vs
draw.io vs Microsoft Visio
Free and open source against Microsoft's paid diagram app. draw.io opens Visio files and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux; Visio Plan 1 is $5 per user a month billed yearly, and only Visio itself saves VSDX.
Which one to pick
Pick draw.io if
ShapesCodeWords
- You don't want to pay per seat for diagrams
- You use a Mac or Linux and want a desktop app
- Opening old Visio files is enough; you don't need to save back to VSDX
Pick Microsoft Visio if
Shapes
- Your organisation already lives in Microsoft 365 and Teams
- Colleagues and clients send and expect .vsdx files
- You want a one-time licence: Visio Professional 2024 is $579.99
Where they differ most
Ways to draw
- draw.io
- Shapes, Code, Words
- Microsoft Visio
- Shapes
Free for work use
- draw.io
- YesYes
- Microsoft Visio
- Not applicableNot applicable
Cheapest paid plan
- draw.io
- Free; paid add-ons priced separately
- Microsoft Visio
- $5/month, Visio Plan 1 (billed yearly)
Free version
- draw.io
- Free and open source
- Microsoft Visio
- No free version
AI from a text prompt
- draw.io
- YesYes
- Microsoft Visio
- Not statedNot stated
Diagram code
- draw.io
- Mermaid, PlantUML
- Microsoft Visio
- None
Every fact, side by side
Highlighted rows differ. Rows with an info mark open a note.
draw.ioMicrosoft VisioHow you make a diagram
Ways to draw (differs)Shapes, Code, WordsShapes
Free plan and prices
Free limits (differs)Unlimited diagrams, no account neededIncluded Visio in Microsoft 365: basic diagrams in the browser, .vsdx only
Cheapest paid plan (differs)Free; paid add-ons priced separately$5/month, Visio Plan 1 (billed yearly)
What you get out
PNG (differs)YesYesPaid plansPaid plans
Where it runs and where files live
Apps (differs)Web, Windows, Mac, LinuxWeb, Windows
