Microsoft Visio is probably one of the most famous flowchart apps out there but ; there is always a but . It is only available for Windows users which is not gimcrack see it comes with a subscription model starting $ 12 per substance abuser per calendar month . While worth every cent , Visio is not an option for everyone . Let ’s take a smell at some of the good flowchart apps for each platform . And no , we are not going to spill the beans aboutonline flowchart maker , rather offline apps . allow ’s start .
AlsoRead : Free Open Source Alternatives for Expensive Software
Flowchart App for Windows – Dia
While you could also use PowerPoint to create a flow chart ( most flow sheet symbols are build in ) , Dia is often recommended by its users to those who are looking for a brawny flowchart app and something to substitute Visio . The cool matter about Dia is that it is also available for macOS and Linux operating systems . Dia has a unsubdivided UI that ’s both intuitive and well-off to practice . The diagrams are not as beautiful as you would like them to be but that also intend they are light and use few resource .
There are lot of shapes to use and play around with including pointer , boxes , and line of business . you’re able to work on multiple flow chart and projects at the same time using a tabloid layout which is reasonably handy . Each object in the flowchart can be easily move around and resize if motive be .
Dia supports a number of exportation formats like PNG , SVG , CGM , meta , HPGL , and so on . This give you a mess of freehand grant you to sour with other apps where you may need to import the flowcharts . Also utile if you want to upload and share the flowchart diagram on the web like social media or a website .
Dia read that different users have dissimilar needs which is why you may edit the UI to add or move out frequently used shapes and elements with the dog of a button . This is helpful for reducing clutter and removing unnecessary elements . Need to apply a shape that is not uncommitted ? sum up your own shapes in XML and SVG formats . last , there are several font types and colour to choose from .
Download Dia for Windows , macOS , and Linux
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Flowchart App for macOS – Pencil
Pencil is an soft to apply flowchart app for both macOS and Windows operating system . I like Pencil because the UI makes more sense than Dia . In Dia , when you double - dawn on a box , alternatively of allowing you to footnote , it brings up the meta for some reason . Dia is brawny but a fiddling riddled and has a eruditeness curve most people have picayune patience for . Pencil is more streamlined .
It comes with a drag and dip port which make it fast and convenient to use with shapes and connecter . There is livelihood for copy - paste so you could bring in elements from other flowcharts easily . There are a lot of shape and connectors usable including musical accompaniment for Android and iOS . What I like was the alive biotic community who have explicate and contributed to the design repository with even more shapes .
you could interconnect different Thomas Nelson Page and exporting the terminal version to dissimilar formats like PDF , PNG , webpage , and more is sluttish as pie . The UI expect more refined and polished and hence , the user experience is much better . You will have more playfulness function with Pencil than on other subject source flowchart apps .
Download Pencil for macOS and Windows
Flowchart App for Android – PlantUML
There is not a lot of option useable when it comes to anopen root flowchart appfor Android . In fact , there is just one I was capable to find which is PlantUML . PlantUML is a vane - based app and the mobile version uses the web avail to commute the school text diagram or flowchart into image . Not exactly what I had in thinker but it still works alright .
you’re able to create introductory diagrams using PlantUML and there are not a passel of options when it comes to shapes , connexion , and fount . Useful for when you do not have access code to a laptop and need to create a flow diagram while on the move . you’re able to use your Android smartphone to make a quick flow diagram .
Having said that , I wish well there were more options but costless unfastened source projects usually do n’t make enough money and support fluid apps can be a elusive Book of Job . you may also try the web interlingual rendition of PlantUML which is more robust and comes with a lot more option .
Download PlantUML for Android
Flowchart App for iOS – PureFlow
For better or worse , there is no open informant flow sheet app for Io platform . Frankly , I am not surprised . This is why I would advise you go for PureFlow . It is priced very reasonably at $ 0.99 and comes with a numeral of features that I will hash out below .
you could create beautiful looking flow sheet using PureFlow using different embodiment and connectors . While the options are not as varied as you would find on a desktop app , there is enough to keep you quenched and busy . There are also a decorous number of font eccentric and colour usable .
You will begin by tapping anywhere on the screen to create your first physical body or boxful and take it from there . Finally , when the flowchart is ready to show off , you could export it as a PNG figure of speech or a PDF file which are both easy to send via email and swarm storage or apportion via social media .
Some user would argue here that it lacks the bells and whistles of some advanced flow chart apps like Lucid Charts and while that is true , PureFlow ’s strength lies in the fact that it is rather wanton and quick to use , and be very little , to begin with .
Download PureFlow
Closing Words: The Best Microsoft Visio Alternative?
These are some of the best open source flowchart apps for Windows , macOS , Android , and iOS platform . While there are more option for desktop osmium like Windows and macOS , there are few to no undefendable root flowchart apps for Android and iOS platforms . If you must employ an app on mobile to create or edit a flow sheet , I would suggest you go for a pay off app instead of go with open source .
Alternatively , you could also check out Draw.io , it ’s costless web - base flowchart maker app . you could download your chart and re - upload it to piece up where you left off . No sign - up require .