6 Best Flowchart Software Tools For 2023

This is a comprehensive list of the best flowchart software, covering features, pricing, and more. Use this guide to determine the most suitable software for you.

There comes a time when certain ideas, concepts and processes need a clear, engaging visualization to get everyone on the same page. Flowchart project management software can help you organize your productivity, presentations, collaboration and data. Some applications will be less budget-friendly for small teams, but there are strong options for teams of all sizes.

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Top flowchart management tools comparison

The table below explores some common features in flowchart solutions. They aren’t the only capabilities you should consider, but they are a great place to start.

Free plan Templates Guests Collaboration Pricing Lucidchart Yes Yes Yes Yes  $7.95 per user/month Creately Yes Yes  Yes Yes  $5 per user/month Miro Yes Yes Yes Yes $8 per user/month Microsoft Visio No Yes No Yes $5 per user/month Evernote Yes No No Yes $14.99 per user/month Airtable Yes Yes Yes Yes $10 per user/month Lucidchart: Best for enterprises The LucidChart logo.Image: LucidChart

Lucidchart is stacked with features to build custom flowcharts and diagrams. Teams that want to build detailed plans and concepts will have a wealth of tools such as diagram formatting, easy data manipulation and a library of shapes. Its features are very limited per plan tier, so teams with more data may want to consider the Team or Enterprise tier, or try other software.

Pricing
  • Month-to-month billing is available but not disclosed upfront.
  • A discount is offered if you bundle it with Lucidspark.
  • Free: Three documents and 100 templates.
  • Individual: $7.95 per user/month, billed annually.
  • Team: $9 per user/month, billed annually.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing and includes Lucidspark bundle.
    • Features
  • Shapes can be linked to other documents, pages and layers.
  • Organization charts, smart containers and mind maps.
  • Integrations with tools like Slack, Quickbase, Microsoft and Google products.
  • Ability to invite guests and comment in-app.
    • Pros
  • The Free plan has link sharing and allows flowcharts to be downloaded.
  • Organization charts feature a group view.
  • Paid plans have unlimited documents and objects.
  • Access to shape libraries and templates.
    • Cons
  • Importing and exporting are very limited across all plans.
  • Integrations are limited in all plans but Enterprise.
    • Creately: Best for heavy workloads

    Image: Creately

    Similar to Lucidchart, Creately has great diagramming and flowchart tools to handle large amounts of data. Its higher tier plans are costly, but do offer 100GB of storage, collaborations, task and database management capabilities.

    Pricing
  • Free: Three canvases.
  • Starter: $5 user/month, billed annually, or $8 user/month, billed monthly.
  • Business: $89 /month, billed annually, or $149 /month, billed monthly.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing for scaling to your team.
    • Features
  • Work views like timelines, grids and kanban.
  • 70 types of diagrams.
  • Shape libraries and ready-to-go templates.
  • Custom and standard databases.
  • Video conferencing in-app.
  • Guest access in higher tiers.
    • Pros
  • Unlimited canvases for paid plans.
  • Business plan offers unlimited users for large teams and organizations with multiple departments.
  • Paid plans start with 5GB of storage.
  • Templates, collaboration and link sharing are available in the Free plan.
  • Great for agile workflows.
    • Cons
  • Exporting is limited.
  • Free tier has limited workflow features and integrations.
    • Miro: Best for internal collaboration

    Image: Miro

    Miro is affordable and a great offering for support, security, admin controls and collaboration. It also has developer features for software development teams. Similar to its competitors, features are very limited in cheaper tiers, but templates, presentations and in-app collaboration are all available in the Starter plan.

    Pricing
  • Free: Three boards, unlimited members.
  • Starter: $8 per user/month, billed annually, or $10 user/month, billed monthly.
  • Business: $16 per user/month, billed annually, or $20 user/month, billed monthly.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing based on your organization’s needs.
    • Features
  • Voting and a meeting timer to improve brainstorming sessions.
  • Visitors and guests can be added to boards.
  • Pre-made and custom templates.
  • Video chat in the app.
  • Public and private boards to manage flowchart sharing.
    • Pros
  • Unlimited boards for paid plans.
  • All paid plans allow exporting.
  • More affordable plan options compared to competitors.
  • Presentation mode in all plans.
    • Cons
  • Integrations are limited across plans.
  • Support is very limited outside of the Enterprise plan.
  • Admin user management mostly limited to Enterprise plan.
    • Microsoft Visio: Best for powerful data integrations

    Image: Microsoft

    Microsoft Visio is amazing for both personalization and working with complex data needs. You have Microsoft integrations with juggernaut solutions like Azure or Power BI, as well as the ability to draw your own flowcharts by hand. Teams can also use their templates or diagramming features. Visio is affordable for small teams and is offered as a one-time purchase.

    Pricing
  • The software is offered on a subscription or as a one-time purchase.
  • Monthly and annual commitments have the same per-user, per-month cost.
  • Visio Plan 1: $5.00 user/month.
  • Visio Plan 2: $15.00 user/month.
  • Visio Standard 2021: $309.99
  • Visio Professional 2021: $579.99
    • Features
  • Templates for shapes and diagrams.
  • Advanced diagram features like entity relationship diagrams (ERD).
  • Powerful Microsoft integrations to help you visualize your ideas and data, such as PowerPoint and Power BI.
  • Hand drawing for creating shapes and notes.
  • Access to cloud computing platforms like Azure and Amazon Web Services.
    • Pros
  • Access to the classic Microsoft suite of products.
  • Teams or individuals can choose a one-time purchase option for more autonomy.
  • Powerful software with multiple capabilities.
    • Cons
  • It has a learning curve.
  • It can be costly the more users you have.
    • Evernote: Best for simple needs

    Image: Evernote

    While Evernote is not flowchart software, it does offer personalized note-taking and drawing. You can create your own flowcharts with the drawing tool and organize your ideas for presentation. It’s cheaper than most flowchart options and doesn’t have the same restrictions such as limiting your ability to export. All plans allow users tocan share their notes with non-users, and the Professional plan allows notes to be exported as PDFs.

    Pricing
  • Free: Allows two devices.
  • Personal: $129.99 yearly, or $14.99 per month, billed monthly.
  • Professional: $169.99 yearly, or $17.99 per month, billed monthly.
  • Evernote Teams: $24.99 user/month, billed annually.
    • Features
  • Filter and save searches for your notes and designs.
  • Create custom note templates for common projects.
  • Annotate images and PDFs.
  • Integrate with messaging apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
    • Pros
  • You can customize notes with writing and drawing by hand, or through scans.
  • Media such as photos and audio can be added to notes.
  • Ability to include files like documents and PDFs.
  • Can search in text and images to find your exact ideas.
  • Anyone can share notes for collaboration.
    • Cons
  • Plans can be costly the more devices you add.
  • Only Professional plan and above allows you to export notes as PDFs.

    • Another software solution for project management and custom notes is Microsoft OneNote. It’s free to download or use the web version and allows handwriting and drawing.

    Airtable: Best for project organization

    Image: Airtable

    Airtable isn’t primarily for flowcharts, but it does offer a number of great extensions, including one for building flowcharts. It can be more affordable than other conceptual design tools and offers a simple interface. Teams that just need a space to collaborate and organize their ideas should consider Airtable. For those that need in-depth data visualizations, the Enterprise plan integrates with Tableau, although for more cost savings you might consider Microsoft Visio or Lucidchart.

    Pricing
  • Free: Unlimited bases and five users.
  • Plus: $10 per user/month, billed annually, or $12 user/month, billed monthly.
  • Team: $20 per user/month, billed annually, or $24 user/month, billed monthly.
  • Business: $45 per user/month, billed annually, or $54 user/month billed monthly.
  • Enterprise Scale: Custom pricing.
    • Features
  • Work views like kanban, grid, calendar and Gantt.
  • 47 available custom extensions from Airtable including ones for org charts, schema and flowcharts.
  • Workflow automation for working with integrations.
  • Apps created by Airtable for marketing and product development.
    • Pros
  • Ability to sync across databases and integrations.
  • Custom branding in paid plans.
  • Unlimited bases in all plans.
  • In-app commenting for direct feedback on ideas and designs.
  • Extensions and integrations are available in paid plans.
    • Cons
  • The number of extensions is limited per base in each plan.
  • Using special apps by Airtable (not extensions) only available in Enterprise.
  • Available integrations are limited per plan.

    • For more information, read the full Airtable review.

    Key features of flowchart project management software

    Some of the best features of flowchart project management software are tools to keep your team close, streamline the time it takes to build a chart or diagram, as well as ways to save costsand ways to save. You may have other features in mind, but these are a great way to ensure a smooth transition.

    Templates

    While not every option will have them, templates are one of the most common features of flowcharts. They can save you time on especially hard projects, giving you where you have extra brainpower to conceptualize other shapes or overall designs. In many solutions, you can create your own templates for the specific projects you’re working on.

    More project management coverage Collaboration

    Teamwork comes in many forms, and this includes the ability to share your designs, invite in viewers or guests and communicate all in one place. Some tools have messaging, commenting and video chat, as well as presentation options.

    Cost savings

    Flowchart tools can be slightly pricier than regular project management solutions. They come with templates, libraries, collaboration and data management capabilities. Depending on your team, putting your idea or process into a chart or diagram is an integral part of your work. It will be important to shop around to find the best deal with most features.

    For teams that can make do with less functionality, try out the free plans. They don’t have much, but it’s worth seeing what you can create. If you don’t need any project management or organization features, you could try free design or wireframing tools such as Figma.

    Integrations

    For those with high volumes of data, it will help to have integrations with Tableau, Power BI or any of the analytics tools you already use. Teams looking for cheaper subscriptions with fewer features should make sure their chosen plan has useful integrations before buying.

    Customization

    Developing your own chart or detailed diagram takes care and attention, even if you’re working with a template. Being able to build a flowchart that shows the amount of detail and thought you put in matters. Basic charts are important, but some teams need the option to create something specific to their projects. Color coding, unique shapes, backgrounds and hand drawing can help get your point across better than general templates.

    How do I choose the best flowchart project management solution for my business?

    When choosing any software, you need to ask yourself and your team questions. In the case of flowchart and diagramming solutions, you need to know if you want to draw, use templates or have both.

    You also need to know the software’s user interface and should try to get a peek at the templates they offer, because the last thing you want to do is pay extra for a library of ready-to-go designs that don’t work with your vision. Pricing is a big deal for any software purchase, but with flowchart tools, you can end up paying over $100 a year per person and still not have full exporting and template access.

    If you have a large team that works remotely or hybrid, being able to collaborate in the same space and send over charts on short notice is important. Importing and exporting can end up costing more, so make sure to double-check.

    The best step you can take is to look up YouTube tutorials and sign up for free versions to test at your convenience.

    Methodology

    The software in this article was considered in terms of cost, team value and ability to deliver design features. Some were more expensive than others and some had better collaboration options. We did our best to assess each one fairly and highlight as many benefits as possible, so that teams with a variety of needs had enough information to weigh each option against their requirements.

    Firefox Vs Opera: Which Web Browser Is Best For You?

    Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Firefox has been a part of my most basic list of applications for a very long time. That doesn't mean, however, that I've always used it as my default. In fact, I vacillate between Firefox and Opera. 

    Both have their pros and cons and each does a remarkable job of rendering web pages and keeping me connected to sites, services, and people.

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    Some days I bounce between those browsers and some days I spend all of my time in one or the other.

    But which path should you take?

    Let me help you make that decision.

    You should choose Firefox if ... Thiago Prudencio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 1. You prefer open-source

    This one is pretty obvious. Firefox is an open-source browser and is installed, by default, on the vast majority of Linux distributions. Firefox is also available for Android, MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Windows. 

    Also: The best Linux laptops

    If you're not sure why open-source matters, it's fairly simple. Because Firefox is an open-source application, it means the source code is available for anyone to download, view, change, and more. If you have the skills, you could even create your own browser, using the Firefox code. As for the general public, this is important because it means the browser is constantly vetted and anyone can comb through the code, locate vulnerabilities, and fix (or report) them. This means Firefox gets updated very quickly.

    Which leads me to…

    2. You prioritize security

    If you place a premium on security, then Firefox is the browser for you. With the source code readily available to anyone, it means bugs are not only found quickly but they are also fixed very quickly. Over the years, I've witnessed countless bugs discovered and fixed within a day or two. You won't find that with proprietary browsers, where getting code fixed involves numerous hurdles and steps to get past.

    Also: The best security keys: Expert tested and reviewed

    Firefox was also one of the first browsers to block fingerprinting, which goes a very long way to ensure your privacy. A digital fingerprint collects various types of data (such as your OS, browser, add-ons, preferences, and even themes and customizations) and uses them to create a profile about you so that businesses can get a clear picture of you and your private life. 

    If that sounds a bit on the creepy side, then you should migrate to Firefox.

    3. You also need speed

    Compared to every browser I use, Firefox is by far the fastest at opening, page rendering, logging into sites, and just about every aspect of browser usage. In fact, the difference is clearly obvious. 

    If I'm using Opera, I tend to leave it open because it can take its own sweet time starting. With Firefox, I can close and open it throughout the day and not lose a step. 

    So, if speed is at the top of your list of needs, Firefox is, far and away, the best choice. 

    4. You like mobile add-ons

    If your primary OS is of the mobile persuasion, you probably get frustrated that you can't extend the feature set of your default browser. I've got good news for you. The mobile version of Firefox allows the installation and usage of add-ons. 

    The only caveat to this is that Firefox mobile is limited to about 25 add-ons. However, that list does include the likes of uBlock Origin, Dark Reader, AdGuard AdBlocker, FoxyProxy Standard, Ghostery, Bitwarden, Privacy Badger, and more. That means you can eke out even more privacy and security on your mobile device with Firefox.

    You should choose Opera if ... Thiago Prudencio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 1. Tab management is a priority

    Of all the browsers I've ever used, Opera's Workspaces feature offers the best tab management…and it's not even close.

    If you frequently find yourself working with 10, 20, 30, or more tabs, you owe it to yourself to try Opera. 

    Also: Opera's Battery Saver mode is another reason why you should switch to this fantastic browser

    It's not even close. Opera's tab management feature is so good, that it was what beat Firefox to serve as my default on both Linux and MacOS. 

    2. You want a fantastic built-in ad blocker

    Although Firefox does privacy better than any other browser, Opera's ad blocking is so good, I wind up having to add exceptions for sites that cannot function properly without ads.

    Also: How to use the Opera VPN

    I absolutely appreciate the need for sites to be able to load ads in a browser. After all, many sites depend on ad revenue to keep the lights on. But some sites ads are so prominent that it can cause problems for browsers. With Opera, that is no longer a problem. Other than the sites for which I add exceptions, every site (no matter how thick its ads are) renders just fine in Opera.

    3. Aesthetics are important to you

    For some, the look of an application can be important. I know it sounds silly to some, but when you spend a great deal of time in front of a monitor, the look of an application can make a difference. For me, the old, traditional interface is a thing of the past, and modern UIs make interacting with software much more enjoyable.

    Opera has one of the more modern-looking UIs on the market. And with the latest iterations, it even offers some eye-catching animations.

    The only drawback to Opera's aesthetics is that it's not nearly as themeable as Firefox. Yes, you can switch from dark or light mode and even add a background image for the Speed Dial tab but as far as themes are concerned, Opera doesn't go there.

    4. You enjoy built-in features

    Opera blows Firefox out of the water when it comes to built-in features. From the sidebar, quick launchers, Shopping Corner, Player, My Flow, Personal News, Pinboards…Opera has a feature for just about anyone.

    Granted the sheer amount of features in Opera can sometimes make it feel a bit bloated but the browser does allow you to disable all of the features you don't use. For example, immediately after installing Opera, I disable all AI features.

    Also: How to reset the Opera web browser (and when you should)

    If you like your browser to include more than just the ability to render web pages, Opera has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

    Wrap up

    In the end, I keep both Firefox and Opera installed on all of my devices. Why? Sometimes I need the speed and security of Firefox and other times I need the tab management mastery of Opera. 

    Also: Best secure browsers to protect your privacy online

    Although I would recommend Firefox over Opera for most people, if you consider yourself a power user (and tend to keep a multitude of tabs open), I would suggest Opera. In the end, however, I would say installing both and using them for specific purposes is also a great way to go.

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    The Best Web Design Software 2023

    Now that you know about the various types of web design software available, as well as their key features and pricing, it’s time to decide which one is right for you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

  • Do you want to learn to code or not? If you have no interest in learning to code, you’ll want to stick with a WYSIWYG editor (an acronym the web design space uses, which stands for “what you see is what you get”) or one of the all-in-one platforms such as Weebly. If you’re willing to put in the time to learn to code, you have a lot more flexibility in terms of what software you can use.
  • What is your budget? Some of the best web design software, including Dreamweaver and Photoshop, can be quite expensive. If you’re on a tight budget, you may want to stick with a free or lower-cost option.
  • What features are you looking for? Make sure the software you choose has all the features you need. For example, if you want to create an online store, make sure the platform you choose has e-commerce features. Or, if you want to be able to create custom designs, make sure the software has a WYSIWYG editor.
  • What level of experience do you have? If you’re a beginner, you’ll want to choose software that is easy to use and has a lot of tutorials and support available. If you’re more experienced, you’ll have more leeway in terms of what you can choose.
  • How much flexibility do you have to customize? No matter which web design software you choose, remember that the most important thing is to create a website that reflects your brand and helps you achieve your business goals.

    • The most important facet of choosing web design software for your solo venture or small business is assessing your existing capabilities. If you’re an experienced coder and want more customization options, Dreamweaver or Sublime Text are better choices.

    If you need a website up and running quickly, Weebly or Squarespace are better options. If there are bugs affecting Squarespace and Weebly sites, you’d have to go through customer service instead of being able to fix them by yourself. Make sure you have someone dedicated to website maintenance, no matter what web design software you’ve chosen.

    At the end of the day, the best web design software is the one that helps you create the website you need, within your budget and with as little hassle as possible. So, take some time to explore your options and choose the software that’s right for you.