Tools · SPBoucher
Menu

draw.io

by draw.io AG / JGraph Ltd · Application · also known as diagrams.net, drawio, draw.io Desktop

Free diagramming editor (formerly diagrams.net) for flowcharts, network, UML and architecture diagrams, available as web app, desktop app and integrations

Apache-2.0 licenseFreeOpen sourceLocalSelf-hostedSelf-hostable
Visit official site Compare

Link verified Nov 2, 2026

Overview

draw.io, also known as diagrams.net, is a diagramming application developed by JGraph and now operated by draw.io AG. The web editor at app.diagrams.net and the Electron-based desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux draw flowcharts, network and cloud architecture diagrams, UML, ER models, floor plans and wireframes from large shape libraries (including AWS, Azure and GCP icon sets), with layers, connectors, custom styles and import of Lucidchart, Visio and Gliffy files. Files are stored where the user chooses: device, Google Drive, OneDrive, GitHub, GitLab or Dropbox, in an XML format that can also be embedded in PNG or SVG exports. Integrations exist for Confluence, Jira, VS Code, Notion and Microsoft Teams, and the editor source is Apache-2.0 licensed on GitHub. There is no account, no vendor-hosted storage and no real-time multi-user editing in the free app, and the dense interface takes some learning.

Capabilities

  • Large shape libraries including cloud provider icons
  • Layers, connectors, styles and templates
  • Import of Visio, Lucidchart and Gliffy files
  • Storage on device or in Google Drive, OneDrive, GitHub and others
  • Export to PNG, SVG, PDF with embedded diagram XML
  • Desktop app and editor integrations (Confluence, VS Code)

Typical workflows

  1. Draw a cluster network diagram and commit the .drawio file to a repository
  2. Edit architecture diagrams inside VS Code or Confluence

Strengths

  • Free with Apache-2.0 source
  • No account or vendor storage required
  • Round-trippable diagram XML inside exports

Limitations

  • No real-time collaboration in the free app
  • Dense interface for newcomers
  • Web app depends on third-party storage for sync

Prerequisites

  • Browser or desktop app

Who it is for

  • Engineers and architects documenting systems
  • Students and instructors

Alternatives & comparison

Excalidraw is informal and sketch-like with live collaboration; Mermaid generates diagrams from text. draw.io is the most complete free editor for formal technical diagrams, while Figma targets interface design.

  • Excalidraw

    Open-source virtual whiteboard for hand-drawn-style diagrams with live collaboration, embeddable as a React component, plus a hosted Excalidraw+ service

    Open sourceOpen source
  • Figma

    Browser-based collaborative interface design platform with vector editing, components, prototyping, FigJam whiteboards, Dev Mode and a plugin and REST API

    ProprietaryFreemium
  • Mermaid

    JavaScript library that renders flowcharts, sequence, class, state, ER, Gantt and other diagrams from a Markdown-like text syntax

    Open sourceOpen source
Compare draw.io with its alternatives →

Sources & verification

Primary sources consulted for this record. Claims are tied to the fields each source supports; the automated link checker re-verifies every URL on a schedule.

  • License
    LICENSE (Apache 2.0)

    https://github.com/jgraph/drawio/blob/dev/LICENSE

    Supports: license_spdx, source_model

    checked Nov 1, 2026
  • Official documentation
    draw.io documentation

    https://www.drawio.com/docs

    Supports: capabilities, data_formats

    checked Nov 1, 2026
  • Official site
    draw.io

    https://www.drawio.com/

    Supports: name, summary, integrations

    checked Nov 1, 2026
  • Repository
    jgraph/drawio-desktop

    https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-desktop

    Supports: operating_systems

    checked Nov 1, 2026
Confidence
High
Reviewed
Nov 1, 2026
Links
Verified · Nov 2, 2026

Spotted an error?

Broken link, outdated license, wrong category, or a tool that no longer exists? Tell us; reports are reviewed by the editor.

shadcn/ui

shadcn · Web frameworks & UI

Collection of accessible React components built on Radix primitives and Tailwind CSS that are copied into a project's source rather than installed as a dependency

MITOpen sourceFreeLocalNov 2, 2026

Tailwind CSS

Tailwind Labs · Web frameworks & UI

Utility-first CSS framework from Tailwind Labs that styles markup with composable class names and generates only the CSS a project uses

MITOpen sourceFreeLocalNov 2, 2026