More and more people need to use Visio to draw diagrams on the move, and the best tool is to use a drawing tablet (such as an iPad).
Using a pen on a tablet is much easier and feels more natural than using a mouse to draw processes, flowcharts, and other technical diagrams.
What are the best flowchart makers? Since Visio doesn’t work on Mac, we’ve looked at the best alternatives to Visio on Mac, but not all alternatives are suitable for use on iPads.
The following are all the great alternatives made in iPad to Visio, and in many cases, are cheaper and easier to use than MS Visio.
At the very least, the recommended apps here allow you to export your charts in JPG or PNG format so that you can import them into other apps (although that doesn’t necessarily mean you can continue editing them).
However, only our top pick, SmartDraw, can be exported to the latest version of Visio VSDX format so that you can easily continue editing them or send them to Visio on Windows.
However, it’s important to note that drawing a diagram from scratch on an iPad will never be as easy as it is on a Mac desktop.
The nature of touchscreens means that they are more difficult to use than desktop Macs with mice or touchpads because of issues such as hover mode for shape data, tooltips, and various other issues.
However, drawing a diagram with an iPad is great for making small edits or just looking at a Visio diagram.
With that in mind, here is our list of the best alternatives to Microsoft Visio for iPad.
A collection of the best flowchart maker software for quick navigation
- 1. SmartDraw
- 2. OmniGraffle
- 3. Lucidchart
- 4. Grafio
- 5. Grapholite
- 6. TouchDraw
- 7. CmapTools
1. SmartDraw
iPad Flowchart Maker Software Download: SmartDraw is an incredibly easy-to-use yet powerful web-based diagramming tool that works just as well on iPad as it does on macOS.
Aside from the ease of use and large selection of objects and diagrams, SmartDraw’s biggest advantage over the competition is that it’s the only app that can be imported and exported in the latest Visio VSDX format.
This is important if you want to continue editing diagrams in Visio or collaborating with Visio-based colleagues in the future.
SmartDraw is intuitive on both desktop and tablet, with thousands of objects, symbols, and templates to complete diagrams quickly.
You can now try SmartDraw for free in your iPad browser to judge for yourself.
2. OmniGraffle
What are the best flowchart makers? OmniGraffle is the closest desktop to Microsoft Visio on Mac and also has great iPad apps. In fact, many users find it easier to use than Visio but still more powerful in some ways.
OmniGraffle can also open Visio files, but unlike SmartDraw, it can’t be exported to the latest Visio VSDX format. However, it does allow you to draw freehand, and there are plenty of templates and other tool resources available.
Note that you can download OmniGraffle for iPad for free, but you’ll need to pay for an in-app upgrade to the Pro version for $119.99 for Visio import support.
3. Lucidchart
Collection of Best Flowchart Maker Software: Lucidchart is another web-based diagramming tool that makes it very easy to create everything from processes to diagrams.
Lucidchart can also open Visio files, but it can’t export the latest Visio VSDX format.
Lucidchart is also a great option when collaborating with others, as you can invite multiple users to view and edit your charts.
Lucidchart allows you to drag and drop shapes around the chart with your finger or stylus, which feels very natural on your iPad or tablet.
You can publish any diagram directly to the web or PDF.
You can read more in our full review of the Lucidchart iOS app and try it for free to judge for yourself.
4. Grafio
iPad Flowchart Maker Download: Grafio is designed for iPad and iPhone and lets you create stunning vector graphic drawings and diagrams.
Grafio is actually optimized for iPhones, but the iPad app is just as great and powerful.
Grafio syncs with most major cloud storage services, including iCloud.
It allows you to draw freehand, and you can switch between drawing modes using the Pencil 2 button. You can flip, align, and distribute shapes with more than 4,000 objects and pictograms.
Grafio intelligently helps you refine shapes and objects by automatically recognizing what you’ve drawn and automatically converting the lines you draw between them into connectors.
You can even record audio notes when you’re inspired or have a great idea to save for later.
Grafio isn’t technically exactly the same as Visio, but as a dedicated diagramming app for iPad, it’s hard to beat.
5.Grapholite
If you’re looking for a budget alternative to Visio for iOS, try Grapholite.
Grapholite is also a great option if you’re looking for something that can run cross-platform across iOS, Windows, and Android (though not on macOS).
Grapholite is suitable for various types of diagramming needs, including flowcharts, floor plans, office layouts, uml diagrams, organizational charts, mind maps, Venn diagrams, BPMN diagrams, wireframes, technical drawings, web layouts, UI mockups, and more.
The iPad app is more than just a port on the desktop, as it’s designed to take advantage of a stylus and an iPad display with pop-up panels that only appear on the screen when you need them.
For those who need to keep their diagrams tidy, there’s a sketch mode for both hand-drawn and dynamic grid snapping.
You can use the basic version of Grapholite for free, but to get the full features, you’ll need to upgrade to the premium version for $39.99.
6. TouchDraw
What are the best flowchart makers? TouchDraw is a vector drawing app for iPad that lets you create 2D flowcharts, diagram logos, and more. It’s not as technical as Visio, so you can be more creative with it, though
You can even export and import Visio formats, although only in the older VDX/XML format, which you won’t find in too many iPad-specific vector drawing apps.
iPad flowchart maker software download
TouchDraw is especially great if you want to create very large canvases. It also has a very useful overlay that accurately adjusts the position and size of objects in the drawing.
On the downside, iCloud can’t be synced or shared, but you can export in a variety of formats, including PNG, JPEG, PDF, and SVG.
7. CmapTools
Collection of Best Flowchart Maker: If you need to make a concept map, then CmapTools is designed for that. CmapTools for iPad is designed for concept maps and knowledge models, and has a number of custom tools dedicated to the task.
You can easily drag and drop elements in CmapTools and have a full styling palette to make some very smart diagrams.
The best part is that CmapTools is free to use, which makes it very popular among schools and educational institutions. If you want to sync through Cmap Cloud, you only have to pay for it, and you can do it through an in-app purchase.
