We all search for Online Tools for Flowchart to create fancy diagrams, charts and maps. But with so many options it can be hard to choose. These tools help visualize information making you look good in the process. And they let you do more in less time! Flow charts are among the most simple and easy to understand approaches to explaining something more complex, like programming or project management. You can make them with pen and paper, but if you want to make more complicated charts with the ability to share them, online flowcharting tools are the way to go.
- interface is a top consideration.
- Usability: Is the graph maker easy to learn and master? Does the company offer good tech support, user support, tutorials, and training? Additionally, the best flow diagram software should come with a good stash of flow chart template options to get you started.
- Features & Functionality: In flow charting software, I looked for:
- Drag & Drop: Arrange shapes, lines, and grids intuitively with drag and drop. Even better if the flow charting software offers auto-align and auto-snap features to speed up the process.
- Lots of Graphical Elements: Any good process mapping software should supply a large variety of objects to work with. You’ll need standard options like shapes (ovals, diamonds) and connectors. The best apps also let you make your own shapes and add your own images.
- Templates: I mention this as part of overall usability. While not everyone wants templates, in general, a robust template library helps you put the tool to use immediately. The template library should have clear navigation that makes it easy to search for and visually sort through the many options. My advice is to check the template library before getting started to make sure the tool offers the type of templates you’ll need.
- Collaboration: At its most basic, collaboration features include comments. Some of the more advanced flowchart diagramming software includes some form of groupware that lets users edit simultaneously in real-time on the same diagram, which can be really useful for remote teams.
- Exporting and Presentation: Your diagrams should be easy to present, share, and export in a range of formats. Keep in mind that if you’re printing your diagrams in a large format, the software needs to support vector file exports.
- Integrations: Is it easy to connect with other tools? Any pre-built integrations?
- Value for $: How appropriate is the price for the features, capabilities, and use case? Is pricing clear, transparent and flexible in your choice of software for flow chart design?
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Overviews Of The Best Flowchart Software
Here’s a brief description of each of the flowchart software solutions that are featured on this top 10 list.
- freemium version
- From $8/user/month
Miro – Best Jira & Confluence integrations
Users can collaborate on online whiteboards and flowcharts.
Miro’s free flowchart software offers an infinitely zoomable canvas and web whiteboard with a a variety of flowchart options for users—Process flowchart, Workflow chart, Swimlane flowchart, and Data flowchart, so you can plan in the way that works best for you and your team.
They have a range of templates in their pre-built library with a flowchart build being one of many options. This makes it easy to get started, scoring them favorably in the evaluation consideration for Usability.
The tool can integrate with other tools like Dropbox, Box, Google Suite, JIRA, Slack, and Sketch to tie them into your existing workflow within this scalable online flowchart software.
One feature Miro is missing is a thorough history of track changes. But this doesn’t stop Miro from being a valuable product, particularly with a freemium plan available so it’s easy to get started.
Miro is free to use for up to 3 editable boards. Paid plans start at $8/user/month for teams of between 2 to 19 individuals.Visit Website
- Free trial
- From $6.40/user/month.
Microsoft Visio – Best flowchart software for Windows
The Visio elements library helps you get started with lots of shapes and templates.
With Visio flowcharts, multiple team members can work on diagrams at the same time. You can connect your flowcharts and diagrams to real-time data so that changes in underlying data is reflected through applied shape formatting. A web version of the software lets you work on your flowcharts anywhere, in any browser.
In the Usability and Features sections of our evaluation criteria, we stress one thing: Variety! A good flowchart app will let you pick through a library of useful diagrams and chart templates in order to cater to each unique use case. MS Visio does this well, offering charting options fitted to different needs.
MS Visio would benefit from a more seamless integration with apps like PowerPoint, Excel, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Being able to easily import or drag-and-drop diagrams into common visual presentation tools would take this app to the next level.
Visio doesn’t have a ton of software integrations to tout but, of course, it connects with Microsoft OneDrive. Third-party integrations include: Lucidchart, The VIP Test Modeller, AxisTV, netTerrain Logical, and Digital Enterprise Suite.
Microsoft Visio starts from $6.40/user/month and has a free trial.Visit Website
- 14 days free trial
- From $4.99/user/month.
Gliffy – Best flowchart tool for Confluence & Jira (native Atlassian integrations)
Gliffy diagram and flowchart software is a drag-and-drop based diagram building that lets you sketch and share your flowchart ideas with little to no fuss. Templates and themes are available for time-saving starting points and the ability to preserve and track changes will make sure you never lose something important.
Gliffy nails many of the requirements we have in the evaluation criteria for features and functionality: Intuitive interface, including for object importing; shapes conveniently snap to grid; revisions can be rolled back in the event of an error, and it has easy editing and sharing capabilities.
A broader color customization pallet would have helped the charts tell a better data story, particularly in flowcharts with a lot going on visually. Furthermore, the software was a little buggy in the Google Chrome browser. Minor complaints for an otherwise solid tool.
Gliffy software integrates with many other apps, including WordPress, Jira Software and Jira Service Desk, Lucidchart, Atlassian Confluence, Bitium, and Nuclino.
Gliffy starts from $4.99/user/month and has a free 14-day trial.Visit Website
- 30 days free trial
- From $8.25/user/month
Edraw Max – Best all-purpose diagramming software
Edraw Max is a flowchart desktop program for Mac system with myriad symbols in the built-in libraries.
The sheer number of templates, icons and shapes make Edraw a stand-out competitor in our evaluation criteria for Features & Functionality. Graphic elements aplenty and a robust templates stockpile are one of the selling features of this tool.
Some more traditional app integrations would have been a nice touch, although Edraw’s communication with PowerPoint is of great value. Furthermore, some sort of eraser tool would go a long way to making Edraw feel complete.
Integrates with the likes of PowerPoint. They also have an unconventional integration offer where OEM partners can integrate Edraw technologies with their own procust and distribute that package to customers as a sublicence. You can also export your drawings to a variety of familiar file formats, such as Visio, PDF, Word, PPT, JPEG, Html, and more.
Edraw Max starts from $8.25/month and has a free 30-day trial.Visit Website
- 21 days free trial
- From $199
ConceptDraw Diagram – Best flowchart software download (buy a one-time license)
ConceptDraw Diagram is a versatile diagramming tool with emphasis on sharing and team collaboration.
Design custom stencils, arrange and format diagrams of any complexity using revamped side panels, format and order position tools for professional-looking flowcharts, create a dynamic chart that can change in visual appearance based on external data source files, and more.
ConceptDraw Diagram’s asset organization is superb, including organizing thousands of images in contextual groups, object formatting and more. Therefore, they scored quite highly in our Features and Functionality evaluation criteria, where graphical elements, template options, and exporting flexibility reign supreme.
Integrations listed include the ability to import and export to the Visio file format. That’s it. In fact, they have a whole section denouncing the need for further integrations. See below for more details.
While ConceptDraw Diagram considers itself;f a “toolbelt” with features like INGYRE technology, intelligent topics, smart inputs and outputs, live Objects, ConceptDraw Solutions, dashboards, and dynamic presentations, they don’t play well with third-party software outside of their own app. This is the biggest con of the program.
ConceptDraw Diagram starts at $199 and has a free 21-day trial.Visit Website
Conclusion
Flowcharts are a simple way to outline processes and information. You can easily create flowcharts from scratch using just a pen and paper. Many of you have probably tried that before, so here’s a list of some great online tools to help you with a flowchart.