vs
draw.io vs Lucidchart
The two best-known shape-based diagram apps. draw.io is free and open source with desktop apps that work offline; Lucidchart is a browser app with a 3-document free plan and Team at $10 per user a month, and it can export Visio files.
Which one to pick
Pick draw.io if
ShapesCodeWords
- You want it free for work with no limit on diagrams
- Your files should stay on your own drive, or in Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or GitHub
- You need to work offline or on Linux
Pick Lucidchart if
ShapesCodeWords
- You trade files with Visio users and need VSDX export (paid plans)
- You'd rather have everything in a polished browser app with Lucid's cloud
- You want a live Mermaid editor next to the canvas (paid plans)
Where they differ most
Cheapest paid plan
- draw.io
- Free; paid add-ons priced separately
- Lucidchart
- $10/month, Team (billed yearly)
Free version
- draw.io
- Free and open source
- Lucidchart
- Free plan
Diagram code
- draw.io
- Mermaid, PlantUML
- Lucidchart
- Mermaid
Works offline
- draw.io
- YesYes
- Lucidchart
- PartlyPartly
Open source
- draw.io
- YesYes
- Lucidchart
- NoNo
Visio (VSDX)
- draw.io
- NoNo
- Lucidchart
- Paid plansPaid plans
Every fact, side by side
Highlighted rows differ. Rows with an info mark open a note.
draw.ioLucidchartHow you make a diagram
Ways to draw Shapes, Code, WordsShapes, Code, Words
AI limits (differs)10,000 characters per request on draw.io's hosted AI; no daily or monthly cap stated; no cap with your own modelNo usage limit published
Diagram types Flowcharts, UML, ER / database, BPMN, Network, Cloud architecture, Org charts, Mind maps, Wireframes, SequenceFlowcharts, UML, ER / database, BPMN, Network, Cloud architecture, Org charts, Mind maps, Wireframes, Sequence
Free plan and prices
Free limits (differs)Unlimited diagrams, no account needed3 editable documents, 75 shapes each, 100 templates, 25 MB storage
Cheapest paid plan (differs)Free; paid add-ons priced separately$10/month, Team (billed yearly)
What you get out
PNG YesYesYesYes
PDF YesYesYesYes
Where it runs and where files live
Apps (differs)Web, Windows, Mac, LinuxWeb, iPad / iPhone, Android
Who you're trusting
Data residency (differs)Atlassian apps follow the Atlassian instance's data residency; other storage is your ownUS (default), EU or Australia on Enterprise
