free alternative to visio

Looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Visio for diagrams, flowcharts, org charts, or network maps? Here are your best options—solid tools that won’t cost you a cent:

🧰 Top Free Visio Alternatives

1. Diagrams.net (aka draw.io)

• 100% free and browser-based

• No login required

• Works with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox

• Great for flowcharts, org charts, UML, ER diagrams, etc.

• https://www.diagrams.net

✅ Best all-around free Visio alternative
❌ Interface isn’t as polished as Visio

2. Lucidchart (Free Plan)

• Clean, easy-to-use interface

• Collaborative (real-time editing)

• Free plan includes 3 editable documents

• Great for business diagrams and teamwork

• https://www.lucidchart.com

✅ Great for teams and presentations
❌ Limited diagrams on the free plan

3. Pencil Project

• Open-source desktop tool

• Good for wireframes, UI mockups, flowcharts

• Simple interface, no cloud required

• https://pencil.evolus.vn

✅ Great for offline and UI/UX sketching
❌ Not ideal for complex technical diagrams

4. yEd Graph Editor

• Desktop app for complex diagrams (mind maps, flowcharts, networks)

• Auto-layouts, clean design

• https://www.yworks.com/products/yed

✅ Best for structured data-driven diagrams
❌ More technical, not as intuitive

5. LibreOffice Draw

• Part of the LibreOffice suite

• Decent for basic diagrams and shapes

• Not specialized like Visio, but works offline

• https://www.libreoffice.org

✅ Good if you already use LibreOffice
❌ Limited compared to Visio

⚡ Quick Picks by Use Case

Let me know what kind of diagrams you’re making (e.g., flowcharts, network maps, UI mockups), and I’ll recommend the best fit.