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Gliffy alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Gliffy: standalone web app is closed to new accounts, and only useful if you use Atlassian tools. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Gliffy, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. draw.io currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1draw.io logodraw.ioFreeYesWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 566.5
2Mermaid logoMermaidOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 457.2
  1. draw.io logo

    1. draw.ioTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who wants capable diagramming for free without handing their files to a vendor

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Browser extension

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gliffy

    The other major Confluence diagram app, with far more shapes and a free standalone version.

    Pros

    • Completely free with no paywalled features
    • Files stay in your own storage or on disk
    • Offline desktop app for all three desktop OSes
    • Huge shape libraries including cloud and network icons

    Cons

    • Interface feels dated next to newer tools
    • Collaboration features depend on the storage you pick
    • Fewer AI and data-linking features than paid rivals
    Visit draw.io Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is draw.io a good Gliffy alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free, no sign-up required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026drawio.com(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    Apache 2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    100M+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026drawio.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2005
    Checked Oct 25, 2026drawio.com(opens source in a new tab)
    SSO paywall
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026drawio.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Mermaid logo

    2. Mermaid

    Best for: Developers who want diagrams as text that render in GitHub, docs and wikis

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gliffy

    Text diagrams that render in many wikis and Git hosts without a paid app.

    Pros

    • Diagrams are plain text you can version and review
    • Rendered natively by GitHub, GitLab and many doc tools
    • Free and MIT licensed
    • Covers many diagram types

    Cons

    • Little control over layout
    • Large diagrams become hard to read
    • Styling options are limited
    Visit Mermaid Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Mermaid a good Gliffy alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Syntax
    Markdown-inspired text definitions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mermaid.js.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Online editor
    Mermaid Live Editor
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mermaid.js.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Award
    2019 JavaScript Open Source Award
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mermaid.js.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Gliffy alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

draw.io logo

Best Gliffy alternative for most people

draw.io

The other major Confluence diagram app, with far more shapes and a free standalone version.

Mermaid logo

Best Gliffy alternative for a free option

Mermaid

Text diagrams that render in many wikis and Git hosts without a paid app.

Lucidchart logo

Best Gliffy alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Lucidchart

Works inside Confluence too, but also as a full standalone tool for the wider company.

draw.io logo

Best Gliffy alternative for open source

draw.io

The other major Confluence diagram app, with far more shapes and a free standalone version.

draw.io logo

Best Gliffy alternative for self-hosting

draw.io

The other major Confluence diagram app, with far more shapes and a free standalone version.

Ilograph logo

Best Gliffy alternative for Mac

Ilograph

Interactive architecture diagrams that also run as a Confluence Cloud app.

draw.io logo

Best Gliffy alternative for Windows

draw.io

The other major Confluence diagram app, with far more shapes and a free standalone version.

draw.io logo

Best Gliffy alternative for Linux

draw.io

The other major Confluence diagram app, with far more shapes and a free standalone version.

Lucidchart logo

Best Gliffy alternative for iPhone and Android

Lucidchart

Works inside Confluence too, but also as a full standalone tool for the wider company.

Creately logo

Best Gliffy alternative for working in the browser

Creately

Has a Confluence Cloud integration plus a standalone canvas for non-Confluence users.

Gliffy alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Gliffy?

draw.io ranks first right now. The other major Confluence diagram app, with far more shapes and a free standalone version. Lucidchart and Creately follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Gliffy?

Yes. draw.io (free), Lucidchart (free plan + paid), Creately (free plan + paid) and Mermaid (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Gliffy?

Yes: draw.io and Mermaid. draw.io and Mermaid can also be self-hosted.

Which Gliffy alternatives work on Linux?

draw.io and Ilograph run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Gliffy?

The complaints we hear most: standalone web app is closed to new accounts; only useful if you use Atlassian tools; fewer shapes and features than draw.io.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Gliffy, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.