When you want to create a professional-looking flowchart, floor plan, organizational chart, or another diagram for your business, there are many applications that can help you with that.
However, not all diagramming apps are created the same. Some such apps are designed for students or educators while others are created with business professionals in mind.
Plus, beginners and expert designers require different features in diagramming software to create their visuals.
Lucidchart is a popular web-based diagramming tool that allows you to create detailed diagrams out of images, data, or templates when you don’t want to create visuals from scratch. In addition, the app provides excellent collaboration support, multiple integrations, and it’s easy to pick up and use.
However, Lucidchart falls short in a few areas. It runs in your browser meaning there are no desktop apps you can use. Plus, its free plan is somewhat limited, and the templates lack healthcare, education, and legal fields.
If you’ve been using Lucidchart and need a new tool or you’re scouting around for options to get started with, check out our top picks for the 10 best Lucidchart alternatives (free and paid).
10 Best Free & Paid Lucidchart Alternatives
1. SmartDraw
Created in 1994, SmartDraw is an established diagramming tool with intelligent formatting and several excellent features.
Unlike Lucidchart, which is designed for use across Windows and macOS platforms, SmartDraw was created for use with Windows. However, SmartDraw provides both desktop apps and a web-based version, so you don’t have to worry about platform compatibility.
SmartDraw has more templates than Lucidchart but it’s more difficult to use and a bit more expensive. SmartDraw also lacks the same excellent real-time co-authoring features you’d find in Lucidchart.
The enormous 4500+ library of templates makes it easy for you to choose one or more for your industry including options for landscape gardening and crime scenes among others. This is a far cry compared to Lucidchart, which offers 750 templates.
SmartDraw also comes with more than 34,000 unique symbols you can use for your diagrams and intelligent formatting that allows you to pick templates and the software organizes the shapes for you.
You can also draw shapes using your keyboard and the intelligent formatting feature will place them automatically in the right position and connect them to other shapes. This way, you work faster and create more visually appealing presentations.
SmartDraw is a popular choice for big businesses with complex diagrams but not ideal if you just want to draw simple charts. The tool integrates with JIRA, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Confluence, GSuite, and Trello, which is good if you’re working as a team. Moreover, it’s also compatible with Visio and can import/export stencils and visuals with Microsoft’s app.
Unlike Lucidchart, which has four tiers of service including a free tier, SmartDraw costs $9.95 for a single user per month, and $5.95 per month for 5 or more users and lacks a free tier.
2. Gliffy
Gliffy is a fully cloud-based diagramming tool that was created in 2005 and that boasts millions of users.
The app integrates with popular apps including JIRA, Confluence, WordPress, Bitium, Nuclino, and Google Drive, though Lucidchart beats it here with its API that allows you to develop in-house integration solutions.
The app has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it best for beginners to use when creating diagrams and flowcharts. You can sketch and even share your visual ideas with no hassles using its themes and templates that also help you save time when you’re not sure where to start.
Gliffy’s templates and themes also preserve and track your changes so that you never lose important details. The app also offers object importing, sharing capabilities, and the ability to roll back revisions in case of any errors.
Apart from a few minor complaints from users about Gliffy being buggy in Google Chrome and its limited color customization pallet, it’s still a solid tool to use.
Making visuals is quick and easy. All you need is to select a template and drag over the shapes you want. From here on, the shapes organize neatly into place thanks to the native grid that ensures your presentation is tidy and clean.
You also get various icons and shapes to use in your diagrams, but you can also drag custom graphics from your device. The online tool is useful for visual communication and collaboration, but it’s limited in object customization.
Unlike Lucidchart, which is fully web-based, Gliffy allows you to install a Chrome version for offline working in case you don’t have an internet connection. The main drawback with Gliffy is you can’t use it for complex diagramming and collaboration, plus the interface can be time-consuming and cumbersome requiring you to place and format shapes and lines individually.
In terms of pricing, Gliffy doesn’t offer a free plan like Lucidchart but offers three tiers of service for Professionals, Teams, and Enterprises. Plus, you get different pricing based on the integrations you use with Gliffy like Confluence or JIRA.
3. Cacoo
Cacoo is the best Lucidchart alternative for intuitive use. Created in 2004, the web-based diagramming application comes with hundreds of templates ideal for marketing, development, and product design.
The app has an intuitive interface that allows you to start creating your visuals in just minutes. The library of shapes and templates lets you create wireframes, flowcharts, and network diagrams or you can import screenshots and images to your designs.
Cacoo is an entirely web-based app like Lucidchart, except it’s easy to use and navigate for newbies and non-tech savvy users.
The app integrates with multiple apps including Google Drive, Dropbox, Adobe Creative Cloud, Confluence, Google Docs, Box, Visio, and Slack. You can export files in PDF, SVG, and PowerPoint formats or embed them in wikis and web pages.
Cacoo is a comprehensive charting tool that allows you to edit, track changes, and collaborate on your designed flowcharts. Plus, you can update with easy embed and sharing links that make the collaboration process simple and intuitive.
The tool also comes with good groupware functionality, great cloud connectivity, and is inexpensive unlike Lucidchart, which comes with four different pricing plans and a limited free plan.
You can use the shared project folders to organize your team assets, save your work in Cacoo and check activity notifications to monitor project status. The app is easy to navigate and learn, and it’s also beautiful to look at.
For beginners and users who aren’t tech-savvy, Cacoo is a good place to start. You get a wealth of integrations with tools like AWS, Slack, Google Drive, Visio, Box, and more, making it easy to adapt into your regular workflow.
Unlike Lucidchart, whose free plan has very limited features, Cacoo gives you unlimited sheets, one shared folder, email support, and unlimited users.
The main drawbacks with Cacoo are its limited screen space, clunky zoom-in function, and inability to export to other formats apart from PNG. You also can’t save to PDF format and it offers fewer templates than other diagramming software.
4. EdrawMax
Established in 2004, EdrawMax is a popular diagramming tool known for its mind mapping software. The tool is best known for its features, which include various graphic elements, templates, integrations, and export features.
Like other diagramming tools on this list, EdrawMax offers an intuitive interface with drag-and-drop functionality that’s easy to use. You can pick various symbols made to industry standards and drag them into your project, or you can choose to create your own symbols.
Unlike Lucidchart, which offers 750 templates, EdrawMax offers thousands of templates that span 280 different diagrams making it a versatile diagramming tool. Plus, Lucidchart is web-based but EdrawMax can be used on desktop and mobile devices across major operating systems including Linux.
The software exports to a wide range of formats including PDF, Visio, SVG, HTML, and JPEG among others, plus any other Microsoft Office software.
The sheer number of features, shapes, templates, and icons in EdrawMax make it a standout competitor to Lucidchart and other diagraming tools. Its features and functionality alone make it one of the best-selling tools in its category.
Among the main drawbacks of EdrawMax include fewer traditional app integrations, lack of an eraser tool, and lack of groupware connections, which may put off new users. It also has a learning curve at the initial stages of using the app, but once you master it, you’ll find EdrawMax a great app for the quick and efficient creation of professional-looking schematics.
Lucidchart offers four tier services with different pricing plans, while EdrawMax has three plans and a 15-day free trial. You also get a Lifetime License with EdrawMax for only $179, which you won’t find with Lucidchart.
5. Draw.io
Draw.io was originally developed as a plugin for JIRA and Confluence but is now a standalone diagramming tool that you can use online or offline.
The browser-hosted app allows you to save files to Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. You can build charts and other diagrams easily using its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality, plenty of templates, library of shapes, and import/export to various formats.
The offline option allows you to access it via Chrome by installing the desktop Chrome app. Plus, you can edit simultaneously and stay in sync, find diagrams with the best search function, share feedback with your team using comments, and boost productivity with its custom libraries and templates.
Unlike Lucidchart, which works for newbies and professional users, Draw.io is designed for small teams with smaller budgets or users who may only need to create visuals occasionally.
The app integrates with many popular tools like GitHub, OneDrive, Dropbox, GitLab, JIRA Server/Cloud, Confluence Server/Cloud, Chrome, and more.
However, Draw.io could use more shapes and templates to choose from, and it has a clumsy and finicky way of positioning shapes to snap into place.
6. Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio is a drawing and diagramming software that comes with several features including 3D maps, business process modeling, floor plans, building plans, data flow diagrams, and more.
The product is sold along with MS Office and comes in three editions: Standard, Professional, and Pro for Office 365.
Unlike Lucidchart, which offers a free plan, Visio starts its pricing from $299, which is pretty expensive for individuals and small business owners. The benefit of using Visio over Lucidchart is that it’s available as a desktop and web app so you can transform how you use and visualize your data to bring your ideas to life.
Lucidchart is also limited in templates compared to Visio, which has thousands of customizable shapes and has ready-to-use templates, stencils, and starter diagrams.
You can also collaborate in real time using Visio to increase productivity across the business. Plus, the innovative solution helps you visualize data-connected business and process flows.
Visio also supports various accessibility features that Lucidchart lacks including an Accessibility checker, Narrator, and high-contrast support. This ensures that any diagrams you create in Visio are accessible and available for everyone.
On top of that, Visio offers enterprise-grade security and privacy, which is similar to other Microsoft 365 apps. Visio also offers Information Rights Management for persistent production of diagrams as you collaborate with other users.
The main drawback with Visio is its steep learning curve and fewer integrations compared to Lucidchart and other tools mentioned here.
Related:Â 12 Free Visio Alternatives
7. Creately
If you want to create professional diagrams but don’t have a big budget for it, Creately is a great Lucidchart alternative you can use to visualize your ideas.
The software turns your thoughts into detailed diagrams thanks to its features and professionally designed templates. The highly affordable multi-platform tool is the best collaborative flowchart software that also offers live video conferencing so you can work easily with your team.
Creately’s drawing area is free of clutter and you can create flowcharts quickly using its powerful automation feature. An extensive library of templates ranging across topics and industries is included to help you create visuals easily and quickly.
On top of that, the interface is aesthetically pleasing and clean, with drag and drop functionality so you can create your diagram structures. A clever contextual toolbar is included that suggests shapes you can use as you draw, which you don’t get with Lucidchart.
The main downside with Creately is that its free version is limited to only 3 collaborators, so if you have a larger team, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. However, Lucidchart’s free plan is also limited in features as with Creately, but Creately is renowned for its powerful real-time collaboration options that are built right into the canvas for easier commenting and tracking of changes.
In addition, Creately supports multiple languages, has over 50 types of diagrams, and thousands of libraries and examples.
Plus, Creately offers a web-based, mobile, and desktop app and is affordable. Thankfully, you can try it out online before investing in a paid subscription.
8. Miro
Miro is an excellent flowchart software that allows users to collaborate on online diagrams like flowcharts and whiteboards.
The software offers a web whiteboard and infinitely zoomable canvas with various diagramming options for users including data, workflow, and process flowcharts. In addition, you get a range of templates in Miro’s pre-built library and integration with JIRA, Sketch, Slack, and cloud storage like Box and Dropbox to tie to your current workflow.
Unlike Lucidchart, which offers the ability to track changes, you can’t get a thorough history of your changes with Miro. However, this doesn’t stop it from being a solid tool you can use in place of Lucidchart.
Plus, Miro also has a freemium plan so you can get started easily, which offers up to three editable boards you can use. Paid plans are also available for teams of two to 19 people.
9. ConceptDraw Diagram
ConceptDraw Diagram is a sophisticated yet flexible charting tool that offers an amazing selection of templates and is compatible with Windows and Mac devices.
The software is highly versatile, enabling businesses to plan and enhance their productivity using dedicated features for creating mind maps and diagrams, plus managing their projects.
While it’s a great tool, ConceptDraw Diagram is quite expensive compared to Lucidchart. However, it also comes with thousands of stencils and hundreds of ready-to-use templates, which make it worth considering for your business graphics and diagramming.
If you want greater flexibility, you can design elements using templates or from scratch and incorporate them into your designs. The custom elements in ConceptDraw Diagram can be used with the tree and chain connecting modes for better visual communication.
Lucidchart is useful online but you can use ConceptDraw Diagram on any device whether offline or online. Plus, ConceptDraw Diagram has superb asset organization including organizing images in contextual groups.
The tool scores highly in several feature and functionality aspects such as template options, graphical elements, and exporting flexibility. However, its integrations are limited compared to Lucidchart as ConceptDraw Diagram doesn’t play well with third-party apps outside of its own app.
10. Edge Diagrammer
EDGE Diagrammer is a diagramming tool by Pacestar that helps you create data flow and block design diagrams.
You can illustrate data flow and use all the required symbols and templates to create clear, professional data flow and design diagrams.
The versatile diagramming tool is useful for creating a wide variety of presentation, technical, and design diagrams with the highest quality results. You also get free extension packs to support different diagramming methodologies.
EDGE Diagrammer is a powerful charting tool that not only works online like Lucidchart but also works with desktop apps including old operating systems like Windows XP. On top of that, you get a free-to-distribute Windows tool that lets others view drawings created using the software.
However, it exclusively works with Windows and lacks group functionality, which gives Lucidchart an advantage over EDGE Diagrammer. Plus, the tool doesn’t consider information flow or distribution for larger operations, so you’ll need to manage your visuals with other tools if you intend to use it.
What To Look For When Choosing The Best Lucidchart Alternatives
While these tools are great for your visualization or diagramming needs, most users aren’t classically trained designers. This is probably why Lucidchart seems more appealing to those with no artistic abilities who just want professional-looking results rapidly.
However, you still need to consider a few factors when picking the diagramming tool for your needs.
Among the factors to consider include templates, the selection of predefined objects available, and whether the tool offers you the ability to define your own elements.
Groupware is also important if you’re collaborating with other people on the same design, which helps ease a complicated process. Plus, check whether the tool comes with a free trial, as most paid tools can be expensive. You want to try it out before investing in a paid plan.
Other considerations include ease of use, cross-platform compatibility, import and export features, and overall affordability.
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Wrapping Up
The best Lucidchart alternatives can simplify the process of creating, organizing, and presenting your ideas, projects, or workflows.
These 10 Lucidchart alternatives are great for brainstorming and exploring business creativity, so we hope you’re able to find one that will meet all your professional diagramming needs.
