About Visio

Microsoft Visio is a cloud-based flowchart and diagram creation tool, designed to aid collaboration and connect real-time data with business workflows. The platform enables communication of complex information through data-linked diagrams, flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, and more. Visio offers a range of pre-built templates that can be modified and customized depending on business needs. Visio can be used for data visualization, brainstorming, UML diagram creation, org chart creation, process mapping, IT network mapping, and more. The Visio stencil functionality allows users to create commonly used shape stencils to speed up the creation of drawings and professional diagrams.

The Visio platform allows users to collaborate on diagrams and workflows in order to gather insights from all team members and stakeholders. Changes can be made by individuals and synchronized in real time, in-app commenting can be enabled in order to provide feedback, and diagrams can be shared amongst teams within the cloud using links or downloads. Flowcharts and diagrams can be connected to real-time data sources in order to create visualizations, and diagrams can be embedded into Power BI dashboards using Visio Visual.

In order to aid with brainstorming and project planning, Visio offers ready-to-use templates based around brainstorming techniques such as fishbone diagrams and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analyses.

Pricing starting from:

US$5,00/month

  • Free Version
  • Free Trial
  • Subscription

Top 5 alternatives to Visio

Key benefits of Visio

• Create org charts, flowcharts, diagrams, floor plans, engineering designs, and more using Visio’s drag and drop editor.

• Collaborate on diagrams and flows using tools such as in-app commenting, annotations, and real-time sharing via web links, attachments, or PDF.

• Use pre-built templates based on specific use-cases in order to quickly build and customize workflows or visualizations.

• Integrate Visio with Power BI and embed flowcharts or diagrams into Power BI dashboards in order to provide more data insights.

• Connect Visio with real-time data sources and diagrams will automatically update when data is changed at the source.

Typical Customers

  • Freelancers
  • Small Businesses (2-50)
  • Mid-size Companies (51-500)
  • Large enterprises (500 and more)

Deployment

  • Cloud-based
  • On-premise

Markets

Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany and 5 others

Supported Languages

Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English and 10 others

Pricing starting from:

US$5,00/month

  • Free Version
  • Free Trial
  • Subscription

Top 5 alternatives to Visio

Images

Visio Software - Visio flowchart creation
Visio Software - Visio collaboration tools
Visio Software - Visio real-time data integration
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Visio video
Visio Software - Visio flowchart creation
Visio Software - Visio collaboration tools
Visio Software - Visio real-time data integration
Visio Software - Visio custom design

Features

Total features of Visio: 64

  • API
  • Access Controls/Permissions
  • Auto Update
  • Business Process Automation
  • Charting
  • Collaboration Tools
  • Color Codes/Icons
  • Commenting/Notes
  • Commercial Properties
  • Customizable Dashboard
  • Customizable Templates
  • Data Import/Export
  • Data Management
  • Data Visualization
  • Design Management
  • Diagramming
  • Document Embedding
  • Document Management
  • Document Storage
  • Drag & Drop
  • Employee Photos
  • Feedback Management
  • File Management
  • File Sharing
  • Flowchart
  • For Schools
  • Forms Automation
  • Freehand Sketch
  • Graphical Workflow Editor
  • Hierarchical Mapping
  • Ideation
  • Incident Management
  • Inspection Management
  • Interactive Elements
  • Inventory Control
  • Map Exporting
  • Mind Maps
  • Mobile Access
  • Multi-Language
  • Network Diagram
  • No-Code
  • Organizational Charting
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Process Change Tracking
  • Process Modeling & Designing
  • Publishing/Sharing
  • Real Time Data
  • Relational Display
  • Reporting/Analytics
  • Residential Properties
  • Revision History
  • Rules-Based Workflow
  • Search/Filter
  • Space Management
  • Task Management
  • Template Management
  • Templates
  • Third Party Integrations
  • Version Control
  • Visitor Management
  • Visual Discovery
  • Visual Workflow Management
  • Workflow Configuration
  • Workflow Management

Alternatives

Asana

4,5
#1 Alternative to Visio
Asana is the leading work management platform for cross-team work that aligns employees around company goals and...

Miro

4,7
#2 Alternative to Visio
Miro is the online collaborative whiteboard platform that enables distributed teams to work effectively together, from...

EdrawMax

4,6
#3 Alternative to Visio
Edraw Max is an all-in-one diagram creation solution that allows businesses to design a range of diagrams for illustrati...

Nintex Promapp

4,5
#4 Alternative to Visio
Promapp is a process management software for creating and storing business processes in the cloud

Reviews

Overall rating

4,5 /5
(2 969)
Value for Money
4,2/5
Features
4,4/5
Ease of Use
4,2/5
Customer Support
4,2/5

Already have Visio?

Software buyers need your help! Product reviews help the rest of us make great decisions.

Showing 5 reviews of 2 969
Michael
Overall rating
  • Industry: Tobacco
  • Company size: 501–1 000 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

The tool for visual mathematicians

Reviewed on 2020/06/13

I love it for the purpose it was intended for. I don't think I could find anything better. Most of...

I love it for the purpose it was intended for. I don't think I could find anything better. Most of the time I have nothing but good things to say about this product. Just don't let yourself get in a spot where you need to write your own code to generate your charts automatically because the API and help for it would require another degree just for this product.

Pros

It can connect to a wide range of data sources to present data in your charts. It has a wide range of abilities through the various add-ons and tools. The range of standard drawing objects is huge and you can create your own if you know what you are doing.

Cons

It sucks for trying to program against it. Every drawing object has its own properties, methods and behaviors. It is a real nightmare if you need to integrate it into an automation system. The only one I have found that might be worse is Outlook and that would depend on what you were doing.

Alternatives Considered

AutoCAD

Reasons for Choosing Visio

These versions had a lot of functionality but since our company bought the MS suite and Visio came as part of the package it just made sense to use what we had versus buying something else.

Reasons for Switching to Visio

We didn't. Our company purchased both and use them both for different types of needs.
Andrew
Overall rating
  • Industry: Higher Education
  • Company size: 501–1 000 Employees
  • Used Monthly for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

Process Development Tool with layers

Reviewed on 2019/07/29

Visio has helped me take conversations and brainstorming sessions and demonstrate how they would...

Visio has helped me take conversations and brainstorming sessions and demonstrate how they would actually work. So often there is a good intention on trying something new, but it is important to get everyone on the same page. This tool has helped do that.

I have also extensively used Visio as a training tool. I will link the diagrams to other portals and tools that we use, so that the workflow document is something of a link aggregator for all the steps involved. This has made the hand-off from training to implementation much easier.

Pros

I like that I can use Visio to easily demonstrate workflows and process improvement ideas. There is a range of understanding for software like Visio. I do not use it to automate at my place of work, but I use it extensively for visual learners when implementing or discussing new processes, procedures, and ideas. Often I have co-workers take these designs and display them for their team as a physical reminder, others are more intuitive and I work with them to develop interactive workflows (with links, actions, etc.)

Cons

There are some elements to how you design that are not intuitive. I usually spend about 15 minutes with users who download the software to demonstrate how they can make their flows and diagrams. The organization chart is particularly more cumbersome than advertised, but even so, I have users who use it for this purpose. Online resources are sparse as well, and I often am troubleshooting when trying new methods.

Alternatives Considered

Lucidchart

Reasons for Choosing Visio

Functionality with other Office products. We utilize the Office Suite extensively and Visio is a better solution in that regard. It is also easier to train people on an office product, as they are more familiar with it.

Switched From

Lucidchart

Reasons for Switching to Visio

Similar to the description above. We tested Lucidchart and even have people who still prefer to use it because they are comfortable. But ultimately we found more use-cases for the Visio product.
Junior
Overall rating
  • Industry: Information Technology & Services
  • Company size: 11–50 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

Visio an important tool to learn to organice your process

Reviewed on 2023/02/18

Microsoft Visio is a popular diagramming and visualization tool that is widely used in a variety of...

Microsoft Visio is a popular diagramming and visualization tool that is widely used in a variety of industries for creating and managing complex information. Many users appreciate Visio's customizability, ease of use, and robust feature set, which make it a valuable tool for visualizing and managing information. Some users may find the learning curve for Visio to be steeper than other diagramming tools, especially if they are not familiar with other Microsoft products. Additionally, the price of Visio can be a potential drawback for some users, as it is not included in most Microsoft Office packages and must be purchased separately. Overall, Visio can be a powerful tool for creating clear and effective visual representations of complex workflows, processes, and systems, and is well-regarded by many users.

Pros

Users appreciate Visio's customizability, ease of use, integration with other Microsoft tools, and robust feature set. These features make it a valuable tool for visualizing and managing complex information.

Cons

Visio has a steeper learning curve than other diagramming tools, especially if they are not familiar with other Microsoft products. Additionally, the price of Visio can be a potential drawback for some users, as it is not included in most Microsoft Office packages and must be purchased separately.

Alternatives Considered

Miro
Verified Reviewer
Overall rating
  • Industry: Defense & Space
  • Company size: 51–200 Employees
  • Used Monthly for 1-5 months
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

Simple to understand and not expensive for small projects

Reviewed on 2023/02/23

It's better than the competition for those on a budget and don't want to spend hours learning how...

It's better than the competition for those on a budget and don't want to spend hours learning how to use another software. It doesn't cause any confusion and Office team members can edit the file without any issues.

Pros

I liked that the software is very intuitive, like other Microsoft software. What does not cause strangeness during editing. For those with a certain knowledge of Office, Visio does not scare compared to competitors.

Cons

I didn't like that I could only use it online, which limits some features. To get the software by download, it is necessary to have a plan that is way above what my usage allows. However, for basic projects and cheaper Office packages, it's excellent.

Oğuz
Overall rating
  • Industry: Computer Games
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

Visio: A Comprehensive Diagramming Tool for Professional Use

Reviewed on 2022/12/09

Overall, Visio is an excellent diagramming tool for professional use. It is powerful, easy to use,...

Overall, Visio is an excellent diagramming tool for professional use. It is powerful, easy to use, and has a large library of templates and shapes that make creating diagrams and flowcharts easy and fast.

Pros

Visio is a comprehensive and powerful diagramming software that is suitable for professional use. It is a great tool for making complex diagrams and flowcharts quickly and effectively. It also has a large library of templates and shapes that make it easier to create visually appealing diagrams quickly and easily.

Cons

While Visio is a powerful and comprehensive tool, it can be expensive and difficult to get started with. It also requires a certain level of technical skill to use the more advanced features.

Showing 5 reviews of 2 969 Read all reviews

Visio FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions for Visio.

Visio offers the following pricing plans:

  • Starting from: US$5,00/month
  • Pricing model: Free Version, Subscription
  • Free Trial: Available

Visio Online Plan 1: $5/user/month (billed annually) or $6/user/month (billed monthly). Visio Online Plan 2: $15/user/month (billed annually) or $18/user/month (billed monthly).

Visio has the following typical customers:

Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1 000, 1 001–5 000

Visio supports the following languages:

Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, German, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish

Visio supports the following devices:

Android (Mobile), iPhone (Mobile), iPad (Mobile)

Visio integrates with the following applications:

OneDrive

Visio offers the following support options:

Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support, Chat

Related categories

See all software categories found for Visio.