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Flowcharts aren’t just for engineers, programmers, and managers. Everyone can benefit from learning how to make flowcharts, most notably as a way to streamline your work and life, and even to break free from bad habits.

The only problem is, what’s the best flowchart software?

Plenty of top-notch flowcharting apps exist, but they can be pricey. Microsoft Visio, the most popular option, is $300 (standalone) or $13 per month (on top of an Office 365 subscription). ConceptDraw Pro is $200. Edraw Max is $180. MyDraw is $70.

Is it really necessary to spend that much on a flowchart program?

No! There are lots of excellent free flowchart software, especially for non-business users. If you don’t want to create stunning flowcharts using Microsoft Word (check out these Microsoft Office flowchart templates), then use one of the free flowchart tools below.

Note:Web-based flowchart apps have been intentionally excluded from this list.

1. Dia

Dia is a free and full-featured flowchart app. It’s also entirely open source under the GPLv2 license, which is great if you believe in the open source philosophy. It’s powerful, extensible, and easy to use.

If you’re looking for the best free alternative to Microsoft Visio, then Dia is as close as you’re going to get.

Key features and highlights:

• Simple and intuitive interface.
• Dozens of standard shapes, including UML, circuit, and database.
• Add custom shapes using XML and SVG.
• Colorize shapes and text with standard or custom colors.

Download:Dia (Free)

2. yEd Graph Editor

yEd Graph Editor is an excellent, up-to-date tool for flowcharts, diagrams, trees, network graphs, and more. You can download the app as a JAR file (which requires Java on your system) or an EXE (which includes a Java installer). It’s powerful and versatile, but the trade-off is an ugly, Swing-based interface.

Key features and highlights:

• Very little effort for professional-quality charts.
• Auto-arrange flowchart elements from messy to clean.
• Organic and orthogonal edge routing for connections.
• Several export options, including PNG, JPG, SVG, and PDF.

Download:yEd Graph Editor (Free)

3. ThinkComposer

ThinkComposer is a tool for professionals. In addition to flowcharts, it can handle business models, class diagrams, genealogy trees, timelines, use case diagrams, and more. It’s a bit overkill for one or two charts every so often, but a smart choice if you deal with flowcharts on a daily or weekly basis.

Key features and highlights:

• Create custom, reusable nodes and connections.
• Deep, multi-level diagrams for full visual expression of ideas.
• Compositions can combine many different charts and graphs.
• Generate PDF, XPS, or HTML reports based on your data.
• Open source and extensible with plugins.

Download:ThinkComposer (Free)

4. Pencil Project

Pencil Project is an old app that fell out of favor due to a long development hiatus, but things picked back up in 2015 and version 3.0.0 was released in 2017. Everything is now modern and up-to-date, making it an excellent choice for anyone who needs fast, simple diagramming with a minimal learning curve.

Key features and highlights:

• Tons of built-in shapes for all types of charts and interfaces.
• Create your own shapes or install collections made by others.
• Several export options, including PNG, SVG, PDF, and HTML.
• Import art from OpenClipart.org for use in charts and diagrams.

Download:Pencil Project (Free)

5. LibreOffice Draw

LibreOffice is arguably the best free alternative to Microsoft Office for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and even visual diagrams. With LibreOffice Draw, you can easily add shapes, symbols, lines, connections, text, images, and more. It isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly flexible.

Key features and highlights:

• Custom page sizes, great for all kinds of chart types.
• Page map makes it easy to work on multiple charts.
• Advanced object manipulations, including 3D controller.
• Can open (but not save to) Microsoft Visio format.

Download:LibreOffice (Free)

6. Diagram Designer

Diagram Designer is somewhat primitive, and that’s partly because it hasn’t been updated since 2015. But don’t let that turn you away! It runs fine on my Windows 10 setup, and it’s more than effective for creating flowcharts that look nice. Could it be better? Of course. But for personal use, it’s great.

Key features and highlights:

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface.
• No unnecessary features that steepen the learning curve.
• Import and export PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF, ICO, and more.

Download:Diagram Designer (Free)

7. PlantUML

PlantUML is unlike all the other apps in this list. Instead of a graphical interface, you create your diagrams using PlantUML’s scripting language. This is an excellent tool for programmers who don’t like mouse-based drag-and-drop. PlantUML requires Java on your system.

Key features and highlights:

• Define objects and relationships using PlantUML’s scripting language.
• Supports many diagram types: sequence, usecase, class, Gantt, etc.
• Export diagrams as PNG, SVG, or LaTeX.

Download:PlantUML (Free)

Other Useful Flowchart Tools and Apps

While desktop apps are ideal for creating flowcharts on a PC, they aren’t travel-friendly. If portability is a key concern, you might fare better with one of these mobile flowchart apps which are designed for diagramming on-the-go.

Would you rather use a web-based flowchart maker? We highly recommend LucidChart, which is best in its class. Or you can try out one of these free online flowchart makersThe 7 Best Free Online Flowchart MakersThe 7 Best Free Online Flowchart MakersNeed the ability to create flowcharts anywhere at any time without spending much, if any, money? Here are the best online flowchart tools that are free or reasonably priced.Read More. If you want a desktop app for macOS, try these free flowchart makers for Mac5 Free Flowchart Makers for Mac for Quick and Easy Diagrams5 Free Flowchart Makers for Mac for Quick and Easy DiagramsHere are the free flowchart makers for Mac that help you create flowcharts with the professional appearance you need.Read More.

Explore more about: Flowchart, LibreOffice, Organization Software, Planning Tool, Project Management.

1. Dia does not follow common standard for text editing so it become awkward to work with in the long run

2. Cell phone spy software enthusiast and researcher. With over 8 years in the business I can offer the most comprehensive analysis and recommendations for virtually any program on the market. Engineerroy68 at gmail com !

3. Another great tool for flowcharts is Software Ideas Modeler. I firstly thought that it is only paid software but I found out there is a free standard edition and it supports flowcharts. I do not need more.

4. draw.io <3

5. I have been using Dia for a long while, until I discovered Draw.io and its integration with Google Drive. Never used another one since then.

6. I have used powerpoint many times. Also, I recommend you go to youtube and pickup a few basic concepts of BPMN. It makes a huge difference. I should know as this is what I do all day everyday.

7. Draw.io have an offline chrom app.

I'm seeking a Mac app for creating basic flowcharts and similar diagrams.

Google has been no help; I've followed dozens of links to apps that either don't exist anymore, I can't find any real reviews of, or that won't run on OS X 10.6.6.

What I'd really like:

• A simple and clean interface

• Basic shapes

• Automated connectors that stay linked as you move shapes around

• Inexpensive, preferably under $30 but definitely under $50

What I'm not looking for:

• Hundreds of shapes

• Default styles that have shadows and textures and such that I have to keep removing

• Dozens of amazing features that allow you to automatically map databases and draw UML diagrams from code and such (I'm looking at you, Visio) that I have to constantly navigate around to make a few basic diagrams

• A mind-mapping app with all the features such a thing entails, one that happens to also let you make basic diagrams

• A full-fledged drawing app where, once again, I have to maneuver around a whole bunch of features and options to get to the basic functions I need. (I have Illustrator, I love Illustrator, but it's crap for basic flowcharts and other simple diagrams.)

I wouldn't actually use it for flowcharts, but rather basic similar diagrams to show data flow between apps, information flow in a company or other places, that kind of thing.

I recently found out that the drawing portion of Google Docs actually does a pretty good job with the types of diagrams I need to create, but the UI is pretty poor and it obviously requires a constant net connection.

hairboat♦Matthew FrederickMatthew Frederick

31 Answers

If you can stretch your budget, get OmniGraffle for Mac. At $100, it's pricier than you'd like (do you possibly qualify for the $60 edu price?), but it's exactly what you're looking for.

On the lower end there's Mindcad Incubator for $50, but I haven't tried it myself and I'm not sure it does everything you want.

DoriDori

For free online diagramming there's draw.io, which I co-author. The U/I is simple and clean. It supports the automatic connection and dragging of components you're looking for. Also, it's free (and open source), which meets your under $30 requirement.

There is also a Desktop version available.

The Google Docs suite of tools now has a diagramming tool that lets you create flowcharts. While not as feature rich as something like OmniGraffle, it does cover all your requirements: simple & clean interface, basic shapes (and not an overabundance of shapes), automatic connectors with elasticity, and it meets your price point at free.

Certainly can't hurt to try it out before you drop $100 on the Mac Daddy of diagramming programs for Mac.

Edit: just noticed your last paragraph in your question. Not much I can do about the UI, but I will mention that offline support is about to make a return via Chrome.

Ian C.♦Ian C.

I found another one. Seems to meet all your prerequisites.

Shapes is a simple, elegant Graphing and Diagramming app for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Shapes gives you all of the most important features you need in a Diagramming tool without all the extra cruft, and without breaking the bank.

Loïc WolffLoïc Wolff

Dia is pretty useful. From the description: 'Dia is a program to draw structured diagrams'. Available for Linux, Windows, OS X.

myhd

We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.

GraphViz

The link above is to a GUI wrapper to the command line utility. With GraphViz, layout is automated, so you don't get to choose exactly where the nodes end up, although you can provide hints and have some limited control.

Regarding your other points:

• It is CLI, so I think that counts as a simple and clean interface
• Basic shapes are provided
• Connectors are automated and will stay linked (although you can't move shapes with a mouse).
• Free.

I'm late to the party, but NeoOffice's drawing tool meets your four criteria.

I know this is an older thread, but I would like to throw in my $.02 (since things have changed some since this was posted). Lucid Chart for Google Apps is a viable solution. It is free for basic diagramming, and there are very reasonable pricing for more advanced features. It even has the capability to open (and save) Visio documents. It is integrated with Google Drive (for personal OR Apps Domains) and is real-time collaborative. Google Docs, of course, has a Drawing tool, but Lucid expands on it with some drag-n-drop features and other more advanced tools you would expect from fat-client apps. more information can be found on their website but if you search in the Chrome Web Store, you will find it and can install it directly from there. At that point it is as simple as logging into Google Drive and clicking Create and selecting Lucid Chart as the document type.

Matthew Frederick

Apple's Keynote may primarily be for presentations, but its diagramming tools also hit all your requirements: simple interface; polygons of arbitrary number of sides; connection lines (select two shapes, right click, 'Add Connection Line'); cost of USD$20.

As a bonus, you'll have great presentation software to show off your cool new diagrams.

duozmoduozmo

Take a look at the free and simple to use yEd, I believe this would fit about right for your 2 yr old question :)

Would MindNode fit what you're looking for?

There's a free version and and $20 version available. They're both on the Mac App Store.

Loïc WolffLoïc WolffJorgeJorge

We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.

You also have several proposals from another SO thread here.OmniGraffle won the competition but the other links are quite interesting and could fit your needs.

LudoMCLudoMC

Give Xmind a try. It's Java, so expect a Java applications… if you know what that means.

But given that you haven't found OmniGraffle very 'attractive' for you, you might want to give it a try.

Martin MarconciniMartin Marconcini

There is new diagramming tool Diagrammix in the Mac App Store. Simple and beautiful.

I see you that you need to draw flowchart with basic shapes and grids. I would recommend a web based solution since you are not always using it. But if you are drawing flowcharts frequently I suggest you to get an flowchart software like Creately. There is a mac version available and you can try for free

• Creately has an improved interface and I can assure you that it is very user friendly powerful and simple.

• Yes, Creately supports 1000's shapes since there are more than 50 diagrams types made available to use. And you can customize to use the ones you want to use frequently as well.

• Creately has what you call (smart connectors) that can automatically connect shapes by identifying the position of the shape and the connector type it requires.

• You can edit change / add different styles and improve your diagrams with creately as you want.

• Its a fully fledged diagram designing application made for diagramming mainly focused on the design and use. It has specific features for each diagram type.

• Perfection is the word for the diagrams you design from creately. Further more there are many templates and examples to be used to create instant diagrams.

• Price is under 50$ as you mentioned and the whole package is worth it. You can always try be for you buy.

Flow For Mac

You can take a look at MyDraw (https://www.mydraw.com), which has versions for Mac and Windows. It costs 69USD and is in your budget. MyDraw has thousands of shapes for different diagramming scenarios (flowcharts, OrgCharts, UML, mindmaps etc.) and is packed with enterprise features like:

• Import and export to Microsoft Visio.
• Highly interactive, fast and modern User Interface that is Visio like.
• Support for embedding barcodes (and soon charts, gauges and tables) in drawings.
• Export to vector formats like SVG, PDF, WMF and DXF (Autocad).
• Export to raster formats like BMP, PNG, JPEG and other.

Disclosure: I work for Nevron

IHMC CmapTools is very good. You have to register for it but it is free to use and can run on all major OSes.

iPlotz allows you to rapidly create clickable, navigable mockups and wireframes for prototyping websites and software applications.

Create a project, add wireframe pages with design components and discuss your creations with others.

nohillside♦Sagar R. KothariSagar R. Kothari

Your best solution is probably Inspiration. There's a free trial version available you can try out.

Kyle Cronin

Since what you're asking for is an extremely simple to use program without advanced features and lots of shapes, I suggest Delinieato, available through the Mac App store. Delineato gets ideas out of your head and onto the screen with a few clicks. It includes specifically the features you asked for, simple shapes, easy to use connectors, connectors that flow with the shapes as you move them around the screen. Delineato also has an infinite sized canvas, allowing you to shift things around and expand ideas as neccessary.

Best of all, it's under $10 on the App Store for the full version.

Well, I read all the posts and tried several of these apps, as I was also looking for a flowchart tool.Go for Pencil (thanks Sangcheol Choi) It's amazing yet simple. Yes, it has a lot of shapes, but it also has a very intuitive search tool, and the MEANING of each of them, which many other apps don't have.... Sometimes, that's very useful, at least for people who do not deal with flowcharts every day, so we are not sure about the meaning of some less used shapes....

Lovely Charts:

A diagramming application that allows you to create professional looking diagrams of all kinds, such as flowcharts, sitemaps, business processes, organisation charts, wireframes and many more....

A cross-platform desktop application that is available for Linux, Mac & Windows, as well as an online edition & iPad edition compliments its versatility.

This is a Premium application and the price varies depending upon which version who choose to purchase.

SimonSimon

I'm really liking Gliffy. I'm a long-time user of Graffle and have tried a number of the other suggestions on this page. Graffle is great except for one crucial, deal-killing problem - it's orthogonal connecting line algorithm is terrible. I have to manually redraw lines almost anytime I move anything.

Gliffy is completely intuitive - everything pretty much does what I expect it to, and there are nice keyboard shortcuts for most things. I'd like to see symmetrical resizing (hold down option like in Graffle) so I don't have to re-center every time I resize a box, but that's a niggle.

The one feature I'd really like that none of these programs seems to have is the ability to expand or collapse a process block to reveal the flowchart of what's in the box. MacFlow under Mac OS9 used to do this, and it was wonderful: double-click a box and a new page would open, where you could flowchart the 'nested' process. Close that window and the chart is hidden, but still there underneath whenever needed. Boxes with nested flowcharts had a bold border around them to let you know.

The ProcessOn diagram platform is completely free, and includes a drawing application that is actually fairly useable for creating diagrams and flowcharts at the simpler end of the scale.

Best Flowchart App For Mac

Flow Chart Tool For Microcontrollers

Try Describio (https://www.describio.com). You can create runnable flowcharts using either the user interface or JavaScript (if you know how to code). You can also use user inputs to help control the flow. It's a more-advanced tool, but it's very useful for creating working prototypes. Check it out!

Why does nobody mention the excellent diagramming app - ConceptDraw?

If you're familiar with Microsoft Visio, this one is absolutely your choice. The only one problem is that it's more expensive than what you expect.

Hope you can have a trial and consider my recommendation.

Flowchart Tool For Mac

You can actually do a lot of flowcharting stuff with Google Docs too. It depends on whether you're willing to pay for something or not. There's a good mix of both paid and free flowcharting software on Mac here.

You can try Edraw Flowchart for Mac. It's an all-purpose diagram software with all flowcharting shapes. I suggest it to you because I found it one of the greatest diagramming tools after I tried some. It has a simple and elegant interface that you will feel comfortable to work on. It also includes templates that you can choose from. If you are a student, you just pay half price. These are its main features:

• Automatic connection.
• Basic shapes.
• Vector Drawing
• Templates and Examples.
• Export to PDF, JPEG, PNG, Word, PPT, Html, PS, Visio, etc.
• Cloud collaboration.
• Cross-platform
• Support 260+ kinds of diagrams.
• Add hyperlink, attachment, note and comment.
• Support large flowchart and multiple pages drawing.

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Free Flowchart Software Mac

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