Overview: the best free flowchart software
Number 1: Lucidchart
| Product | Lucidchart |
| Website: | https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/ |
| Logo |  |
Data visualisation and collaboration tools are included in the intelligent diagramming programme Lucidchart. It is made to assist groups and organisations in enhancing and visualising systems and processes.
All flowchart types, including process maps, data flowcharts, BPMN diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, swimlane flowcharts, cross-functional flowcharts, and thousands more, are very simple to create. Users can also import data to automatically create visuals.
For remote and hybrid teams, communication is made simpler and easier by a number of features, including comments, tasks, sharing, revision history, and embedding. Navigating Lucidchart is a breeze thanks to its simple and straightforward user interface. Due to the wide range of features and capabilities offered by Lucidchart, it also provides “Feature Find,” which enables users to easily search for any feature or tool they’re looking for.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| A platform based in the cloud that may be accessed on any device | Not available offline |
| Integrates with tools for productivity like Slack and Google Apps & Workspace | Basic package only offers a few features |
| Data import from other applications like Salesforce, Zapier, and Excel | Interaction is dated |
Number 2: Miro
| Product | Miro |
| Website: | https://miro.com/ |
| Logo |  |
A collaborative online whiteboard called Miro has over 1,000 templates, including flowcharts, mind maps, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and product wireframes. 99% of Fortune 100 companies trust it, and teams at TransUnion, HP, Upwork, Cisco, Qlik, and Atkins utilise it. The visual platform from Miro is designed for hybrid work and features many tools for lifelong learning, including Miro Academy, online conferences, and a community forum.
With the help of an extensive shape and icon collection, you can create beautiful flowcharts together on a Miro board. Bonus: You can do it using the integrated communication tools, including notes, comments, videos, and reactions. The flowchart templates from Miro are excellent for 1:1 meetings, team brainstorming sessions, and product UX and design.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Internal communication tools for simplified teamwork | The free edition does not support high-quality PDF export |
| Simple and intuitive setup | Zooming in on larger tasks can be jerky |
| Free plan available for all time | Visitor/guest accounts are only available with premium plans |
Number 3: Creately
| Product | Creately |
| Website: | https://creately.com/lp/flowchart-software/ |
| Logo |  |
Creately is designed to make creating flowcharts quick and simple. Finding a template that meets your demands is very easy because they offer a large library of templates covering a variety of industries and subjects, from UI/UX user flows to HR recruitment processes.
The interface is neat and attractive in and of itself. You can easily design your flowchart layout using simple drag-and-drop capabilities and the most often used shapes are already grouped where you need them. Along with that, it offers a clever contextual toolbar that, as you draw, proposes pertinent shapes, which greatly speeds up the process.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Teams’ work is made easier because to the large collection of templates | When a diagram with a lot of data is loaded, tools can occasionally slow |
| Complex flow chart creation might be challenging, but Creately’s user interface makes it easy | It can be challenging to navigate the canvas, especially if you’re working on a large one |
Number 4: Whimsical
| Product | Whimsical |
| Website: | https://whimsical.com/flowcharts |
| Logo |  |
Using the flowchart programme Whimsical, you may build flowcharts without having to get used to using a conventional design tool. Using a single click and a range of keyboard shortcuts, Whimsical enables you to connect things to create flowcharts and diagrams.
Whimsical was purposefully created to free you from having to spend time on styling or layouts and allow you to operate at the speed of thought. To use Whimsical flowcharts, there is no need to download any additional software or browser plugins because everything is already built into your browser.
When combined with other Whimsical files, flowcharts allow you to switch between mind maps, wireframes, projects, and documents.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| It’s wonderful that you can share and work together with others on the board, and the boards seem to go on forever | There are a few really minor yet quite unpleasant annoyances. The available text sizes are far too small |
| It’s incredibly simple to make wireframes, mockups, and prototypes. Mockup creation takes up most of my time because it is quick and simple | Because it is browser-based, its major drawback is that it makes the machine slower. Every now and again, it crashes |
| Also appreciate that you may paste and copy items between different file types. It’s quite intuitive and flowing | Very few and occasionally erratic options exist for design customization. There aren’t many colour selections available to you, and certain items have even less |
Number 5: Microsoft Visio
| Product | Microsoft Visio |
| Website: | https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/process-diagrams-in-visio-f064cd25-d7d5-47b8-87e1-ecb3c39cc165 |
| Logo |  |
Multiple team members can work on diagrams simultaneously while using Visio flowcharts. You can link your flowcharts and diagrams to live data so that shape formatting changes follow changes in the underlying data. You may edit your flowcharts wherever you are and in any browser thanks to the software’s web version.
We emphasise variety in the Usability and Features portions of our rating criteria. In order to accommodate each distinct use scenario, a decent flowchart programme will allow you to select from a collection of helpful diagrams and chart designs. MS Visio excels at this, providing charting solutions tailored to various requirements.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| To design diagrams and other visuals for any project involving business | Enhanced compatibility between Visio and the rest of the office 365 tools ( like PowerPoint or Word) |
| Excellent compatibility with other Microsoft programmes | Improved mobile usability |
Number 6: Concept Draw Diagram
| Product | Concept Draw Diagram |
| Website: | https://www.conceptdraw.com/products/drawing-tool |
| Logo |  |
Create customised stencils, arrange and format diagrams of any complexity using updated side panels, format and position tools for flowcharts that look professional, make a dynamic chart whose visual appearance can change depending on external data source files, and more.
The asset management in ConceptDraw Diagram is outstanding, including the contextual grouping of hundreds of photos, object formatting, and other features. In our Features and Functionality evaluation criteria, where graphical components, template possibilities, and exporting flexibility rule supreme, they consequently received pretty high marks.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Extremely potent templates and solutions tailored to particular markets | No support for mobile or browser |
| User interface suitable for beginners | Compared to similar programmes, expensive |
Number 7: Gliffy
| Product | Gliffy |
| Website: | https://www.gliffy.com/ |
| Logo |  |
Gliffy diagram and flowchart software is a drag-and-drop diagram construction tool that enables you to quickly create and share your flowchart ideas. You may start quickly by using templates and themes, and the ability to log modifications will ensure that nothing critical is ever lost.
Many of the demands outlined in our evaluation criteria for features and functionality are met by Gliffy: Shapes readily snap to the grid; alterations can be undone in the event of a mistake; intuitive interface, including for object importation; quick editing and sharing possibilities.
The charts could have told a stronger data story if they had a wider colour modification palette, especially in flowcharts where there is a lot going on visually.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Collaboration | Text placement can turn out poorly |
| Integration with Confluence | Becomes slow when building large charts |
Number 8: Cacoo
| Product | Cacoo |
| Website: | https://cacoo.com/signin |
| Logo |  |
With simple sharing links and embed links created to make collaboration easy and intuitive, you can edit, track changes, and collaborate on flowcharts that you create and update. Shared project folders help teams keep track of their assets while also saving work directly in Cacoo, alerting team members to activities, and more.
Cacoo received good marks in the evaluation criterion categories for usability and UX since it is quite simple to use and navigate. Even for individuals who are not very tech-savvy, it is both appealing to the eye and simple to understand. The abundance of integrations readily available makes it simple to integrate into your regularly established workflow as well.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Intuitive interface | Grouping images can be difficult |
| Centralized dashboard | Not available in many languages |
| Easy diagram creation | Interaction design in wireframing |
Number 9: Draw.io
| Product | Draw.io |
| Website: | https://app.diagrams.net/ |
| Logo |  |
A free online tool for creating simple, intuitive charts is called Draw.io. It is simple to set up and begin creating at any time because it is online (but it may also be used offline). Drag & drop capabilities, a library of available shapes, numerous templates, the ability to import/export data in different formats, and more features are included.
Draw.io clearly scores highly in our evaluation criteria for value for money because it is free to use. Draw.io is suitable for small teams with limited resources or those who might only sometimes use flowcharting software, despite having a lot of capabilities compared to its for-pay alternatives.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Free | Unimpressive collection of templates and shapes |
| Speedy | Not as user-friendly as other diagramming programmes for non-designers |
| When linked to a Google account, excellent real-time collaboration support is offered | In testing, importing from different file kinds didn’t work |
Number 10: Edraw Max
| Product | Edraw Max |
| Website: | https://www.edrawmax.com/ |
| Logo |  |
In our evaluation criteria for Features & Functionality, Edraw stands out as a rival due to the enormous volume of templates, icons, and shapes. One of the selling points of this programme is the abundance of graphic elements and the substantial template stockpile.
Despite the fact that Edraw’s interaction with PowerPoint is really useful, some more conventional app integrations would have been a pleasant addition. Edraw would also feel more complete if it had a tool for erasing mistakes.
incorporates with programmes like PowerPoint. Additionally, they offer OEM partners a novel integration option whereby they can incorporate Edraw technology into their own products and then sell the resulting package to customers under a sublicense.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Useful templates | Adding new languages, or at the very least allowing users to add their own diacritical markings |
| Professional library support | It might be simple to export the output as vector to word format files while saving it as a picture |
FAQ
Question 1
Answer
Question 2
Answer
Question 3
Answer
Question 4
Answer
Based on what criteria should you choose an animation program?
Answer
