Microsoft Visio vs drawio

Overview

drawio

Stacks437

Followers334

Votes0

GitHub Stars2.7K

Forks488

Microsoft Visio

Stacks139

Followers153

Votes7

Microsoft Visio vs drawio: What are the differences?

Microsoft Visio and drawio are both widely used diagramming tools. Let's explore the key differences between the two:

Pricing Model: Microsoft Visio is a commercial software that requires a subscription or purchase, whereas drawio is an open-source platform that is free to use. This makes drawio more accessible and budget-friendly for individuals and small businesses.
Platform Compatibility: While Microsoft Visio is primarily designed for Windows operating systems, drawio is a web-based application that can be accessed from any platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) through a web browser. This cross-platform flexibility makes drawio a versatile choice for users on different operating systems.
Collaboration Features: drawio offers collaborative features that enable multiple users to work on a diagram simultaneously and see real-time changes. Microsoft Visio, on the other hand, requires additional tools or integration with cloud storage platforms for collaborative editing, making drawio more suitable for collaborative projects.
Online and Offline Usage: drawio can be used online or installed locally as a desktop application, allowing users to work offline. In contrast, Microsoft Visio requires installation and cannot be used without an active internet connection. This flexibility in usage makes drawio suitable for users who frequently work without internet access.
Customization Options: Microsoft Visio provides a more extensive range of predefined templates, shapes, and formatting options compared to drawio. While drawio does offer a decent collection of templates and shapes, Visio's extensive library and customization capabilities make it a preferred choice for users who require advanced diagramming options.
Integration with Other Tools: Microsoft Visio seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allowing for smooth data exchange and embedding of diagrams into various documents. drawio, being an open-source platform, may have limited integrations with third-party applications.

In summary, Microsoft Visio offers advanced customization options, extensive platform integrations, and a more robust feature set but comes with a commercial pricing model. drawio, on the other hand, is free to use, cross-platform compatible, and offers collaborative features, making it suitable for individuals and small businesses looking for a budget-friendly and flexible diagramming solution.

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Advice on drawio, Microsoft Visio

Julien

Principal Software Engineer at Stessa

Mar 17, 2019

Decidedon

Microsoft Visio

Lucidchart

When starting my new role at #Stessa, I needed a solution to start diagramming some of my #Architecture so I'd be able to share my views on #SystemArchitecture with the rest of the team.

#Visualization is key. Especially when working with complex/distributed systems. You want to make sure everybody's got the same understanding of your approach, so you can better communicate, and start delegating more.

In the past, I had worked with #VisualParadigm for #UML, in both desktop and #SaaS version of the product. Also worked with #LucidChart We also looked at potential alternatives such as Microsoft Visio for instance.

Ultimately, my recommendation was & we closed on Lucidchart, as it won on couple of key aspects : #Team #Collaboration, #Integrations with #AWS for instance, and certain specific visualizations we were looking for / others didn't have.

This isn't just for #Engineering. I've seen Lucidchart being used by #Product Teams, #Network #Engineers, #IT Departments, #DevOps, or non-Engineering related teams.

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Detailed Comparison

drawio	Microsoft Visio
It is a free online diagram software for making flowcharts, process diagrams, org charts, UML, ER and network diagrams. It is an open platform where you can create and share diagrams. It’s integrated with the tools you already use.	Create flowcharts, diagrams, org charts, floor plans, engineering designs, and more, using modern shapes and templates with the familiar Office experience.
Easy to use; Import & export various formats; Automatic layout; Publish & share your work; Secure & reliable	Versatile templates and thousands of shapes; Support for industry standards; Built-in validation; Simultaneous team editing; In-app commenting; Real-time presence indicators; Simple, highly secure sharing; Simple data linking; Data-connected org charts
Statistics
GitHub Stars 2.7K	GitHub Stars -
GitHub Forks 488	GitHub Forks -
Stacks 437	Stacks 139
Followers 334	Followers 153
Votes 0	Votes 7
Pros & Cons
No community feedback yet	Pros 7 Libraries allow the quick creation of diagrams

What are some alternatives to drawio, Microsoft Visio?

Excalidraw

It is a whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams with a hand-drawn feel.

Visual Paradigm

It is a software design tool tailored for agile software projects. It supports UML, BPMN, ERD, DFD, SysML. It also supports use cases, wireframeing, code engineering, etc.

Overflow.io

Create interactive user flows and stunning design presentations to engage your audience in synchronous or asynchronous design critique.

Gliffy

Make flowcharts, network diagrams, uml diagrams, org charts, mind maps, wireframes, and more.

Structurizr

It is a collection of tooling to create software architecture diagrams and documentation based upon the C4 model.

Flowchart AI: Convert Text & Images to editable Flowcharts

Transform text and images into stunning flowcharts instantly with our advanced Flowchart AI. Convert documents, descriptions, and visuals into professional diagrams in seconds. Free to try!

Structa

Design databases using natural language. AI-powered schema generation transforms your plain English descriptions into production-ready SQL, Prisma schemas, and ER diagrams in seconds. Free to start.

Lucidchart

Solution for visual communication. Create online flowcharts, diagrams, UML sketches, and ER models.

FigJam

It is an online whiteboard for teams to collaborate, brainstorm, map out flows, and more. It is easy to learn and fun to use, so anyone can participate and share their ideas.

PlantUML

It is used to draw UML diagrams, using a simple and human readable text description. Be careful, because it does not prevent you from drawing inconsistent diagrams. So it's more a drawing tool than a modeling tool. It is a component that allows to quickly write Sequence diagram, Usecase diagram, Class diagram, Object diagram, Activity diagram, Component diagram, Deployment diagram, State diagram, and Timing diagram.

Related Comparisons

Microsoft Visio vs drawio: What are the differences?

Microsoft Visio and drawio are both widely used diagramming tools. Let's explore the key differences between the two:

Pricing Model: Microsoft Visio is a commercial software that requires a subscription or purchase, whereas drawio is an open-source platform that is free to use. This makes drawio more accessible and budget-friendly for individuals and small businesses.
Platform Compatibility: While Microsoft Visio is primarily designed for Windows operating systems, drawio is a web-based application that can be accessed from any platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) through a web browser. This cross-platform flexibility makes drawio a versatile choice for users on different operating systems.
Collaboration Features: drawio offers collaborative features that enable multiple users to work on a diagram simultaneously and see real-time changes. Microsoft Visio, on the other hand, requires additional tools or integration with cloud storage platforms for collaborative editing, making drawio more suitable for collaborative projects.
Online and Offline Usage: drawio can be used online or installed locally as a desktop application, allowing users to work offline. In contrast, Microsoft Visio requires installation and cannot be used without an active internet connection. This flexibility in usage makes drawio suitable for users who frequently work without internet access.
Customization Options: Microsoft Visio provides a more extensive range of predefined templates, shapes, and formatting options compared to drawio. While drawio does offer a decent collection of templates and shapes, Visio's extensive library and customization capabilities make it a preferred choice for users who require advanced diagramming options.
Integration with Other Tools: Microsoft Visio seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allowing for smooth data exchange and embedding of diagrams into various documents. drawio, being an open-source platform, may have limited integrations with third-party applications.

Microsoft Visio vs drawio

Overview