What are the best Dia alternatives?

Dia is described as 'GTK+ based diagram creation program for Linux, Unix, Mac OS X and Windows released under the GPL license' and is a very popular Diagram Editor in the business & commerce category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Dia for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Online / Web-based, Mac and Chrome OS. The best alternative is diagrams.net, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Dia are Penpot, yEd Graph Editor, LibreOffice - Draw and PlantUML.

Dia alternatives are mainly Mind Mapping Tools but may also be Diagram Editors or Vector Graphic Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Dia.

This page was last updated

Dia

438

Free • Open Source
Diagram Editor

Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
FreeBSD
Xfce
DragonFly BSD
NetBSD
OpenBSD

Dia is a GTK+ based diagram creation program for Linux, Unix, Mac OS X and Windows released under the GPL license.

Learn more about Dia

Lucidchart
Sponsored
Freemium • Proprietary
Mind Mapping Tool
Diagram Editor
Team Collaboration Tool
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
iPad
bambooHR
Microsoft Office Powerpoint
Microsoft OneDrive
Jira
Microsoft Office Word
Google Drive
Slack
Google Drive - Docs
Quip
Microsoft Teams
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Salesforce.com
Google Apps
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Office 365
Google Drive - Sheets
Microsoft Office Suite
LinkedIn
Confluence
Microsoft Office Excel
194 alternatives to Lucidchart
Lucidchart is a visual workspace that combines diagramming, collaboration, and data visualization to accelerate understanding and drive innovation. With this intuitive, cloud-based solution, everyone can work visually and collaborate in real time.
Suggest and vote on features
Lucidchart Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Lucidchart simultaneously.
General-purpose diagramming
Flow Chart
Scalable UI
Sequence Diagrams
Export to PDF
Charts
Visitor management
Web-Based
Online collaboration
Lucidchart vs Dia opinions
Some users think Lucidchart is a great alternative to Dia, some don't.
diagrams.net
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mind Mapping Tool
Diagram Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Chrome OS
Notion
Self-Hosted
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft OneDrive
PortableApps.com
Google Drive
Google Drive - Docs
Microsoft Teams
Google Slides
Google Drive - Sheets
127 alternatives to diagrams.net
diagrams.net (previously draw.io) is a free online diagram drawing application for workflow, BPM, org charts, UML, ER, network diagrams. No login or registration are required and features include the ability to save locally (including SVG), a range of stencils, .
Suggest and vote on features
diagrams.net Features
1. Works Offlinediagrams.net can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Dark Modediagrams.net supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
3. Lightweightdiagrams.net consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with diagrams.net.
5. Support for Layersdiagrams.net supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
6. Ad-freediagrams.net doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Support for LaTeXdiagrams.net supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
Flow Chart
Export to PDF
Sync with Google Drive
Web-Based
Export to SVG
Multiple export options
Single Line Diagram
Workflow
Document templates
Visio stencils
diagrams.net vs Dia opinions
Most users think diagrams.net is a great alternative to Dia.
Guest
Draw.io is very usable, with a sleek interface, tons of stencils/shapes, and the ability to export to various file formats. I have used for home and work projects and have been pleased with the results. I would even go as far as saying it's more useful than MS Visio if your requirements aren't too technical.
Positive comment•
3

Guest
Easy to use, No registration(!), complex feature set, very few bugs. Acceptable performance.
Positive comment•
1

Kholdfire
Draw.io is a decent alternative, but is too different. Mainly the problem is that Dia is an application program for Windows, while draw.io is a mere Web app. I know Web apps are popular these days, but they're not the same as actual applications, and personally I don't like how many companies seem to be attempting to make all programs Web apps or "online" "programs".
Negative comment•
2

Guest
Easy to use. Free and open source. can install on my pc (linux mint) Better application than Dia, that I can use online as well on my PC. Very Good !
Positive comment•
2
Penpot
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
UI Design Tool
Prototyping Tool
Graphic Design Tool
Online
Self-Hosted
109 alternatives to Penpot
Penpot is the first open-source design & prototyping tool for product teams, that allows full collaboration between designers and developers thanks to features such as Flex Layout and Code Inspect.
Suggest and vote on features
Penpot Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Penpot simultaneously.
2. Ad-freePenpot doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
4. Dark ModePenpot supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. Auto LayoutPenpot supports layouts that dynamically grow and adapt to the size of its contents.
UX Design
Interactive Prototyping
yEd Graph Editor
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Mind Mapping Tool
Diagram Editor
UML Modeling Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
BSD
107 alternatives to yEd Graph Editor
yEd is a powerful diagram editor that can be used to quickly create diagrams manually or import external data for analysis and auto-magically arrange even large data sets by just pressing a button. You can use yEd to quickly create flow charts, BPMN and UML diagrams...
Suggest and vote on features
yEd Graph Editor Features
1. Auto LayoutyEd Graph Editor supports layouts that dynamically grow and adapt to the size of its contents.
2. PortableyEd Graph Editor can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Export to SVG
Flow Chart
BPMN diagrams
Flow diagram visualisation
XML import / export
Modules
Import From Excel
Grid layout options
Class Diagrams
Create UML entities
yEd Graph Editor vs Dia opinions
Most users think yEd Graph Editor is a great alternative to Dia.
Lacika
yEd has pretty much all features as Dia and a lot more! It has a bit steep learning curve and sometimes a bit strange UI, but once you learn it you can do almost any diagram in it. It can even reorganize it automatically, if it gets messy!
Positive comment•
1

Guest
Simple to use and has all the options you could want. I have now adopted it for the program I have developed in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
Positive comment•
1

Guest
Featureful. Reliable and extendable.
Positive comment•
2
LibreOffice - Draw
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Diagram Editor
Vector Graphic App
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
91 alternatives to LibreOffice - Draw
Draw lets you produce anything from a quick sketch to a complex plan, and gives you the means to communicate with graphics and diagrams. With a maximum page size of 300cm by 300cm, Draw is a an excellent package for producing technical drawings, general posters, and much else.
Suggest and vote on features
LibreOffice - Draw Features
1. PortableLibreOffice - Draw can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. Support for LayersLibreOffice - Draw supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
3. LightweightLibreOffice - Draw consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Works OfflineLibreOffice - Draw can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsLibreOffice - Draw can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
6. Import CSV DataLibreOffice - Draw can import data from a CSV (Comma seperated values) file.
7. Auto LayoutLibreOffice - Draw supports layouts that dynamically grow and adapt to the size of its contents.
Export to PDF
Sequence Diagrams
Edit PDF
Create UML entities
BPMN diagrams
Auto aligment rulers
Grid layout options
Workflow
Grid layout
ER Diagrams
LibreOffice - Draw vs Dia opinions
Some users think LibreOffice - Draw is a great alternative to Dia, some don't.
dimlakgorkehgz
Line links not attached to objects. Better for drawing than diagramming though it is still possible.
Negative comment•
2
PlantUML
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mind Mapping Tool
Diagram Editor
UML Modeling Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
Chrome OS
110 alternatives to PlantUML
PlantUML is an open-source tool that uses simple textual descriptions to draw UML diagrams. The generator can be run anywhere within JVM and integrated with various application such as wiki, text editor, IDE, programming language, documentation generator, and others.
Suggest and vote on features
PlantUML Features
1. PortablePlantUML can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. Support for MarkDownPlantUML supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Text Based Format
Java based
VCS Friendly
Workflow
Flow Chart
Rendering
Create UML entities
PlantUML vs Dia opinions
This alternative is disputed. PlantUML is still a legitimate alternative to Dia, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Guest
Not a GUI diagramming tool. By this logic graphviz is an alternative to Dia.
Negative comment•
6
Lucidchart
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Mind Mapping Tool
Diagram Editor
Team Collaboration Tool
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
iPad
bambooHR
Microsoft Office Powerpoint
Microsoft OneDrive
Jira
Microsoft Office Word
Google Drive
Slack
Google Drive - Docs
Quip
Microsoft Teams
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Salesforce.com
Google Apps
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Office 365
Google Drive - Sheets
Microsoft Office Suite
LinkedIn
Confluence
Microsoft Office Excel
194 alternatives to Lucidchart
Lucidchart is a visual workspace that combines diagramming, collaboration, and data visualization to accelerate understanding and drive innovation. With this intuitive, cloud-based solution, everyone can work visually and collaborate in real time.
Suggest and vote on features
Lucidchart Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Lucidchart simultaneously.
General-purpose diagramming
Flow Chart
Scalable UI
Sequence Diagrams
Export to PDF
Charts
Visitor management
Web-Based
Online collaboration
Lucidchart vs Dia opinions
Some users think Lucidchart is a great alternative to Dia, some don't.
Microsoft Office Visio
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Diagram Editor
Mind Mapping Tool
Vector Graphic App
Windows
Windows S
111 alternatives to Microsoft Office Visio
Microsoft Office Visio makes it easy for IT and business professionals to visualize, explore, and communicate complex information. Go from complicated text and tables that are hard to understand to Visio diagrams that communicate information at a glance.
Suggest and vote on features
Microsoft Office Visio Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Microsoft Office Visio simultaneously.
Workflow
Flow Chart
Brainstorming
Microsoft Office Visio vs Dia opinions
Vectr
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Vector Graphic App
Image Editor
Graphic Design Tool
Windows
Linux
Online
Chrome OS
89 alternatives to Vectr
Vectr is a free graphics editor. Vectr is collaborative like Google Docs, and runs both in your web browser and on your desktop as a native app. With an intuitive interface, Vectr is easy to learn and use.
Suggest and vote on features
Vectr Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Vectr simultaneously.
2. Works OfflineVectr can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Web-Based
Extensive settings menu
Convert images to PDF
Image Sharing
Vectr vs Dia opinions
This alternative is disputed. Vectr is still a legitimate alternative to Dia, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Guest
Suggesting Vector would be the same as suggesting Photoshop. Just because you can draw boxes and use them to create a flow doesn't mean it's a flowchart/diagram centric application.
Negative comment•
13
Google Drawings
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Diagram Editor
Team Collaboration Tool
Online
Chrome OS
Google Chrome
69 alternatives to Google Drawings
Google Drawings, part of Google Drive, allows users to collaborate creating, sharing, and editing images or drawings. It can be used for creating charts, diagrams, designs, flow-charts, etc.
Suggest and vote on features
Google Drawings Features
Drawing 2D
Cloud based
Online collaboration
Charts
Flow Chart