Draw it or write it
Free diagram tools work in two ways. In a drawing app you drag shapes and connect them. In a diagrams as code tool you write a short text description and the tool draws the layout for you.
| Kind | Examples | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing in the browser | draw.io, Creately, Visual Paradigm Online, Eraser | Flowcharts, org charts and process maps you arrange by hand |
| Desktop apps | draw.io desktop, yEd, Umbrello | Working offline and keeping files on your computer |
| Diagrams as code | Mermaid, PlantUML, Graphviz, D2, Kroki, Diagrams | Docs, wikis and code repositories, where text is easy to review and version |
Diagrams as code mean learning a short syntax, but a change is a text edit instead of rearranging boxes. Mermaid code blocks render directly in Markdown on GitHub, according to the Mermaid repository.
Free plan limits compared
The hosted tools cap their free plans in different ways. These are the numbers from the official pricing pages:
| Tool | Free limit |
|---|---|
| Creately | Up to 40 shapes per diagram; PNG, JPEG, PDF and SVG export not included |
| Eraser | 3 files, 3 AI credits for diagrams and outlines, 7-day version history |
| Visual Paradigm Online | Unlimited diagrams and shapes, strictly non-commercial use, some diagram types limited |
| draw.io | Free forever, no sign-up, no paywalls |
| yEd | Free of charge, also in a commercial environment |
The open source tools in the table have no plan limits. You install them yourself, or in the case of Kroki use the free service or run your own instance.
Export formats
Check the export before you draw a large diagram. A PNG is fine for slides and chat, SVG stays sharp at any size, and PDF suits printing.
| Tool | Exports named on the official page |
|---|---|
| draw.io | SVG, PNG, PDF; the export help page also lists JPEG, WebP, HTML, XML and PNG or SVG with the diagram embedded so it stays editable |
| Visual Paradigm Online | JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF |
| Eraser | PDF, PNG, SVG, MD |
| yEd | PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF, SWF |
| PlantUML | PNG, SVG, LaTeX, EPS, ASCII art for sequence diagrams |
| Graphviz | Images, SVG, PDF, PostScript |
| D2 | SVG, PNG, PDF, PPTX, GIF, ASCII, per d2lang.com |
Free tools for your diagrams
- SVG to PNG: turn an exported SVG into a sharp PNG at 2x or 4x for slides and documents.
- Markdown editor: write the docs that hold your diagrams as code.
- Color palette generator: pick a few colors that work together for shapes and lines.
- Image compressor: shrink a large PNG export before you email or upload it.
For sticky notes and team brainstorming, see the free online whiteboards. For mind maps, see free mind mapping tools. We opened each tool's official page on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says.
Frequently asked questions
Is draw.io really free?
Yes. The draw.io website says it is free forever, needs no sign-up and has no paywalls. The source code is Apache 2.0 licensed, and you can use it online with your own storage or save files locally with the desktop app.
Which free diagram tool needs no account?
draw.io says no account and no credit card are required. Desktop programs like yEd and Umbrello, and text tools like Graphviz, PlantUML and D2, run on your own computer.
What does diagrams as code mean?
You describe the boxes and arrows in plain text and the tool draws the diagram. Mermaid, PlantUML, Graphviz and D2 work this way, and Kroki renders many of these text formats through one free service.
Can I use free diagram tools for work?
It depends on the tool. yEd says you can use it in a commercial environment at no cost. Visual Paradigm Online's free plan is strictly for non-commercial use. Open source tools follow their license, such as MIT for Mermaid or Eclipse Public License 2.0 for Graphviz.
Which free tool exports SVG?
draw.io, Visual Paradigm Online, Eraser, yEd, PlantUML, Graphviz and D2 all name SVG export on their official pages. Creately's free plan does not include SVG export.