yEd Graph Editor vs Creately

yEd Graph Editor8.8Visit Creately8.6Visit

Higher score yEd Graph Editor #5 in Flowchart Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit yEd

vs

Creately #7 in Flowchart Software 8.6/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Creately

• yEd Graph Editor fits best

  Free desktop flowcharts with automatic layouts

• Creately fits best

  Teams combining flowcharts with workshops and workflows

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.

Side by side

Feature	yEd Graph Editor 8.8/10 Visit ↗	Creately 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.6
Ranking	#5 in Flowchart Software	#7 in Flowchart Software
Best for	Free desktop flowcharts with automatic layouts	Teams combining flowcharts with workshops and workflows
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$5/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	7 days
Deployment	Desktop	Cloud
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Web
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Email, Live chat, Docs · 24/7
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features yEd Graph Editor 0/3 · Creately 0/3
Flowchart templates	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Real-time collaboration	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Offline access	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Import/export formats	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Diagrams on free plan	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Automatic layout algorithms speed diagram arrangement Flowchart, BPMN, UML, ER, network and swimlane palettes Broad GraphML, spreadsheet, image and document import/export	Creates flowcharts and 70 other diagram types on an infinite canvas Combines templates, voting, and presentation mode for workshops Adds Kanban boards, timelines, and AI-generated diagrams
Cons	Desktop-only deployment limits browser-based teamwork No real-time collaboration for shared editing No listed integrations with external workplace tools	Free canvases are limited to 45 items each Starter and Team cap canvases at 1,000 and 1,500 items The feature breadth may be more than flowchart-only work requires
Our verdict	yEd Graph Editor is a free desktop application from yWorks GmbH for creating, arranging, analyzing and exporting diagrams. It suits solo users and teams that need flowcharts, BPMN diagrams, UML class diagrams, entity relationship diagrams,… Read the review →	Creately is a cloud-based visual collaboration platform for people and teams who need more than flowchart creation. Its infinite canvas brings diagramming, workshops, and project workflows together: users can make flowcharts and other… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• yEd Graph Editor — where it wins

  • Automatic layout algorithms speed diagram arrangement
  • Flowchart, BPMN, UML, ER, network and swimlane palettes
  • Broad GraphML, spreadsheet, image and document import/export

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop-only deployment limits browser-based teamwork
  • No real-time collaboration for shared editing
  • No listed integrations with external workplace tools

• Creately — where it wins

  • Creates flowcharts and 70 other diagram types on an infinite canvas
  • Combines templates, voting, and presentation mode for workshops
  • Adds Kanban boards, timelines, and AI-generated diagrams

  Where it doesn't

  • Free canvases are limited to 45 items each
  • Starter and Team cap canvases at 1,000 and 1,500 items
  • The feature breadth may be more than flowchart-only work requires

• yEd Graph Editor8.8/10 · Free plan

  A capable free desktop flowchart tool with automatic layouts and broad format support.

  Visit yEdFull verdict →
• Creately8.6/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  Flowcharts sit alongside workshops, collaboration, and project workflows on one canvas.

  Visit CreatelyFull verdict →