10 Best LucidChart Alternatives

10 Best LucidChart Alternatives:  LucidChart is a useful online diagram software that allows you to create flowcharts, maps, and more.  You can ask any professional about the benefits of diagramming, and they will all tell you the same thing – it makes data more readable. Between extracting information by reading a full-page report in words is slower than connecting the dots using bars and charts. After all, a good picture is worth a thousand words, making diagramming software so relevant and popular.

The LucidChart takeover

LucidChart stands out as one of the most attractive, easy to master diagramming software. You can create professional-grade visual content with out-of-the-box features and benefits your productivity and company growth. LucidChart users have responded that the program makes them –

1. 40% faster
2. 38% more productive
3. Saves close to 3 hours a week while collaborating with others

Hence, your innovation increases, making you more efficient at your workplace. Moreover, in a broader sense, organizations collectively save time and generate more revenue with a smoother workflow.

LucidChart offers a free license with all the standard features to get you started. If you want to use unique templates, added customization, and tools, you can opt for one among the several paid plans available.

What can you create with LucidChart?

Document processes

Creating process flows and user flows are prominent features of LucidChart.  You can represent diagrammatically the project handoffs and interactions between various sections. Again, the software simplifies making user flows to show the interactions between people and products. The workflow becomes seamless using LucidChart and clear to everyone involved.

Comparisons

The general, non-technical audience usually prefers seeing a direct impact of a technical solution and not jargon. You can find templates that show the effect of your idea and solution using “before” and “after” states.

Automated diagrams and documentation

LucidChart can make amateurs designers look professional as you can automatically create diagrams and charts. It offers solutions to linking data with shapes, visualizing an AWS architecture, and create org charts.

Resource hubs

The ideal documentation and diagramming programs open up the floor for convenient collaboration among team members. LucidCharts allows creators to link users to the resources for reference and access to crucial information available in a snapshot.

Inspiring professional art

Moving over the practical aspect of LucidChart, you can also create art with it. Try out innovative boxes, templates, and designs to attract your audience to otherwise mundane information. You will find numerous templates in the resource center for free and ready-to-use.

Attractive Alternatives for LucidChart

LucidChart is an excellent utility software, but the freemium model may dissuade a lot of users. The free license is rudimentary, and you may find your creativity and necessity limited. The Premium plans start at $7.95 per month for individuals.

However, LucidChart is not the end of the road for diagramming apps.

Here are 10 alternatives to LucidChart that are capable contenders:

Creately

Creately faithful may argue the diagramming software offers more productivity, collaboration options, and competitive pricing than LucidChart. It supports real-time designing, where team members can connect through video conference directly from the app while working. It supports cross-platform usage for asynchronous collaboration. Its Slack integration makes work smoother.

With 50 specialized shape libraries, you can create diagrams depending on your needs, like flowcharts, wireframes, UI design, sitemaps, etc. However, you cannot add content to a document or report natively. Files are downloadable as JPG, PNG, or PDF.

You can avail of the free version with minimal features and subscribe to individual plans for $4.95 per month and team plans (with three licenses) for $18 per month, including collaborative features.

Draw.io

Draw.io is a better open-source alternative to LucidChart that is entirely free, and downloadable on all platforms. The diagramming software is known for versatility without costing you a dime. The Google Drive integration opens up collaboration opportunities. You do not need a draw.io account to get started, but you can save your work to Drive and Dropbox.

It is beneficial for network diagrams, and the free canvas is not limited. You can import data from external sources using a CSV file. The features are not as extensive as freemium model competitors, but it is available for no cost again. You can view LucidChart diagrams using the viewer as well.

Visio

Microsoft Visio is part of the extended Microsoft 365 app family. You require a separate subscription to avail of the services, but its reputation as a professional diagramming tool exceeds itself. It is prominent in both business and educational sectors.

Backed by Microsoft support and publications, you should not bother yourself with security and privacy concerns. You can use the Data Visualizer feature to connect Excel to Visio and include diagrams in your spreadsheet. It also works with SQL Server and Access to visualize real-time data from the databases. While templates are limited, you can still make flowcharts, UML diagrams, plans, org charts, and mind maps with your team.

You will find two different pricing options for Visio for an offline and a cloud app. Windows users can access both, while Mac users can only use the online version.

Visme

Visme is a leading diagram and flowchart creation tool that offers various templates, color schemes, content blocks, design elements, and automated builders. It is an online platform. You can either get creative and make your diagrams from scratch or use the flowchart builder to guide you.

Users can choose from thousands of templates and incorporate design elements like shapes, illustrations, and icons to create documents, presentations, and infographics. All the features are accessible out of the box. You can also add your content to reports natively. Visme supports integration with Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox for project imports and storage.

The Visme dashboard makes collaboration easier as team members can annotate, comment, and use popups. Its layered pricing scheme makes it excellent for businesses, content creators, students, startups, bloggers, etc. While you can try out the features with the free version, the Business plan worth $29 a month has exclusive, complex components. Educators and students can avail themselves of a 25% discount.

Gliffy

Gliffy is often the diagramming software choice for design teams and businesses. It targets software designers and engineers. Been around for 15 years, software design teams rely on Gliffy for creating wireframes and business brainstorming.

It is not as versatile in diagramming as its competitors as software engineers mostly used it. However, it is an industry-standard in creating flowcharts, org charts, UI mockups, and wireframes. Hence, if your team designs mobile apps, websites, and software, Gliffy is a great option.

Gliffy offers a free trial, after which you need to subscribe to the Professional plan for $7.99 per month or the Team plan worth $4.99 a month.

XMind

XMind makes brainstorming and mind-mapping convenient with its minimal user interface, desktop and mobile support, and flowchart features. The XMind 2020 version is a more robust solution with various theme styles and math equations. If you are a fan of the dark mode interface, the Zen workspace option deserves your attention.

XMind is popular in the mind mapping space due to its availability across different platforms, including Android. It does not offer extensive collaborative options. You can perceive it as one for the creative minds, as you can doodle and draw on your content with a stylus.

The competitive pricing with eight different pricing options also makes it accessible for different kinds of users. Subscriptions can either be monthly or yearly, and education plans come at a discount.

SmartDraw

SmartDraw holds a competitive edge over LucidDraw with its automated diagramming features. It boasts a massive collection of templates, design elements like shapes, blocks, icons, and other design features. It rose to prominence as a wireframing solution.

Users can add SmartDraw to Atlassian, Dira, and Confluence networks. It also supports Microsoft 365 integration, with seamless data export to Vision and vice versa. The flowcharting options make designing org charts and processes convenient. The drag and drop function is accurate if you’re looking for pixel-perfect element placements.

SmartDraw does not offer a free license, nor is it freemium-based. The Single user option starts at $9.95. The Team plan offers more business-oriented solutions at $5.95 per user license.

ProtoPie

Content creators and businesses rate ProtoPie highly for its extensive customization options. It breaks the design limitation imposed by LucidChart templates and attracts seasoned designers more. You can create high-quality diagrams with its design suite.

ProtoPies allows easy imports from Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch. You can also access your files from Android or iOS devices, which makes working remotely possible.

You can try out the premium version free for seven days. Following its conclusions, users can subscribe for $11 a month.

OmniGraffle

OmniGraffle is the desktop diagramming software option available for Mac users. If you prefer offline creating and editing, look no further than its clean design features and granular flowcharts. You can use the app across all Apple products for diagramming and prototyping.

OmniGraffle is a vector design app with native templates. It favors users with some design background as it is not beginner-friendly. It is professional-grade with tools and elements available to design efficiently and productively. You can exercise your freedom to create any diagrams and designs from scratch.

OmniGraffle is available in two subscription options. Your choice depends on whether you require it as a team or an individual. The schemes include timely updates and lower-priced monthly charges than the initial payment.

Coggle

Coggle is among the cleanest, user-friendly LucidChart alternatives available. The diagramming software is not as nuanced as its competitors, but it gets the job done. You can start with a collection of templates and collaborate with team members on a project.

The Google Drive integrations make storage secure and convenient. You can customize and create unique designs with multiple start points, a vast library of icons, and auto-arranging branches.

Coggle follows a freemium model so that you can subscribe to its advanced features for $5 a month.

List of 10 Best LucidChart Alternatives

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