The Microsoft Visio Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Microsoft Visio in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Microsoft Visio
The Insider’s Guide
Diagramming software for flowcharts, org charts and floor plans
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from Microsoft Visio’s own pages.
Made by Microsoft Corporation · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Microsoft Visio’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Microsoft Visio’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 6 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
Microsoft Visio is diagramming software for flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, floor plans and other technical drawings. It is offered as a lightweight web app included with Microsoft 365 commercial plans, as two subscriptions (Plan 1 for the web, Plan 2 adding the Windows desktop app) and as one-time purchases of Visio Standard or Professional 2024. Diagrams can be co-edited in the browser or inside Microsoft Teams.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Microsoft Visio, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for technical diagrams in a Microsoft 365 workplace
There's no free plan, the trial needs a card and a work account, and there are no phone apps.
- 2
Paid plans start at $5 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $5.00 per user / month, paid yearly (Visio Plan 1).
- 3
You can try it first
One-month free trial of Visio Plan 1 or Plan 2 with a work or school account; a credit card is required
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
Web and Windows.
- 5
Templates and shape libraries
Templates, starter diagrams and stencils come with every version. Plan 1 adds thousands of shapes and Microsoft product icons, and Plan 2 opens more than 250,000 shapes.
- 6
Technical and business diagram types
Plan 1 covers cross-functional flowcharts, network, Azure and AWS, ERD and UML diagrams. Plan 2 adds BPMN 2.0, floor plans, P&ID, electrical and engineering diagrams.
- 7
Co-editing on the web and in Teams
Visio for the web and the Visio app in Microsoft Teams support real-time collaboration, commenting and sharing. Teams itself is licensed separately.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 6 of 30
That is against the other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Microsoft Visio you could make: mind mapping and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Microsoft Visio at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $5.00 per user / month, paid yearly (Visio Plan 1)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- One-month free trial of Visio Plan 1 or Plan 2 with a work or school account; a credit card is required
- Runs on
- Web, Windows
- Made by
- Microsoft Corporation
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for technical diagrams in a Microsoft 365 workplace
Visio is Microsoft's diagramming software for flowcharts, network maps, floor plans and org charts, and a light web version comes with Microsoft 365 commercial plans. The desktop app is Windows only and needs Plan 2 at $15 a month or a $309.99 license. There's no free plan, the trial needs a card and a work account, and there are no phone apps.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Plan 1 is $5 a user a month paid yearly, but it's web and Teams only. The parts people buy Visio for, the desktop app, offline files, BPMN 2.0, floor plans and data linking, sit on Plan 2 at $15, well above this category's $8.33 middle. Buying outright is $309.99 or $579.99. |
| Free plan and trial | D | There's no free plan at all. The one-month trial covers Plan 1 or Plan 2 only, and it wants both a work or school account and a credit card. The one-time 2024 versions have no trial whatsoever. A basic web app does come with Microsoft 365 commercial plans, if your employer pays for one. |
| Features | A | The parts no other diagrammer here has: P&ID, electrical and engineering drawings, floor plans, AutoCAD files and 250,000+ shapes, with shapes linked to live data in Excel, SharePoint or SQL Server. The ordinary stuff is all there too, flowcharts, network maps and co-editing on the web and in Teams. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. Templates and starter diagrams come with every version, but getting going means a work or school account, since personal Microsoft accounts aren't supported, and picking between five ways to buy before you draw a box. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | A web app and a Teams app, tied into Excel, Power BI, Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive and SharePoint. The desktop app runs on Windows only, so on a Mac you're stuck with the web version, and there are no phone apps at all. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Microsoft Visio is for
- Fits if your company already pays for Microsoft 365 and works in Teams
- Works for IT or facilities teams that need network diagrams, floor plans or P&ID drawings
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac and want a desktop app, as that part is Windows only
- Not for you if you want to try it without a card, since the one-month trial needs one and a work account
- Pricey if you need the desktop app, at $15 a user a month or $309.99 to $579.99 to buy once
- Watch out: personal Microsoft accounts aren't supported, and the web app bundled with Microsoft 365 has limited templates
- Too light for work on a phone or tablet, as there are no mobile apps
Good to know
Good for
- Organizations already licensed for Microsoft 365
- IT, facilities and engineering teams drawing networks, floor plans or P&ID
- Process teams documenting BPMN 2.0 workflows
- Buyers who want a one-time license instead of a subscription
Worth knowing
- The desktop app's system requirements list only Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019; on other systems Visio is limited to the web app.
- Visio Plan 1 is web and Teams only. The desktop app, BPMN 2.0, floor plans, engineering diagrams and data linking need Plan 2.
- The web app bundled with Microsoft 365 has limited templates and needs a work or school account; personal Microsoft accounts are not supported.
- Trials cover only Plan 1 and Plan 2 and require a credit card. Visio Standard 2024 and Professional 2024 have no trial version.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$5
A month to start, for each person
Microsoft Visio is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $5.00 per user / month, paid yearly (Visio Plan 1).
Visio in Microsoft 365
Included
with Microsoft 365 commercial plans
Web and Teams app for viewing and basic editing, with limited templates for general diagrams and basic flowcharts. Not sold separately.
Visio Plan 1
$5.00
per user / month, paid yearly
Web and Teams apps with thousands of shapes, cross-functional flowcharts, network, Azure and AWS, ERD and UML diagrams, mind maps and 2 GB of OneDrive storage.
Visio Plan 2
$15.00
per user / month, paid yearly
Adds the Windows desktop app with offline support, 250,000+ shapes, BPMN 2.0, floor plans, P&ID and electrical diagrams, and two-way data connectivity.
Visio Standard 2024
$309.99
one-time purchase
Non-subscription Windows desktop app with templates, thousands of shapes, in-app commenting, DWG import and org charts generated from data sources.
Visio Professional 2024
$579.99
one-time purchase
Adds diagram validation against BPMN 2.0 and UML 2.5 and links to live data from Excel, Access, SharePoint, SQL Server and other sources.
Trying it first
One-month free trial of Visio Plan 1 or Plan 2 with a work or school account; a credit card is required
Read from microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Visio 2024 one-time purchase
Visio Standard 2024 at $309.99 and Visio Professional 2024 at $579.99 are sold as one-time purchases of the Windows desktop app, with no subscription.
Stated on microsoft.comEducation
Visio web app in free Office 365 A1 for schools
Microsoft donates Office 365 A1 to eligible educational institutions at no cost, and Visio's FAQ lists Office 365 A1 among the plans that include the Visio web app.
Stated on microsoft.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Web and Windows
Diagramming software for flowcharts, org charts and floor plans. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, real-time collaboration, templates, mind mapping, diagrams.
The ordinary stuff is all there too, flowcharts, network maps and co-editing on the web and in Teams.
- Templates and shape libraries
- Templates, starter diagrams and stencils come with every version. Plan 1 adds thousands of shapes and Microsoft product icons, and Plan 2 opens more than 250,000 shapes.
- Technical and business diagram types
- Plan 1 covers cross-functional flowcharts, network, Azure and AWS, ERD and UML diagrams. Plan 2 adds BPMN 2.0, floor plans, P&ID, electrical and engineering diagrams.
- Co-editing on the web and in Teams
- Visio for the web and the Visio app in Microsoft Teams support real-time collaboration, commenting and sharing. Teams itself is licensed separately.
- Data-linked diagrams
- The desktop app links shapes to Excel workbooks, Access databases, SharePoint lists, SQL Server and other sources. The web app can only view data-linked diagrams.
- Microsoft 365 integrations
- Data Visualizer turns Excel process data into diagrams, Visio Visual embeds diagrams in Power BI dashboards, and diagrams can be exported to Word and PowerPoint.
- Desktop app with offline support
- Plan 2 includes the Visio desktop app with local file and offline support and AutoCAD file support, installable on up to five Windows PCs per user.
Where it runs
- Web
- Windows
What it works with
- Microsoft Teams
- Power BI
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- OneDrive
- SharePoint
Microsoft Visio is made by Microsoft Corporation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
6/30
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
Microsoft Visio's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on features (A, above 27 of 30) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $5 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 4 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 31 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Microsoft Visio’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 4 of 30
- DFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 30
- AFeaturesAbove 27 of 30
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 30
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 30
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 28 whiteboard and mind map tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Microsoft Visio is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Microsoft Visio you could make: mind mapping and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 18 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools grade higher. It costs $60 a year.
What you could make
- Mind mapping and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A diagram editor.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, Microsoft Teams, Power BI and Microsoft Excel among them.
- The depth: we grade its features A, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Microsoft Visio’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Lucidchart, draw.io, SmartDraw, OmniGraffle and Creately
The 5 tools Microsoft Visio is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Lucidchart
Free plan · from $9/mo
Browser-based diagramming for flowcharts, org charts and systems.
- Lucidchart has a free plan. Microsoft Visio does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Microsoft Visio lists a Windows app.
- Only Lucidchart lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.2GPA
draw.io
Free
Free diagram editor that saves files to storage you choose.
- 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.
- 2.2GPA
SmartDraw
Free trial · from $10.95/mo
Floor plans, scaled layouts and business diagrams in the browser.
- Only Microsoft Visio lists a Windows app.
- Microsoft Visio can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SmartDraw also covers whiteboard.
- 2.2GPA
OmniGraffle
Free trial · from $59.99 one-time
Diagramming and vector drawing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone.
- Only Microsoft Visio lists a web app.
- Only Microsoft Visio lists a Windows app.
- Only OmniGraffle lists macOS and iOS apps.
- 2.6GPA
Creately
Free plan · from $4/mo
Visual workspace for diagrams, whiteboards and planning.
- Creately has a free plan. Microsoft Visio does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Microsoft Visio lists a Windows app.
- Microsoft Visio can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Microsoft Visio free?
No, Microsoft Visio is a paid product, but you can try it first. One-month free trial of Visio Plan 1 or Plan 2 with a work or school account; a credit card is required.
How much does Microsoft Visio cost?
Microsoft Visio lists 5 plans. Visio in Microsoft 365: Included with Microsoft 365 commercial plans.
What platforms does Microsoft Visio work on?
Microsoft Visio is available on Web and Windows.
Does Microsoft Visio offer any discounts?
Microsoft Visio publicly lists the following: Visio 2024 one-time purchase; Visio web app in free Office 365 A1 for schools.
Does Microsoft Visio have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft Visio is listed for Web and Windows.
Does Microsoft Visio have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft Visio is listed for Web and Windows.
Is Microsoft Visio open source?
Microsoft Visio is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Microsoft Visio 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 Microsoft Visio integrate with?
Microsoft Visio's listing names Microsoft Teams, Power BI, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, OneDrive and SharePoint.
Does Microsoft Visio have a student discount?
Visio web app in free Office 365 A1 for schools. Microsoft donates Office 365 A1 to eligible educational institutions at no cost, and Visio's FAQ lists Office 365 A1 among the plans that include the Visio web app.
Who makes Microsoft Visio?
Microsoft Visio is made by Microsoft Corporation.
What are the alternatives to Microsoft Visio?
The closest alternatives to Microsoft Visio in our directory are Lucidchart, draw.io, SmartDraw, OmniGraffle and Creately.
How does Microsoft Visio compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
Microsoft Visio's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 6.
Is Microsoft Visio good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Microsoft Visio C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $5 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 4 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Microsoft Visio?
The plain part of Microsoft Visio you could make: mind mapping and templates.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Microsoft Visio’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Microsoft's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-09.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Microsoft Corporation. Prices change, so check microsoft.com before you buy.
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/visio/visio-plans-and-pricing
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/visio
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/visio/visio-plan-1
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/visio/visio-plan-2
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/visio-standard-2024/CFQ7TTC0PRKJ
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/visio-professional-2024/CFQ7TTC0PRMB
- microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Microsoft Visio, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-visio
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Microsoft Visio: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-visio
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-visio/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after Microsoft Visio, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 31 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Whiteboard Insider's GuideFree collaborative canvas built into Microsoft 365 and Teams3.4 GPA
- draw.io Insider's GuideFree diagram editor that saves files to storage you choose3.2 GPA
- tldraw Insider's GuideFree online whiteboard with a local desktop app3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Microsoft Visio’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Microsoft Visio is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Microsoft Corporation. Prices and plans change: check microsoft.com before you buy.