In any organization, you'll need to understand many complex processes. From marketing and accounting to production and HR, workflows need to be documented for a wide range of purposes. Visual data tends to make concepts much easier to understand.
We’ve moved on from the days of manually-drawn flowcharts, thank goodness. Today’s workflow diagram software offers advanced features needed to visualize even the most complicated business processes.
In this article, I’m reviewing the top choices in the world of workflow diagram software. I’ll show you what each tool can do and what it’s best for.
Best Workflow Diagram Software List
Here’s my list of the best workflow diagram software:
- Wrike
Transform your workflows into diagrams showing project progress, team availability, and process flow
- Lucidchart
Best application for building workflow diagrams
- Qntrl
Best workflow diagram software for to automate and optimize business processes
- Creately
A data-connected visual workspace for brainstorming and planning
- Microsoft Visio
Best for visual collaboration for teams
- Cacoo
Works for every kind of diagram, from flowcharts to wireframes
- MindManager
Visual productivity tools and mind mapping software for structuring plans and processes
- iGrafx
Best for performing process modeling and improvement
- SmartDraw
Best for getting up to speed fast with templates
- EdrawMax
Best for an all-in-one online diagramming tool
Comparison Criteria
What do I look for when I select the best workflow diagram apps? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:
- User Interface (UI): I look for ease of use, with a highly visual interface that makes it simple to create flow diagrams
- Usability: I’m seeking flowchart software that any team member can use without special design or software skills
- Integrations: I look for flowchart tools that work well with mainstream business applications
- Value for $: I expect the per-user cost to be affordable for organizations of any size
Workflow Diagram Platform Key Features
- Choice of graphical elements: a large variety of objects such as shapes and connectors, plus the ability to add your own images
- A template library: a good selection of robust templates that can be used to accelerate workflow building
- Collaboration tools: features such as commenting and simultaneous editing that support better team communication
- Easy exports: the ability to share and export diagrams in a variety of popular formats
- Presentation tools: features that allow workflows to be presented to colleagues and clients in a professional manner
- Design tools: auto-snapping of shapes, grids, ratio aspect size adjusters, and similar options
- Intelligent formatting: a software engine that makes it easy to build and draw workflows without coding
- No-code implementation: the best tools include drag-and-drop functionality so that anyone can use the tool easily
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Overviews Of The 10 Best Workflow Diagram Software
Here’s a brief description of each workflow diagram software solution to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
Wrike
Transform your workflows into diagrams showing project progress, team availability, and process flow
Wrike is a cloud-based project management platform that helps you define and track any project's progress in your organization. Users can create custom workflow diagrams that lay out steps, assign tasks to team members, track progress in real time, and collaborate on projects from anywhere. This makes it easy to identify areas where processes need improvement or need to meet expectations. The entire process takes place within a single dashboard, allowing users to access all the data they need in one place easily.
Wrike’s workflow diagrams help users better visualize a project and keep everyone in the loop on progress, allowing for better communication between team members, as everyone will have access to the same information at any given time. Once created, these charts can be modified at any time by simply dragging and dropping items into new positions or adding new elements as needed. This allows teams to quickly adjust their workflows as new tasks arise or old ones are completed without redrawing every time changes occur.
Workflow automation can be configured, allowing users to set up automated responses that are triggered when certain conditions are met. This includes setting reminders and deadlines and waiting for approval responses. Workflow automation gives managers more control over their team's work and can save time on tedious manual processes. It helps businesses ensure that employees stay within the scope of their job assignments and follow through with their tasks efficiently.
Wrike comes with built-in collaboration tools so users can share documents and data securely with other team members or stakeholders involved in the project. These include real-time communication, making it easier for teams to coordinate and manage their projects more efficiently, file sharing and collaboration, cloud storage, virtual whiteboards for collaboration on ideas, and advanced analytics so that users can analyze data quickly to make better business decisions.
Features include project management, task scheduling/tracking, resource management, expense tracking, API, budgeting, Gantt charts, marketing automations, collaboration support, and reporting.
Integrations include 400+ pre-built native integrations, including integrations with the most popular file management software from Microsoft, Google, and Dropbox, along with sales and marketing software from Salesforce and Marketo.
Wrike costs from $9.80/user/month and offers a 14-day free trial.
Lucidchart
Best application for building workflow diagrams
Lucidchart is a cloud-based workflow diagramming solution. This centralized platform helps you quickly create flows of your business processes, then share process maps with colleagues. Key features include feedback management, graphs, data import, and customizable templates—and Lucidchart's intelligent diagramming allows you to spin up complex diagrams in no time.
You can also use the software to build organizational charts and upload employee data, identifying the requirements of various team members. Critical documents can be managed by configuring user access and providing view-only licenses.
This tool integrates with popular applications such as Slack, Salesforce, GitHub, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and fits in with Lucid's entire suite of visual collaboration products for ideation and project planning (Lucidspark) and cloud architecture visualization (Lucidscale).
Lucidchart costs from $7.95/month per user. A limited free version is also available.
Qntrl
Best workflow diagram software for to automate and optimize business processes
Qntrl is an intuitive cloud-based workflow automation software that helps organizations optimize workflows and increase productivity. It offers both collaborative and individual capabilities, allowing users to share tasks, files, and ideas with others in real-time.
The software allows users to create detailed diagrams with numerous nodes, connections, and annotations. Process maps can help improve employee communication by visually representing the steps involved in a particular process. This can be especially helpful when onboarding new employees or introducing new processes. Once a process has been executed, the software provides users with powerful tools to analyze the results.
Users can see detailed reports on process performance, including cycle time, throughput, and yield metrics. This information can be used to improve the efficiency of business processes and identify bottlenecks or areas for improvement.
The software provides a graphical user interface that offers an intuitive way of creating visuals associated with complex processes. This allows users to quickly draw diagrams and charts, meaning they don't have to spend hours studying complicated coding languages. Users can drag shapes onto the canvas to represent different parts of their process, like tasks, roles, and milestones, then connect them with lines or arrows representing relationships between other elements.
Creately
A data-connected visual workspace for brainstorming and planning
Creately is a cloud-based work management platform based on a smart visual canvas. You can use it to brainstorm, plan projects, or capture knowledge. The software combines diagramming with visual collaboration and workflow features.
Creately also supports wiki, note-taking, and project management in a no-code environment. Team members can model and build things their own way according to their business needs. They can also create custom databases with the same items visualized in multiple contexts.
This tool integrates with Confluence, Slack, and Google Drive.
Creately costs from $4/user/month. A limited free trial plan is also available.
Microsoft Visio
Best for visual collaboration for teams
Microsoft Viso is a diagramming tool that forms part of the Microsoft 365 software suite. It allows teams to connect charts and diagrams to real-time data, as well as automating workflows. A library of pre-built templates, shapes, and Viso files is included.
Visio is perfect for creating organization charts, engineering designs, floor plans, and other visuals workflows. Using Microsoft 365, team members can work on diagrams simultaneously. Diagrams can be viewed in Microsoft Teams or using the native Visio Viewer (available for iOS devices.)
Microsoft Visio integrates with business platforms such as OneDrive, Lucidchart, Microsoft Office, and iServer365.
Microsoft Viso costs from $5/user/month. A one-month free trial is available.
Cacoo
Works for every kind of diagram, from flowcharts to wireframes
Cacoo is an idea management solution designed to help organizations create diagrams and wireframes. Managers can share mind maps, layouts, organizational charts, and unified modeling language diagrams.
They can also collaborate with colleagues using video calls or chat functions. Supervisors can add comments or provide feedback on diagrams in other ways.
Anyone can use Cacoo without design or coding experience. Teams can work with images (jpeg, png, svg), data, notes, or charts to get their ideas across.
This tool integrates with third-party applications such as Confluence, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Box.
Cacoo costs from $5/user/month. A 14-day free trial is also available.
MindManager
Visual productivity tools and mind mapping software for structuring plans and processes
MindManager is a visual mind-mapping tool that helps teams plan and communicate ideas. You can visualize data and information from any source and in almost any format. Using interactive diagrams and maps, you can share ideas for business strategy.
Workflow diagrams can be turned into high-quality presentations that will engage and impress any audience. MindManager makes it easy to capture, structure, and organize all kinds of information. You get a 360-degree view that improves understanding and enhances communication.
This tool integrates with applications such as Trello, Evernote, and Todoist.
MindManager costs from $8.25/user/month. A fully-functional free 30-day trial is also available.
iGrafx
Best for performing process modeling and improvement
iGrafx is a business process management (BPM) solution. Key features include process automation, risk and compliance tools, performance management, whiteboard, and SAP optimization.
With both cloud-based and on-premise (Windows/Mac/Linux) options available, this platform helps create business process models and notation diagrams. Using a drag-and-drop interface, users can define workflows, rules, and process flows.
iGrafx offers customized pricing on request. A 30-day free trial is available.
SmartDraw
Best for getting up to speed fast with templates
SmartDraw is an established workflow diagram and charting tool. Using predefined templates, you can create infographics, network diagrams, mind maps, and org charts. Key benefits include customizable extensions, document retention, single sign-on, and team collaboration features.
You can also build diagrams using automated sizing, spacing, color schemes, and alignment. Plus, you can automatically reshape diagrams with the formatting tool by adding, moving, or deleting structure formats. You can also translate data sources into class diagrams through VisualScript SDK.
This tool integrates with third-party applications such as Trello, Jira, Outlook, and Confluence.
SmartDraw costs from $5.95/user/month and offers a free trial.
EdrawMax
Best for an all-in-one online diagramming tool
EdrawMax is an intelligent diagramming tool that offers over 280 diagram types, from flowcharts to circuit diagrams. The software allows you to build a real-time synchronous cloud workspace to keep everyone on the same page. Thanks to the drag-and-drop interface, it's easy to get started with workflow designs.
The package includes over 1500 templates and 26,000 symbols, plus a range of user-generated charts. Edraw Max allows you to export visual plans easily, either publicly or privately. Users can also share ideas through the EdrawMax online community.
This tool integrates with platforms such as Google Workspace and Dropbox.
EdrawMax costs from $8.25/user/month. A free trial plan is available.
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The 10 Best Workflow Diagram Software Summary
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wrike Transform your workflows into diagrams showing project progress, team availability, and process flow | 14-day free trial | From $9.80/user/month | Visit Website |
2 | Lucidchart Best application for building workflow diagrams | Free trial available | From $7.95/user/month | Visit Website |
3 | Qntrl Best workflow diagram software for to automate and optimize business processes | 15-day free trial | $8/user/month | Visit Website |
4 | Creately A data-connected visual workspace for brainstorming and planning | Free plan with limited features | From $4/user/month | Visit Website |
5 | Microsoft Visio Best for visual collaboration for teams | 30-day free trial | From $5/user/month | Visit Website |
6 | Cacoo Works for every kind of diagram, from flowcharts to wireframes | 14 days free trial | From $5/user/month | Visit Website |
7 | MindManager Visual productivity tools and mind mapping software for structuring plans and processes | 30 day free trial | From $229 for a perpetual license | Visit Website |
8 | iGrafx Best for performing process modeling and improvement | 30 days free trial | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
9 | SmartDraw Best for getting up to speed fast with templates | Free trial available | From $5.95/user/month | Visit Website |
10 | EdrawMax Best for an all-in-one online diagramming tool | Free trial plan | From $8.25/user/month | Visit Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more that didn’t make the top list.
- Gliffy
Best for enterprise-grade diagramming
- ClickCharts
Best for versatile diagram drawing and editing
- Cardanit
Best for decision modeling and business analysis
- MindMeister
Best for collaborative mind-mapping
- Stormboard
Best for brainstorming ideas for possible workflows
- Samepage
Best for a mobile-first workflow diagramming solution
- MyDraw
Advanced diagramming software with multiple applications
- Apache OpenOffice Draw
An established open-source drawing solution
- Diagrams.net
Diagramming for teams that emphasizes security
What is the best software for workflow diagrams?
You have many options when it comes to choosing workflow diagram software. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, plus many are designed for very specific applications.
To decide which software is best for your circumstances, you should take some time to review all the options available. Consider the range and depth of features and balance these against the cost. Many workflow diagram applications offer free trials, so you can try the software risk-free.
How do you create a workflow diagram?
Here’s a simple process for creating a workflow diagram:
- Step 1: Define the starting point of the process and add a workflow symbol to represent it.
- Step 2: Add symbols for each step in the workflow.
- Step 3: Continue doing this until the whole workflow is complete.
- Step 4: Share with colleagues and get feedback.
- Step 5: Make revisions to the workflow as necessary.
What do you think about this list?
Do you agree with my choices for the best flowchart software, or did you draw different conclusions (pun intended)? Let us know in the comments. Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get the latest thinking from authority figures in this niche.
If you’re on a tighter budget, you may also want to check out our article on the 10 Best Free Workflow Software For Small Teams. And to help you get new ideas off the ground, we’ve reviewed the best mind-mapping software tools, too.
We add new content for digital project managers regularly, so be sure to check back often to stay up to date.
Related Read: What Is Mind Mapping? (+ How To Do It & Best Software)
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