Draw.io is one of those rare diagramming tools that’s 100% free to use with no restrictions. In this review, we take a look at what it’s like to use for diagramming on a Mac.
Draw.io (also known as “diagrams.net”) is a popular free online diagramming tool that’s widely used for creating flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams and many other types of visual representations.
In fact many consider it a viable free alternative to Visio for Mac.
Draw.io can be used either online in a browser or offline in a Mac desktop app.
In this review, we tested Draw.io both online and in the Mac app, examining the user interface, features, performance, and compatibility with Visio files.
This review will also be of interest to Windows users as the functionality of draw.io is exactly the same on all platforms.
Contents
User Interface
To start using Draw.io, you simply go to the draw.io website.
There’s a refreshing lack of sign-up page or requirement to enter any personal details – you can just start diagramming straight away.
You can choose where you want to save files either locally on your Mac or using Cloud services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Box or GitHub.
You can also download Draw.io for Mac which allows you to use it offline on your desktop. The desktop app is a nice touch and something lacking from many of its bigger rivals.
When you start the app, you’re given a choice of templates such as Flowchart, org chart, Swimlane Diagram etc.
There’s not a huge choice of templates compared to some of its rivals but it covers the most essential ones. You can also search online for user generated draw.io templates.
When you open a template, Draw.io gives you a pretty good looking vector graphic diagram that you can immediately start customizing.
The use of vector graphics is a big plus because they don’t suffer the same quality degradation as JPG and other image formats when you open and re-edit them.
The Draw.io user interface is simple and suitable for all levels of ability.
The toolbar is well-organized, offering a wide range of shapes, symbols, and connectors for creating diverse diagrams.
The drag-and-drop functionality is easy to use and connectors can be moved around easily. They also snap into place so that your diagrams remain neat and tidy at all times.
Features & Pricing
Core Features
The standalone web app and desktop versions are completely free to use for creating diagrams, with no subscription required for individual use. You can build flowcharts, org charts, UML diagrams, network diagrams, and more with a comprehensive set of tools and import/export support (e.g., Visio .vsdx) without paying anything.
Real-time collaboration & cloud storage
You can save and sync diagrams via Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, GitHub/GitLab, or local storage. When stored in a shared cloud folder (e.g., Google Drive), multiple people can edit a diagram simultaneously and see each other’s changes live.
Atlassian (Confluence & Jira) integration pricing
- For teams using draw.io inside Atlassian Confluence or Jira Cloud, there is a paid plan once you have more than 10 users on your instance.
- Free for up to 10 users
- 11–100 users: about $1.70–$1.95 per user/month (Confluence add-on pricing varies by tier)
- Larger teams scale down per user as you grow (e.g., $0.40, $0.30, etc., per user/month at higher user counts).
- Jira Cloud integration has a similar tiered pricing model: free for up to 10 users, then a per-user/month fee that decreases at larger team sizes.
Enterprise / Data Center licensing
- For Atlassian Data Center (self-hosted) deployments, draw.io has one-time license fees that depend on team size (e.g., several thousand USD for hundreds to thousands of users).
Performance
Draw.io performs exceptionally well on a Mac with responsive and lag-free experience.
The tool works in any browser and smoothly handles designs with lots of vector graphics in.
However, we preferred using it in the Mac desktop app offline. The desktop app feels more responsive and it also has an offline mode that allows you to work on diagrams without an internet connection.
Compatibility
Along with standard formats, Draw.io also supports many competitor products file formats so that you can import them into the app.
These include:
- XML (draw.io)
- GLIFFY (Gliffy)
- JSON (Lucidchart)
- VSDX (Visio)
- PNG (with XML)
- JPEG
- SVG
- CSV
Draw.io also supports exporting to most major file formats including:
- PNG
- JPEG
- SVG
- VSDX (Visio)
- HTML
- XML
- URL
However we found support for Microsoft Visio files was limited with importing and exporting resulting in various formatting issues.
In some cases, we found that it simply failed to import VSDX files at all with an “Invalid file data” message.
Draw.io does state that the VSDX import/export feature is in beta but we wouldn’t recommend it for professionals that need robust Visio file support.
If you need decent Visio file support, we strongly recommend using SmartDraw which is by far the best tool we’ve found for importing and exporting Visio files on a Mac.
Support
Draw.io support is only available for its commercial customers using Confluence or Jira. Those using it for free on their own only have the extensive tutorials on the draw.io website or the draw.io forum to help.
Draw.io vs Visio and Smartdraw
Draw.io is often used by those looking for a free alternative to two of the biggest diagramming tools out there – Visio and SmartDraw.
While Visio for Mac doesn’t exist, SmartDraw does work on Macs and here we show you how their essential features compare side-by-side.
| Feature | draw.io | Visio | SmartDraw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Web, Mac | Windows, Web | Windows, Web, Mac |
| Pricing | Freemium model with paid plans | Subscription-based | Subscription-based |
| Visio File Support | Limited import/export capabilities | Native support | Excellent import/export |
| Real-time Collaboration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Mode | Yes | Limited (Windows only) | Windows only |
| Template Library | Limited | Extensive | Extensive |
| Usability | Intuitive | Learning curve for new users | User-friendly interface |
For more on what Draw.io can do and all the features it offers, we recommend the Draw.io getting started guide.