yEd Graph Editor
yEd Graph Editor: A capable free desktop graph editor with broad formats and automatic layouts. Ranked #12 of 36 in Diagram Software by our editors (8.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free desktop graph and technical diagram creation.
At a glance
- Editor score8.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree desktop graph and technical diagram creation
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Founded1998 · Tübingen, Germany
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free for commercial use on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Automatic layouts support structured graph and technical diagrams
- Imports and exports cover many technical and visual formats
Where it doesn't
- Desktop-focused workflow is less suited to real-time team collaboration
- No paid tier adds expanded capabilities or services
- Broader diagram work may require learning its graph-oriented approach
Our verdict on yEd Graph Editor
yEd Graph Editor is a free desktop application for creating, editing, analyzing, and automatically arranging diagrams and graph-like structures. It suits individuals, students, technical users, and organizations that need graph-based visualizations without subscription pricing. The application runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, supports manual diagram creation, and covers BPMN, UML class diagrams, flowcharts, semantic networks, family trees, social networks, and other structured diagrams.
Its strongest area is the combination of automatic layout algorithms and structured data handling. Users can import GraphML, Excel XLS, GEDCOM, GML, and XML through XSLT transformation, then organize content with grouped nodes, swimlanes, table nodes, and nested elements. Orthogonal and organic edge routing provide different ways to manage connections. This makes yEd a practical choice for technical diagrams and graph-like structures where arrangement and readability matter as much as drawing from scratch.
Export coverage is another clear advantage. Diagrams can be saved as PDF, SVG, EMF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, HTML image maps, and EPS, supporting document, image, vector, and web-oriented outputs. The trade-off is its desktop-focused workflow: teams that require real-time collaboration, version history, or integrated online workspaces should consider a different type of diagram product. Choose yEd when free commercial use, local desktop access, automatic layouts, and broad import or export support are priorities; look elsewhere when shared browser-based editing is central to the workflow.
Your product? Our editors can test yEd Graph Editor in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
yEd Graph Editor pricing
yEd Graph Editor fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Diagram types | BPMN diagrams, semantic networks, family trees, flowcharts, social networks, UML class diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, swimlane diagrams |
| Real-time collaboration | Not verified |
| Export formats | PDF, SVG, EMF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, HTML, EPS, SVGZ |
| Import formats | GraphML, GraphMLZ, YGF, GML, XGML, XLS, XLSX, TGF, GEDCOM, XML/XSL |
| Desktop app | Yes |
| Version history | Yes |
| Maximum editors | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | yworks.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to yEd Graph Editor
- draw.ioA broad, flexible diagramming editor for teams that want free cross-platform coverage.9.4
- Visual ParadigmA broad modeling suite with collaboration, engineering tools, and a free plan.9.2
- LucidchartA broad, collaborative diagramming workspace with a free tier and web-only access.9.0
See all yEd Graph Editor alternatives →
Also Ranked In
yEd Graph Editor is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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