What is Microsoft Visio used for?

Microsoft Visio is diagramming software for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, network diagrams and UML, offered in Microsoft 365 and as desktop editions. It is a good fit for IT teams documenting network layouts, analysts modeling business processes in BPMN and facilities teams drawing floor plans.

How much does Microsoft Visio cost?

Microsoft Visio is a paid product with no free plan.

Is Microsoft Visio open source?

No. Microsoft Visio is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Microsoft Visio include draw.io, Drawnix and TheOneFile.

What are some alternatives to Microsoft Visio?

Microsoft Visio competes with SmartDraw, Creately and Gliffy. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Microsoft Visio alternatives.

Microsoft Visio: features, pricing and alternatives

About Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visio is Microsoft's long-established diagramming application, used to draw flowcharts, organization charts, floor plans, network diagrams, UML diagrams and business process maps. It targets professionals who need structured, standards-based diagrams rather than free-form whiteboard sketches.

Microsoft sells it in several forms: Visio in Microsoft 365, Visio Plan 1 and Plan 2 as subscriptions, and Visio Standard 2024 and Professional 2024 as desktop editions. Supported diagram types and uses include process mapping, BPMN, data visualization and brainstorming, and a Visio Viewer is listed for opening files. The product integrates with other Microsoft 365 apps for team collaboration.

Visio is proprietary commercial software, and pricing varies by plan and region on Microsoft's site. It suits IT, operations and business analyst teams, especially in organizations that already run on Microsoft 365.

Key features

Flowcharts and process maps
Org charts and floor plans
Network and UML diagrams
BPMN support for process modeling
Diagrams linked to external data
Subscription and desktop editions
Integration with Microsoft 365

Good fit for

→IT teams documenting network layouts
→Analysts modeling business processes in BPMN
→Facilities teams drawing floor plans

Tags: diagramming; flowcharts; bpmn; uml; network-diagrams; microsoft-365

Microsoft Visio: questions and answers

What is Microsoft Visio used for?: Microsoft Visio is diagramming software for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, network diagrams and UML, offered in Microsoft 365 and as desktop editions. It is a good fit for IT teams documenting network layouts, analysts modeling business processes in BPMN and facilities teams drawing floor plans.
How much does Microsoft Visio cost?: Microsoft Visio is a paid product with no free plan.
Is Microsoft Visio open source?: No. Microsoft Visio is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Microsoft Visio include draw.io, Drawnix and TheOneFile.
What are some alternatives to Microsoft Visio?: Microsoft Visio competes with SmartDraw, Creately and Gliffy. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Microsoft Visio alternatives.