Best Flowchart Software in 2024

What is Flowchart Software?

Flowchart software is used for creating graphical representations of systems, processes, and algorithms by using standardized connectors and symbols. You get a set of pre-designed lines and shapes that are used for illustrating multiple steps, inputs and decisions in a flow chart. The tool primarily has a drag-and-drop interface which enables users to create, customize and modify their flowcharts easily.

You also get the facility to add images, texts, and many other elements in their flowcharts to enhance their visual appeal and make them more informative. This software is used in a wide variety of fields that includes engineering, computer programming, education, business, and more. Moreover, it helps the users in visualizing difficult processes and identifying any inefficiencies or bottlenecks.

How Does Flowchart Software Work?

First, the software lets you choose a pre-designed template for the flowchart you want to create. In the next step, you can add connectors and symbols to the workspace or canvas. Connectors depict the flow of the process, and the symbols show the specific steps, actions, or directions. You can customize the chart by formatting the connectors and symbols and changing the size and color. Moreover, it also allows you to add text or annotations.

Once you complete the chart, you can test it by running different simulations and doing a thorough review to ensure the high accuracy and efficiency of the process. If required, you can refine your chart by changing the process sequence or by adding, deleting, or modifying steps. Then in the final step, you can save the flowchart in cloud storage or as a file on your computer and even share it with other users via social media, collaboration platforms or email.

Why Use Flowchart Software?

Flowchart software is a valuable and powerful tool that is widely used for creating visual diagrams that depict complex workflows and processes. Below we have mentioned some noteworthy uses of this cutting-edge platform.

• Visualizing complicated systems & processes: A flowchart is an effective way to depict complex processes and systems in an easy way to understand. By using the flowchart software, you can create diagrams that give a comprehensive view of the process, which makes it easier for you to identify areas for improvement.
• Communicating concepts and ideas: It can be used to provide a visual depiction of the process in a clearer manner. Moreover, the software also helps in conveying ideas or opinions to clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
• Collaboration with colleagues: With the help of flowchart software, you can easily collaborate with colleagues in real time which allows the whole team to work on the same tasks and processes simultaneously. It helps in streamlining the test & process approval while ensuring that everyone stays on the same page.
• Save time and reduce error: Leveraging the flowchart software, you can mitigate the risks of errors and save your precious time. The software automatically generates connectors and keeps all the symbols aligned, hence reducing the requirement for manual refinement. It also ensures the consistency and accuracy of the diagram.

Key Features of Flowchart Software

Flowchart software is used for making pictorial representation of numerous steps involved in running a process. This platform depicts the actual flow of an algorithm, which is constructed with the help of arrows (flow lines) and boxes. Here are some key features of this software:

• Pre-designed templates: Most top grade software provides the facility of pre-designed templates that can be utilized as a starting point to create flow charts. This saves you time and effort in creating a flow chart from scratch.
• Drag & drop interface: This user-friendly feature allows you to create multiple flowcharts by simply dragging & dropping symbols and shapes into a canvas.
• Template generator: This is a very beneficial feature as it empowers you to make a re-usable Excel template that contains symbols along with a title block. Furthermore, it also helps you in the selection of title headers & footers.
• Export & sharing: Thanks to flowchart software, you can easily export your flowcharts in a wide range of formats like SVF, PNG or PDF. Moreover, you can also share the flowcharts with others through social media, email or collaboration channels.
• Automation: Some online flowchart tools come with an automation feature that helps users in automating certain tasks and procedures, such as creating flowcharts based on data and their automatic updates as per changes in data.
• Sentence capitalization: This feature fastens the data entry process by automatically adding sentence capitalization in the added texts.

Benefits of Using Flowchart Software

Your organization can enjoy these below-mentioned benefits by using flowchart software:

• Enhanced communication: The best software to draw flowchart empowers your entire team to work together as they make, edit and analyze flow charts. In addition to screen and file sharing facility, many platforms offer to comment along not taking facility, which helps users in interacting with each other without switching screens.
• Visual Clarity: Written documents provide numerous details about your organization's internal structure, however, people can't always spend their time reading and understanding complicated documents. The usage of flowchart software can bring visual clarity in difficult to understand concepts. This visual clarity makes it easier for everyone to navigate through complicated and interrelated systems. For example, a rounded rectangle can denote the process of initiation and termination and a square primarily represents action. There is a range of symbols that can symbolize electronic or paper storage of a process.
• Comprehensive analysis: When you create a diagram with a flowchart, it helps you in identifying a range of problems. For example, by analyzing your organizational flow chart, you may discover operational bottlenecks and processes that need improvement. Similarly, programmers use it to visually review their work and reveal illogical sequences that might create bugs and inefficiencies. After uncovering a problem, programmers can know the exact places where they need to improve their code.
• Document creation: Many people find it easier to learn visually instead of reading. Flowchart program is extremely useful in simplifying complex procedures. For instance, a human resource team can create a flow chart to describe the onboarding process for new recruits and they can also provide flow charts in the form of documents. You can create client support documents in the form of flow charts for your products & services. These documents can help your customers in understanding the proper usage of the things they've purchased from your company.

Types of Flowchart Software 

Here is a list of the most noteworthy flow chart software available in the market:

• Online flowchart software: You can run this tool on any web browser and it can be used to make flowcharts and different types of diagrams. OmniGraffle, Lucidchart, Draw.Io, Wireflow and Microsoft Visio are some popular examples of online flow chart software. 
• Desktop flowchart software: Flowcharts and many other diagrams can be made with this software, which can be installed on a computer. OmniGraffle, Lucidchart and Microsoft Visio are a few noteworthy desktop flowchart software. 
• Mobile flowchart software: This software runs on tablets and smartphones and lets you create flowcharts and many detailed diagrams on the go. Popular examples of mobile flowchart software are SmartDraw, Gliffy, Flowdia Diagrams and Draw.io are some most popular mobile flowchart tools.  
• Collaborative flowchart software: The usage of collaborative flowchart software allows numerous users to work on the same flowchart project simultaneously. Some popular options are Cacoo, Creately, LibreOffice Draw and Draw.io.  
• Open-source flowchart software: It is the perfect solution for those who want to utilize customizable and free flowchart software. Examples of this type of software include ClickCharts, Visme, LibreOffice Draw and Creately. 

Advantages and Disadvantages/drawbacks of Flowchart Software 

Advantages:

Below are some noteworthy advantages of using flowchart software:

• Identify particular steps: One of the top advantages of using flowchart software is that it helps in breaking down processes into numerous individual steps. It is extremely beneficial for your team to understand each phase which allows a greater workflow and better experience. The process starts with a trigger, and it is then segregated into multiple steps that depict the complete process of a task. The stages are divided into smaller segments and given a direction, so your team can work on them efficiently and within a short span of time.  
• Identify mistakes: Thanks to flowchart software, you can easily identify the mistakes in the flowchart structure and correct the existing technique or introduce a new one. The mistakes can be easily removed, and rational or workable techniques can also be developed. When you break down steps, you get to see things that might have gone unnoticed or were combined instead of being treated as individual steps. The software helps in identifying goals that are associated with the tasks and desired outcomes of every phase.  
• Debugging becomes easier: Debugging helps in finding out errors in your flowchart in a step-by-step process. As each step and process involved is depicted through symbols, it becomes easier for you to identify problems and debug the flowchart with utmost ease. 

Disadvantages:

Although flowchart software has numerous advantages, it also has the following disadvantages:

• Compatibility issues: Flowchart software aren't always compatible with other operating systems and software, which can make it difficult for you to collaborate or share diagrams with other team members. 
• Learning curve: Beginners might find it challenging to learn the usage of flowchart software. The learning curve for software can be much steeper than others, which can be frustrating and time-consuming. 
• Limited customization: You might get limited customization options like the ability to change fonts or colours, which can cause frustration to those who want to use it to make unique diagrams. 
• Price: If you are looking for flowchart software with advanced collaboration tools or features, then you might have to shell out some extra amount, which can be extremely expensive. You might also get low-cost or free versions, but they might come with a lot of restrictions and limited features.

Which Factors Should You Consider When Selecting Flowchart Software?

The flowchart program is an effective and powerful way of displaying various steps of a specific process. However, when it comes to choosing software for your business, can be a tricky process. The following are some useful factors to keep in mind to buy a perfect flowchart tool.

• Customization: The software you choose should come with the ability to cover numerous pages in one flowchart canvas and it should also allow you to customize your favourite symbols.
• Hassle-free editing: You should be able to easily edit your flowchart without changing the whole data in the flowchart. The flowchart maker software should empower you to add or remove columns and rows for faster repositioning, shift symbols with the help of an arrow and keys on your keyboard. Moreover, it must allow you to toggle between different shapes by using the tab key.
• User-friendly flow charting: The main purpose of a flow chart tool is to ensure that the process is easy to understand by all people. Hence, it should offer you user-friendly flow-charting conditions that eliminate unnecessary steps. Additionally, you should be able to generate a seamless flow chart by simply copy-pasting the course of action from a Word file.
• Symbol key generation: By using a symbol key generator, you can design a symbol key in your chart and identify the meaning of different flow chart symbols used in a process diagram. Thus, you must make sure that your software provides you with this highly beneficial feature.

10 Best Online Flowchart Software

Software	Features	Best For
Cacoo	Present & screen share, Collaboration revision history, In app chat & video	Teams, Companies, Students, Individual
Edraw	In-built library with flowchart symbols, Symbol customization	Experts, Newbies
Draw.io	Wide range of templates, Drag and drop, Export & import in numerous formats	Process analysts, Designers, Developers, Network admins
Lucidchart	Drag & drop functionality, Real time group chats & comments	Engineering & IT, Businesses, Freelancers
Visme	500 templates and colour schemes, Easily download and publish 50+ charts, Maps and widgets	Small & large companies, Educational institutions
Smartdraw	Intelligent formatting, Collaboration from anywhere, Development platform	Anyone
Visual Paradigm	Team collaboration, Features for project management & enterprise architecture	Software Developers
Creately	Free public version, Inexpensive, Online & windows app	Teams, Companies, Process analysts, Designers
Edraw Max	Supports 280+ types of diagrams, Native on Mac, Windows, and Linux	Project managers, Architects, Engineers, Business professionals
Gliffy	Relatively cheap, Supports JIRA and Confluence, Online & Chrome app	Software developers, Project managers, Educators, Business professionals