Best Flowchart Software - Lucidcharts vs Visio
Find the right graphing tool for your business needs with this comparison of Lucidcharts vs Visio - features, stats, and prices.
Flowchart tools help visualize processes but do not make them executable. Here is how we approach process documentation.
Tallyfy is the only product available that does Process Documentation and Process Tracking in one
Summary
- LucidChart wins on simplicity and price - Free tier available, with paid plans starting much lower than Visio’s $5 per user monthly minimum, while offering 15 integrations including Slack and Google Drive
- Real-time collaboration is the differentiator - LucidChart allows multiple users to edit simultaneously with built-in chat and video hangouts, while Visio only offers basic sharing without true collaborative editing
- Visio requires more investment - Works offline and includes advanced brainstorming tools, but demands higher upfront costs and steeper learning curve, making it viable mainly for larger businesses with existing Microsoft infrastructure
- Need process automation beyond just mapping? - See how Tallyfy turns your flowcharts into executable workflows
If you’re looking for the right flowchart software for your business, be it for engineering, process mapping, or anything in-between, you have 2 major choices: LucidCharts vs Visio.
With this comparison guide, we’ll help you decide between Lucidcharts vs Visio, allowing you to pick the perfect flowchart tool for your business.
LucidCharts vs Visio - common features and stats
Both LucidCharts vs Visio are flowchart tools that give you the freedom to choose from tons of different shapes and styles, for all sorts of flowchart uses.
Both tools excel in their speed and responsiveness and allow collaboration with your team. LucidChart and Visio also have commenting features that allow you to discuss work with @mention notifications.
But LucidChart collaboration features stand out in that multiple users can work on the chart at the same time.
In addition, both offer online and knowledge base support.
Lastly, you can get a free trial with both tools, so I would suggest trying them out for free before making your final decision.
LucidCharts
LucidChart pros
- Clean and simple
- Chat
- iPhone app exists
- 15 integrations (Slack, Google Drive, etc.)
- Secure
- Import/Export to different file types
- Social media sharing
- Access to files from any computer
- Revision history/Version control
- Great customer service
LucidChart cons
- Requires internet
- Lack of customization options
- Gets harder and slower to use as charts get more complex
LucidChart feature review
LucidChart clean and simple user interface makes software onboarding easy for you and your team. You’ll find it easy and fast to adapt to.
While collaborating with your team on one chart, LucidChart gives you the option to have a real-time chat with your collaborators rather than having to resort to emails. You can even video chat with your team through a Google Hangout option.
In addition to great real-time collaboration and chat features, you can also share folders and documents with your teammates through LucidChart so that you don’t have to attach files to emails any longer.
You can even conveniently access your charts through their iPhone application.
LucidChart 15 integrations give you the flexibility to personalize the tool to your company. The integrations include:
- Microsoft
- Box
- Slack
- Atlassian
- Dropbox
- Jive
- AWS
Even though LucidChart is a cloud-based app, it buckles down on security and dependability.
Also, you can import from and export to Visio, Gliffy, and OmniGraffle, making file sharing easy.
Because it’s a web-based tool, you can access your account and files from any computer. But this does mean you won’t be able to access your charts without internet.
LucidChart also has an excellent revision history which allows you to roll back edits or start a new document version.
Lastly, they are known for their terrific customer service, including extensive video tutorials to help you with the onboarding process.
LucidChart pricing
- 3 editable documents
- 60 objects per document
- Billed annually
- Unlimited documents
- Billed annually
- 3 user minimum
- Advanced security
- Dedicated support
Who is LucidChart for
LucidChart is a great option for just about anyone. Whether you are a freelancer, small/medium sized business, or enterprise, LucidChart never-ending list of features is bound to apply to you in some aspect.
Its cheaper price also makes it a manageable option for those who are only dabbling in process mapping.
Visio
Visio pros
- Does not require internet
- Brainstorming function
- Complete set of tools
Visio cons
- Pricey
- Imperfect integration with Office
- Harder to use
- Poor customer service
- Crashes often
Visio feature review
Visio conveniently does not require internet, which means you can work on your charts wherever, whenever- even airplanes.
The tool also has specific brainstorming diagram options which help you organize your ideas from meetings. It can do things like recognize and order themes and hierarchies.
Some more complex tools that Visio offers include overlaying your data on top of your complex processes in order to gain insights.
As your data updates, so will your charts.
Visio also has the option to share your diagrams with others in your organization to keep your team in sync.
The only integration Visio offers is with Office 365, but even then it is said to be glitchy.
Visio pricing
- Billed annually
- Web app only
- Billed annually
- Desktop + Web apps
- 250K+ shapes
- One-time purchase
- Single PC license
- One-time purchase
- Advanced features
Who is Visio for
Visio is a bit more limited when it comes to the customer base. I would recommend Visio to larger businesses who have the funds to invest in this standard process mapping tool.
Its lack of intuitiveness means you must be willing to put some time and effort into onboarding Visio. In our experience at Tallyfy, we have observed that enterprise companies already invested in Microsoft ecosystem see better adoption with Visio despite its learning curve. However, the real question is whether you need just a diagramming tool or something that actually runs your processes. Many organizations we have spoken with eventually realize that static flowcharts sitting in shared drives do not enforce process execution.
LucidCharts vs Visio - the final verdict
In the case of LucidCharts vs Visio, there seems to be a clear winner: LucidCharts.
Most importantly, LucidCharts is cleaner and simpler to use while still offering many more features than Visio.
The best part is that you can get LucidCharts for free, or at least much cheaper than Visio.
The abundance of integrations that LucidCharts offers makes your processes even more efficient, and the real-time collaboration features diminish the need for messy email conversations.
If you are already using Visio and are looking to switch, LucidCharts makes the transition easy by allowing you to import files from Visio and even export files to any format.
As always, keep in mind that LucidCharts may not always be the clear winner for you. If you have employees who are already familiar with the tool and you are willing to invest more money into a complete set of tools, Visio may be the better option for you. Based on hundreds of implementations we have seen, the best approach is often to trial both with a small team before committing organization-wide. One software company we observed evaluated six different workflow apps before settling on their final choice, realizing they needed the power of an enterprise system with the simplicity of a cloud app.
Good luck!
LucidCharts and Visio are trademarks of their respective owners.
About the Author
Amit is the CEO of Tallyfy. He is a workflow expert and specializes in process automation and the next generation of business process management in the post-flowchart age. He has decades of consulting experience in task and workflow automation, continuous improvement (all the flavors) and AI-driven workflows for small and large companies. Amit did a Computer Science degree at the University of Bath and moved from the UK to St. Louis, MO in 2014. He loves watching American robins and their nesting behaviors!
Follow Amit on his website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Reddit, X (Twitter) or YouTube.
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