In addition, it hosts an extensive library of shapes, elements, and templates for detailed charts and illustrations. Visio comes with all the necessary features and functions to help with building professional-looking diagrams. It is a robust tool especially for creating and designing visual representations for your business or study needs. Looking for other advanced software? See our list of the best Adobe Indesign alternatives.Ranging from essential to complex diagrams, there is no denying that Microsoft Visio may accomplish it. However, you can create complex diagrams for free with any of the above alternatives. You only need to upgrade if you want to use premium features, which vary based on the tool itself. There aren’t any time limits in the free versions. You don’t have to upgrade to use the tool. Do I need to upgrade to the premium versions?Īs you likely noticed, some of the alternatives do have premium plans available. If you don’t want to worry about having to install updates yourself, opt for a browser tool instead so that you always have the latest version. However, all the options on this list are actively supported by their developers. For free alternatives with a premium option as well, the premium features may include what you’re missing, such as extra templates, collaboration support, project organization, etc.įor most users, once you learn the ins and outs of free Visio alternatives, you’ll find you can do most of the same things without spending money on licensing fees. You’ll usually find a few features missing. Most free alternatives don’t offer quite as robust of a feature set, though some of these solutions are surprisingly close. Microsoft Visio is an advanced diagramming tool. Will I get all the same features as Visio?

You can’t edit any diagrams, but you are able to view and comment on them (if someone shares a file with you). Many of these Visio alternatives do support Visio files, so if you’re making the switch from Visio, make sure the free solution does support importing your existing files so that you don’t lose anything.Īlternatively, you can use the free Microsoft Visio Viewer. Will I be able to import Visio files to free Visio alternatives? However, free is likely more than enough to serve as a decent Visio alternative. If you need more templates, icons, charts, diagrams, and effects, you’ll want to upgrade to a premium plan, which starts at $4/user/month.

Alternative to visio for mac