Yes, draw.io is free. Its own website says there's no account required and no credit card, you just open it and create, and its source code is released under the Apache License 2.0. You can make flowcharts, org charts and diagrams and export them without paying.
draw.io is the free diagram tool I recommend most often to small businesses that don't want a Visio or Lucidchart bill. It's unusual because it isn't a free tier of a paid product: the core app is free for everyone. Here's what draw.io says on its own site and GitHub page, as of October 2026, plus the few places where free use has limits.
What you get free with draw.io
- The full diagram editor in your browser, with no sign-up.
- A desktop app, draw.io Desktop, if you'd rather not work in the browser.
- Export to SVG, PNG and PDF, or keep diagrams editable.
- Integrations with Google Drive, Docs and Slides, Microsoft SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams, GitHub, a VS Code extension, Notion and a Chrome extension.
- Shared cursors so people can work on a diagram together.
- Your choice of where to store files. draw.io says it can't access your data.
draw.io's site makes a point I like: it says there's no artificial scarcity and no Enterprise tier just for single sign-on. That's a dig at the many tools that keep basic business features behind their most expensive plan.
Who owns the diagrams you make
You do. The GitHub page says the developers make no copyright claim on diagrams you create with the software. That matters if you're making diagrams for clients or including them in a book or course, because there's no licence fee or credit required for your own output.
The limits on free use
draw.io is free, but there are three things worth knowing before you build it into your business.
| Area | What draw.io says |
|---|---|
| Icons and stencils | The icon sets and stencil libraries can't be used as assets in, or distributed with, Atlassian products or products sold through Atlassian's app store |
| Your exported diagrams | That icon restriction doesn't apply to end-user output such as exported images and documents |
| Self-hosting from GitHub | The repository is a test version for evaluating draw.io; a paid production version is available for production deployments |
| The draw.io name and logo | A registered EU trademark that needs written permission to use for your own products |
For almost every small business, none of these bite. You'd only meet them if you're a developer building a product on top of draw.io's code or icon libraries, or hosting your own copy for a company.
draw.io vs paid diagram tools
draw.io's homepage pitches itself as professional diagramming without the enterprise price tag. It also says diagram files created in 2005 still load in the current app, which is a nice reassurance that your work won't be stranded. Paid tools tend to win on templates, live collaboration features and support. If you're deciding, my comparison of Visio vs draw.io covers the trade-offs, and my roundup of free diagram software lists other free options.
How to use draw.io for free
- Open draw.io in your browser. There's no account or card to set up.
- Choose where to save: your own device, Google Drive, OneDrive or another storage option it offers.
- Pick a blank diagram or a template, such as a flowchart or org chart.
- Drag shapes from the left-hand panel and join them with connectors.
- Export as PNG, SVG or PDF when you're done, or keep the editable file.
- Download draw.io Desktop if you'd rather use an installed app.
What draw.io isn't
It helps to know what the tool is built for. The GitHub page says draw.io is a diagramming and whiteboarding application, not an SVG editor, and that SVG export is meant for embedding in web pages rather than editing in other tools. If you need to design icons or illustrations, use a vector design app and bring the result into draw.io.
It also lists the browsers it supports: Chrome 123 or later, Firefox 120 or later, Safari 17.5 or later, Opera 109 or later and Edge 123 or later, plus recent Android and iOS browsers. If a diagram won't load, an out-of-date browser is the first thing I'd check.
Is draw.io safe for business diagrams?
Its homepage says you can store your data wherever you want and that draw.io can't access it. In practice that means your diagrams live in the storage you choose, such as your own computer or your company's cloud drive, rather than on draw.io's servers. For anyone handling client process maps or network diagrams, that's a strong point in its favour compared with tools that keep everything in their own cloud.
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draw.io is also unusual in how it's run. Its site says the company isn't VC-funded and is focused on the software rather than valuations, and the GitHub page notes it doesn't accept pull requests because the core team develops it. You may see that as a plus for stability, but it does mean you can't simply contribute a fix yourself.
My verdict
draw.io is free with no strings for normal use: no account, no card and full exports. The restrictions only touch developers reusing its icons in Atlassian products or companies self-hosting the code for production. For flowcharts, org charts and process maps, it's the first tool I'd try, and many small businesses will never need anything else. If you outgrow it, the draw.io alternatives are worth a look.
Frequently asked questions
Is draw.io completely free?
Yes. draw.io says there's no account required and no credit card. You can open it, create diagrams and export them without paying.
Is draw.io free for commercial use?
Yes for normal business diagrams. Its source code is under the Apache License 2.0, and it makes no copyright claim on the diagrams you create, so you can use them in client work.
Do I need to sign up for draw.io?
No. draw.io's homepage says no account is required. You choose where to save your files, such as your device, Google Drive or OneDrive.
Who makes draw.io?
draw.io's GitHub page says it's jointly owned and developed by draw.io Ltd, previously named JGraph, and draw.io AG.
Is there a draw.io desktop app?
Yes. draw.io's GitHub page points people who want the desktop app to draw.io Desktop, a separate download from the browser version.
