diagrams net
Free diagramming application for building professional diagrams.
Open the official app on www.diagrams.net
This tool is hosted by its maintainers. Click below to open www.diagrams.net in a new tab — it's their official demo.
Browse diagram tools →What's next with diagrams net?
Choose how you want to get started.
Use it free
Open the official tool or demo — no account needed.
Self-host it
Run the open-source version on your own infrastructure.
What is diagrams net?
diagrams.net, formerly known as draw.io, is an open-source diagramming tool designed for creating visual representations of ideas, processes, and systems. Its primary purpose is to enable users to design diagrams such as flowcharts, network layouts, UML models, and database schemas without requiring advanced technical expertise. The tool is widely used by teams, developers, and educators for collaboration, documentation, and communication. It addresses the challenge of creating clear, shareable visuals that can be edited by multiple contributors while maintaining data security and accessibility. By offering a free, privacy-first alternative to proprietary diagramming software, diagrams.net users to avoid subscription costs and data lock-in, making it a popular choice for both personal and professional projects.
How it works
diagrams.net is a web-based diagramming tool that allows users to create and edit diagrams through a browser. It supports a wide range of diagram types, including flowcharts, ER diagrams, BPMN workflows, and circuit designs. The tool is built on an open-source framework, ensuring transparency and community-driven development. Its core purpose is to provide an accessible, secure, and collaborative environment for visualizing complex information. By leveraging an Apache-2.0 license, it eliminates proprietary restrictions, enabling users to host or share diagrams without dependency on centralized services. diagrams.net excels in real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit diagrams simultaneously with shared cursors. It integrates with cloud platforms like Google Drive, Microsoft 365, and GitHub, enabling workflow between diagram creation and project management. The tool also supports exporting diagrams to SVG, PNG, PDF, and other formats, ensuring compatibility with external tools.
How to use it
- 1Access diagrams.net through a web browser or install the desktop application from GitHub. 2. Select a template or start with a blank canvas. 3. Use the toolbar to add shapes, connectors, and text. 4. Save or export the diagram to a preferred format. 5. Share the file via cloud storage or embed it in a document. Practical tips include utilizing keyboard shortcuts for efficiency, leveraging pre-built shapes for consistency, and using layers to organize complex diagrams. Regularly saving work to cloud storage ensures data is accessible across devices.
What it can do
- diagramming
Use cases
Assumptions and limitations
Assumptions
- source: https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-desktop
- license: Apache-2.0 — free to use
- privacy: Self-hosted — you control your data
Limitations
- Limited advanced styling options compared to premium diagramming tools
- No built-in version control for collaborative projects
- Performance may degrade with excessively large or complex diagrams
- Limited support for specialized diagramming standards beyond basic use cases
- Dependence on internet connectivity for cloud-based features
Understanding the result
Free diagramming application for building professional diagrams.
Tool details
- Clearly flagged when a network request is needed.
- No account, no sign-up, and no tracking of your content.
- Powered by (Apache-2.0).
- Built with
- (jgraph/drawio-desktop)
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Runs locally
- No — requires a network request
- Verification
- Not yet verified
- Input
- Query
- Output
- Text
Built with jgraph/drawio-desktop. OpenToolVault provides the discovery and browser interface while crediting the original project maintainers.
- Built with
- License
- Apache-2.0
Open-source project
OpenToolVault is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this project.
References
- / — GitHub Repository
Upstream project · GitHub
- Apache-2.0 License
Upstream project
Frequently asked
How does diagrams.net handle data privacy and security?
diagrams.net prioritizes privacy by storing user data client-side by default, meaning files are never uploaded to centralized servers. Users can host their own instances for full control over data storage. While cloud integrations (e.g., Google Drive) are supported, the core tool does not access or track user data, ensuring compliance with privacy standards.
How does the real-time collaboration feature work technically?
Real-time collaboration relies on WebSockets to synchronize edits across multiple users. When a user makes changes, the updates are immediately broadcast to connected clients, with shared cursors indicating active contributors. This requires a stable internet connection and works best with diagrams that have minimal complexity to avoid latency issues.
How do I embed a diagram into a webpage or document?
To embed a diagram, use the HTML code provided by the 'Embed' feature in diagrams.net. This generates an iframe link that can be inserted into websites, wikis, or documents. For example, adding `<iframe src='https://viewer.diagrams.net/?edit=_blank&layers=1'...>` allows users to interact with the diagram directly within the host page.
How does diagrams.net compare to tools like Lucidchart or Visio?
diagrams.net differs from Lucidchart by offering open-source flexibility and no subscription fees, while Visio provides more advanced features for enterprise users but at a high cost. diagrams.net lacks some specialized templates and AI-driven design tools found in premium alternatives, but it excels in simplicity, cross-platform compatibility, and privacy-focused workflows.
What should I do if my diagram file becomes corrupted?
If a diagram file is corrupted, check for backups in cloud storage or version history. For local files, try reopening the file in a different browser or device. If the issue persists, use the 'Export' feature to save the diagram in a different format (e.g., SVG) and recreate the file from the exported data.