Free & open source alternatives to Microsoft Visio

3 free diagramming and flowchart apps to use instead of Microsoft Visio by Microsoft

The best free alternative to Microsoft Visio is draw.io. Flowcharts, org charts, BPMN and network diagrams, and it can import Visio .vsdx files.

Other great options: Excalidraw and LibreOffice.

Quick pick: For process flows and org charts, including opening .vsdx files, use draw.io. For quick sketches of ideas, use Excalidraw.

Reviewed November 2026 against each vendor's official website.

Official ways to use Microsoft Visio for free

Visio for the web (basic) is included in some Microsoft 365 plans; there is no free version for personal accounts.

Free plans and trial lengths are set by the vendor and can change. Check the official website before signing up.

3 best alternatives to Microsoft Visio

draw.io

Office & PDF HealthGood (100/100)9,244

Open sourceEasy to use

Flowcharts, org charts, BPMN and network diagrams, and it can import Visio .vsdx files.

Open-source diagramming tool for flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, BPMN and UML. Runs on the web or desktop and opens Visio .vsdx files.

Opens and imports Visio .vsdx files
Saves to your computer, Google Drive or OneDrive
Large library of shape sets

Platforms: Web · Windows · Mac · Linux

draw.io details Official website ↗

Excalidraw

Office & PDF HealthGood (87/100)135,319

Open sourceEasy to use

A hand-drawn style whiteboard you can draw on together via a shared link.

Open-source, hand-drawn style whiteboard that runs in the browser. Sketch ideas quickly and draw together with others via a link.

Start drawing instantly, no account needed
Live collaboration with end-to-end encryption

Platforms: Web · Self-hosted

Excalidraw details Official website ↗

LibreOffice

Office & PDF

Open sourceEasy to use

LibreOffice Draw opens .vsd and .vsdx files for viewing and simple edits.

Open-source office suite that replaces Microsoft Office: Writer, Calc, Impress and Draw. Works fully offline and is available in many languages.

Free for organizations and businesses, no license fees
Opens and saves .docx, .xlsx and .pptx
Many interface languages, works without internet

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux

LibreOffice details Official website ↗

Quick comparison

App	Type	Platforms	Ease of use	GitHub stars
draw.io	Open source	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux	Easy to use	9,244
Excalidraw	Open source	Web, Self-hosted	Easy to use	135,319
LibreOffice	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux	Easy to use	—

Open source: anyone can use, study and modify it, including businesses. Free: no cost, but the code is closed. Freemium: a lasting free plan with paid tiers for extra features. Source available: code is public but the license adds conditions.

FAQ

What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Visio?

The most popular picks are draw.io, Excalidraw and LibreOffice. For process flows and org charts, including opening .vsdx files, use draw.io. For quick sketches of ideas, use Excalidraw.