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Most buyers should pick draw.io.
Choose draw.io for free diagramming, unlimited diagrams and users, flexible storage, and files editable across platforms. Choose Gliffy when your team works in Confluence and wants native integration, searchable diagram text, or editable diagrams generated from prompts. Both have free options. Gliffy’s free plan stops at 10 users; draw.io’s free plan lists unlimited users. Paid pricing depends on product and billing: compare the specific plan and user tier before switching.
01Side by side
| draw.io | Gliffy | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan available; paid options vary by product | Free plan available; Zero Egress starts at $2.80/month |
| Free plan | Unlimited diagrams and users; no account required | Up to 10 users; unlimited diagrams; no time limit |
| Best for | Free diagramming with flexible storage and cross-platform files | Confluence teams creating technical diagrams |
| Core strength | Real-time collaboration and flexible storage | Editable AI-generated diagrams and Confluence tools |
| Learning curve | Not published on the vendor's site | Not published on the vendor's site |
| Integrations/data | Choose where data is stored; embeds in documents, wikis, apps | Native Confluence integration; supports Cloud and Data Center |
| Team/seat costs | Cloud free to 10; paid tiers start at $5 or $20 | 11–100 users: $3.80/user/month annually; Zero Egress from $2.80/month |
| Support | Review support score: 5 | Review support score: 5 |
draw.io Choose draw.io if
- Choose draw.io if you need free diagramming for unlimited users.
- Choose draw.io if you want to choose where data is stored.
- Choose draw.io if cross-platform editing and broad file compatibility matter.
Gliffy Choose Gliffy if
- Choose Gliffy if your team works in Confluence.
- Choose Gliffy if you want editable diagrams from natural-language prompts.
- Choose Gliffy if searchable diagram text and interactive diagrams matter.
02Pricing compared
draw.io’s online and desktop plan is free, with unlimited diagrams and users and no account required. Its Confluence and Jira cloud apps are free for up to 10 users; paid tiers start at $5 or $20 per month, depending on the product or tier. Data Center starts at $6,000 per year, according to the published pricing details.
Gliffy’s Confluence free plan also has unlimited diagrams, but caps teams at 10 users. For 11–100 users, its listed annual price is $3.80 per user per month. Gliffy Zero Egress is listed from $2.80 per month for 1–100 users; the published pricing does not specify an equivalent per-user rate. Gliffy offers a 30-day trial, and annual host-product billing gives apps 12 months for the price of 10. Compare the exact product and billing terms before switching.
03Features and depth
draw.io’s strongest case is flexibility: its free online and desktop plan lists unlimited diagrams and users, and it does not require an account. The product supports real-time collaboration with shared cursors, lets users choose where to store data, and can embed interactive diagrams in documents, wikis, or applications. It exports to SVG, PNG, and PDF, while keeping diagrams editable; its product details also say files created in 2005 load in the current app and can be edited across platforms.
Gliffy is more specifically built around Confluence. Its diagram text is searchable there, and diagrams can expand or collapse to reveal more or less context. It also offers sticky notes, freehand sketching, grid and alignment guides, and a drag-and-drop canvas. Its differentiator is AI diagram generation: teams can use natural-language prompts to create editable diagrams. Gliffy’s paid Confluence plan lists Visio and draw.io imports, plus JPEG, PNG, and SVG exports. Choose by workflow: broad storage and file flexibility favor draw.io; Confluence-native tools and prompt-based creation favor Gliffy.
04Ease of use and learning curve
draw.io has a low barrier to starting: its free online and desktop plan requires no account, and the product supports editing across platforms. That suits teams who want to open or share diagrams without first committing to a specific collaboration suite. Its flexible storage can also fit different setups, though teams should decide where files will live and how they will collaborate.
Gliffy’s drag-and-drop canvas, grid, and guides offer familiar ways to build and align diagrams. Its advantage is strongest for teams already working in Confluence, where diagram text is searchable and diagrams can be embedded in the workflow. The published details do not establish which product is easier for every user; the practical choice depends on whether your team prefers a standalone tool or Confluence integration.
Questions people ask
Is draw.io safe to use?
The published product details identify draw.io as open-source software under the Apache 2.0 license, with no account required to start and a choice of where to store data. Those facts do not establish a security rating or guarantee; review your organization’s storage and access requirements before adopting it.
Does draw.io cost?
The online and desktop plan is free and lists unlimited diagrams and users. Confluence and Jira cloud apps are free for up to 10 users, with paid tiers starting at $5 or $20 per month depending on product or tier. Data Center pricing starts at $6,000 per year.
What is draw.io vs Visio?
The published details do not include a full draw.io-versus-Visio comparison. They do say Gliffy’s paid Confluence plan supports Visio imports, while draw.io supports editable diagrams and exports to SVG, PNG, and PDF. Check the specific file formats and workflows your team needs before switching.
Is draw.io better than Lucidchart?
The published information does not establish a direct draw.io-versus-Lucidchart comparison. It does show draw.io has a free plan with unlimited diagrams and users, flexible storage, and cross-platform editing. Compare those needs with Lucidchart’s current pricing and feature details before deciding.