The Best Diagramming Software in 2026
We researched diagramming software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core job, value for money and verified features, helping teams choose software for structured visual diagrams.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
draw.io#1 of 449.4/10A broad, free diagramming editor with strong format support and collaboration options.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Lucidchart#2 of 449.3/10A broad, collaborative diagramming workspace for business and technical teams.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Visual Paradigm#5 of 448.8/10A broad modeling suite for technical teams that need formal notation, collaboration, and engineering tools.
Free plan · 30-day trial
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 44 tools, best first
-
Best forMost users needing broad, free diagramming
A broad, free diagramming editor with strong format support and collaboration options.
- Real-time collaboration
9.4/10★★★★★Visit draw.io -
Best forCollaborative teams and business diagramming
A broad, collaborative diagramming workspace for business and technical teams.
- Offline editing
- Real-time collaboration
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Lucidchart -
Best forMicrosoft-centric organizations
A mature Microsoft-focused diagramming suite with web, Teams, and desktop options.
- Real-time collaboration
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Visio -
Best forBusiness and technical diagramming teams
A paid diagramming suite with wide coverage, collaboration, migration tools, and integrations.
- Real-time collaboration
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit SmartDraw -
Best forTechnical modeling and engineering teams
A broad modeling suite for technical teams that need formal notation, collaboration, and engineering tools.
- Real-time collaboration
Free plan · 30-day trial Our Visual Paradigm verdict → See Visual ParadigmFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #5 · $59/mo →8.8/10★★★★☆See Visual Paradigm -
Best forOpen-source UML and technical diagrams
A capable text-first diagram generator for technical teams and documentation workflows.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit PlantUML -
Best forEnterprise architecture and requirements modeling
A deep enterprise modeling suite with broad standards support and high paid-license costs.
- Real-time collaboration
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forFree desktop graph and diagram editing
A mature free desktop diagram editor with strong graph layouts and broad format support.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit yEd -
Best forBPMN process modeling
A focused BPMN tool with a capable free plan and enterprise collaboration options.
- Real-time collaboration
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Bizagi -
Best forDesktop diagramming with Visio compatibility
A capable desktop diagramming suite with Visio compatibility, but no collaboration.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit ConceptDraw -
Best forMac and iPad diagramming professionals
A precise Mac and iPad diagramming tool with paid-only access and focused Apple coverage.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit OmniGraffle -
Best forWorkshops and visual collaboration
A flexible web workspace for diagrams, workshops, collaboration, and project views.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Creately -
Best forSAP process modeling environments
A strong fit for SAP-centered process modeling, with custom pricing and contract-dependent API access.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit SAP Signavio -
Best forAI-assisted technical diagramming
A flexible technical diagramming workspace with AI, diagram-as-code, and collaboration.
- Real-time collaboration
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Eraser -
Best forCross-platform diagram and infographic work
A broad diagramming suite with AI, collaboration, imports, and flexible exports.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit EdrawMax -
Best forAffordable collaborative diagramming
Affordable collaborative diagramming with real-time editing and broad export support.
- Real-time collaboration
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Cacoo -
Best forConfluence-centered diagramming
A flexible diagramming choice for teams working in Confluence and Jira.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Gliffy -
Best forDevelopers who prefer diagrams as code
A flexible choice for developers who want diagrams managed as code.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Mermaid -
Best forDedicated UML modeling professionals
A deep UML and architecture modeling tool with one-time device pricing.
- Real-time collaboration
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit StarUML -
Best forLow-cost BPMN and process mapping
A low-cost BPMN and process-mapping platform with Microsoft ecosystem support.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Gluu -
Best forFree lightweight UML diagrams
A lightweight UML tool with flexible editing and exports, but no collaboration or version history.
- Desktop apps
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit UMLet -
Best forOffline template-driven chart creation
A capable offline diagramming tool for template-led visual work, with limited collaboration.
- Desktop apps
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit ClickCharts -
Best forBundled diagramming and project planning
A Windows and macOS suite for teams that want diagrams, planning, and project tools together.
- Desktop apps
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit ConceptDraw -
Best forLow-cost offline desktop diagramming
A capable, low-cost diagramming editor for offline desktop work.
- Offline editing
- Desktop apps
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit MyDraw -
Best forWindows-based software modelers
A broad Windows modeling suite for teams that need diagrams, code engineering, and documentation.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forC4 architecture documentation at scale
A focused C4 models-as-code tool for versioned architecture documentation at scale.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Structurizr -
Best forC4 architecture modeling teams
A focused C4 architecture tool with strong modeling depth and a high editor price.
- Real-time collaboration
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit IcePanel -
Best forInfrastructure diagramming with live embeds
A focused diagramming tool for modeled infrastructure, imports, collaboration, and live embeds.
- Real-time collaboration
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Arcentry -
Best forOpen-source diagrams-as-code
A strong developer-focused choice for diagrams-as-code and offline rendering.
- Offline editing
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit D2 -
Best forSimple free browser-based diagrams
A capable free diagramming tool for structured visuals without accounts or paid tiers.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Try Diagramming Tool -
Best forSimple collaborative text-to-diagram workflows
A focused web diagramming tool for teams that prefer text-based creation.
- Real-time collaboration
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Textografo -
Best forEnterprise workflow modeling and execution
A BPMN-based platform for modeling, running, and monitoring enterprise workflows.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Camunda -
Best forInteractive diagrams-as-code and cloud views
A focused YAML-based tool for interactive architecture and cloud diagrams.
- Offline editing
- Desktop apps
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Ilograph -
Best forInteractive technical diagrams and math
A focused choice for interactive technical diagrams, math notation, and shareable detail.
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Vexlio -
Best forFree wireframes and GUI mockups
A focused free option for interface mockups, wireframes, and lightweight diagramming.
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Pencil Project -
Best forProgrammatic graph rendering
A powerful choice for code-defined graph layouts, not collaborative general diagramming.
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Graphviz -
Best forFree cloud architecture diagrams
A focused free option for cloud diagrams, with limited collaboration and platform support.
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit CloudSkew -
Best forFree open-source technical diagrams
A capable free diagramming tool for technical work, without collaboration or integrations.
5.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Dia -
Best forAutomatically generated cloud infrastructure diagrams
A focused choice for visualizing, comparing, and documenting AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud environments.
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Hava -
Best forMobile and desktop flowchart creation
A broad, touch-focused diagramming tool for flowcharts, technical diagrams, and mind maps.
- Desktop apps
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Flowdia -
Best forFree self-hosted flowchart editing
A free, self-hosted flowchart editor with sharing, collaboration, and image exports.
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Diagramo -
Best forWindows users building nested concept diagrams
A flexible Windows desktop tool for nested diagrams, concept maps, and structured models.
- Desktop apps
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit ThinkComposer -
Best forProcess mining and operational analysis
A strong fit for enterprise process mining, not general-purpose diagram creation.
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit ARIS -
Best forTimelines and project roadmaps
A focused timeline maker with AI generation, Gantt charts, imports, and flexible exports.
4.9/10★★☆☆☆Visit Preceden
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Diagram types | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | draw.io | Yes | Free | flow charts, mind maps, org charts, Venn diagrams, infographics, network diagrams, architecture diagrams, floor plans, electrical diagrams, rack diagrams, UML diagrams, BPMN diagrams, Kanban boards, ER diagrams, Mermaid diagrams, Gitflow diagrams, C4 models, threat models | 9.4 |
| 2 | Lucidchart | Yes | Free | process maps, flowcharts, org charts, technical diagrams, system architecture diagrams, UML diagrams, ERDs, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts, C4 models | 9.3 |
| 3 | Microsoft Visio | No | $5/user/mo | basic, block, business matrix, Venn, cycle, pyramid, flowchart, process, cross-functional, SDL, UML, ERD, network, Azure, AWS, BPMN, floor plan, HVAC, plant layout, timeline, Gantt, PERT, ITIL, Pivot, Six Sigma, value-stream map, organization chart | 9.1 |
| 4 | SmartDraw | No | floor plans, site plans, building layouts, evacuation plans, accident reconstructions, crime scenes, circuit diagrams, wiring diagrams, electrical plans, planograms, flowcharts, organizational charts, network diagrams, UML diagrams, ERDs, data flow diagrams, timelines, mind maps, Gantt charts, cause-and-effect diagrams | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Visual Paradigm | Yes | $4/user/mo | UML, SysML, flowchart, organization chart, ER, BPMN, data-flow, EPC, mind map, C4, Gantt, wireframe, cloud architecture | 8.8 |
| 6 | PlantUML | Yes | Free | Sequence, use-case, class, object, activity, component, deployment, state, timing, regex, network, wireframe, Archimate, Gantt, mind map, WBS, EBNF, JSON, YAML | 8.7 |
| 7 | Sparx Enterprise Architect | Yes | UML Use Case, Activity, State, Interaction Overview, Sequence, Communication, Package, Class, Object, Composite, Component, Deployment; BPMN; SysML | 8.6 | |
| 8 | yEd Graph Editor | Yes | Free | BPMN diagrams, semantic networks, family trees, flowcharts, social networks, UML class diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, swimlane diagrams | 8.5 |
| 9 | Bizagi Modeler | Yes | BPMN process diagrams; value chain diagrams | 8.4 | |
| 10 | ConceptDraw DIAGRAM | No | $199 one-time | flowcharts, block diagrams, process diagrams, UML diagrams, organizational charts, network diagrams, rack diagrams, cloud service architecture diagrams, technical schematics, building plans, floor plans, dashboards, infographics, presentations | 8.3 |
| 11 | OmniGraffle | No | family trees, flow charts, org charts, layouts, directed graphs, nondirected graphs | 8.2 | |
| 12 | Creately | Yes | $5/mo | 8.0 | |
| 13 | SAP Signavio Process Modeler | No | BPMN 2.0; value chains; DMN | 7.9 | |
| 14 | Eraser | Yes | $15/user/mo | Flow charts, entity-relationship diagrams, cloud architecture diagrams, sequence diagrams, BPMN diagrams | 7.8 |
| 15 | EdrawMax | Yes | $5.90/mo | 7.7 | |
| 16 | Cacoo | Yes | $6/user/mo | flowcharts, wireframes, network diagrams, organizational charts, BPMN diagrams, component diagrams, deployment diagrams, AWS architecture diagrams | 7.6 |
| 17 | Gliffy | Yes | flowcharts, UML diagrams, BPMN diagrams, network diagrams, entity-relationship diagrams, AWS architecture diagrams, org charts, mind maps, wireframes, floor plans, swimlanes, Venn diagrams | 7.5 | |
| 18 | Mermaid | Free | flowchart, sequence diagram, class diagram, state diagram, Gantt chart, timeline, mindmap, Git graph, use case diagram, event modeling diagram | 7.4 | |
| 19 | StarUML | No | $129/device one-time | UML 2, entity-relationship, data flow, flowchart, mindmap, C4, SysML, BPMN, UI wireframe, AWS architecture, GCP architecture, Azure architecture | 7.3 |
| 20 | Gluu | No | €2/seat/mo | process maps, BPMN 2.0 diagrams, landscape maps, process houses, value chains, SIPOC diagrams, value stream maps, customer journey maps, swimlane diagrams | 7.2 |
| 21 | UMLet | Yes | Free | class, use case, sequence, state, deployment, activity | 7.1 |
| 22 | ClickCharts | Yes | Block, BPMN, brainstorming, data flow, electrical, ER, family tree, fishbone, flowchart, mind map, network, organizational, process flow, UML class, Venn, VSM, graph | 7.0 | |
| 23 | ConceptDraw Office | No | $499 one-time | Business process diagrams, process flowcharts, UML diagrams, technical drawings, infographics | 6.9 |
| 24 | MyDraw | No | $36/yr | flowcharts, organizational charts, family tree diagrams, cross-functional diagrams, cause-and-effect diagrams, data flow diagrams, mind maps, SDL diagrams, Venn diagrams, workflow diagrams | 6.8 |
| 25 | Software Ideas Modeler | Yes | 6.7 | ||
| 26 | Structurizr | Yes | £300/mo | system landscape, system context, container, component, code, dynamic, deployment, custom, filtered, image | 6.6 |
| 27 | IcePanel | Yes | $40/user/mo | Context diagrams, app diagrams, component diagrams | 6.5 |
| 28 | Arcentry | Yes | $9.90/mo | Infrastructure, cloud architecture, network, 2D, 3D | 6.4 |
| 29 | D2 | Yes | Free | software architecture diagrams; UML class diagrams; sequence diagrams | 6.3 |
| 30 | Diagramming Tool | Yes | Free | cloud architecture, flowcharts, sequence diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, UML class diagrams, C4 container diagrams, Kubernetes topologies, network diagrams, state machines, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, mindmaps, org charts, sitemaps, Sankey flows, XY charts, radar charts, treemaps, fishbone diagrams | 6.2 |
| 31 | Textografo | Yes | flowcharts, mind maps, decision trees, organizational charts, sitemaps, cross-functional flowcharts | 6.1 | |
| 32 | Camunda | Yes | 6.0 | ||
| 33 | Ilograph | Yes | $11.99/user/mo | relation, sequence | 6.0 |
| 34 | Vexlio | Yes | $18/mo | flowcharts, UML diagrams, block diagrams, state machine diagrams, software architecture diagrams, math diagrams | 5.9 |
| 35 | Pencil Project | Yes | Free | GUI mockups, wireframes, flowcharts, desktop UI, web UI, Android UI, iOS UI | 5.8 |
| 36 | Graphviz | Free | graph diagrams; network diagrams; hierarchical diagrams | 5.7 | |
| 37 | CloudSkew | Yes | cloud architecture diagrams, network diagrams, flowcharts | 5.6 | |
| 38 | Dia | Yes | Free | Entity-relationship diagrams; UML diagrams; flowcharts; network diagrams | 5.5 |
| 39 | Hava | No | $59/mo | Infrastructure, security group, list, container, hybrid cloud | 5.4 |
| 40 | Flowdia Diagrams | Flowchart, swimlane, mind map, BPMN, network, Cisco network, rack, server layout, AWS architecture, Azure architecture, UML class, UML activity, UML use case, UML sequence, business process, process flow, chevron | 5.3 | ||
| 41 | Diagramo | Yes | Free | flowcharts, diagrams, graphs | 5.2 |
| 42 | ThinkComposer | Yes | Free | concept maps, mind maps, flowcharts, use case diagrams, class diagrams, sequence diagrams, timelines, data models, organizational charts, business models, genealogy trees | 5.1 |
| 43 | ARIS | 5.0 | |||
| 44 | Preceden | Yes | $10/mo | timelines, Gantt charts, project roadmaps, legal chronologies, comparative timelines | 4.9 |
Head-to-head All 22 comparisons →
- draw.io vs Lucidchart
- draw.io vs PlantUML
- draw.io vs Sparx Enterprise Architect
- draw.io vs yEd Graph Editor
- Lucidchart vs Microsoft Visio
- Lucidchart vs SmartDraw
- Lucidchart vs Visual Paradigm
- Lucidchart vs PlantUML
- Lucidchart vs Sparx Enterprise Architect
Explore other topics All topics →
- AI Tools 303 directories · 8,269 tools ranked AI Writing Tools · AI Video Generators · Text-to-Speech Software
- Web Hosting & Domains 275 directories · 6,107 tools ranked Shared Web Hosting · Managed Cloud Hosting · Dedicated Server Hosting
- Productivity 157 directories · 4,948 tools ranked Note-Taking Apps · Calendar Apps · Project Management Software
- Marketing 135 directories · 3,978 tools ranked SEO Tools · Influencer Marketing Platforms · Email Marketing Software
- Sales & CRM 152 directories · 4,161 tools ranked Real Estate CRM Software · CRM Software · Proposal Software
- Customer Service 55 directories · 1,547 tools ranked Chatbot Builders · Knowledge Base Software · Call Center Software
How we rank diagramming software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update