The Best Open Source Dia AlternativesTop Diagram Editors & Vector Graphic Apps like Dia

The best open source alternative to Dia is draw.io. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Dia and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Dia are LibreOffice - Draw, Excalidraw, PlantUML and quiver diagram editor.

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Dia alternatives are mainly Diagram Editors, but if you're looking for Vector Graphic Apps or Mind Mapping Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux + Open Source, Linux, Open Source, Mac, Android and iPad. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Dia.
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Alternatives list

  1. draw.io icon

    draw.io

     1023 likes

    Feature-rich diagram editor offering privacy-focused, ad-free experience with real-time collaboration, offline usage, dark mode, and cloud storage support. No registration required and compatible with various diagram formats, it excels in simplicity by not tracking user data.

    139 draw.io alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Notion
    • Self-Hosted
    • Nextcloud
    • Microsoft SharePoint
    • Flathub
    • Microsoft OneDrive
    • PortableApps.com
    • Google Drive
    • Google Docs
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Google Slides
    • Flatpak
    • Google Sheets
    Use the diagram editor in dark mode. Go to app.diagrams.net/?splash=0&ui=dark
     
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    4
    draw.io vs Dia Comments
    Bryan McKnight
    Negative
    2

    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".

    Guest
    Positive
    2

    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 !

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    • draw.io is Free and Open SourceDia is also Free and Open Source
    • draw.io is Privacy focusedDia is not according to our users
  2. LibreOffice - Draw icon

    LibreOffice - Draw

     315 likes

    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.

    100 LibreOffice - Draw alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    LibreOffice - Draw screenshot 1
     
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    1
    LibreOffice - Draw vs Dia Comments
    dimlakgorkehgz
    Negative
    2

    Line links not attached to objects. Better for drawing than diagramming though it is still possible.

    • LibreOffice - Draw is Free and Open SourceDia is also Free and Open Source
    • LibreOffice - Draw is Privacy focusedDia is not according to our users
  4. Excalidraw icon

    Excalidraw

     108 likes

    Excalidraw is an open-source whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. Available directly online as a web app and also through CodeSandbox to easily see how the code works, and the app is available for self-hosting.

    89 Excalidraw alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    Excalidraw screenshot 1
     
  5. PlantUML icon

    PlantUML

     119 likes

    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.

    117 PlantUML alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    Common PlantUML JAR GUI application that will render text file into image.
     
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    2
    PlantUML vs Dia Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    6

    Not a GUI diagramming tool. By this logic graphviz is an alternative to Dia.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    PlantUML has no way to make a diagram or chart without knowing command line and learning a whole new markup language.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • PlantUML is Free and Open SourceDia is also Free and Open Source
  6. quiver diagram editor icon

    quiver diagram editor

     10 likes

    Efficient web-based tool for constructing high-quality commutative diagrams. Offers LaTeX export with embedded links, intuitive interface supporting both mouse and keyboard inputs, and features like multiple selections, macro support, and smart label alignment.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    quiver diagram editor screenshot 1
     
  7. Kroki icon

    Kroki

     7 likes

    Creates diagrams from textual descriptions! It provides a unified API with support for BlockDiag, BPMN, Bytefield, C4 (with PlantUML), Ditaa, Erd, GraphViz, Mermaid, Nomnoml, PlantUML, SvgBob, UMLet, Vega, Vega-Lite, WaveDrom.

    26 Kroki alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Kroki screenshot 1
     
  9. Wireflow icon

    Wireflow

     22 likes

    Feature-rich, open-source Wireflow offers a collaborative platform for online creation of complex user flow prototypes. Ideal for team work in UI design, wireframing, and mind mapping, promoting idea sharing in real-time environment aided by modern whiteboard features.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Wireflow screenshot 1
     
  10. Apache OpenOffice Draw icon

    Apache OpenOffice Draw

     125 likes

    Draw, part of the Apache OpenOffice suite, is a graphics editor that gives you the tools to communicate with visuals and diagrams. With a maximum page size of 300cm by 300cm, Draw is powerful tool for posters, graphs, charts, and more.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    For technical drawings with integrated graduation function (not available in PowerPoint)
     
  11. Gaphor icon

    Gaphor

     8 likes

    Gaphor is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) UML and SysML modeling environment easy to use that will help you create your applications.

    15 Gaphor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Gaphor screenshot 1
     
  12. Umbrello icon

    Umbrello

     40 likes

    Umbrello is a Unified Modelling Language (UML) modelling tool and code generator. It can create diagrams of software and other systems in the industry-standard UML format, and can also generate code from UML diagrams in a variety of programming languages.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Umbrello screenshot 1
     
  13. D2 icon

    D2

     3 likes

    Create beautiful diagrams in minutes. Simple syntax. Endlessly customizable. D2 is the fastest and easiest way to get a mental model from your head onto the screen, then make edits with your team.

    25 D2 alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    D2 flexibles Layouting https://d2lang.com/tour/layouts
     
  14. Heimer icon

    Heimer

     13 likes

    Heimer is a desktop application for creating mind maps and other suitable diagrams. It's written in Qt and targeted for Linux and Windows.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Simple mind map of Heimer itself running on Ubuntu 18.04
     
12 of 23 Dia alternatives