Ranked 2 of 6 in best whiteboard and diagramming tools
The strongest diagram editor here for flowcharts and technical drawings, free and open source under Apache-2.0. It is an editor rather than a live whiteboard, so it has no sticky-note layer.
Best for Flowcharts and architecture diagrams stored as files
About draw.io
draw.io is a diagramming editor for flowcharts, process diagrams and technical drawings. Its site describes a security-first diagramming tool that lets users store files wherever they want, and the company says it cannot access them. The editor runs as client-side JavaScript in the browser, so diagrams are processed on the user's machine.
The app is free, and its source code is on GitHub under Apache-2.0, so teams can run their own copy. It is a focused diagram editor rather than a whiteboard, so it has no sticky-note whiteboard layer like Miro or FigJam. For documentation, architecture diagrams and flowcharts that must live in a repository or a company drive, draw.io is a practical choice.
Key features
- Open source, Apache-2.0 licensed
- Flowcharts and technical diagrams
- Client-side editor in the browser
- Storage of your choice
Strengths
- Free and open source under Apache-2.0
- Diagrams can be stored wherever the user chooses
- Strong fit for flowcharts and architecture diagrams
Limits
- A diagram editor rather than a whiteboard
- No sticky-note whiteboard layer like Miro
Where draw.io ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Whiteboard and diagramming tools | 2 of 6 | 90.0 | Flowcharts and architecture diagrams stored as files |
Alternatives to draw.io
All 5 alternatives
MiroOnline whiteboard for brainstorming, diagrams and team planning
FigJamOnline whiteboard from Figma for diagrams and brainstorming
ExcalidrawOpen-source whiteboard for diagrams with a hand-drawn look
MuralVisual workspace for team collaboration and problem solving
tldrawInfinite canvas whiteboard that needs no sign-up
Questions about draw.io
- Is draw.io free?
- draw.io can be used without paying: Free and open source under Apache-2.0. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is draw.io open source?
- Yes. draw.io publishes its source code under the Apache-2.0 license.
- Which platforms does draw.io support?
- draw.io is available on: Web.
- What is draw.io best for?
- Flowcharts and architecture diagrams stored as files. In our ranking of whiteboard and diagramming tools it is number 2 of 6 with a score of 90.0.
- What are the best alternatives to draw.io?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Miro, FigJam, Excalidraw, Mural.