The yEd Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about yEd 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.
yEd
The Insider’s Guide
Free desktop graph editor with automatic diagram layout
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from yEd’s own pages.
Made by yWorks · checked Nov 12, 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 yEd’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on yEd’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 46 of the 61 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
yEd is a desktop application from yWorks for drawing diagrams and for arranging large ones automatically. Diagrams can be built by hand or from imported Excel or XML data, and exported to image and vector formats. The vendor says yEd is freely available and also offers a browser version, yEd Live.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about yEd, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It has no live editing with other people, and you accept a license agreement before you get the installer.
- 1
Best for a free desktop graph editor
yEd is a free desktop editor that lays out big diagrams automatically and imports Excel or XML data.
- 2
It is free
yEd has no paid plan at all. yEd is freely available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and a browser version, yEd Live, is offered.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Automatic layout
Layout algorithms arrange the elements of even large diagrams at the press of a button.
- 5
Data import
Diagrams can be built by hand or from imported Excel (.xls) or XML data.
- 6
Export formats
Diagrams export as PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF and SWF.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 46 of 61
That is against the other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
yEd is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
yEd at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- yWorks
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free desktop graph editor
yEd is a free desktop editor that lays out big diagrams automatically and imports Excel or XML data. It has no live editing with other people, and you accept a license agreement before you get the installer. Look elsewhere for a shared whiteboard.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download, against $5 to $10 a month for most whiteboards. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole editor is free on Windows, macOS and Linux, and there's a browser version, yEd Live. |
| Features | C | Automatic layout, Excel and XML import and several export formats. The product page describes no live multi-user editing. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and you work out the layout tools and data import yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Desktop on three operating systems plus yEd Live in a browser. The only integration listed is Excel. |
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 yEd is for
- Fits if you lay out large graphs or networks
- Works for people who want a free desktop diagram editor
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Analyzing and laying out large graphs or networks
- People who want a free desktop diagram editor
- Technical users who import spreadsheet or XML data into diagrams
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
yEd is free to use.
The whole editor is free on Windows, macOS and Linux, and there's a browser version, yEd Live.
Free
$0
The yEd desktop editor, free to download after accepting the license agreement.
The free plan
yEd is freely available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and a browser version, yEd Live, is offered.
Read from yworks.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and Linux
Free desktop graph editor with automatic diagram layout. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, diagrams.
Automatic layout, Excel and XML import and several export formats.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Microsoft Excel
yEd is made by yWorks.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
46/61
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
yEd's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 46 of the 61 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 53 of 61) and worst on features (C, above 0).
yEd has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 62 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. yEd’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 47 of 61
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 61
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 61
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 61
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 61
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 whiteboard and mind map tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. yEd 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
yEd is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 46 of the 61 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade.
What you could not
- A diagram editor.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. yEd’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
draw.io, Microsoft Visio, SmartDraw, Gliffy and ConceptDraw
The 5 tools yEd is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
draw.io
Free
Free diagram editor that saves files to storage you choose.
- draw.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- draw.io also covers templates.
- 2.4GPA
Microsoft Visio
Free trial · from $5.00/mo
Diagramming software for flowcharts, org charts and floor plans.
- yEd has a free plan. Microsoft Visio does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only yEd 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.
- yEd has a free plan. SmartDraw does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only yEd lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- SmartDraw also covers whiteboard, templates and mind mapping.
- 2.4GPA
Gliffy
Free plan · from $3.80/mo
Diagramming app that runs inside Confluence.
- Only yEd lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Gliffy also covers templates.
- 1.6GPA
ConceptDraw
Free trial · from $199
Desktop diagramming, mind mapping and project software.
- yEd has a free plan. ConceptDraw does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only yEd lists a web app.
- Only yEd lists a Linux app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 yEd free?
Yes. yEd is free to use. yEd is freely available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and a browser version, yEd Live, is offered.
How much does yEd cost?
yEd lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does yEd work on?
yEd is available on Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does yEd have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. yEd is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does yEd have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. yEd is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is yEd open source?
yEd is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does yEd 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 yEd integrate with?
yEd's listing names Microsoft Excel. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes yEd?
yEd is made by yWorks.
What are the alternatives to yEd?
The closest alternatives to yEd in our directory are draw.io, Microsoft Visio, SmartDraw, Gliffy and ConceptDraw.
How does yEd compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
yEd's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 46 of the 61 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 6.
Is yEd good value for money?
ToolGPA grades yEd A for value for money. yEd has no paid plan. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4.
Could I make my own version of yEd?
yEd is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from yEd’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from yWorks's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 yWorks. Prices change, so check yworks.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- yEd, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/yed
- 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, "yEd: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/yed
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/yed/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after yEd, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 62 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 yEd’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. yEd is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by yWorks. Prices and plans change: check yworks.com before you buy.