# Alternatives to SmartDraw

SmartDraw is a diagramming application for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, UML, and ERDs, with automation, templates, and enterprise integrations.

SmartDraw ranks #5 of 8 in Diagramming tools, with an Alt Score of 79. It is proprietary, sold by subscription from $9.95/month (billed annually) and available on Web, Windows and macOS. 13 of 13 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

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

## Where SmartDraw stands out

- **Data-linked diagrams** — 3 of 8 apps with a verified answer have this

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Business users, IT/software teams, and enterprises who need a broad, template-driven diagramming suite — flowcharts, org charts, UML, ERDs, floor plans, network diagrams, and more — especially teams migrating away from or coexisting with Microsoft Visio.
- **What you get**: A subscription diagramming app (browser-based, with a downloadable Windows/Mac desktop app) offering thousands of built-in shapes and templates across dozens of diagram types, Visio (.vsdx) import/export, PDF/PNG/SVG export, real-time collaboration, AI-assisted first-draft diagram generation, and data-driven diagram generation via an Open API. Plans start at $9.95/month (Individual, billed annually) or $8.95/user/month for Teams (3-user minimum), with no permanent free tier.
- **How it works**: Users pick a template or diagram type, drag shapes from built-in libraries onto the canvas, and use SmartDraw's automated formatting to keep diagrams aligned; diagrams can also be generated by importing spreadsheet/database data into shapes or by prompting the built-in AI to draft a first version. Finished diagrams can be shared for real-time co-editing, exported to Visio/PDF/PNG/SVG, or embedded in Word/PowerPoint/Excel/Google Workspace documents via integrations.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-17)
- **Pricing model**: Subscription (verified 2026-07-17)
- **Starts at**: $9.95/month (billed annually) (verified 2026-07-17)
- **Platforms**: Web, Windows, macOS
- **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 | [Creately](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/creately.md) | 76 | Proprietary | Web |
| 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 | SmartDraw | draw.io | Lucidchart | Gliffy | Cacoo | Creately |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Subscription | Free | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starts at | $9.95/month (billed annually) | Free | $9 USD/month (Individual plan, billed annually) | $2.80 USD/user/month | $6 USD/user/month (Pro plan, billed monthly) | $5/month (USD, billed annually; $8/month billed monthly) |
| License | Proprietary | Apache-2.0 | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, iOS, Android | Web | Web | Web |
| 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) | No | Yes | Partial | Yes | Partial | ? |
| AI diagram generation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Partial |
| Data-linked diagrams | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial |
| Import Visio (.vsdx) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export (SVG/PNG/PDF) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Partial |
| Open source | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Free tier | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

## Sources

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

- **License**: Proprietary — <https://www.smartdraw.com/about/security/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Commercial software owned by SmartDraw, LLC; no open-source license found on the site.
  - Quote: “©1994-2026 SmartDraw, LLC”
- **Pricing model**: Subscription — <https://www.smartdraw.com/buy/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Individual and Team plans are billed annually as a subscription; Enterprise is custom quote ("Contact Us").
  - Quote: “Per month, billed annually”
- **Starts at**: $9.95/month (billed annually) — <https://www.smartdraw.com/buy/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Individual plan introductory price, billed annually (regular price $10.95/month). A Team plan is $8.95/user/month billed annually but requires a 3-user minimum, so its effective minimum spend is highe
  - Quote: “$9.95”
- **Platforms**: Web, Windows, macOS — <https://www.smartdraw.com/whats-new/download-app.htm> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Browser-based web app plus a downloadable desktop app; page also references "Legacy SmartDraw for Windows" and desktop perks like "launching from your taskbar or dock" (Windows/Mac). A dedicated smart
  - Quote: “Whether you prefer working in a browser or accessing a desktop app, you can expect a consistent experience and all your files at your fingertips.”
- **Status**: active — <https://www.smartdraw.com/about/security/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Copyright extends through 2026; site also documents recently shipped features (AI diagram generation, real-time collaboration, a new desktop app) indicating ongoing active development.
  - Quote: “©1994-2026 SmartDraw, LLC”
- **Flowcharts & org charts**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/flowchart/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Org charts confirmed separately: smartdraw.com/organizational-chart/org-chart-software.htm states "Make org charts quickly and easily with SmartDraw's org chart maker."
  - Quote: “Create flowcharts quickly and easily with SmartDraw's flowchart software”
- **UML diagrams**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/uml-diagram/uml-diagram-tool.htm> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “SmartDraw has templates for every type of UML diagram you might need to visualize your software architecture from class and use case diagrams to activity diagrams, and more.”
- **ERD / database diagrams**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/entity-relationship-diagram/er-diagram-tool.htm> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “An ER diagram is used to visualize the relationships between entities in a database.”
- **Shape libraries / stencils**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/floor-plan/custom-shapes-libraries.htm> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “SmartDraw includes thousands of built-in symbols, but when you need something truly custom, you can create your own.”
- **Templates**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/templates/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “Browse templates and examples you can make with SmartDraw.”
- **Real-time collaboration**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/whats-new/real-time-collab-whiteboarding.htm> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “This game-changing feature lets multiple people open and work on the same diagram in real time.”
- **Diagram-as-code (Mermaid/PlantUML)**: No — <https://www.smartdraw.com/developers/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: SmartDraw's programmatic diagram generation is a data-driven Open API (feeding structured data to visualizers/shape data), not a text markup syntax like Mermaid or PlantUML; no mention of Mermaid or P
  - Quote: “SmartDraw has built-in options to generate visuals like organizational charts, database diagrams, and architecture diagrams from specific data sources.”
- **AI diagram generation**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/ai/generate-diagrams-with-ai.htm> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “Save time and let AI generate the first iteration of a diagram for you.”
- **Data-linked diagrams**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/developers/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “SmartDraw has built-in options to generate visuals like organizational charts, database diagrams, and architecture diagrams from specific data sources.”
- **Import Visio (.vsdx)**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/visio/visio-import.htm> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “SmartDraw currently imports VSD and VSDX files.”
- **Export (SVG/PNG/PDF)**: Yes — <https://www.smartdraw.com/organizational-chart/org-chart-software.htm> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Quote: “Once your organizational chart is ready you can export it as a PDF, PNG, or SVG.”
- **Open source**: No — <https://www.smartdraw.com/about/security/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: Proprietary commercial software copyrighted by SmartDraw, LLC; no open-source license found.
  - Quote: “©1994-2026 SmartDraw, LLC”
- **Free tier**: No — <https://www.smartdraw.com/buy/> (verified 2026-07-17)
  - Note: The pricing page lists only paid Individual/Team/Enterprise plans (cheapest is $9.95/month billed annually); no permanent free plan is listed. Marketing pages use "sign up free" language (e.g. smartdr
  - Quote: “* Introductory price for new customers only”

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