# Alternatives to Creately

Creately is a visual collaboration and diagramming platform for flowcharts, UML, ERD, and org charts, with data-linked shapes and real-time collaboration.

Creately ranks #6 of 8 in Diagramming tools, with an Alt Score of 76. It is proprietary, freemium from $5/month (USD, billed annually; $8/month billed monthly) and available on the web. 12 of 13 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/creately/
Category: Diagramming tools

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Teams and individuals who need a full visual-workspace platform that goes beyond a single diagram type — software teams doing UML/ERD/architecture diagrams, ops and HR teams building org charts and process flows, and cross-functional teams running workshops, planning, and documentation together.
- **What you get**: An infinite canvas with 70+ professional diagram types (flowcharts, org charts, UML, ERD/database diagrams), a large shape and template library, AI-assisted diagram generation, real-time multi-user collaboration with comments and cursors, Visio file import, and export to PNG/JPEG on every plan (SVG/PDF on paid plans). Higher tiers add database objects with two-way data sync to Google Sheets/Excel, Microsoft Teams integration, and admin/security controls.
- **How it works**: Users start from a free plan (unlimited canvases, limited items/imports) directly in the browser at creately.com, or upgrade to Starter, Team, Business, or Enterprise plans priced per user/month to unlock premium shape libraries and templates, AI diagram generation, unlimited imports, higher-fidelity export, and database/data-linking features. A separate paid Desktop app add-on is also available.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-17)
- **Pricing model**: Freemium (verified 2026-07-17)
- **Starts at**: $5/month (USD, billed annually; $8/month billed monthly) (verified 2026-07-17)
- **Platforms**: Web
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-17)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [draw.io](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/drawio.md) | 93 | Apache-2.0 | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 2 | [Lucidchart](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/lucidchart.md) | 89 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 3 | [Gliffy](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/gliffy.md) | 83 | Proprietary | Web |
| 4 | [Cacoo](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/cacoo.md) | 79 | Proprietary | Web |
| 5 | [SmartDraw](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/smartdraw.md) | 79 | Proprietary | Web, Windows, macOS |
| 6 | [Eraser](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/eraser.md) | 72 | Proprietary | Web |
| 7 | [Whimsical](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/whimsical.md) | 68 | Proprietary | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Diagramming tools checklist | Creately | draw.io | Lucidchart | Gliffy | Cacoo | SmartDraw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starts at | $5/month (USD, billed annually; $8/month billed monthly) | Free | $9 USD/month (Individual plan, billed annually) | $2.80 USD/user/month | $6 USD/user/month (Pro plan, billed monthly) | $9.95/month (billed annually) |
| License | Proprietary | Apache-2.0 | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, iOS, Android | Web | Web | Web, Windows, macOS |
| Flowcharts & org charts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| UML diagrams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ERD / database diagrams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shape libraries / stencils | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Templates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Partial | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| Diagram-as-code (Mermaid/PlantUML) | ? | Yes | Partial | Yes | Partial | No |
| AI diagram generation | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Data-linked diagrams | Partial | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Import Visio (.vsdx) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export (SVG/PNG/PDF) | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |

## Sources

Sources for Creately. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **License**: Proprietary — <https://creately.com/plans/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “Copyright © 2008-2026 Cinergix Pty Ltd (Australia). All rights reserved.”
- **Pricing model**: Freemium — <https://creately.com/plans/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Same page lists paid Starter/Team/Business tiers starting at $5/month (billed annually) alongside the always-free plan.
  - Quote: “Free For Everyone, Free-to-use Forever”
- **Starts at**: $5/month (USD, billed annually; $8/month billed monthly) — <https://creately.com/plans/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “$5/mo instead of $8/mo Billed annually at $60”
- **Platforms**: Web — <https://creately.com/upgrade/desktop/personal/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Core product is browser-based (accessed via creately.com); a dedicated Desktop app is sold as an add-on plan (Personal and Team Desktop purchase pages exist). No evidence found of official iOS/Android
  - Quote: “Purchase a Creately Desktop Personal Plan”
- **Status**: active — <https://creately.com/whats-new/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Dated release note headlined 'Personalized Visuals, Improved Smart Connectors, and More' — most recent entry on the product changelog as of this research (2026-07-17).
  - Quote: “May 1, 2026”
- **Flowcharts & org charts**: Yes — <https://creately.com/lp/flowchart-software/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Dedicated flowchart and org chart product pages exist (see also https://creately.com/lp/org-chart-software/ — 'Why Choose Creately's Org Chart Software').
  - Quote: “Free Flowchart Software | Flowchart Tool | Creately”
- **UML diagrams**: Yes — <https://creately.com/lp/uml-diagram-tool/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “Choose the UML diagram that matches what you need to explain, such as a class diagram for system structure, a sequence diagram for interactions, a use case diagram for user goals, or an activity diagr”
- **ERD / database diagrams**: Yes — <https://creately.com/lp/er-diagram-tool-online/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “Open a new workspace and choose an ER diagram template or start from scratch based on your database design needs.”
- **Shape libraries / stencils**: Yes — <https://creately.com/plans/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Free plan includes 'Standard shape libraries'; paid plans upgrade to 'Premium shape libraries' / 'Advanced shape libraries' per the plan comparison table.
  - Quote: “Premium shape libraries”
- **Templates**: Yes — <https://creately.com/plans/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Paid tiers add 'Premium templates' and Business adds 'Custom templates'; a public template gallery is also available at creately.com/diagram-community/popular.
  - Quote: “Premium templates”
- **Real-time collaboration**: Yes — <https://creately.com/help/sharing-and-collaboration/realtime-collaboration/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “Changes sync to everyone's screen without a delay, keeping everyone updated with the changes in real time.”
- **AI diagram generation**: Partial — <https://creately.com/help/ai/using-creately-ai/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: 'AI Diagrams' is listed as a feature bullet on the Starter and Team plans on the pricing page; it is not listed among the Free plan's bullet features, indicating the capability is tier-gated.
  - Quote: “Creately AI is an AI-powered visual intelligence tool that transforms teamwork. With AI you can draw diagrams instantly using natural-language prompts, uncover new perspectives and unlock better colla”
- **Data-linked diagrams**: Partial — <https://creately.com/whats-new/external-data-integration-and-more/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: The pricing comparison table shows dedicated 'Databases' (Standard DBs / Custom DBs / Items per DB) only populated for the Business and Enterprise columns, indicating full data-linking/database featur
  - Quote: “Connect your diagrams to a single source of truth with our new External Data Binding feature. You can now link shapes directly to a central process registry in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel, ensuri”
- **Import Visio (.vsdx)**: Yes — <https://creately.com/creately-vs-visio/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: The Free plan is limited to '2 Imports' total per the pricing table; paid plans get 'Unlimited imports'.
  - Quote: “Absolutely! Creately allows you to import your existing Visio files, making it easy to transition to this online Visio alternative without losing your previous work.”
- **Export (SVG/PNG/PDF)**: Partial — <https://creately.com/help/sharing-and-collaboration/exporting-a-workspace/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: PNG/JPEG export is available on every plan including Free; SVG and PDF export require a paid plan.
  - Quote: “Exporting in SVG and PDF formats are available only for the premium plans. Exporting in PNG and JPEG formats are available for all the plans.”
- **Open source**: No — <https://creately.com/plans/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Proprietary commercial SaaS product owned by Cinergix Pty Ltd; no open-source repository or license found.
  - Quote: “Copyright © 2008-2026 Cinergix Pty Ltd (Australia). All rights reserved.”
- **Free tier**: Yes — <https://creately.com/plans/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “Free For Everyone, Free-to-use Forever”

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/