Best Visio Alternatives for 2023 - Compare and Replace Microsoft Visio

Four Questions to Ask Yourself

If you're looking for a Visio alternative, here are some things you should consider.

1. Can the new app import your Visio files and stencils?

If the app you're considering doesn't have an automatic import option, you must be comfortable abandoning your files or manually exporting them to PDF.

2. Are the cost savings worth it?

The cost savings must be significant enough to pay for the switching costs. Make sure you understand the licensing plans of any alternative.

3. Does the alternative have all the features your team needs?

Keep your users happy by ensuring that any alternative you consider checks all the boxes they've grown accustomed to.

4. Does the alternative still allow you to save files to OneDrive^® and SharePoint^®?

Make sure you can continue to save files securely to your preferred solution honoring permissions and group settings already in place.

The Top 5 Visio Alternatives Compared

	Visio^®	SmartDraw	Lucidchart^®	Creately	Miro^®	Gliffy
Fully Featured
Automatic File Import	N/A
3rd Party Storage Integration
Document Control
SSO
Online	Limited

1. SmartDraw

SmartDraw has the best in class Visio^® import, which makes the transition easy for your team. You can import individual files, or batch convert entire directories of Visio^® files at once. You can even keep and use all of your existing Visio^® stencils, even custom made stencils. See why SmartDraw's Visio^® import is best in class.

Like Visio^®, SmartDraw checks all of the boxes expected of an enterprise-quality diagramming app, while also giving you all the modern features of a full-featured online solution. That means you'll get powerful diagramming tools, including scaled drawing for CAD and engineering, shape data, and more - all online. Plus, you'll get full integration to other tools including Atlassian's Confluence and Jira, Trello, Google Workspace, Azure, AWS, and more. You can build diagrams from data and collaborate with your team.

Unlike other Visio alternatives, SmartDraw also allows you to use third party storage. If you're already used to saving files on OneDrive^®, SharePoint^®, you can continue to do so with SmartDraw. In addition, you can also connect to other popular third-party storage solutions like Google Drive^™. And SmartDraw will use the existing folders and permissions you have already set up. It fits like a hand in a glove!

SmartDraw is much lower in cost than Visio^®. In fact, Visio^® users typically pay about ten times more than SmartDraw for 50 users or more.

SmartDraw is an excellent alternative to Visio^®. It is much less expensive, has more powerful online features and integrations, and has tools to make switching easy.

2. Lucidchart^®

While Lucidchart is a good online diagramming solution, it lacks some key features many enterprise Visio^® users may need to make the switch.

Visio users are often accustomed to saving files to OneDrive^® and SharePoint^® and seamless integration to Microsoft Office^® products. While Lucidchart lets you insert diagrams into some Microsoft products, the integration is limited. Lucidchart forces you to save files only to their proprietary online storage system. You'll no longer be able to use the permissions and groups already set up in your SharePoint^® or OneDrive^®.

Lucidchart does support SSO and central document control.

Despite its limitations in integrating with the Microsoft enterprise suite, Lucidchartsup>® is priced comparably to Visio.

3. Creately

Creately is an online app with many diagramming features expected in this category, with some expanded project management options.

It does not import Visio^® files.

It also does not use third-party storage solutions for documents and offers no central control over them.

It does support SSO.

Switching to Creately from Visio requires leaving your existing Visio^® files behind, but it might be worthwhile if you want the project management features of Creately.

4. Miro^®

Miro^® is a whiteboarding application with some diagramming features. It does not check all of the expected boxes for an enterprise-quality diagramming app, but it is very strong in whiteboarding.

It does not import Visio^® files.

It also does not use third-party storage solutions for documents.

It does support SSO and central control of documents.

Switching to Miro^® from Visio^® makes sense if your most important requirement is collaborative whiteboarding with simple diagrams.

5. Gliffy

Gliffy is an online app with a rich set of diagramming features but lacks many that Visio^® users might expect, such as shape data and specialized objects like gauges and tables. Its primary market is to be an add-on for Atlassian's Confluence and Jira.

It does not import Visio^® files.

It also does not use third-party storage solutions for documents except inside the Atlassian apps.

It does not support SSO and central control of documents.

Switching to Gliffy from Visio^® makes sense if your most important requirement is integration with Atlassian apps.