Not liking Microsoft Visio? Want to try something free? Well, a lot of people look for Microsoft Visio alternatives and that’s exactly what we brought for you in this article. We have covered 10 Best and Free Visio Alternatives.
If you’ve never heard of Microsoft Visio, this article will be of a great help to you. For those who have no clue about Visio, Visio is a structured drawing software, first acquired by Microsoft in 2000, that consequently became part of the Microsoft Office. It’s a very sturdy and adaptable app, suitable for several purposes, but its chief purpose is to assist users to draw flowcharts, control diagrams, layouts, and different structured graphical means of giving information. Visio is great for building organization charts, workflow charts, and various other kinds of graphics. The application lets users instantly create intricate and professional-looking flowcharts, and integrates easily into MS PowerPoint or Office documents for simple sharing. If you require a diagram made immediately, probabilities are you’ll be working on Visio to create your chart.
Let’s get to the alternatives;
Best Microsoft Visio Alternatives
Here are the top Visio alternatives;
1. yEd Graph editor
yEd graph editor might actually have a peculiar name, but as an alternative, it’s the best in the market. yWorks’ application has a solid UI which does it easy to edit and customize your diagrams automatically.
With a broad class of diagram elements incorporated in the platform, such as shape nodes, edge types, and flowchart symbols, it’s very easy to create flowcharts, diagrams, mind maps, and many more. The application even maintains sending your own content, also shape stencils from Visio files, to build custom element types. yEd gives an intuitive layout too, so if your flowchart holds a huge quantity of data, you can restrain the branch areas automatically from the settings panel.
2. Google Drawings
Google Drawings appears to have an explanation for many of Microsoft’s Office suite applications, and Visio is no exemption.
Drawings is Google’s free internet-based diagramming tool which is incorporated in the same Google Drive suite such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides and let its users build flowcharts, wireframes, concept maps, and some other diagram required for your job. Similarly, all of Google’s other potency apps, Drawings is accessible as both a web app and as an offline Chrome app in the Web Store, presenting it simple to manage on the go no worries wherever you travel. Their application might not be as strong as Visio, but with a variety of templates, shapes, arrows, and scribbles, it’s effortless to build your charts appropriate within Google’s Docs-like familiar interface.
3. Pencil Project
Have you heard of this one before? Pencil Project is a free, open-source alternative to Microsoft Visio which lets you map and design diagrams and charts. Generally, of all 6 open-source tools in this list here, Pencil Project is the best user interface for building charts and diagrams, composing it easy to map out your task without striving through a hassle.
This project had the last update in 2001. With a large-scale set of shape varieties, lines, and other tools, mapping out the diagrams will never be more easygoing than with the Pencil Project. You can file shapes and design flowcharts handling the multitude of tools at your end.
4. Dia
Yes, this is true that Dia looks and exhibits incredibly defined in numerous ways, as is well-known for free alternatives to big paid apps. The app seems even older than software like OpenOffice and LibreOffice, which creates insight, as Dia is a part of those open-sourced apps. The software was first released in 1998, almost twenty years ago, and honestly still hasn’t scored a full version 1.0 release; its latest update, v0.97.3, issued in September of 2014. Notwithstanding Dia’s recorded appearance, the application is still a sufficient alternative for Visio, particularly when you’re searching for a totally free download rather than a tiered web-based application.
5. Creately
Creately, like Gliffy, is another web-based application that is focusing directly at Visio’s service, created to build a fun-looking, perfect flowchart or diagram for businesses and classrooms.
Some of the other projects in this list are unlike Creately because it does its best to retain things simple and easy. Creating good-looking diagrams and charts for presentation at your next conference will be the most commodious task of all. The application features a one-click feature which guarantees to make your diagram piece “five times faster (x5)” than what is seen from other programs and further comprises of dozens of pre-made shapes, lines, and color palettes ready for use. Creately also highlights a broad category of smart connectors and collaboration tools which makes it secure to work with others on designs and charts.
6. Gliffy
Goofy name aside, Gliffy is a trustworthy light diagramming software. Not like OpenOffice and LibreOffice, the application operates fully in your web browser. It uses HTML5 to perform and build a fine, functional diagram fitting for both mobile and PC platforms. The web application is very fast, with the facility to drag and drop objects throughout the work area. You can follow and revert all modifications within the application itself, and styles custom themes and hues within the application. Gliffy genuinely does great work at executing your task look both decent, professional, and fair. You needn’t care about your charts looking overly monotonous or messy. And since the application supports Google Drive integration, you can secure your work while traveling too and present it anyhow.
10 Free Alternatives to Visio
Apart from the above alternatives, here is a list of 10 free software that you can use to create flowcharts just like Visio.
- yEd Graph editor
- Google drawings
- Pencil project
- Dia
- Creately
- Gliffy
- LibreOffice Draw
- OpenOffice Draw
- LucidChart
- Draw.io
Final Verdict
If you use the latest Windows or not, you have plenty of alternatives for designing your diagrams and charts now. So, simply download from the list mentioned and make it happen your way.
