Review Process Descriptions and Create Process Flow Diagrams Using Microsoft Vizio

Flowcharts and diagrams make complex information crystal clear. Just the actual process of creating a flowchart or diagram is far from simple. I've been tasked with making a whole host of them throughout my career, and I can say for sure: the app you choose makes a divergence.

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For this roundup, I spent several weeks researching and doing in-depth testing of the best flowchart and diagram software on the market. I narrowed it down to viii apps that represent the best options on the market place, for a variety of utilize cases.

The 8 best flowchart and diagramming tools

• Lucidchart for a Microsoft Visio alternative (and compatibility)

• Microsoft Visio for Office power users

• Textografo for a text-based flowchart tool

• diagrams.cyberspace for a free flowchart maker for individual use

• SmartDraw for the biggest collection of diagramming templates

• Cacoo for making custom charts and graphs

• Miro for a built-in whiteboard and team collaboration features

• Zen Flowchart for simple flowcharts

What makes great flowchart and diagramming software?

How we evaluate and examination apps

All of our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing near software. We spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app every bit information technology's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to whatsoever site—nosotros value the trust readers put in u.s.a. to offer accurate evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the total rundown of how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog.

I remember once I had to use Whimsical to create a massive flowchart, 1 that detailed the process of revamping a website for a client. It had to include the work that needed to be done for each folio (website copy, design, SEO, etc.) and include steps for each team member and the approving process. I was in over my caput.

I spent a full week working on the assignment, spending hours each day tinkering with text boxes, aligning shapes and connectors, designing my nautical chart then it looked presentable to my squad. It was painful—mostly because I was working with the wrong software as a beginner.

That'southward all to say, there'due south no one best manner to create a flowchart: yous demand to be sure the app you cull suits your specific needs. As I was testing, I kept this in heed, looking for tools that served a variety of use cases; simply I also fabricated sure to test all the flowchart tools and diagramming software against the same criteria as a baseline:

• Ease of use. I looked at the difficulty level for beginners, the number of features and tools you need to acquire to use the app, and how intuitive the user interface was.

• The power to create clear and logical diagrams. I fabricated certain there was a variety of standard shapes available to work with. I too looked for features that helped arrange things in a clear and logical mode, similar grids, auto-snapping shapes, and ratio attribute size adjusters.

• Templates. Building from scratch isn't necessary if your tool has an acceptable selection of flowchart/diagram templates. I looked for look for industry-, role-, and task-specific templates, and considered their design, artful, and customizability.

• Team collaboration. Sharing, editing, video chat, and real-time collaboration features are huge avails. Besides, it's important to have the power to import and export diagrams from and to a range of formats for improve sharing and integration.

• Value for price. For all the apps featured here, the price is justifiable for the features offered and the target customer base.

After researching and testing thirty flowchart and diagram tools over the course of several weeks, these are the eight best.

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Best Microsoft Visio alternative

Lucidchart (Spider web)

Lucidchart is among the best-known online flowchart and diagramming tools on the spider web right at present, and information technology's not difficult to see why.

Sign upward for a free trial, and yous'll be creating your showtime flowchart or diagram right away. The web-based interface offers hyper-specific templates for API workflows, accounts receivable, algorithms, software mockups, and more. At that place'due south also a wide range of standard shapes available, and yous tin create, save, and proper noun your ain for a more than customized design. Simply what really makes Lucidchart the all-time Visio alternative is its user interface: it sports a familiar Windows File/Edit/View carte bar, full of relevant features that are easy to navigate. It'due south simple to add and conform items, and the process for making a flowchart is straightforward.

The flexible spider web app has a wider range of import options than any other software I tested; it receives files from most competitors, including Microsoft Visio, OmniGraffle, Gliffy, and diagrams.cyberspace. Lucidchart tin also consign to PDF, image files, SVGs, and Microsoft Visio (different virtually other web-based applications). Its design and color palettes are sleek, beautiful, and modern, outshining Visio's outdated and duller-looking templates. And it boasts ample flexibility, meaning information technology can fit nicely into your existing workflow, or even serve every bit a consummate Visio replacement.

Lucidchart also offers existent-time online collaboration. This means that, similar to Google Docs, you can run into edits and comments from your coworkers in real-time.

The only real competitor to Lucidchart is MyDraw—another Microsoft Visio-compatible app and alternative. Lucidchart's interface, features, and tools are a lot more seamless and beginner-friendly, while MyDraw is built for advanced diagramming with a busier interface and templates made for bigger cross-team collaboration projects.

Lucidchart's free trial allows you to create and save upwardly to iii (limited) documents. Unlike other gratis trials, this one doesn't expire, so it may be plenty for occasional diagramming. For this reason solitary, Lucidchart is worth checking out for Office 365 users.

You can practice even more past using Lucidchart's Zapier integrations, which will permit you to connect Lucidchart to all your other apps. Automatically add together new form responses, tasks, and more to your Lucidchart data sets. Hither are a couple examples:

Lucidchart price: Free version available; paid version starts at $7.95.

All-time diagram software for Microsoft Function 365 users

Microsoft Visio (Windows, Web)

Microsoft has been working on Visio for a quarter-century, and information technology shows: the Windows version of this application is polished. The familiar Microsoft Function interface makes information technology easy to navigate all the various functions, meaning you lot'll be creating something in no time.

Whether y'all're making a flowchart, floorplan, software mockup, or engineering diagram, Visio offers advisable shapes and templates. Merely information technology'south definitely non pattern-focused: I was kind of surprised past how outdated and lifeless the templates looked in comparison to Lucidchart or MyDraw (two Visio-compatible alternatives). Of course, Windows has e'er been the go-to operating arrangement for serious professionals, but fifty-fifty serious professionals demand to have fun and get creative! The image database is besides limited, with generic graphics, so y'all'll probably cease up having to import better images.

The real standout feature for me was automatic sorting for flowcharts. I made a complicated sequence flowchart and had difficulty positioning shapes and frames neatly. Then I clicked the automatic sorting feature, and it cleaned upwardly my mess perfectly similar a robotic vacuum. Very few programs that I tried offering this level of shine.

The main downside here—and it'southward notable—is the price. There are two services: a monthly subscription (cheaper selection), and a onetime purchase (expensive option) that y'all'll ain forever. Only the onetime buy offers admission to the Windows Visio app; the cheaper choice provides access to the spider web-based version only.

Is Visio worth it? I'd say the subscription is, especially if you lot create complicated diagrams and flowcharts regularly. But making a ane-fourth dimension buy may not be the wisest decision: if you're not satisfied with the electric current version, you lot won't receive shiny new features in the future. And you have to buy a license for each PC, which can go costly.

Microsoft Visio toll: A one-time purchase of Visio for Windows is $309 for Standard or $579 for Professional person; Professional offers additional shapes and data visualization features. $15/user/month for a subscription to the Windows version (on superlative of whatever other Office programme); $five/user/calendar month for Visio Online.

Best text-based flowchart software

Textografo (Web)

Most flowchart tools strength you to move a lot of boxes around. Non Textografo. This unique tool is entirely text-based, making it an alternative to the drag-and-drop model. You tin can make a flowchart by typing in each menses, without moving your fingers away from the keyboard. You lot'll demand to larn some basic syntax: hashtags specify shapes, indents specify nesting. Type in the left panel, and your flowchart will bear witness up in the right main workspace as if yous were using a Markdown editor.

I'll have to be honest—I didn't love this software every bit a beginner. My preference is the elevate-and-driblet model, so learning the textual syntax and typing a sentence for each catamenia (besides as rewriting it when I needed to make changes) felt like more work.

While Textografo didn't piece of work for me, I tin clearly see the benefit for more technical teams, especially programmers (who are used to writing code). Teams that want to create complex charts, merely have no desire for pattern-focused templates or creative features, might discover this to be the fastest tool—once they've mastered the textual syntax, that is.

Keep in mind, there are no templates to assistance you build a flowchart, and you lot can't elevate your items to move them: try it, and you'll be told "Nope!" Everything has to exist washed in the text editor. This means Textografo can't work as a general diagramming tool: information technology's limited to flowcharts, decision trees, sitemaps, and other things that boil downwardly to text boxes connected by arrows. Just if y'all want a quick way to make flowcharts, without any fussing around with your mouse and design features, Textografo is for you.

Textografo price: Plans start at $4/month.

Best gratis diagram software for individuals

Diagrams.cyberspace (Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS)

Diagrams.net (formerly draw.io) sets itself apart by cost: it's free for personal use, and you don't fifty-fifty need to create an account to get started. But that's not the only reason it'due south worth checking out.

The user interface, which closely resembles that of Google'southward apps, is easy to larn. It lets y'all find what you need quickly without looking around. The shapes are organized and placed in separate flowchart and diagram categories and are nicely labeled (e.g., process, document, finish), so I didn't have to look up how each shape was used to make my diagram. Arranging objects is simple thanks to a conspicuously divers grid, although the automated organisation options aren't as robust every bit I would have liked (just over again—gratis). There's also the optional night theme, which some people might capeesh.

Files can exist stored locally on your computer or using cloud services similar OneDrive and Google Drive. You can besides import files from Visio, Gliffy, and Lucidchart, or export to just about every format you lot can imagine, including vector files.

One unique characteristic, at least amid online flowchart apps: diagrams.net offers an offline version for Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Chromebooks. This means you tin edit your blueprint without an internet connexion, assuming you lot've saved them to your device instead of the cloud.

Equally for downsides, the number of shapes and templates offered is pocket-sized: there are merely nine flowcharts and viii Venn diagram templates. Besides, in that location'southward a lack of existent-time collaborative editing, and workspace sharing is limited to Google Drive and OneDrive files. Overall, this is a very flexible slice of software that doesn't take a lot of time to learn. It'due south well worth it for individual use, especially if you but need the occasional design.

Diagrams.net price: Costless

All-time collection of diagramming templates in a web-based diagram app

SmartDraw (Web)

SmartDraw is versatile. Information technology has one of the most comprehensive template libraries for advanced diagrams—from software blueprint to wireframes to graph-based, spanning several industries, including retail, marketing, Information technology, eCommerce, and legal. At that place'south even a surprisingly big collection of maps you lot can apply, from Canadian provinces to European countries. It's one of the most complete collections of templates I found.

Information technology was moderately easy to apply, but I did accept some difficulty positioning connectors and resizing my flowchart since the app doesn't automatically marshal them.

Files can be saved to SmartDraw or tertiary-party solutions, including Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box. Designs tin can likewise be exported to Visio, image forms, or an SVG vector, meaning you can apply these charts simply almost anywhere.

The downside hither is the user interface: information technology's but a little flake clunky when compared to Lucidchart or Visio. ​​I likewise idea the pre-set color palettes were kind of bones and uninspiring. You'll effigy out how to do everything eventually, sure, just I wish information technology was but a little more polished and sleek. Should you give it a get? Yes, especially if yous use a ton of Venn diagrams and have clients in several industries.

There's a seven-day free trial, then endeavour it out for yourself before deciding to subscribe.

SmartDraw price: $9.95/month after a costless trial.

Best diagram app for quickly making diagrams that include custom charts

Cacoo (Web)

Cacoo is a flowchart and diagram tool that doubles every bit a digital whiteboard where teams can brainstorm, have notes, and create images, but like with a real whiteboard.

Because of this app'south unproblematic user interface and peachy design, I had zilch difficulties making a flowchart from scratch. The standard flowchart shapes aren't offered by default, but there are templates you can use as a starting point. I appreciated Cacoo's multifariousness of manufacture-specific templates for marketing, sales, accounting, and advert, as well equally options for mind maps, Venn diagrams, and calendars.

At that place'due south also a chart function, which lets you quickly enter or paste data to make a simple bar, pie, and trend charts. You tin then integrate these charts into the rest of your diagram. You could hands create such charts using Excel and then add them to your diagram, sure, but it's nice for everything to have the aforementioned visual style.

Cacoo has ane of the best squad collaboration features on our list. It has a shared workspace that allows you lot to video chat with upwards to 5 people at a time, all while using the whiteboard feature to brainstorm. I tested the video quality, and it was crystal clear with no lag.

Cacoo exports to images, vectors, and fifty-fifty PowerPoint files. In that location'south also support for importing from Visio. And if you use Cacoo'south Zapier integrations, you can do things like automatically generate Cacoo diagrams based on new tasks in your project management tool.

Cacoo price: $15/month after a fourteen-day gratis trial.

Best diagram software for whiteboarding and team collaboration

Miro (Web, Windows, iOS, macOS)

Miro has a comprehensive gear up of features and tools to let you create a stunning design with your flowcharts and diagrams. When yous enter the spider web app, yous're immediately presented with templates for flowcharts, client touchpoints, user stories, UML communication diagrams, and more—all of which are beautifully designed. I felt absolutely spoiled with the number of options I had to choose from.

Tools are arranged in a logical lodge, with no more than nine displayed on the left-mitt side, so it never felt overwhelming. And the tools yous aren't using are automatically hidden, so the whiteboard feels spacious and comfy without you having to suit the size of the flowchart or diagram.

Miro truly feels similar an bodily whiteboard, just with ameliorate handwriting than you. And in that location are digital gummy notes and screen sharing features, so you don't demand a third-party app similar Zoom. The team collaboration features are 2d-to-none; Cacoo is not bad, but Miro is also available on not-spider web platforms.

Miro also integrates with Zapier, then y'all tin can do things like automatically create a card on a board in Miro when there'due south a new Slack message in a channel or automatically create Miro widgets based on a new Trello card.

Miro price: Starts at $8/fellow member/month, billed annually.

Best diagram app for making simple flowcharts

Zen Flowchart (Web)

Are you lot looking for a simple flowchart tool without the theatrics? Zen Flowchart is your respond. They make themselves as "the simplest flowchart maker," and information technology couldn't be more true.

Just click on the All Shapes tab, and a library of basic shapes and connectors will be displayed. There'southward also a healthy selection of buttons for dates, charts, and labels. On pinnacle of that, it's one of the but "i-click" apps for creating flowcharts: yous click a node, and a new box will appear—no need to motility shapes or connectors around.

Equally for templates, there are only nine available for the free version, which is a niggling disappointing—y'all'll have to sign up for their paid option to get a comprehensive library of options. Simply if you lot're looking for something basic, this library will suffice. And compared to other basic gratuitous spider web apps like diagrams.net, the design here is sleek and contemporary.

Zen Flowchart price: Starts at $5.90/calendar month, billed annually.

This article was originally published in December 2018 past Justin Pot.

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