ConceptDraw vs yEd (2026): which should you pick?

Pick ConceptDraw if

• Fits if you want desktop diagramming software installed on your own machine
• Works for people who need flowcharts, mind maps and Gantt charts from one vendor

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you are one person: $199 a licence is many times the category's usual one-time price
• Skip it if you want a live shared board, because none is described
• Skip it if you work on the web, a phone or Linux, as only Windows and Mac are listed
• Watch out: the page does not say whether a licence is one-time or renewing
• Watch out: DIAGRAM, MINDMAP and PROJECT are separate purchases, and the OFFICE bundle is $299, with a $499 figure shown beside it

Pick yEd if

• Fits if you lay out large graphs or networks
• Works for people who want a free desktop diagram editor

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want people editing the same diagram live
• Skip it if you want phone or tablet apps, as none are listed
• Watch out: you must accept a license agreement before the installer is offered
• Watch out: the paid side of its maker is the yFiles SDK, so don't expect support from a plan

ConceptDraw

• These are Windows and macOS desktop programs; the pages read name no web, mobile or Linux version.
• It is not a real-time whiteboard: the pages read describe no live multi-user board.
• The pricing page does not say whether a license is a one-time purchase or renews, and it lists a maintenance assurance with free upgrades to the next paid version.
• Each product is a separate purchase, priced per license.

yEd

• It is a desktop editor first; the product page describes no live multi-user editing.
• The download requires accepting a license agreement before the installer is offered.
• yWorks's paid business is its yFiles SDK, and its Confluence editor Graphity is sold separately in the Atlassian Marketplace.
• The latest release shown is 3.25.1.

ConceptDraw

Business diagramming

DIAGRAM makes flowcharts, network diagrams, org charts, business process diagrams, dashboards and floor plans.

Mind mapping

MINDMAP covers brainstorming, decision-making and knowledge organization, and prepares presentations from a map.

Project planning

PROJECT handles schedules, resources, Gantt charts, calendars and tracking.

Solutions and samples

The site offers free and premium solution libraries, a sample gallery and ConceptDraw STORE for downloading templates and libraries.

Visio file conversion

The support menu lists a Visio file conversion service.

Multi-user licenses

Licenses for 5 or 10 users are priced lower per seat and are administered locally, and academic and nonprofit prices are listed separately.

yEd

Automatic layout

Layout algorithms arrange the elements of even large diagrams at the press of a button.

Data import

Diagrams can be built by hand or from imported Excel (.xls) or XML data.

Export formats

Diagrams export as PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF and SWF.

Diagram types

The product page shows BPMN diagrams, semantic networks, family trees, flowcharts and social networks as examples.

yEd Live in the browser

The download page links to yEd Live, a version that runs in a browser without installing an app.

ConceptDraw

• MINDMAP 16$199

  per license, 1 license (billing basis not stated)

  Mind mapping for brainstorming, structuring ideas and preparing presentations. Cheaper per license for 5 or 10 licenses.

• DIAGRAM 18$199

  per license, 1 license (billing basis not stated)

  Flowcharts, process and network diagrams, floor plans, org charts and infographics. The site calls it the most popular product.

• PROJECT 15$299

  per license, 1 license (billing basis not stated)

  Project management with schedules, Gantt charts, calendars, resources and reporting.

• OFFICE 11$299

  per license, 1 license (billing basis not stated)

  Bundles DIAGRAM 18, PROJECT 15 and MINDMAP 16. The pricing page also shows a $499 figure beside it.

yEd

• Free$0

  The yEd desktop editor, free to download after accepting the license agreement.

ConceptDraw

• Education

  Academic and nonprofit pricing

  The pricing page has an Academic/Nonprofit tab with lower prices, for example $99 for DIAGRAM 18 and $75 for MINDMAP 16 for one license.

yEd

No public discounts listed.