Alternatives to draw.io
Free open-source diagramming for flowcharts, UML, and network diagrams
draw.io ranks #1 of 8 in Diagramming tools, with an Alt Score of 93. It is licensed under Apache-2.0, free from Free and available on Web, Windows, macOS and Linux. 13 of 13 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
draw.io (diagrams.net) is a free, open-source diagramming tool for flowcharts, UML, network and ERD diagrams, with desktop apps and Confluence/Jira integrations.
Individuals and teams who need free, no-lock-in diagramming for flowcharts, UML, ERDs, network/cloud architecture, and technical documentation, including privacy-conscious users and organizations already living in Confluence, Jira, Google Drive, or Microsoft 365.
A full-featured, Apache-2.0 open-source diagram editor with extensive shape libraries and templates for flowcharts, UML, ER diagrams, network and cloud architecture, plus Mermaid/PlantUML text-to-diagram, CSV-to-diagram generation, Claude-powered AI diagram generation, Visio (.vsdx) import, and export to SVG/PNG/PDF/HTML.
Runs as a free browser-based editor (app.diagrams.net) or offline desktop app for Windows/macOS/Linux, storing diagram files wherever you choose (device, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, GitHub) rather than on draw.io's own servers; real-time co-editing with shared cursors is available when files are stored on supported backends like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Confluence Cloud.
Where draw.io stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave draw.io
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Lucidchart is a web-based diagramming application for flowcharts, UML, ERDs, network diagrams, and org charts, with real-time collaboration and data-linked shapes.
Gliffy is a diagramming tool for flowcharts, UML, network diagrams, and org charts, best known for its native Confluence and Jira integrations.
Cacoo, by Nulab, is an online diagramming tool for flowcharts, wireframes, network diagrams, and org charts with real-time team collaboration.
SmartDraw is a diagramming application for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, UML, and ERDs, with automation, templates, and enterprise integrations.
Creately is a visual collaboration and diagramming platform for flowcharts, UML, ERD, and org charts, with data-linked shapes and real-time collaboration.
Eraser is a docs-and-diagrams tool for engineering teams, featuring diagram-as-code, AI diagram generation, and architecture/sequence/ERD diagrams.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Diagramming tools checklist (17 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Diagramming tools checklist | draw.io | Lucidchart | Gliffy | Cacoo | SmartDraw | Creately |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Flowcharts & org charts | ||||||
| UML diagrams | ||||||
| ERD / database diagrams | ||||||
| Shape libraries / stencils | ||||||
| Templates | ||||||
| Real-time collaboration | ||||||
| Diagram-as-code (Mermaid/PlantUML) | ||||||
| AI diagram generation | ||||||
| Data-linked diagrams | ||||||
| Import Visio (.vsdx) | ||||||
| Export (SVG/PNG/PDF) | ||||||
| Open source | ||||||
| Free tier |
Every fact and feature listed for draw.io is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Starts at Free verified 2026-07-17
The draw.io diagramming app (web and desktop) has no cost; only the separate Confluence/Jira Marketplace apps are paid.
draw.io is the world's most widely used diagramming application and it's free to use and deploy yourself.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/about/ -
License Apache-2.0 verified 2026-07-17
LICENSE file at the root of the jgraph/drawio GitHub repo (dev branch).
Apache License Version 2.0, January 2004
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jgraph/drawio/dev/LICENSE -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-17
The core web/desktop diagram editor is entirely free with no paid tier. Monetization comes from a separate product line: paid draw.io apps for Atlassian Confluence/Jira (per the same page: "When compa
draw.io is the world's most widely used diagramming application and it's free to use and deploy yourself. ... Free and open. The draw.io editor is Apache 2.0 licensed. No artificial scarcity, no Enter
https://www.drawio.com/docs/about/ -
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-17
Desktop installers (.exe, .dmg, .AppImage/.deb/.rpm) confirmed on the jgraph/drawio-desktop GitHub releases page.
Install our offline desktop app, available on Windows, MacOS and Linux. ... Use our free online editor in your browser and on mobile and touchscreen devices.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/features/ -
Status active verified 2026-07-17
Latest tagged release v30.3.14 shown on the GitHub releases page, published 2026-07-17 (per repo's own release timestamps) — same day as this research, indicating very active, ongoing development.
v30.3.14
https://github.com/jgraph/drawio/releases -
Flowcharts & org charts Yes verified 2026-07-17
Flow charts let you visually describe a process or system. The shapes and very short labels let readers quickly understand what they need to do.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/getting-started/basic-flowchart/ -
UML diagrams Yes verified 2026-07-17
Page also lists dedicated sub-pages for UML Activity, Class, Communication, Component, Sequence, State machine, Use case diagrams, etc.
UML notation is one of the most popular technical diagramming stan
https://www.drawio.com/docs/diagram-types/uml/ -
ERD / database diagrams Yes verified 2026-07-17
In draw.io, entity relationship diagrams have their own shape library, and use the extended table tools in the Arrange tab of the format panel.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/diagram-types/entity-relationship-tables/ -
Shape libraries / stencils Yes verified 2026-07-17
Drag and drop shapes from the shape libraries and drag to draw connectors between them. ... Search for shapes, including in open-source icon libraries.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/features/ -
Templates Yes verified 2026-07-17
Templates give you a starting point when you create a new diagram. ... Templates are organised into logical categories on the left of the dialog.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/insert/insert-template/ -
Real-time collaboration Partial verified 2026-07-17
draw.io is file-based; live shared-cursor real-time co-editing only works when the diagram is stored on specific supported backends (Google Drive, OneDrive, Confluence Cloud, Nextcloud). Local/device-
Real-time collaboration is available when you store your diagram files in Microsoft OneDrive or in Google Drive. ... Collaborative ediiting works with draw.io in: Confluence Cloud. Google Drive. Micro
https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/collaboration/concurrent-editing/ -
Diagram-as-code (Mermaid/PlantUML) Yes verified 2026-07-17
PlantUML also supported (https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/insert/insert_plantuml/), though that doc notes the PlantUML feature is 'currently under active development to replace the current serverles
You can describe many different types of diagrams in text using the Mermaid syntax. In the draw.io editor, click Arrange > Insert > Mermaid.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/insert/insert-mermaid/ -
AI diagram generation Yes verified 2026-07-17
The AI features accept natural language prompts from users describing the diagram they wish to create. The model returns structured mxGraph XML, which draw.io renders as an editable diagram. ... draw.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/generate/ai-models/ -
Data-linked diagrams Partial verified 2026-07-17
Diagrams can be generated from CSV data and columns attached as shape metadata, but this is a one-time import/generation, not a live/refreshing data link.
You can create a diagram automatically from a combination of formatting information and CSV data from a spreadsheet. ... Any columns that you don't ignore here, are added to the shape as metadata.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/insert/insert-from-csv/ -
Import Visio (.vsdx) Yes verified 2026-07-17
The web app (app.diagrams.net) supports drag-and-drop .vsdx import; older legacy .vsd/.vdx/.vss formats are not supported directly and the Desktop app specifically lacks .vsd import.
While .vsd, .vdx and .vss import is not supported in draw.io, you can convert to modern .vsdx formats first, and then to draw.io via our free web application at app.diagrams.net ... draw.io will autom
https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/import/vsd-import-desktop/ -
Export (SVG/PNG/PDF) Yes verified 2026-07-17
Sitemap confirms dedicated docs pages for export-to-svg, export-to-png, and export-to-pdf under https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/export/.
Export and publish
https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/export/ -
Open source Yes verified 2026-07-17
Also stated on https://www.drawio.com/docs/about/: "The draw.io editor is Apache 2.0 licensed."
Apache License Version 2.0, January 2004
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jgraph/drawio/dev/LICENSE -
Free tier Yes verified 2026-07-17
Free and open. The draw.io editor is Apache 2.0 licensed. No artificial scarcity, no Enterprise tier for SSO.
https://www.drawio.com/docs/about/
FAQ
Yes. Lucidchart, Gliffy and Cacoo have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.