What is draw.io used for?

draw.io is a configurable client-side diagramming and whiteboarding editor in JavaScript, also available as the hosted app at diagrams.net. It is a good fit for flowcharts and architecture diagrams, embedding a diagram editor in other tools, and whiteboarding sketches.

Is draw.io open source?

Yes. draw.io is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at jgraph/drawio and is written mainly in JavaScript.

Yes. draw.io is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.

Can I self-host draw.io?

Yes. draw.io can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What is draw.io an alternative to?

draw.io is an open-source alternative to Microsoft Visio, Gliffy, SmartDraw and Lucidchart. Other open-source alternatives to Microsoft Visio include Drawnix and TheOneFile.

Is draw.io actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to draw.io was on 1 October 2026, and the latest release is v31.6.1, published on 1 October 2026. The project has 8.5k stars on GitHub.

draw.io: open-source alternative to Microsoft Visio, Gliffy

About draw.io

draw.io is a diagramming and whiteboarding application, with many configuration options, written in JavaScript and running entirely in the browser. It is co-owned and built by draw.io Ltd (formerly JGraph) and draw.io AG, and the same code powers the production deployment at app.diagrams.net.

The repository's source code uses the Apache License 2.0, while the icon sets, stencil libraries and diagram templates come with extra terms, including a restriction on using them in Atlassian products or marketplace plugins without written permission, although diagrams you create are unaffected and the project makes no copyright claim on them. The scope is diagramming and whiteboarding, not SVG editing, and this version does not offer real-time collaborative editing.

The team does not accept pull requests; development is done entirely by the core team. Because the editor is client-side, it can be embedded or hosted on your own infrastructure, and the hosted app is free to use in a browser. It suits anyone drawing flowcharts, architecture diagrams, network maps or UML.

Key features

Client-side diagram editor
Configurable shape libraries and stencils
Ready-made diagram templates
Export to image and document formats
Hosted version at app.diagrams.net
Apache 2.0 licensed source

Good fit for

→Flowcharts and architecture diagrams
→Embedding a diagram editor in other tools
→Whiteboarding sketches

Built with: JavaScript
Tags: diagramming; whiteboard; flowchart; uml; javascript; client-side; drawio; diagrams

draw.io: questions and answers

What is draw.io used for?: draw.io is a configurable client-side diagramming and whiteboarding editor in JavaScript, also available as the hosted app at diagrams.net. It is a good fit for flowcharts and architecture diagrams, embedding a diagram editor in other tools, and whiteboarding sketches.
Is draw.io open source?: Yes. draw.io is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at jgraph/drawio and is written mainly in JavaScript.
Is draw.io free?: Yes. draw.io is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.
Can I self-host draw.io?: Yes. draw.io can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What is draw.io an alternative to?: draw.io is an open-source alternative to Microsoft Visio, Gliffy, SmartDraw and Lucidchart. Other open-source alternatives to Microsoft Visio include Drawnix and TheOneFile.
Is draw.io actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to draw.io was on 1 October 2026, and the latest release is v31.6.1, published on 1 October 2026. The project has 8.5k stars on GitHub.