Diagrams are one of the most used visual aids across the globe. It is primarily used for educational and business presentations. Due to their various applications, many diagram creators have appeared online. These tools dedicate to make diagram creation easier for the user. However, there are many factors that should be considered in choosing a diagram maker to use. With that being said, we reviewed 10 of the best tools that you can use. Read on to learn more information about these tools.
Best Diagram Makers
GitMind (Web)
Price: Free
Key features:
- Online collaboration feature
- Instantly share your diagram via URL
- Export diagram in various formats
The first tool that we can recommend is GitMind. This is a diagram maker that you can use for free. It is a web-based application that is supported by major web-browsers. The good thing about GitMind is all the essential templates and elements are readily available. You also have the option to use ready-made templates from its extensive library. And if you are looking for free collaborative tools for brainstorming, GitMind is one of them.
The tool is also perfect for team tasks because of the online collaboration feature. You can work with your team in a single diagram simultaneously using this feature. In general, this software is an excellent diagram maker that you can use anytime.
Creately (Web)
Price: $6.95/month
Key features:
- Provides specialized shapes and elements for advanced diagrams
- Various themes and diagram style templates
- User-friendly key mapping and shortcuts
Another tool that you can use is Creately. Like the previous tool, this one is also a web-based application. You can make your own diagram here, or use its library of templates. You can also import diagrams made from other tools here and continue working on them. Creately is not entirely free, but you can use it without spending anything with limitations. Overall, if you want a hassle-free diagram creator, then this app is one of the top choices.
Draw.io (Web)
Price: Free
Key features:
- Integrated with Google Drive to save your diagrams
- Import and export files from different sources
- Provides offline access to your diagrams
Draw.io is the next tool that made it on our list. The first thing that we noticed about this diagram creator, is that it lets you choose where to save your diagram. It is integrated with cloud storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. Template-wise, we can say that it has a decent amount of templates. Aside from that, you can make your own template from scratch. That is why it is safe to say that this online diagram maker is a wise choice.
ConceptDraw Diagram (Windows and Mac)
Price: $199.00
Key features:
- Can open and edit Visio files in their native file format
- An extensive set of drawing tools for a more detailed diagram
- Provides a presentation mode for diagrams
ConceptDraw Diagram is one of the few desktop diagram creators that live up to their reputation. It has an extensive set of drawing tools that you can use to make infographics and other types of diagrams. Aside from that, you can also use it as an alternative to Visio since it supports native Visio file formats. This may not be an online diagram creator, but being a desktop tool is not a disadvantage either. On the flip side, it only makes things better as you will get professional options since it’s a premium tool.
Visual Paradigm (Web, Windows and Mac)
Price: Modeler – $99.00; Standard – $349.00; Professional – $799.00; Enterprise – $1999.00
Key features:
- Provides online collaboration features
- More than 100 kinds of diagram templates available
- MS documents diagram integration
Visual Paradigm is one of the tools that is integrated with MS Visio. Using this tool, you’ll be able to edit files that were originally created from Visio. Additionally, it provides an online collaboration feature which is not present on other tools. You can also add your diagrams that were made here to any Office document which is one of its convenient features. In general, you’ll get your money’s worth with this diagram maker.
Lucidchart (Web)
Price: Free – with limitations; Individual – $7.95; Team – $6.67/member; Enterprise – Available upon request
Key features:
- Supports key mapping and hotkeys
- Supports online collaboration with other users
- Provides a presentation mode for your audience
Next, we have Lucidchart. This is one of the easiest to use tools on the list since it fully supports hotkey mapping. Using these shortcut keys will enable users to construct their diagrams faster to save time. Additionally, it also supports working together online within the same diagram project for teams. If you need to present your diagram to an audience, you utilize the presentation mode of Lucidchart. This is a specialized feature of this diagram creator, that is optimized for viewing with an audience.
Mindomo (Windows, Mac and Linux)
Price: Free – with limitations; Premium – $6.00
Key features:
- Supports files made by other diagram makers
- Provides a spell checker for accuracy
- Multi-tasking mode
Mindomo is a desktop diagram tool that is pretty advanced compared to its competitors. It supports diagram multi-tasking, which means you can work on different diagrams at the same time. Aside from that, you have a spell checker that you can use to check the accuracy of your content. This is a good way to add credibility to your diagram. Additionally, you can also use this tool to edit other diagrams regardless of their origin. On the other hand, it is not like your regular online diagram tool, as it needs a license to use its full features.
Gliffy (Web)
Price: Professional – $7.99; Team – $4.99/member; Enterprise – Available upon request
Key features:
- Online collaboration feature
- Protect your diagrams with password
- Extensive library of diagram elements
Gliffy is a tool that is better suited for teams. This is because of its team-centric features like online collaboration, which is useful for team projects. There is also the feature that lets you add a password to your diagrams for extra protection. Add these features with an extensive library of shapes and customizable icons, and you get yourself a great online diagram creator.
Edraw Max (Windows, Mac and Linux)
Price: Perpetual License – $139.00; Lifetime License – $179.00; Annual License – $99.00
Key features:
- Create 2D drawings instantly
- Equipped with CAD tools
- Built-in image editor
Edraw Max is a desktop software where you can create various types of diagram including CAD, and 2D drawings. There are many features that you can use on this tool, but there are a few notable ones that caught our attention. The import and export of data are some of the things that will be very useful if you decide to use Edraw Max. Additionally, you will have a built-in image editor at your disposal, which is one of the strong points of this diagram maker.
Dia (Windows, Mac and Linux)
Price: Free
Key features:
- Special entity-relationship shapes and objects
- Saves diagrams in XML by default
- Compatible with Python language
The last tool on the list is Dia. If you like using desktop software but don’t really want to spend, then this is the tool that you should use. It has some of the features that you can see on any premium tools such as file export in various formats. Aside from that, it is compatible with the programming language Python. This open-source diagram creator is really one worth mentioning.
Conclusion
There are many visual aids that can be used for various purposes. However, diagrams are the most common and detailed ones that you can use. In making a diagram, accuracy is a must. That is why you need to be careful with the information that you provide. On that note, you can simplify the process of creating one by using an online diagram tool.
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