Best open source diagram and flowchart tools (Visio alternatives)

1

draw.io

Diagram software for making flowcharts, process diagrams, org charts, UML, ER and network diagrams.

Note-taking & EditorsDocker

9.0k

Stands out for a permissive Apache-2.0 license. draw.io has 9,028 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 73 commits in the last year.

2

Excalidraw

Virtual hand-drawn style whiteboard for diagrams and sketches.

UtilitiesDocker

135k

Stands out for the most GitHub stars. Excalidraw has 134,690 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 285 commits in the last year; it replaces Figma and Lucidchart.

3

tldraw

Infinite canvas whiteboard and SDK for drawing and diagramming.

Source-availableUtilities

51k

Stands out for the most commits in the last 12 months (1,931). tldraw has 51,123 GitHub stars, is source-available under the tldraw license (not an open-source license) and had 1,931 commits in the last year; it replaces Figma and Lucidchart.

1

WBO

Web Whiteboard to collaborate in real-time on schemas, drawings, and notes.

Team ChatDocker

2.7k

Stands out for the longest track record (since 2013). WBO has 2,675 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,144 commits in the last year.

1

TeamMapper

Host and create your own mindmaps. Share your mindmap sessions with your team and collaborate live on mindmaps.

Wikis & Knowledge BasesDocker

515

Stands out for a permissive MIT license. TeamMapper has 515 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 258 commits in the last year.

1

ChartDB

Database diagrams editor that allows you to visualize and design your DB with a single query.

Database ManagementDocker

23k

ChartDB has 23,027 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 98 commits in the last year.

2

Azimutt

Visual database exploration made for real world databases (big and messy). Explore your database schema as well as data, document them, extend them and even get analysis and guidelines.

Database ManagementDocker

2.2k

Azimutt has 2,194 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 6 commits in the last year.