model building as Continuity does.
At the same time, none is able to produce the same quality output both on screen and on paper as this app does.
Perhaps, the most visible advantage of Continuity over Visio is pricing. While Visio is priced from $5 per user per month and could go as high as $79.99 per year, Continuity is available to users absolutely free for both personal and commercial use.
That’s good news for startups that are working on lean budgets. However, it must be acknowledged that the richness of Continuity’s libraries is nothing to compare with that of Visio.
Another advantage of this software over Visio is that, while Visio runs only on Windows, Continuity runs on Windows as well as on Mac OS and Linux. So far, however, the collaborative outlook of Continuity is still limited compared to Visio. Nero 2014 cd key generator serial numbers.
9. LibreOffice Draw
A member of the Zoho Office Suite, LibreOffice Draw is a downloadable diagram app. Unlike MS Visio, LibreOffice Draw is freely available and is backed by a community of developers that ensure it is regularly updated. This is the sense in which it is categorized as open-source.
However, LibreOffice Draw is not built for real-time collaboration between remote teams or team members. But an upside to this is that this software runs completely offline, which is an advantage in case your internet connection is poor or if you are in an offshore location without internet coverage.
Another edge that LibreOffice Draw has over Visio is its versatility of deployment. It runs on Windows as well as on Mac and Linux, unlike Visio that runs only on Windows.
10. ASCIIFlow
ASCIIFlow is a freely available browser-based diagramming tool that puts a premium on simplicity. While we do not recommend this software for sophisticated or highly professional use cases, it is among the best available options for beginners and those whose jobs only require simple diagrams from time to time.
So, such people can save themselves the high cost and the much steeper learning curve of Microsoft Visio by taking advantage of ASCIIFlow.
Upon a visit to the ASCIIFlow platform, you are immediately presented with a simple interface that spots selection functionality, free form elements, shapes, arrows, lines, texts, and more that are readily available for your design needs.
Final Words
The beauty of tech is an improvement. Then, competition tops the list of the factors that fuel that improvement. After so many years of Microsoft Visio serving a host of design needs in countless industries, it’s worth celebrating that it has come under such heavy competition that has seen diagramming tools springing up again and again… and again.
As a result, we had a really tough time trying to decide which of these diagramming options could be a worthy open-source replacement for age-old Visio to help those who are looking to spend less and still get design values that are enough to meet their needs or those who are looking to share ideas.
We had a long long list to rummage through and have finally come up with the 10 items above.
Quite honestly, even I never expected some of the items that made this list eventually. But, I couldn’t deny them after they scaled through our impartial judgment parameters. Creately, for example, may seem to have emerged out of the blue to top this list. Yet, the software has not gotten this far on pure luck.
Instead, as already highlighted, Creately has thrown up some of the most futuristic diagramming features we have seen – such as going mobile across three operating systems.
In this mobile era of the internet age, an era when working on the go keeps gaining traction with each dying second, that is an absolutely irresistible aspect that Creately spots. This is in addition to the software’s ability to integrate with some of the most popular platforms in their numbers, its ease of use, and more.
Visio is a Microsoft application for drawing diagrams and visually representing information and data. You can choose from any of the available templates to create diagrams, flow charts, timelines, and other types of visual data representations.
You can customize your diagrams and charts with images, text, shapes, and add effects or backgrounds.
While Visio is a great tool, it is not free. While you can view and comment on diagrams for free, there is no way to create them for free; you will have to pay a recurring monthly fee or an expensive one-time fee upfront to use Visio.
If you’ve been looking for a free Visio alternative, you’ve come to the right place. Today, I will be showing you the 12 best Visio alternatives that are entirely free to use or which offer a free plan as well.
Let’s get into it.
The 12 Best Free Visio Alternatives
1. Diagrams.net
Diagrams.net, formerly known as Draw.io, is a totally free alternative to Microsoft Visio for creating diagrams, flowcharts, and more.
One of the best things about Diagrams.net is that you don’t even have to create an account to start using it, unlike Visio. Just visit the web app and start creating diagrams; there is no need to give away your personal information.
Don’t worry, you can back up the diagrams you create to your device or to your external cloud storage account so you don’t lose your work.
Diagrams.net gives you the option of saving diagrams automatically to either:
- Google Drive
- OneDrive
- Dropbox
- GitLab
- GitHub
- Or your own device storage
You can also import files from those same sources.
When you finish creating a diagram, you can export it in a number of formats, such as JPEG, SVG, PDF, HTML, PNG, and more.
I found the Diagrams.net editor pretty simple and easy to use; it was actually pretty fun, too. You can choose between a number of backgrounds, including a blank background, a grid background, and an image background.
Visio Mac Os
On the left-hand side of the screen, you will see the elements you can use. There is a wide range of general elements, advanced elements, flowchart elements, and arrows you can drag and drop into the editing area.
You can resize the elements or add text. When you add text, you can change the font, background color of the text area, size, alignment, and a lot more.
There’s a lot more you can do with Diagrams.net; you just need to play around a little and discover what it has to offer.
In addition to the web app, there is a desktop app you can download to your computer. It offers more privacy and offline access.
Here are some additional features and integrations Diagrams.net has to offer:
- Use your diagrams in your Microsoft PowerPoint presentations
- Integrate with Google Workspace, including Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides
- Use as a whiteboard for Confluence
2. OpenOffice Draw
Apache OpenOffice is one of the best free alternatives to Microsoft Office, and OpenOffice Draw is one of the best free alternatives to Microsoft Visio. OpenOffice, including its Draw tool, is open source, unlike Visio.
That means you can use it as long as you want, distribute copies, edit the source code, and do whatever you want with the software.
With OpenOffice Draw, you can create diagrams, flowcharts, timelines, and a lot more. There is a wide range of formatting and style options available, and you can manipulate, render, or rearrange objects in your editing screen.
There is a built-in gallery with clip art you can add to your diagrams, but you can also upload your own images or art and add them as well.
When exporting your diagrams, they will be saved in an XML-based OpenDocument format, which means you can use them in any application that supports the OpenDocument format. You can also save a flash version of your document.
The downside of OpenOffice Draw is that you need to download the software to your computer and use the desktop version; there is no online or web version to speak of.
3. LibreOffice Draw
LibreOffice Draw is another excellent alternative to Microsoft Visio that is entirely free to use. Not only is it free, but it is open source, unlike Visio, meaning you can distribute copies, analyze and edit the source code, and get help from the community of developers.
LibreOffice Draw has a number of cool features that make creating diagrams, flow charts, company charts, and other visual representations easy, even if you do not have a lot of experience with graphic design or creating diagrams.
For example, it will automatically calculate linear dimensions so the diagrams you create follow straight lines.
In addition, you can create glue points so that when you create future diagrams, the elements you add will automatically be positioned based on those glue points.
A possible downside of LibreOffice is that you have to download the software to your device, as there is no web app.
4. ASCIIFlow
ASCIIFlow is another excellent alternative to Visio. Unlike Visio, it is entirely free to use, and you don’t even need to register for an account to use the web app!
Just open the web app and start drawing diagrams.
I will mention that ASCIIFlow is for more simplified diagrams with fewer shapes and features. However, it is free to use, and it is one of the best ways to create quick and simple diagrams or flowcharts.
You can add boxes, lines, arrows, text, and free-form shapes to the screen. You can move and change the sizes of the boxes or add text inside the boxes.
I found it incredibly simple and easy to use. Its simplicity means that it won’t be a good option for users with advanced needs, but it does allow you to quickly visualize a flow chart or create a simple tree diagram within minutes.
You can copy your drawing or diagram to your clipboard and then paste it into a text editor and save it there.
5. Lucidchart
Lucidchart is a good alternative to Visio that has a totally free plan as well. The plan is forever free, but it does have some limitations (more on that later).
Using Lucidchart, you can map data flows, create business process maps, and create any other type of diagram or flowchart you need.
One of the benefits of Lucidchart is that it uses a cloud-based interface. That means you can access the editor and create and edit charts and diagrams from any browser or device.
So, what does the free plan of Lucidchart let you do and what are the limitations?
The first thing to note is that on the free plan, you can only work on three documents at a time; you can’t be working on more than three editable documents at once. You can add up to 60 elements to each document.
Even on the free plan, you get access to over 100 templates for your diagrams and flows. These templates allow you to create different diagram types for a variety of purposes, quickly.
You also get to use basic integrations, including Slack, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Google Docs, Gmail, Google Sheets, Quip, and many others.
In addition, the free plan allows for basic collaboration capabilities, including the ability to follow a collaborator on a diagram, share a link to your diagram to anyone, invite collaborators via email, print and publish your diagrams, and a lot more.
In general, Lucidchart involves less of a learning curve than Visio, making it perfect for beginners as well as more advanced users.
6. Visual Paradigm Online
Visual Paradigm Online is a suite of web-based apps you can use to create diagrams, charts, infographics, and more.
Unlike Visio, it has an entirely free version. The free version of the Visual Paradigm Online Diagram Creator is pretty good; it includes 200 diagram templates, so you can create diagrams quickly for any purpose.
You can export your diagrams as JPG, PNG, or PDF files, but you can only export them as normal resolution images on the free plan. In addition to exporting them in those formats, you can also embed your files in Microsoft documents or presentations.
One of the things that makes Visual Paradigm Online such a great free alternative to Visio is that it provides a free online cloud repository for your work. You can store the diagrams you or your team members create in the cloud.
Diagrams stored in the cloud will update in real time and be synced across devices as changes are made. You can work with team members on a diagram, leave comments for team members to review, and revise the work your team members have done.
You don’t have to be a graphic designer to use Visual Paradigm Online. The linear alignment tool will ensure all of your diagrams are in a straight line, and you can create diagrams easily using drag and drop.
In addition to diagrams, you can create charts, forms, posters, infographics, and a lot more for free.
Not only does Visual Paradigm Online offer a free plan, but they make ALL of their features free for educators and educational institutions. You can join the Academic Partner Program to enjoy free access to the entire Visual Paradigm Online platform if you are using it for educational purposes.
7. yEd
yEd, by yWorks, is a totally free alternative to Visio for creating all types of diagrams. It has been around for a long time, and it has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times.
It’s a powerful yet simple-to-use editor for creating diagrams, flow charts, UML diagrams, family trees, network diagrams, and a lot more. Despite being free, it has very advanced capabilities, so you can use it regardless of whether you are an individual, educator, businessperson, or anyone else who needs to create diagrams.
One of the reasons yEd is such a great Visio alternative is that it has a huge selection of icons, elements, clip art, shapes, and other objects you can quickly add to diagrams or flowcharts. Of course, you can also create and upload your own shapes and images.
The drag and drop editor makes yEd incredibly easy to use. You can also import data from Excel and other sources to quickly turn that data into diagrams.
There is a wide range of export format options available as well, including HTML, so you can easily export your diagrams for insertion into Microsoft documents, your own website, or other places.
yEd is free, even for commercial use! There are zero restrictions on using yEd for any purpose.
It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The downside is that there is no online web editor, so you will need to download the software to your desktop to use it.
Despite being free, there are a lot of resources to help you get started, including video tutorials, a user’s manual, and a support forum where you can ask questions and get help from the community.
8. Google Drawings
I’m actually surprised more people do not know about Google Drawings. It’s an excellent free alternative to Visio, and as long as you have a Gmail account, you can use it without creating any additional accounts.
There are dozens of shapes, arrows, call-outs, and more you can add to your drawing. You can also add a text box and customize the text by changing the font, size, alignment, etc.
Basically, it’s like writing text in Google Docs, but in a drawing.
You can drag and drop shapes or resize them, and you can do the same for text boxes. You can add text inside shapes, for example.
You are free to change the colors of your shapes or text, as well as the border colors.
If you are used to using Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides, you will find Google Drawings incredibly easy to work with. It has the same general layout as Google Docs and includes similar editing options.
Once you create a diagram or flowchart, you can download it as a PDF, PNG, JPEG, or SVG file. You can also simply keep it in your online Google account.
What Is The Best Visio Alternative For Mac
All of your drawings will automatically be saved to the cloud for you to access later, from any device, with your Google account.
You can make the document available offline as well. If you do that, you will be able to continue editing while offline, and changes made offline will be synced and saved once you get your internet connection back.
Google Drawings is also perfect for collaboration. Like all Google documents, you have a multitude of sharing options.
You can get a link to the document by clicking on the blue Share button in the top right corner of the screen. You can then choose to let anyone with the link access the document, or only people you specifically add.
Even if you let everyone with the link access the document, you can choose between three levels of access: viewer, editor, and commenter.
In other words, you can let people who have the link view the document only, add comments, or edit it.
All in all, Google Drawings is a great alternative to Visio for simple flowcharts and diagrams.
9. Dia
Dia is entirely free, unlike Visio.
I will be honest and say that the interface feels a bit outdated. Nevertheless, it is one of the few good free Visio desktop alternatives for older Windows versions, including Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows 2000.
That’s if you download the older versions. The latest versions work on Windows XP to Windows 8.1.
In addition, Dia is available on Mac and Linux devices.
Despite the somewhat outdated user interface, Dia works. It has a wide selection of shapes, icons, and arrows you can add to create diagrams and charts.
There is no web version, so you will need to download the software to your device.
Again, Dia is free. However, to keep the project going, you can donate via PayPal or Bitcoin.
10. Pencil Project
Microsoft Visio For Mac
Pencil Project is a free Visio alternative. Unlike Visio, it is open source, and it supports the creation of diagrams.
There is a wide selection of shapes and arrows available in Pencil Project. In addition, since the project is open source and community-driven, there are a lot of third-party shape collections on the internet that you can import into Pencil Project and use in your diagrams.
You can check the Pencil Project download archive to find some of these collections. Others can be found in various corners of the internet through a quick Google search.
In addition to all that, I liked that Pencil Project has a browser extension for finding clip art from OpenClipart.org. OpenClipart.org is a database of free clip art in the public domain that you can use for any purpose, including commercial use.
Using the browser extension, simply search for free clip art using a keyword or search phrase.
Various flowchart shapes are available as well, making creating flowcharts a breeze. Since Pencil Project introduced wire connectors to connect shapes, creating diagrams with PP is easy.
Once you create a diagram or drawing, you can export it in a variety of formats, including PNG, ODT, SVG, PDF, and more.
A cool feature of Pencil Project is the inter-page linking feature. You can link from an element to another page in the same document.
When you export the document into a web form, those links will automatically be converted into standard HTML links, so you can use them on your website.
11. Graphviz
Unlike Visio, Graphviz is not only free but open source as well. It’s a great tool for creating diagrams and visualizing information, even if it involves a bit of a learning curve at first.
There are many shapes available, as well as a wide selection of arrows you can use.
I would recommend Graphviz if you have some more technical experience or are prepared to go through a bit of a learning curve. If you want something quick, simple, and easy, there are other Visio alternatives for that.
12. Creately
Creately is the final Visio alternative on our list. Unlike Visio, it offers a free (although somewhat limited) plan.
Using the free plan, you can create up to three private workspaces. You can use up to sixty different elements in each workplace/diagram, including shapes, icons, lines, arrows, images, and a lot more.
The free plan does allow for collaboration! As long as the main creator of the document is online, five other collaborators can access the document as well.
Support is not available on the free plan. However, you do get access to the community support forum, where you can ask questions and get help from other users.
If you have only basic needs or only need to create diagrams once in a while, Creately is an excellent alternative to Visio. On the other hand, if you need to create a lot of diagrams, or if you need more element and icon variety, consider using one of the other Visio alternatives on this list.
Wrapping It Up: What Is The Best Free Visio Alternative?
There are many great Visio alternatives that are free, including many that have not made it to this list. My top recommendation would be Diagrams.net or Draw.io.
The benefit of Diagrams.net is that it does not require you to register for an account to use the web app. In addition, it has both a web and a desktop app, and it also provides a nice selection of integrations, including for the importing and exporting of documents and data.
Diagrams.net is also very intuitive and easy to use, so you won’t have to worry about a learning curve.