- Microsoft Visio Alternative For Mac
- Microsoft Visio For Mac Download
- Microsoft Visio For Macbook
- Microsoft Visio Replacement For Mac Download
- Microsoft Visio Replacement For Mac Free
What do we mean by best? These are the top-rated Microsoft Visio alternatives in our diagram software directory.
Microsoft Visio is a well-known flowchart and diagramming software that’s highly rated by users. With over 1,400 reviews on Capterra’s software directory, it’s actually the most-reviewed diagram software on our site and has earned a 4.5 out of 5 star overall rating.
Enolsoft Visio Viewer for Mac. A smart file viewing tool to support the use of Visio files by Mac OS users, enabling them to view, save and print Microsoft Visio drawings and diagrams on Mac OS X 10.7 and higher. View Microsoft Visio Drawings in VSD format easily on Mac. Convert Visio to PDF with original elements retained. Dia Dia is a GTK+ based diagram creation program for Linux, Unix, Mac OS X and Windows released under the GPL license. Dia is roughly inspired by the commercial Windows program Microsoft Office Visio, though more geared towards informal diagrams for casual use. It can be used to draw many different kinds of diagrams. LibreOffice is an open source alternative to Microsoft Office and the Mac adaptation of OpenOffice which is a free alternative to Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac. LibreOffice Draw is the suite’s equivalent of Visio and is completely free to use. Try this popular Visio alternative for making flowchart and other drawings on Mac OS X system. There are lots of Visio alternative products for Windows, but only a few could also work on Mac. To benefit Mac users, Edraw has newly released a flowchart Mac version allowing users to create flowchart easily on OS X. Jan 02, 2020 No one can deny that it is a perfect Visio alternative for Mac PC because it supports features & functions that rival original edition. It specialises in a large set of drawing tools that designed to assist the consumers to stand up to the corporate reputation.
As part of the Microsoft Office family, it has a familiar interface and is well integrated with their other products, making it a good option for dedicated Microsoft customers.
Of course, belonging to a well-known brand doesn’t make it the right fit for everyone. That’s why we’re highlighting five top-rated Microsoft Visio alternatives in Capterra’s diagram software directory.
However, Microsoft Visio Online is now available in commercial Office 365 subscriptions to both Mac and PC users but it only allows basic editing and viewing of Visio files and there are many limitations. Before getting too excited however, Visio Online is definitely not a replacement for Visio on Mac.
What does “top-rated” mean? Each of the five tools included in this piece have an above-average overall user rating compared to other products in the category. You can read our full methodology here. Products are listed alphabetically.
5 top-rated Microsoft Visio alternatives
1. Cacoo
| Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:110+ |
Cacoo is cloud-based data visualization software used to create and share flowcharts, diagrams, wireframes, organization charts, and process models. Key features include collaboration, multi-user editing, dynamic charts, embeddable diagrams, pre-built templates, and an icon library.
Plans and pricing:
- Free: Includes one user license, six sheets, access for up to three collaborators, and limited functionality (e.g., PNG export only, and accepts file uploads up to 500 KB).
- Paid: $6 per user, per month (must be purchased on a tiered plan starting at three users and going up to 200), and includes 1,000 sheets, unlimited collaborators, and full functionality.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reviewers praise Cacoo for being easy to use and easy to learn. They also positively note the product’s templates and icon library. | Reviewers note some difficulty finding elements for specific environments, as well as some inconsistencies with icon styles. |
Who rates Cacoo highly? | |
| In the past year, 61% of Cacoo’s reviews came from users at small businesses, 8% from midsize, and 31% from large. It was highly rated by reviewers in the internet, consumer services, and computer hardware industries. Additionally, it was highly rated by reviewers with the following job titles: owner/CEO, software consultant, and student. | |
User dashboard in Cacoo (Source)
2. D3M
| Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:30+ |
D3M is a cloud-based network diagramming application designed to help project managers, engineers, technicians, and sales reps design network topology, rack diagrams, and floor plan diagrams. Key features include autogenerating project inventory, quotes, proposals, documentation, and live collaboration.
Plans and pricing:
- Free: Includes five user licenses, one project, full functionality, live chat support, and video training.
- Paid: Users can pay per project (starting at $9 per month for two projects) or subscribe to an unlimited project plan. Plans with unlimited projects start at $199 per month for up to five users and include everything from the free plan plus additional support and training options.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reviewers praise D3M’s ease of use, the quality of their training and documentation, as well as their icon library. | The biggest complaint from users is around the quoting function in D3M, e.g., not needing it, or wanting to have several quotes inside the same project, or not being able to discount different sections of a quote individually from the rest. |
Who rates D3M highly? | |
| In the past year, 81% of D3M’s reviews came from users at small businesses and 19% from large. It was highly rated by reviewers in the following industries: electrical/electronic manufacturing, wireless, and telecommunications. Additionally, it was highly rated by reviewers with the following job titles: owner, sales director/executive, and general manager. | |
Preparing a quote from a diagram in D3M (Source)
3. Draw.io
| Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:330+ |
Draw.io is free, open source, and cloud-based diagram software for making flowcharts, diagrams, organizational charts, and process models. Key features include a template and icon library, drag-and-drop functionality, ability to track and restore changes, and collaboration.
Plans and pricing:
- Free: Draw.io is a free tool that anyone can use simply by visiting their site in a web browser.
- Paid features: There are some interactions with other tools that are not free, such as Confluence Server and Data Center and JIRA Server and Data Center.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reviewers praise Draw.io for being free while still offering various templates and an extensive icon library. Additionally, several note that the tool is very intuitive and easy to use. | Some reviewers take issue with the import/export options. |
Who rates Draw.io highly? | |
| In the past year, 60% of D3M’s reviews came from users at small businesses, 17% from midsize, and 23% from large. It was highly rated by reviewers in the following industries: telecommunications, internet, and computer software. Additionally, it was highly rated by reviewers with the following job titles: software engineer/developer, CTO, system engineer. | |
4. Edraw Max
| Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:50+ |
Edraw Max is a data visualization tool that helps users create and share flowcharts, diagrams, mind maps, organization charts, and floor plans. Key features include a template library with 280 pre-built templates, several export options including PDF, Word, PPT, JPEG, and HTML, as well as the option to save and collaborate with other users via Edraw cloud storage.
Plans and pricing:
- Subscription license: Costs $99 per user license for a one-year subscription, includes 280 diagrams, supports two computers, and is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux OS
- Lifetime license: Costs $245 per user license, includes everything in the subscription version plus 1000M cloud storage and unlimited email support. Also includes free lifetime upgrade guarantee.
- Perpetual license: Costs $179 per user license, includes everything from the subscription version plus a three-year upgrade guarantee.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reviewers praise Edraw’s extensive template library and data export options. | Reviewers note that the free trial version limits some key functionality, which makes it difficult to get to know the software fully before purchasing. |
Who rates Edraw highly? | |
| In the past year, 58% of Edraw Max’s reviews came from users at small businesses, 19% from midsize, and 23% from large. It was highly rated by reviewers in the following industries: education management, financial services, and electrical/electronic manufacturing. Additionally, it was highly rated by reviewers with the following job titles: managing consultant, VP of marketing & production development, and student. | |
Creating a flowchart in Edraw Max (Source)
5. MindManager
| Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:45+ |
MindManager is a data visualization tool that helps users create mind maps, flowcharts, diagrams, and process models. Key features include brainstorming, presentation tools, co-editing/collaboration, and a robust template library.
Plans and pricing:
- MindManager 12 for Mac: $199 per user license; includes several templates and limited project planning and task management functionality.
- MindManager 2020 for Windows: $350 per user license; includes everything in the Mindmanager for Mac version plus full project planning and task management functionality.
- MindManager Enterprise: For teams of five or more (contact the vendor directly for pricing). Includes everything from the MindManager for Windows version plus integration with SharePoint.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reviewers praise MindManager for being intuitive and providing a robust template library. | Reviewers note that MindManager’s interface is a little dated and that the product is expensive which makes it a tool geared more for individuals than teams. |
Who rates MindManager highly? | |
| In the past year, 65% of Mindmanager’s reviews came from users at small businesses, 13% from midsize, and 22% from large. It was highly rated by reviewers in the following industries: accounting/financial services, marketing and advertising, and telecommunications. Additionally, it was highly rated by reviewers with the following job titles: business analyst, CEO, and finance management. | |
Want to see other alternatives?
To be included in this update, products had to meet our 20-review minimum and have an above-average overall user rating compared to other products in the category (see our methodology section below).
The following products met our review minimum, but their overall rating was below the category average:
- Lucidchart (1000+ reviews, 4.48/5 stars)
- Creately (100+ reviews, 4.47/5 stars)
Additionally, you can visit our diagram software directory and filter the list to show only products that meet various criteria (such as key features needed or number of users).
Methodology
This article was updated October 17, 2019. Products considered for this article had to appear in our diagram software directory and meet the category feature requirements, i.e., one or more of the following: collaboration, drag and drop, mind map, templates, data import/export, flowchart, organizational charting.
Software that met this requirement also needed a minimum of 20 user-submitted reviews published between Sept. 28, 2018, and Sept. 28, 2019, and have an above-average overall user rating compared to other products in the category. “Top” tools were rated at least 4.5/5 stars overall by users.
Looking for Project Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Project Management software solutions.
Talk about diagramming tools, and one of the first names that pop into your head is Microsoft Visio. With a plethora of templates, shapes, layouts, and designs, Visio is a paradise for your visual modeling requirements.
However, unless you are working in an MNC or a part of a massive team, the price tag of $280 for Standard version or as low as $5 per user monthly might make it a bit costlier for folks on a tight budget.
So, if you are seeking free alternatives to Microsoft Visio, don't worry, we have got you sorted. The following list of diagramming software and tools will help you choose the right one.
Also on Guiding Tech
Best 3 Design Tools for Creating Mockups and Wireframes
Read More1. Lucidchart
Lucidchart advertises itself as a Visio alternative and boasts of being used by the teams at Cisco, Harvard University, Accenture, and more. From floor plans to Android mockups, it has a ton of robust pre-made templates.
Apart from that, this online tool is extremely easy to use. It allows you to add different shapes, containers, and smart connectors to make visually appealing designs. Plus, the shapes and containers change as per the type of diagram. On top of that, there are a slew of shapes and layering options to choose from.
The free version of Lucidchart is limited to three active documents per user. If you are mainly looking for personal use, the free templates and shapes should be sufficient. However, if you are not satisfied, you can upgrade to any of the paid versions.
The basic paid plan of Lucidchart is priced at $4 per month and it lets you use unlimited shapes and documents. Meanwhile, the Pro user plan is priced at $10 per month with the option to import or export Visio files. If you have a small team that often collaborates on designs, the Pro plan for teams is a bit heftily priced at $20 per month.
Why Lucidchart
- Ridiculously easy to learn and use
- Huge library of templates and shapes
- Drag and drop
- Integrations
2. Creately
Creately is another powerful online tool hiding many templates behind a simple interface. Available across multiple platforms, Creately believes in keeping things simple. It has an intuitive interface with a bunch of free templates and shapes. Unlike Lucidchart, this tool supports a variety of 'fun' templates that you can use to make community banners or for your school projects.
Unlike LucidCraft, this tool supports a variety of 'fun' templates.
Other than that, there's a tiny contextual toolbar that shows up as soon as you select an object. With tools like quick connectors, text box creation, and external links, it makes the process faster and quicker.
On the collaboration front, you can work with your team members just by adding their email IDs. The free version lets you add up to three collaborators. Quite naturally, this restriction is removable if you upgrade to the paid versions.
Like any other diagramming tool, Creately limits some of the features like Visio files import and SVG export in the free plan. The personal plan starts at $5 per month and goes up to $125 for team plans.
Why Creately
- Tons of templates
- One-click contextual toolbar
- Ready-made color palettes
- Let's you import images from the web
3. Pencil Project
The beauty of Pencil Project lies in the fact that it's free desktop software. For an open source project, Pencil has a pretty clean interface with all the necessary tools. It allows you to create mockups for almost everything — mobiles, web pages, and even conventional flowcharts and diagrams.
The controls are quite straightforward. Double click to rotate the elements and single click to resize them. If I were to compare it to the above tools, I'd say that the icons may not be as sharp or colorful. However, those are some of the trade-offs if you are looking for a completely free diagramming tool.
As far as the templates are concerned, the options are limited to creating wireframes, GUI, and flowcharts. You won't find any fancy templates for infographics, family tree or network diagram. Export options include SVG, ODT, PDF, PNG or standard web page.
Why Pencil Project
- Free and standalone software
- Clean interface with simple tools
- Cool collection of mobile GUI elements for smartphone mockups
4. Draw.io
Draw.io is an utter delight of a diagramming tool. From standard charts and flowcharts to entity relationship diagrams and UML diagrams, you can play with a lot of templates in this online tool.
The best thing is that you don't even need to register. Simply open the site, select the templates and start working. Draw.io also lets you connect to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and even Github to export your templates. Similar to Pencil Project, you can export your projects in PNG, SVG, PDF, XML, and a few other formats. Plus, it also supports embedded URLs.
Draw.io redefines simplicity as it's incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is click on an element and all the necessary formatting options like font, color, style are accessible through the menu on the right.
Also, the collection of shapes and objects are sufficient for a free version.
Why Draw.io
- Super simple interface
- Has the option to search for shapes
- Good for small-scale work
5. yEd Graph Editor
yEd Graph Editor might not be the most stylish Visio alternative, but trust me when I say that it has the right tools and elements to make your work seamless and easy.
Since it's also a desktop software, you won't find many ready-made templates. But let me tell you that it is by far one of the best free tools for creating charts, flowcharts, and diagrams of computer networks. Plus, working on this tool is relatively easy. Simply drag and drop the elements.
As for the export options, yEd allows you to save your diagrams in PDF, JPEG, PNG, SWF, and HTML formats.
Why yEd Graph Editor
- Apt for flowcharts and network diagrams
- Plenty of shapes, edge types, entity relation elements, etc.
6. XMind
If your diagrams involve more of mapping, then you should give XMind a try. The beauty of XMind is that you can create an entire visually appealing mind map just through keystrokes. Yes, you read that right.
This offline drawing tool supports a few handy keyboard shortcuts that let you create child elements, add text or skip to the next element.
The elements and shapes library is immense and is available on a click of a button, along with the formatting options like font, structure, color, etc.
XMind is the a open source project and hence free to use. My only gripe is that the trial version stamps the XMind watermark on the diagrams. And to remove that, you need to subscribe to the Zen version by paying $27.99 per six months.
Why XMind?
- Great for mappings
- Vast library of elements and shapes
Also on Guiding Tech
#office 365
Click here to see our office 365 articles page7. Gliffy
Gliffy is another good online alternative to Microsoft Visio. Gliffy has three different account options to choose from — Basic (Standard), Single, and Team account. The Single and Team account are paid versions while the Basic is free to use. Here, the catch is that all your diagrams are marked public. So, unless you are planning to make a>Go to Gliffy
8. Google Drawings
Last but not the least, we have Google Drawings. Like most of the Google apps and tools, we have the G-advantage here — it's free and it's relatively simple to use.
And unlike the free versions (of paid drawing apps) that limit shapes and templates, Google Drawings offers loads of features and options.
You can play with process diagrams or try your hand at relationship diagrams. The color schemes are customizable. Plus, you can also change the levels or areas of the diagrams as per your needs. Given that Google documents can be easily shared, collaboration is surprisingly easy on Drawings.
Why Google Drawings
- Free and simple to use
- Plenty of templates to choose from
- Customizable colors and areas
- Gets automatically saved
Microsoft Visio Alternative For Mac
Go to Google DrawingsAlso on Guiding Tech
How to Transfer Ownership of a Document in Google Drive
Read MoreMake Powerful Visualizations
Microsoft Visio For Mac Download
They say that seeing is believing and rightly so. Be it a software process or a simple infographic, unless the data is visually appealing and easy to understand, the work one puts in such diagrams may go to waste. And at the same time, it should be easy for a user to make such diagrams without much hassles.
So, these were some of the free alternatives to Microsoft Visio. There are also some other programs like DIA, Open Office, and LibreOffice which you can try.
Read NextOffice 365 vs Open365: Can Open Source Finally Win You OverAlso SeeMicrosoft Visio For Macbook
#Online tools for diagrams #flowchartsMicrosoft Visio Replacement For Mac Download
Did You Know
It's estimated that people share more than 700 billion photos per year on Facebook.