Nothing gets people going like a visually appealing, intuitive diagram describing processes, visualizing solutions, and designing systems.

A flowchart program is a helpful tool to use to make visual diagrams for businesses or schools.

You can create diagrams and use an intelligent flowchart in presentations or projects to make information more digestible. They organize information in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Flowcharts have been in use since 1921 to document workflow and processes.

As information technology advanced, flowcharts have been assisting along the way. Luckily for all, there are many flowchart software available online for free.

Not all are created equally. Some of the best flowchart software has better features and user interfaces.

The best flowchart maker software has to hit on a few criteria. The best software must be easy to use. They need to supply plenty of free templates and symbols. It is vital that they can export onto popular office software.

Finally, the best software needs to either be free or inexpensive.

Zen Flowchart

Zen Flowchart is the best flowchart software available online. This online tool makes creating flowcharts a walk in the park. It’s clean, simple, and comprehensive.

Zen Flowchart holds your hand through the whole process. It makes it, so beginners have access to all necessary information. They break down flowcharts, their history, and their uses in an easily understandable way.

There is a free option that is especially useful for beginners. More experienced users can purchase a subscription to unlock specialized features. The free option gives beginners all the necessary features required for basic flowcharts. Users have access to free templates and mind maps.

Zen Flowchart elevates itself against the competition because of the simple user interface. Overcomplicated software may have more potential, but none of it matters if users cannot use the program.

Zen Flowchart strips down convoluted features and still provides an intuitive interface. There is a simple drag and drop feature. It provides users with plenty of shapes and symbols for their flowcharts.

In addition, creativity and customizable styling are possible with their 1-click styling feature. You can just tell they care about flowcharts.

Highlights of Zen Flowchart

  • Simple, stripped-down interface
  • Easy drag and drop
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Free

Gliffy

Gliffy is a flowchart maker software created by two engineers. Since the creators are engineers, they know how frustrating some software can be.

They have created one of the best flowchart maker software available. Gliffy is a great beginner flowchart software.

However, the drag and drop feature is the crown jewel. Users pick symbols or shapes and easily maneuver them along with their grid interface.

This online tool can host multiple users on a single document. Multiple users can collaborate and work remotely to create flowcharts.

Gliffy saves and tracks changes automatically, similar to Google Docs. It is a paid software. Users can try out a two-week free trial to get the hang of things. Team plans are more cost-effective than personal plans.

Businesses can take advantage of this and provide Gliffy for their diagram creation.

Highlights of Gliffy

  • Drag and drop feature
  • Collaboration
  • Automatic change tracking

Creately

Creately is a comprehensive online tool for creating flowcharts and complex diagrams. Creatley has many advanced features and capabilities. Even with the advanced capabilities, it still delivers an intuitive interface.

Creatley comes with all the necessary features that we need from flowchart maker software. In addition, they provide free templates, drag and drop, and shapes for the users.

All of the necessary features are provided in the free version, albeit in a limited capacity. You can purchase the advanced product on a monthly subscription. The paid version is reasonably priced and gives unlimited templates and increased storage.

Advanced users have access to integration and export options to other programs like Microsoft office and Github.

The interface is clean and fairly simple to use. Creatley organizes its free templates into succinct categories depending on the type of project. Flowcharts for marketing are structured differently than flowcharts for networking, for example.

Highlights of Creatley

  • Comprehensive
  • Free flowchart software
  • Neatly organized templates for free

EdrawMax

EdrawMax is one of the best flowchart maker software on the market today. Clean, modern, and packed with flowchart tools. EdrawMax has everything you need out of a flowchart maker software.

EdrawMax is available online and as a downloadable program for offline projects. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

It has collaborative features, so multiple people can edit online diagrams. This software comes with seemingly bottomless templates and symbols.

Over 1500 unique templates combined with 26,000 symbols make it so no two flowcharts are the same. If that are still not enough templates, you can create your own from scratch. EdrawMax assists from the get-go with instructional videos and tutorials.

The instructional videos demonstrate how easy it is to operate EdrawMax and create professional flowcharts.

Highlights of EdrawMax

  • Easy to use
  • Endless creative options
  • Comprehensive
  • Intuitive

Smartdraw

Smartdraw is an intuitive flowchart maker software. Smartdraw prides itself on its ease of use, as it should.

Smartdraw breaks down how to create flowcharts in 5 easy steps. They have created a diagram software that you can understand in five minutes.

Smartdraw is one of the easiest flowchart maker software available online. There is a free trial option and then a monthly subscription.

It is a bit more expensive than some other options, but it provides fantastic flowchart software.

Smartdraw has mastered the intuitive controls for easy flowchart creation. The flowchart tools include keyboard shortcuts and a search bar for symbols.

Smartdraw creates professional flowcharts quickly with the tools provided. They provide a step-by-step breakdown of how to create even the most niche component of a flowchart.

Smartdraw provides free templates and symbols. You can also apply a theme to add that extra layer of professionalism.

Users can export diagrams easily once finished. For example, you can insert finished flowcharts directly into Microsoft Office and Google Docs.

Highlights of Smartdraw

  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Detailed instructions
  • Ease and speed of use

The Best Flowchart Maker Software

These are the five best flowchart maker software available online in 2022. All the software listed will deliver project workflows, progressional diagrams, and simple flowcharts.

They are all easy to use and give room for creativity. However, there can only be one best flowchart software.

Zen Flowchart is the best overall flowchart maker software. It excels in all aspects of flowchart design.

Zen Flowchart has a leg up on the competition, from the ease of use to the endless creative options available.

What is a flowchart?

A flowchart is a diagram that displays the sequence of steps for a business or personal process.

What is a flowchart used for?

Flowcharts are used for lots of different reasons in the workplace.

  • Describe a process
  • Visualize solutions
  • Explain a system
  • Map out outcomes to decisions
  • Brainstorming

How do you create a flowchart?

Start by understanding the purpose of the flowchart. Then, pick a template or start from scratch.

Pick a symbol and add text. Then, create the next step, either a next step or a split decision.

Connect all the symbols until the flowchart is complete.

Finish by customizing the appearance and finalizing your professional flowchart.

What are the main types of flowcharts?

The most common types of flowcharts are the process, swimlane, workflow, and decision flowchart.

  • Process flowcharts are used when starting a new project. The flowchart describes the sequence of decisions and the possible outcomes.
  • Swimlane flowcharts get used when decisions need to go through different departments or separated categories. Swimlane flowcharts visually divide the decisions by department.
  • Workflow diagrams illustrate the responsibilities of different parties. Workflow flowcharts can visualize processes or tasks.
  • Decision flowcharts visually represent options of potential outcomes for business decisions.

What do the shapes on a flowchart mean?

The common shapes on the flowchart have specific meanings.

  • The oval represents the beginning of the end of the flowchart
  • The rectangle represents a process
  • The diamond indicates a decision
  • The parallelogram indicates an input or output
  • The arrow indicates a directional flow

What are the basic rules for creating flowcharts?

There are a few basic rules that will simplify your flowcharts.

Always start from the top and work down, or start from the left and move right. Never overlap the lines unless using a swimlane flowchart.

Be consistent with spacing and your flowchart symbols.

What are the advantages of using a flowchart?

Flowcharts have several advantages over other diagrams.

  • Flowcharts are easy to understand quickly
  • Easy for anyone to create flowcharts
  • Effective for discovering mistakes

What are the disadvantages of using a flowchart?

The main disadvantage of flowcharts and other diagramming tools is the difficulty of presenting complex tasks.

Since flowcharts simplify information so well, they struggle to clearly display complex problems.

Can flowcharts have more than one starting point?

No, flowcharts always start with one rectangle. So the starting point should be at the top of the far left.

Can flowcharts go on forever?

Flowcharts always have a defined ending point. There can be multiple ending points based on the process path, but it cannot go on forever.