draw.io vs SmartDraw

draw.io9.4Visit SmartDraw8.6Visit

Higher score draw.io #1 in Diagram Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit draw.io

vs

SmartDraw #7 in Diagram Software 8.6/10 Paid ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit SmartDraw

• draw.io fits best

  Free, broad diagramming across teams and platforms

• SmartDraw fits best

  General-purpose diagramming with office integrations

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Side by side

Feature	draw.io 9.4/10 Visit ↗	SmartDraw 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.6
Ranking	#1 in Diagram Software	#7 in Diagram Software
Best for	Free, broad diagramming across teams and platforms	General-purpose diagramming with office integrations
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Email, Live chat, Docs
Integrations	13 integrations	14 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features draw.io 3/3 · SmartDraw 3/3
Real-time collaboration	✓	✓
Desktop app	✓	✓
Version history	✓	✓
Specs
Diagram types	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	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
Export formats	PNG, SVG, JPEG, animated GIF, PDF, HTML, URL, XML, JSON	JPEG, PNG, SVG, PDF, Visio
Import formats	draw.io, XML, Gliffy, VSDX, Lucidchart, PNG, SVG, JPEG	PDF, VSD, VSDX, Visio stencils, Lucidchart files, JPEG, PNG, SVG
Maximum editors	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Supports technical, business, software, infrastructure, and process diagrams Runs on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome Extension Offers extensive import, export, storage, and collaboration integrations	Supports business, technical, IT, floor-plan, and project diagrams Real-time collaboration, comments, and version history Integrates with Microsoft, Google, Atlassian, and storage tools
Cons	Real-time collaboration depends on supported storage and integrations The core editor does not provide separately tiered paid plans Its broad feature set may be more than needed for simple diagrams	No free plan is available The broad feature set may exceed basic diagramming needs Regular Individual and Team prices are billed annually
Our verdict	draw.io is a browser-based and desktop diagramming application for creating technical, business, software, infrastructure, and process diagrams. It suits teams and individuals that need broad diagram coverage without a core editor charge,… Read the review →	SmartDraw is diagramming and scaled-drawing software for organizations, professionals, and non-technical users. It covers flowcharts, workflows, organizational charts, mind maps, project charts, technical engineering and IT diagrams, data… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• draw.io — where it wins

  • Supports technical, business, software, infrastructure, and process diagrams
  • Runs on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome Extension
  • Offers extensive import, export, storage, and collaboration integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Real-time collaboration depends on supported storage and integrations
  • The core editor does not provide separately tiered paid plans
  • Its broad feature set may be more than needed for simple diagrams

• SmartDraw — where it wins

  • Supports business, technical, IT, floor-plan, and project diagrams
  • Real-time collaboration, comments, and version history
  • Integrates with Microsoft, Google, Atlassian, and storage tools

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • The broad feature set may exceed basic diagramming needs
  • Regular Individual and Team prices are billed annually

• draw.io9.4/10 · Free plan

  A broad, flexible diagramming editor for teams that want free cross-platform coverage.

  Visit draw.ioFull verdict →
• SmartDraw8.6/10 · Paid

  A broad diagramming suite for teams that need office integrations and collaboration.

  Visit SmartDrawFull verdict →