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draw.io

Free diagram editor that saves files to storage you choose

FreeWhiteboardsChecked Oct 5, 2026
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Our verdict

Third of our top three whiteboard and mind map tools

For: Anyone who wants free diagrams and files in their own storage

draw.io is a diagram editor for flowcharts, UML, network diagrams and org charts, and all of it is free: the online editor, the desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux and self-hosting, with no account and no paid tier. Diagrams are saved to storage you pick, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, GitHub or your own device, and the editor's source code is published under the Apache 2.0 license. It is third because it leaves storage and sharing to you: there is no hosted workspace, and real-time co-editing needs the file to sit in Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox, or in draw.io for Confluence. No native mobile apps are listed, where the two above run on iPhone and Android.

See all three and how we rank

What is draw.io?

draw.io is a free diagram editor for flowcharts, UML, network diagrams, org charts and other technical drawings. It runs in the browser at app.diagrams.net, as an offline desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, or self-hosted in a container, and it saves files to storage the user picks instead of the vendor's servers. The editor's source code is published under the Apache 2.0 license, and the company is paid through separately licensed apps for Confluence and Jira.

draw.io is free to use. See every plan

Good for

  • UML, ERD, network and flowchart diagrams at no cost
  • Teams whose data rules require files to stay in their own storage
  • Diagramming offline on Windows, macOS or Linux
  • Documentation kept in Confluence, Google Drive or GitHub

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Key features

Shape libraries for technical diagrams
Libraries and templates cover process flows, org charts, floor plans, network infrastructure, UML, entity relationship models, circuit and rack diagrams, and infographics.
Storage you choose
Diagrams are saved to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, GitHub, GitLab, the browser or the local device. The online editor does not store diagram data on the vendor's servers.
Offline desktop app and self-hosting
A stand-alone desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux works with no internet connection, and the editor can be deployed in a self-hosted Docker container.
Co-editing with shared cursors
People editing the same diagram see each other's changes in real time when the file is stored in Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox, or in draw.io for Confluence.
Diagrams generated from text
The editor builds diagrams from Mermaid code, CSV spreadsheet data or SQL code, and an AI tool can generate a diagram from a written description.
Import, export and embedding
Files from other diagramming tools can be dropped in and edited, and diagrams export to SVG, PNG or PDF or embed as interactive viewers in docs, wikis and web pages.

draw.io pricing

Starts at
Free
Free plan
The online editor, the desktop apps and self-hosted deployment are free with no account and no paid tier. The apps for Confluence and Jira are licensed separately through the Atlassian Marketplace.
Free trial
None listed
Free$0The full editor online at app.diagrams.net, as a desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, or self-hosted in a container. No sign-up is needed.

Read from drawio.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with draw.io before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • NonprofitFree Confluence and Jira Cloud license for charities

    draw.io's licensing docs say charitable organizations and partners are eligible for a free license for its Confluence or Jira Cloud apps.

    Stated on drawio.com

Works with

draw.io alternatives

All draw.io alternatives comparedAll whiteboard and mind map tools

Common questions

Is draw.io free?

Yes. draw.io is free to use. The online editor, the desktop apps and self-hosted deployment are free with no account and no paid tier. The apps for Confluence and Jira are licensed separately through the Atlassian Marketplace.

How much does draw.io cost?

draw.io lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from drawio.com on Oct 5, 2026.

What platforms does draw.io work on?

draw.io is available on Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.

Does draw.io offer any discounts?

draw.io publicly lists the following: Free Confluence and Jira Cloud license for charities.

Does draw.io have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. draw.io is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.

Does draw.io have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. draw.io is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.

Is draw.io open source?

Yes. draw.io is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.

Does draw.io work offline?

Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.

What does draw.io integrate with?

draw.io's listing names Confluence, Jira, Google Drive, Google Docs, OneDrive, SharePoint, GitHub and Notion. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes draw.io?

draw.io is made by draw.io Ltd. It dates from 2005.

What are the alternatives to draw.io?

The closest alternatives to draw.io in our directory are Lucidchart, Microsoft Visio, Excalidraw, Mermaid and Creately. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with draw.io.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.