The best org chart software shows who reports to whom, what each person does and how teams fit together, and keeps that picture current as people join, move and leave. Some tools draw charts by hand, others build them automatically from your HR system, and a few add workforce planning for restructures. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Most org charts are accurate for about a week. Then someone's promoted, a team is merged, two people join on the same Monday and the slide in the shared drive quietly stops being true.
Org chart software keeps the chart honest. The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're choosing HR tools more widely, my list of HR software for small businesses covers the systems many of these connect to.
Org chart tools side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free account or an open source release. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChartHop | People operations platform | Org charts tied to people data | Not stated |
| Creately | AI visual workspace | Mapping people, roles and skills | Not stated |
| Functionly | Org design software | Restructures and org design | Trial only |
| Ingentis | Org chart and analytics platform | Automatic charts from HR data | Not stated |
| Lucidchart | Diagramming software | Org charts among other diagrams | Yes |
| Microsoft Visio | Diagramming software | Microsoft 365 organisations | Trial only |
| OrgChart | Automated org chart software | Real-time charts from HR systems | Not stated |
| Orgvue | Org design and workforce planning | Large transformation programmes | Not stated |
| Pingboard | People and org directory | A living staff directory | Not stated |
| Sift | Org chart and people directory | Finding the right colleague fast | Trial only |
| The Org | Public org chart network | Public org charts for employer brand | Not stated |
Eleven org chart tools worth exploring
ChartHop
Best for: People teams who want org charts connected to headcount planning, reviews and performance in one people operations platform.
Creately
Best for: Teams who want a visual workspace to map their organisation's people, roles, skills and scenarios alongside processes and diagrams.
Functionly
Best for: Companies from 100 to more than 10,000 employees who want interactive org design and workforce planning, with a free trial and a demo chart.
Ingentis
Best for: Large organisations who want org charts generated automatically from HR data, plus org analytics, design and data cleansing.
Lucidchart
Best for: Teams who want a general diagramming tool with an organizational chart maker and templates, on a free account to start.
Microsoft Visio
Best for: Microsoft 365 users who want to craft org charts of teams, hierarchy or reporting lines and share them, with a one-month trial.
OrgChart
Best for: HR teams who want org charts generated automatically and kept current from more than 50 HR data sources.
Orgvue
Best for: Large enterprises who want to analyse, design, plan and monitor their workforce and model future organisation scenarios.
Pingboard
Best for: Growing companies who want a living directory that shows roles, expertise and relationship patterns, now part of Workleap.
Sift
Best for: Organisations who want to visualise their org, search people profiles and plan changes, with a 14-day free trial.
The Org
Best for: Companies who want a public org chart that shows the team behind the company on a network of company pages people can follow.
Which tool suits which team
- Quick charts among other diagrams: Lucidchart, Microsoft Visio or Creately.
- Automatic charts from HR data: OrgChart or Ingentis.
- A living staff directory: Pingboard or Sift.
- Org charts tied to people data: ChartHop.
- Restructures and org design: Functionly or Orgvue.
- A public org chart for hiring: The Org.
Your org chart is personal data
The ICO's guidance on what counts as personal data quotes the UK GDPR definition: any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, who can be identified directly or indirectly by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data or an online identifier.
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An org chart with names, photos, job titles and locations ticks every box. That doesn't stop you having one, but it does mean you should think about who can see it, what you show outside the company and how quickly leavers come off it.
Drawn by hand or built from HR data?
Diagram tools let you draw a chart yourself. They're quick to start and flexible, but someone has to update every box when anything changes.
Connected tools build the chart from your HR system, so a new starter or a manager change shows up without anyone redrawing it. Past about fifty people, that's usually the only way the chart stays current.
Planning tools go further and let you model a future structure before anyone's told. If a restructure is coming, that's the feature to look for.
What to check before you choose
- Does it sync with your HR system or directory?
- Can you control who sees salaries, photos or contact details?
- Can you model a future structure privately?
- Does it work inside the tools people already use?
- Can new starters search by skill or project?
- How does it handle dotted-line reporting?
HR technology writers can see the SaaS topics I publish before sending me an idea.
Signs your org chart is out of date
- New starters can't find their manager. Sync with HR data.
- Leavers still appear. Automate updates.
- Every change needs a designer. Move off static slides.
- Restructures leak early. Plan in a private scenario.
Do you make org chart or HR tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on org chart software
If you're under fifty people, a diagram tool and a monthly update might be all you need. Above that, connect the chart to your HR data, because a chart someone has to redraw by hand is a chart that will go stale.
And use it for more than structure. A good chart helps new starters find the right person on day one. My piece on building a positive company culture explains why that first-week clarity matters.
Frequently asked questions
What is org chart software?
It's software that shows your organisation's structure, who reports to whom and what each person does, and keeps that view current as people join, move and leave.
Is there free org chart software?
Yes. Some diagram tools offer a free account, and several org chart tools offer a free trial. Check the free plan column above, then confirm on the vendor's site.
Can org charts update automatically?
Yes. Many tools connect to your HR system or directory and rebuild the chart whenever a person's role or manager changes.
Is an org chart personal data under UK GDPR?
If it shows names, photos, roles or locations of identifiable people, it's personal data under the UK GDPR definition the ICO quotes, so access rules matter.
What's the difference between an org chart and org design software?
An org chart shows the structure today. Org design software lets you model and compare future structures before you make a change.
Should I share our org chart publicly?
Some companies share a public chart to help hiring and partnerships. Share only what people are comfortable with, and keep sensitive details internal.
