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draw.io alternatives

draw.io compared with 9 alternatives: Lucidchart, Microsoft Visio, Excalidraw, Mermaid, Creately and 4 more.

draw.io is free to use. 6 of the 9 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.

9 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
draw.ioThis toolFreeFreeWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
LucidchartFree plan · from $9/moYesWeb, iOS, Android
Microsoft VisioFree trial · from $5.00/moTrial onlyWeb, Windows
ExcalidrawFree plan · from $6/moYesWeb
MermaidFree plan · from $10/moYesWeb
CreatelyFree plan · from $5/moYesWeb
EraserFree plan · from $15/moYesWeb
OmniGraffleFree trial · from $59.99 one-timeTrial onlymacOS, iOS
SmartDrawFree trial · from $10.95/moTrial onlyWeb
tldrawFreeFreeWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux

How each one differs from draw.io

  1. Lucidchart

    Browser-based diagramming for flowcharts, org charts and systems

    • Lucidchart starts at $9 per month, billed annually. draw.io is free.
    • Only Lucidchart lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only draw.io lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • draw.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Lucidchart also covers mind mapping.

    Suits: Documenting processes as flowcharts and process maps

    Lucidchart vs draw.ioLucidchart pricing and details

  2. Microsoft Visio

    Diagramming software for flowcharts, org charts and floor plans

    • Microsoft Visio starts at $5.00 per user / month, paid yearly (Visio Plan 1). draw.io is free.
    • draw.io has a free plan. Microsoft Visio does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only draw.io lists macOS and Linux apps.
    • Microsoft Visio can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • draw.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.

    Suits: Organizations already licensed for Microsoft 365

    Microsoft Visio vs draw.ioMicrosoft Visio pricing and details

  3. Excalidraw

    Open-source whiteboard for hand-drawn style sketches and diagrams

    • Excalidraw starts at $6 per user / month, billed annually. draw.io is free.
    • Only draw.io lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • Excalidraw is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • Excalidraw also covers whiteboard.
    • draw.io also covers templates.

    Suits: Quick architecture sketches, wireframes and diagrams

    Excalidraw vs draw.ioExcalidraw pricing and details

  4. Mermaid

    Text-based diagramming platform with AI and a visual editor

    • Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year). draw.io is free.
    • Only draw.io lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • draw.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Mermaid also covers presentations.
    • draw.io also covers templates.

    Suits: Developers who already write Mermaid syntax in docs or Markdown

    Mermaid vs draw.ioMermaid pricing and details

  5. Creately

    Visual workspace for diagrams, whiteboards and planning

    • Creately starts at $5 per month, billed annually ($60 a year). draw.io is free.
    • Only draw.io lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • draw.io is open source, according to its own site.
    • Creately also covers whiteboard and mind mapping.

    Suits: Teams that mix flowcharts, mind maps and whiteboards on one canvas

    Creately vs draw.ioCreately pricing and details

  6. Eraser

    AI diagramming and docs canvas for engineering teams

    • Eraser starts at $15 per member / month, billed annually. draw.io is free.
    • Only draw.io lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • draw.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Eraser also covers Markdown and documents.
    • draw.io also covers templates.

    Suits: Engineering teams documenting system architecture

    Eraser vs draw.ioEraser pricing and details

  7. OmniGraffle

    Diagramming and vector drawing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone

    • OmniGraffle starts at $59.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; Mac from $149.99 one-time. draw.io is free.
    • draw.io has a free plan. OmniGraffle does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only OmniGraffle lists an iOS app.
    • Only draw.io lists a web app.
    • Only draw.io lists Windows and Linux apps.

    Suits: Mac, iPad and iPhone users who want a native diagramming app

    OmniGraffle vs draw.ioOmniGraffle pricing and details

  8. SmartDraw

    Floor plans, scaled layouts and business diagrams in the browser

    • SmartDraw starts at $10.95 per month, billed annually ($7.95 intro price for new customers). draw.io is free.
    • draw.io has a free plan. SmartDraw does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only draw.io lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • draw.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • SmartDraw also covers whiteboard and mind mapping.

    Suits: Floor plans, site plans and other scaled layouts without CAD software

    SmartDraw vs draw.ioSmartDraw pricing and details

  9. tldraw

    Free online whiteboard with a local desktop app

    • tldraw is free. draw.io is free.
    • draw.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • tldraw also covers whiteboard.
    • draw.io also covers templates.

    Suits: Quick sketches and diagrams without creating an account

    tldraw vs draw.iotldraw pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in draw.io

  • There is no hosted workspace or account: every diagram is a file kept in the storage you pick, so sharing depends on that storage.
  • Real-time co-editing needs the file to be in Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox, or the diagram to be in draw.io for Confluence.
  • No native mobile apps are listed; the docs suggest adding the web editor to a phone's home screen instead.
  • Using draw.io inside Confluence or Jira needs the vendor's Atlassian Marketplace apps, which are licensed separately from the free editor.
draw.io pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to draw.io?

The alternatives to draw.io in this directory are Lucidchart, Microsoft Visio, Excalidraw, Mermaid, Creately, Eraser, OmniGraffle, SmartDraw and tldraw. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with draw.io.

Is there a free alternative to draw.io?

Yes. tldraw is free to use. Lucidchart, Excalidraw, Mermaid, Creately and Eraser have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which draw.io alternatives work on Android?

The draw.io listing does not include an Android app. Lucidchart lists one.

Which draw.io alternatives work on iOS?

The draw.io listing does not include an iOS app. Lucidchart and OmniGraffle list one.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 6, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.