Microsoft Visio Alternatives for Linux

Microsoft Visio is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is draw.io, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Microsoft Visio and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Microsoft Visio are Dia, LibreOffice - Draw, yEd Graph Editor and Pencil Project.

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Microsoft Visio alternatives are mainly Diagram Editors but may also be Mind Mapping Tools or UML Modeling Tools.  Other popular filters includes Android + Mind Mapping. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft Visio.
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Microsoft 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...

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Microsoft Visio alternatives page was last updated Jul 22, 2024
  1. draw.io icon
     968 likes

    Note: This software is now renamed as "diagrams.net", however, it is still popularly known as "draw.io".

    123 draw.io alternatives
    Use the diagram editor in dark mode. Go to app.diagrams.net/?splash=0&ui=dark

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Notion
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft SharePoint
    • Microsoft OneDrive
    • PortableApps.com
    • Google Drive
    • Google Docs
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Google Slides
    • Google Sheets

    Top draw.io Features

    1.  Flow Chart
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Export to PDF
    4.  Mind Mapping
    5.  Web-Based
    6.  Sync with Google Drive
    7.  Multiple export options
    8.  Export to SVG
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Interior Design
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Single Line Diagram
    draw.io iconMicrosoft Visio Icon

    draw.io VS Microsoft Visio

    Is draw.io a good alternative to Microsoft Visio?
     
    Comments about draw.io as an Alternative to Microsoft Visio
     
       
    Comment summary: Many users praise draw.io as a lightweight, user-friendly, and cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Visio. Benefits highlighted include its intuitive interface, offline capabilities, support for LaTeX, and compatibility with Visio files. The open-source nature and free availability are frequent points of commendation. While most feedback is positive, one comment regards draw.io as merely an illustration tool with flowchart shapes. Overall, it is well-regarded for its features, ease of access, and utility both online and offline.
    makerj

    It is very convenient and contains many features.

    Top positive commentMar 3, 2017
    10
    CRAZY HICK

    Lightweight, simple to learn/use and not a rip-off like Visio.

    Positive commentMay 31, 2024
    0
    Guest

    Simplified, easy to use interface. Free and Open Source. Clean UI design and look and feel.

    Positive commentMar 30, 2022
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 15 comments
    Microsoft Visio Icon
    draw.io icon
    • Almost everyone thinks draw.io is a great Microsoft Visio alternative.

    • draw.io is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Microsoft Visio.

    • draw.io is the most popular free alternative to Microsoft Visio.

    • draw.io is Free and ProprietaryMicrosoft Visio is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Dia icon
     448 likes

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

    94 Dia alternatives
    Dia screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Flow Chart
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Workflow
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    Dia iconMicrosoft Visio Icon

    Dia VS Microsoft Visio

    Is Dia a good alternative to Microsoft Visio?
     
    Comments about Dia as an Alternative to Microsoft Visio
     
    Guest

    Clumpsy Handling, old fashion style look

    Negative commentJul 5, 2016
    9
    Guest

    Dia has no cross platform copy paste capability.

    Negative commentOct 31, 2016
    -4
    Microsoft Visio Icon
    Dia icon
    • Most users think Dia is a great Microsoft Visio alternative.

    • Dia is the most popular Open Source alternative to Microsoft Visio.

    • Dia is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visio is Paid and Proprietary
    • Dia is LightweightMicrosoft Visio is not according to our users
  3. LibreOffice - Draw icon
     297 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.

    95 LibreOffice - Draw alternatives
    LibreOffice - Draw screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Export to PDF
    2.  Portable
    3.  Sequence Diagrams
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Auto Layout
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Import CSV Data
    11.  WYSIWYG Support
    12.  RAW Photo Editors
    LibreOffice - Draw iconMicrosoft Visio Icon

    LibreOffice - Draw VS Microsoft Visio

    Is LibreOffice - Draw a good alternative to Microsoft Visio?
     
    Comments about LibreOffice - Draw as an Alternative to Microsoft Visio
     
       
    Guest

    It's free and open source, while Visio is proprietary and expensive.

    Top positive commentNov 15, 2017
    5
    Red-Case

    Not cloud based, which is great. Had problems with diagrams.net being unable to login with my Google account which made my files inaccessible.

    Positive commentJul 3, 2023
    0
    Raf10

    It's free/libre software, with layers, etc.

    Positive commentFeb 11, 2021
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 6 comments
    Microsoft Visio Icon
    LibreOffice - Draw icon
    • Most users think LibreOffice - Draw is a great Microsoft Visio alternative.

    • LibreOffice - Draw is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visio is Paid and Proprietary
    • LibreOffice - Draw is LightweightMicrosoft Visio is not according to our users
  4. yEd Graph Editor icon
     435 likes

    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...

    113 yEd Graph Editor alternatives
    yEd Graph Editor screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD

    Top yEd Graph Editor Features

    1.  Export to SVG
    2.  Flow diagram visualisation
    3.  BPMN diagrams
    4.  Flow Chart
    5.  Auto Layout
    6.  Portable
    7.  XML import / export
    8.  Modules
    9. Microsoft Excel icon  Import From Excel
    10.  Grid layout options
    11.  ER Diagrams
    12.  Layout
    yEd Graph Editor iconMicrosoft Visio Icon

    yEd Graph Editor VS Microsoft Visio

    Is yEd Graph Editor a good alternative to Microsoft Visio?
     
    Comments about yEd Graph Editor as an Alternative to Microsoft Visio
     
       
    Guest

    good functionality, when all custom pallets are in place, over the years.

    Top positive commentMar 28, 2018
    1
    Guest

    Free, lightweight and good response. Powerful layout tool to smart redraw your diagram. Several types of diagrams supported.

    Positive commentApr 13, 2020
    0
    Guest

    Open source, lightweight, easy to use.

    Positive commentFeb 27, 2020
    -1
    Show more comments
    3 of 7 comments
    Microsoft Visio Icon
    yEd Graph Editor icon
    • Almost everyone thinks yEd Graph Editor is a great Microsoft Visio alternative.

    • yEd Graph Editor is Free and ProprietaryMicrosoft Visio is Paid and Proprietary
  5. Pencil Project icon
     412 likes

    Pencil is a standalone app that lets you create diagrams or UI mockups. It doesn't have collaboration/multi-user features.

    79 Pencil Project alternatives
    Pencil Project screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com

    Pencil Project Features

    1.  Prototyping
    2.  Sketching
    3.  Cliparts
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Export to HTML
    7.  Export to SVG
    8.  Export to PDF
    9.  Export to PNG
    Discontinued

    It seems that this project is inactive. Since late 2023 there has been virtually no development in their GitHub repository.

    Pencil Project iconMicrosoft Visio Icon

    Pencil Project VS Microsoft Visio

    Is Pencil Project a good alternative to Microsoft Visio?
     
    Comments about Pencil Project as an Alternative to Microsoft Visio
     
       
    Guest

    Used to make sketchups for a mobile GUI.

    Top positive commentJan 22, 2017
    1
    Guest

    Does not map network layout easily enough, which is what Visio was designed to do from the start

    Top negative commentMay 1, 2017
    4
    Guest

    Great for UI mockups and planning.

    Negative commentMay 30, 2019
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Microsoft Visio Icon
    Pencil Project icon
    • Most users think Pencil Project is a great Microsoft Visio alternative.

    • Pencil Project is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visio is Paid and Proprietary
  6. PlantUML icon
     115 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.

    116 PlantUML alternatives
    Common PlantUML JAR GUI application that will render text file into image.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Chrome OS

    PlantUML Features

    1.  Text Based Format
    2.  Portable
    3.  Java based
    4.  VCS Friendly
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Workflow
    7.  Rendering
    8.  Create UML entities
    9.  Flow Chart
    PlantUML iconMicrosoft Visio Icon

    PlantUML VS Microsoft Visio

    Is PlantUML a good alternative to Microsoft Visio?
     
  7. Wondershare EdrawMax icon
     50 likes

    Wondershare EdrawMax is a software designed for creating various diagrams and charts including flowcharts, mind maps, and business diagrams. It also provides a user-friendly floor planning solution and a visual reference for complex electrical systems.

    130 Wondershare EdrawMax alternatives
    Wondershare EdrawMax screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online

    Wondershare EdrawMax Features

    1.  Gantt-charts
    2.  Real time collaboration
    3.  Flow Chart
    4.  Mind Map view
    5.  Organization
    6.  Export to PDF
    Wondershare EdrawMax iconMicrosoft Visio Icon

    Wondershare EdrawMax VS Microsoft Visio

    Is Wondershare EdrawMax a good alternative to Microsoft Visio?
     
    Comments about Wondershare EdrawMax as an Alternative to Microsoft Visio
     
       
    Guest

    It has the same UI and software features.

    Positive commentNov 8, 2016
    -1
    Guest

    It has table tool with merging,splitting and other table functions and collapsible trees

    Positive commentJan 4, 2016
    0
    Guest

    The similar UI and less learn curve. Cross platform, good job.

    Positive commentApr 26, 2017
    -1
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Microsoft Visio Icon
    Wondershare EdrawMax icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Wondershare EdrawMax is a great Microsoft Visio alternative.

    • Wondershare EdrawMax is Paid and ProprietaryMicrosoft Visio is also Paid and Proprietary
7 of 29 Microsoft Visio alternatives