I create a lot of flowcharts, wireframes, and diagrams in my daily work routine as a Project and Product Manager. I’ve tried a bunch of software lately, and some people have asked me about them so I made a list with seven alternatives I like!

Note: Some of these apps are free and the others have a free trial period.

1 — LucidChart

Online collaboration tool with an unlimited free account that allows creation of an unlimited number of diagrams with a limit of 60 objects per diagram.

Pros

• Creates flowcharts, organizational charts, website wireframes, UML (Unified Modeling Language) designs, mind maps, software prototypes, and diagram types;
• Web app that works in Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer 8;
• Cloud-based;
• Offers collaboration between teams in real time;
• Allows publication and sharing;
• Exports to vector PDFs, JPEG, and PNG images;
• Imports from Visio, OmniGraffle 6, and OmniGraffle 6 Pro;
• Integrates with Google Apps, Confluence, and JIRA;
• Features Enterprise-level security and admins controls.

Favorite feature

• It’s a web app, and it also works in tablets.

Trial & Prices

• Limited Free account allows creation of an unlimited number of diagrams with a limit of 60 objects per diagram;
• Free trial for 7 days;
• Basic with a single user, $4.95 per month;
• Pro with a single user and Microsoft Visio import and export, $8.95 per month;
• Team with 3 users and third-party integration, $20 per month.

2 — Microsoft Visio

Diagramming and vector graphics application; part of Microsoft Office family.

Pros

• Creates flowcharts, organizational charts, website wireframes, UML designs, mind maps, software prototypes, and diagram types;
• Allows publication and sharing;
• Features Enterprise-level security and admins controls
• Not a cloud and web app;
• Doesn’t allow collaboration between teams in real time;
• Has to be downloaded and installed;
• Windows only.

Favorite feature

• Integration with Microsoft Excel, SQL server, SQL Azure, and SharePoint.

Trial & Prices

• Trial for 30 days;
• Office 365 for $13 a month, per user (paid annually) or $15,50 a month, per user (paid monthly);
• Visio Standard 2016 for $299.99;
• Visio Professional 2016 for $589.99 (full feature software).

3 — Creately

Collaborative diagramming application that works offline and online.

Pros

• Creates flowcharts, organizational charts, website wireframes, UML (Unified Modeling Language) designs, mind maps, software prototypes, and diagram types;
• Works online and offline;
• Cloud and desktop-based;
• Allows publication and sharing;
• Integrates with Google Apps, Confluence, and JIRA;
• Plugins: FogBugz Server, Confluence Server, and JIRA;
• Features Enterprise-level security and admins controls.

Favorite feature

• Collaboration between teams in real time on desktop or online.

Trial & Prices

• Cloud Free with 5 public diagrams and 3 collaborators;
• Cloud Personal for $5 per month with unlimited diagrams and projects;
• Cloud Team for $25 per month with unlimited project sharing and collaborators;
• Desktop Personal for $75 per year with a year of free updates and online premium user;
• Desktop for Teams for $40 per user annually with offline usage and diagrams.

4 — Pidoco

Cloud-based collaboration online wireframing and prototyping tool.

Pros

• Creates flowcharts, organizational charts, website clickable wireframes, software prototypes, and diagram types;
• Cloud-based;
• Allows collaboration between teams in real time;
• Allows publication and sharing;
• Integrates with Planio and JIRA;
• Exports as a PNG, vector files, or as HTML;
• Features Enterprise-level security and admins controls.

Favorite feature

• Creates interactive prototypes.

Trial & Prices

• Free 31-day trial version;
• Starter for $12 per month with 2 active projects;
• Standard for $25 per month with 8 active projects;
• Premium for $55 per month with 30 active projects and ;telephone support;
• Platinum for $175 per month with 100 active projects and telephone support.

5 — Balsamiq

Graphical user interface mockup and website wireframe builder application.

Pros

• Creates flowcharts, organizational charts, website wireframes, UML (Unified Modeling Language) designs, mind maps, software prototypes, and diagram types;
• Not a cloud-based or a web-app;
• Allows publication and sharing;
• Exports to vector PDFs, and PNG images;
• Features Enterprise-level security and admins controls.

Favorite feature

• Integrates with Google Apps, Confluence, and JIRA.

Trial & Prices

• Free 30-day trial;
• Single user license $89;
• Volume license starting at $178 for 2 users;
• Upgrade license based on volume discounts which you need to add a license key.

6 — OmniGraffle

Graphical user interface mockup and website wireframe builder application available for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Pros

• Creates flowcharts, organizational charts, website wireframes, UML (Unified Modeling Language) designs, mind maps, software prototypes, and diagram types;
• Not a cloud-based or a web-app;
• Available in MacOS, and iOS version only;
• Imports from Visio, Photoshop with layers and XCode.

Favorite feature

• Exports to JPEG, BMP, EPS, GIF, HTML images, template, Stencil, PNG, OO3, TIFF, and PDF.

Trial & Prices

• Free 14-day trial;
• Pro License OmniGraffle 7 for $199;
• OmniGraffle 2 Standard iOS License for $49.99;
• OmniGraffle 2 Pro iOS for $99.89;
• OmniGraffle 7 License for $99.

7 — Google Slides

Create and share your work online and access your documents from anywhere for free!

Pros

• Creates flowcharts, organizational charts, website wireframes, UML (Unified Modeling Language) designs, mind maps, software prototypes, and diagram types;
• Available in web-app that works in Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer 8
• Cloud-based;
• Allows collaboration between teams in real time;
• Allows publication and sharing;
• Exports to Microsoft Word, OpenDocument Format, Rich Text Format, PDF, Plain Text, Web Page, and EPUB Publication.

Favorite feature

• Works in tablets as long it’s a web app.

Other options in the market

• Abstract
• Nevron Draw
• Visual Paradigm
• Draw.io
• MyDraw
• Pidoco
• Visual Paradigm
• Pencil 2D
• Balsamiq
• Code2flow
• Gleek
• Whimsical
• Yuml
• SourceSpy™

Additional Resources

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