Visual Paradigm AlternativesTop Diagram Editors & UML Modeling Tools like Visual Paradigm

Visual Paradigm is described as 'For UML (VP-UML) is a UML design tool and UML CASE tool designed to aid software development. VP-UML supports key modeling standards such as Unified Modeling Language (UML) 2.4, SysML, ERD, DFD, BPMN 2.0, ArchiMate 2.0, etc' and is a Diagram Editor in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Visual Paradigm for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Web-based, Mac, Linux and Android apps. The best Visual Paradigm alternative is draw.io, which is free. Other great apps like Visual Paradigm are Dia, yEd Graph Editor, Excalidraw and Lucidchart.

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Visual Paradigm alternatives are mainly Diagram Editors but may also be Mind Mapping Tools or UML Modeling Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Visual Paradigm.
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Visual Paradigm for UML (VP-UML) is a UML design tool and UML CASE tool designed to aid software development. VP-UML supports key modeling standards such as Unified Modeling Language (UML) 2.4, SysML, ERD, DFD, BPMN 2.0,...

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Visual Paradigm alternatives page was last updated Feb 12, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Lucidchart icon
    Sponsored

    Lucidchart is a cloud-based platform that promotes teamwork through diagramming, collaboration, and data visualization. It serves millions worldwide, offering flowcharts, UML, real-time collaboration, Visio support, and browser access. Designed for innovation and understanding, it integrates easily into workflows.

    48 Lucidchart alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Lucidchart Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Flow Chart
    3.  Web-Based
    4.  Export to PDF
    5.  General-purpose diagramming
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Support for @mentions
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  AI-Powered
    10.  Charts
    11.  Scalable UI
    12.  Online collaboration
  2. draw.io icon
     977 likes
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    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.

    122 draw.io alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    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

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    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 VS Visual Paradigm

     
    Comments about draw.io as an Alternative to Visual Paradigm
    Guest
    Negative Mar 18, 2019
    2

    It can't visualize source code structure like Visual Paradigm.

    Visual Paradigm Icon
    draw.io icon
    • Most users think draw.io is a great Visual Paradigm alternative.

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

    • draw.io is the most popular free alternative to Visual Paradigm.

    • draw.io is Free and ProprietaryVisual Paradigm is Paid and Proprietary
  3. Dia icon
     451 likes
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    Dia is a GTK+ based diagram creation program for Linux, Unix, Mac OS X and Windows released under the GPL license.

    94 Dia alternatives

    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 VS Visual Paradigm

     
    • This alternative is disputed. Dia is a legitimate Visual Paradigm alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Dia is the most popular Open Source alternative to Visual Paradigm.

    • Dia is Free and Open SourceVisual Paradigm is Paid and Proprietary
    • Dia is LightweightVisual Paradigm is not according to our users
  4. yEd Graph Editor icon
     436 likes
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    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...

    114 yEd Graph Editor alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    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 VS Visual Paradigm

     
  5. Excalidraw icon
     75 likes
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    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.

    73 Excalidraw alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Interactive Whiteboard
    2.  Shared whiteboard
    3.  Real time collaboration
    4.  Mind Mapping
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Export to SVG
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  End-to-End Encryption
    9.  Free hand drawing
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Support for Layers
    12.  Cloud Sync

    Excalidraw VS Visual Paradigm

     
  6. Lucidchart icon
     535 likes
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    Lucidchart is a cloud-based platform that promotes teamwork through diagramming, collaboration, and data visualization. It serves millions worldwide, offering flowcharts, UML, real-time collaboration, Visio support, and browser access. Designed for innovation and understanding, it integrates easily into workflows.

    48 Lucidchart alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Lucidchart Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Flow Chart
    3.  Web-Based
    4.  Export to PDF
    5.  General-purpose diagramming
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Support for @mentions
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  AI-Powered
    10.  Charts
    11.  Scalable UI
    12.  Online collaboration

    Lucidchart VS Visual Paradigm

     
    • This alternative is disputed. Lucidchart is a legitimate Visual Paradigm alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Lucidchart is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad, SaaS & Android Tablet alternative to Visual Paradigm.

    • Lucidchart is Freemium and ProprietaryVisual Paradigm is Paid and Proprietary
  7. Microsoft Visio icon
     250 likes
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    Create data-connected diagrams with real-time collaboration as part of the Office Suite. Ideal for IT and business professionals, it visualizes complex info with ease, providing intuitive tools for diagramming, mind mapping, and vector graphics.

    119 Microsoft Visio alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Microsoft Visio Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Flow Chart
    3.  Workflow
    4.  Brainstorming

    Microsoft Visio VS Visual Paradigm

     
    Comments about Microsoft Visio as an Alternative to Visual Paradigm
    Guest
    Negative Aug 4, 2020
    1

    Doesn't generate code from diagram

    Visual Paradigm Icon
    Microsoft Visio icon
    • Microsoft Visio is the most popular commercial alternative to Visual Paradigm.

    • Microsoft Visio is Paid and ProprietaryVisual Paradigm is also Paid and Proprietary
  8. PlantUML icon
     115 likes
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    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.

    115 PlantUML alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    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 VS Visual Paradigm

     
  9. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    54 quiver diagram editor alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No Tracking
    4. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    5.  Activity history
    6.  Undo and redo
    7.  Export to LaTeX
    8.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    9.  Drag and Drop
    10.  Multi-selection

    quiver diagram editor VS Visual Paradigm

     
  10. Whimsical icon
     31 likes
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    Whimsical is a collaborative visual workspace for creating flowcharts, wireframes, virtual sticky notes, and more!.

    56 Whimsical alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online

    Top Whimsical Features

    1.  Mind Map view
    2.  Real time collaboration
    3.  Visual planning
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Cloud Sync
    6.  No Coding Required
    7.  AI-Powered
    8.  UX Design
    9.  Flow Chart
    10.  Visual-thinking
    11.  Flow diagram visualisation

    Whimsical VS Visual Paradigm

     
  11. Mermaid icon
     25 likes
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    Ever wanted to simplify documentation and avoid heavy tools like Visio when explaining your code? This is why mermaid was born, a simple markdown-like script language for generating flowcharts, Gantt charts and sequence diagrams from text via JavaScript.

    23 Mermaid alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • JavaScript
    • Node.JS

    Mermaid Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  WYSIWYG Support
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Flow Chart
    5.  Graphs
    6.  Create UML entities
    7.  Built-in themes

    Mermaid VS Visual Paradigm

     
  12. Google Drawings icon
     78 likes
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    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.

    73 Google Drawings alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Google Chrome

    Google Drawings Features

    1.  Drawing 2D
    2.  Cloud based
    3.  Online collaboration
    4.  Charts
    5.  Flow Chart

    Google Drawings VS Visual Paradigm

     
  13. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Versatile diagram software offering extensive templates for flowcharts, org charts, and more. AI integration simplifies diagramming, facilitates project analysis, and includes features like chatbots and OCR. Suitable for personal, professional, and collaborative use.

    130 Wondershare EdrawMax alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • Android

    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 VS Visual Paradigm

     
13 of 81 Visual Paradigm alternatives