Alternatives to SmartDraw
Diagramming for flowcharts, org charts, and floor plans
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.
SmartDraw is a diagramming application for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, UML, and ERDs, with automation, templates, and enterprise integrations.
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.
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.
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.
Where SmartDraw stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave SmartDraw
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
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.
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.
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 | SmartDraw | draw.io | Lucidchart | Gliffy | Cacoo | 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 SmartDraw is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-17
Commercial software owned by SmartDraw, LLC; no open-source license found on the site.
©1994-2026 SmartDraw, LLC
https://www.smartdraw.com/about/security/ -
Pricing model Subscription verified 2026-07-17
Individual and Team plans are billed annually as a subscription; Enterprise is custom quote ("Contact Us").
Per month, billed annually
https://www.smartdraw.com/buy/ -
Starts at $9.95/month (billed annually) verified 2026-07-17
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
$9.95
https://www.smartdraw.com/buy/ -
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS verified 2026-07-17
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
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.
https://www.smartdraw.com/whats-new/download-app.htm -
Status active verified 2026-07-17
Copyright extends through 2026; site also documents recently shipped features (AI diagram generation, real-time collaboration, a new desktop app) indicating ongoing active development.
©1994-2026 SmartDraw, LLC
https://www.smartdraw.com/about/security/ -
Flowcharts & org charts Yes verified 2026-07-17
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."
Create flowcharts quickly and easily with SmartDraw's flowchart software
https://www.smartdraw.com/flowchart/ -
UML diagrams Yes verified 2026-07-17
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.
https://www.smartdraw.com/uml-diagram/uml-diagram-tool.htm -
ERD / database diagrams Yes verified 2026-07-17
An ER diagram is used to visualize the relationships between entities in a database.
https://www.smartdraw.com/entity-relationship-diagram/er-diagram-tool.htm -
Shape libraries / stencils Yes verified 2026-07-17
SmartDraw includes thousands of built-in symbols, but when you need something truly custom, you can create your own.
https://www.smartdraw.com/floor-plan/custom-shapes-libraries.htm -
Templates Yes verified 2026-07-17
Browse templates and examples you can make with SmartDraw.
https://www.smartdraw.com/templates/ -
Real-time collaboration Yes verified 2026-07-17
This game-changing feature lets multiple people open and work on the same diagram in real time.
https://www.smartdraw.com/whats-new/real-time-collab-whiteboarding.htm -
Diagram-as-code (Mermaid/PlantUML) No verified 2026-07-17
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
SmartDraw has built-in options to generate visuals like organizational charts, database diagrams, and architecture diagrams from specific data sources.
https://www.smartdraw.com/developers/ -
AI diagram generation Yes verified 2026-07-17
Save time and let AI generate the first iteration of a diagram for you.
https://www.smartdraw.com/ai/generate-diagrams-with-ai.htm -
Data-linked diagrams Yes verified 2026-07-17
SmartDraw has built-in options to generate visuals like organizational charts, database diagrams, and architecture diagrams from specific data sources.
https://www.smartdraw.com/developers/ -
Import Visio (.vsdx) Yes verified 2026-07-17
SmartDraw currently imports VSD and VSDX files.
https://www.smartdraw.com/visio/visio-import.htm -
Export (SVG/PNG/PDF) Yes verified 2026-07-17
Once your organizational chart is ready you can export it as a PDF, PNG, or SVG.
https://www.smartdraw.com/organizational-chart/org-chart-software.htm -
Open source No verified 2026-07-17
Proprietary commercial software copyrighted by SmartDraw, LLC; no open-source license found.
©1994-2026 SmartDraw, LLC
https://www.smartdraw.com/about/security/ -
Free tier No verified 2026-07-17
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
* Introductory price for new customers only
https://www.smartdraw.com/buy/
FAQ
Yes. draw.io, Lucidchart and Gliffy have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
draw.io — every license claim links its source.