- Venn diagram makers compared
- Ten Venn diagram makers to consider
- Which Venn diagram maker fits your comparison
- Don't forget the space outside the circles
- Design tool, classroom tool or research tool?
- Six checks before you draw a Venn diagram
- Signs your Venn diagram is confusing people
- My plain advice on Venn diagrams that explain something
- Frequently asked questions
A Venn diagram maker draws overlapping circles so you can show what two, three or four groups share and what's unique to each. Some are design tools for slides and posters, some are classroom tools and some are research tools that size circles by the data. Ten options follow in no particular order.
A Venn diagram is the fastest way to show overlap. Two products, three customer groups or four gene lists all become easier to explain once people can see what sits in the middle and what sits alone.
The ten tools below cover classrooms, offices and labs. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. Teachers planning a comparison activity can start with my ChatGPT prompts for lesson plans and then build the diagram.
Venn diagram makers compared
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site says the tool, or a plan or version of it, is free or open source. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioVenn | Area-proportional Venn diagram web app | Comparing biological lists to scale | Not stated |
| Canva | Online design tool with a Venn diagram maker | Designed comparisons for slides and posters | Yes |
| ClassTools | Free classroom tool generator | Quick Venn activities in a lesson | Yes |
| Creately | Online diagramming workspace | Comparing ideas and options as a team | Yes |
| DeepVenn | Area-proportional Venn diagram tool | Accurate overlaps for research data | Not stated |
| Meta-Chart | Online chart and Venn maker | A simple labelled diagram to download | Yes |
| Piktochart | Online visual design tool | Venn diagrams inside reports | Yes |
| Venngage | Infographic and diagram maker | Showing how data sets connect | Yes |
| Venny | Interactive tool for comparing lists | Pasting up to four lists to compare | Not stated |
| Visme | Online design tool with a Venn diagram maker | Four or more overlapping circles | Yes |
Ten Venn diagram makers to consider
BioVenn
Best for: Scientists comparing gene or protein lists who want circles sized by how many items each set holds.
Canva
Best for: Students and marketers who want to map similarities and differences in a Venn diagram that looks good on a slide or poster.
ClassTools
Best for: Teachers who want a free Venn diagram generator that students can fill in and share with a link or QR code.
Creately
Best for: Teams that want to compare ideas, options and concepts in a Venn diagram inside a wider diagramming workspace.
DeepVenn
Best for: Researchers who want area-proportional Venn diagrams that show absolute numbers or percentages for each overlap.
Meta-Chart
Best for: Students who want to choose the number of sets, colour each circle and download a customised Venn diagram quickly.
Piktochart
Best for: Small teams that want a Venn diagram from pre-made templates to drop into reports and infographics, with no design experience.
Venngage
Best for: Marketers and analysts who want to show how multiple data sets connect in a Venn diagram built in minutes.
Venny
Best for: Lab teams that want to paste up to four lists, one element per row, and click the numbers to see what overlaps.
Visme
Best for: Teams that need Venn diagrams with two, three, four or more overlapping circles inside presentations and documents.
Which Venn diagram maker fits your comparison
- Scientific lists drawn to scale: BioVenn or DeepVenn.
- Comparing up to four lists in a lab: Venny.
- Designed diagrams for slides: Canva or Visme.
- Classroom activities: ClassTools.
- Team comparisons in a workspace: Creately.
- A quick download: Meta-Chart.
- Diagrams inside reports: Piktochart or Venngage.
Don't forget the space outside the circles
Wolfram MathWorld explains that a three-set Venn diagram has eight regions, and that the exterior region represents membership in none of the sets.
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Most homemade diagrams only count seven. They label each circle and each overlap, but leave out the items that fit no group at all. Those are often the most interesting part. A list of customers who match none of your personas tells you more than one more overlap, so draw a box around the circles and put those items inside it.
Design tool, classroom tool or research tool?
Design tools make the diagram look good. The circles are usually the same size, which is fine for ideas and comparisons on a slide.
Classroom tools are quick to fill in. Students drag or type items into each region and share the result with a link.
Research tools size each circle by how many items it holds. That matters when the numbers do the talking, because equal circles can make a tiny overlap look huge.
Six checks before you draw a Venn diagram
- How many groups are you comparing?
- Should circle size match the data?
- Is every overlap labelled?
- Where do items that fit no group go?
- Will people see it on a slide, in print or online?
- Can someone read it without your explanation?
Signs your Venn diagram is confusing people
- The overlaps have no labels. Name every region.
- The circles look equal but the data isn't. Size them.
- There are five circles. Use a table.
- Odd items are missing. Add the outside region.
Do you make a Venn diagram maker? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on Venn diagrams that explain something
Stop at three circles unless your audience works with data every day. A three-circle diagram has eight regions to read, and a four-set one gets messy fast. If you need more groups, a table usually explains it better than another circle.
If you're new to visual terms like overlap, contrast and hierarchy, my guide to key graphic design terms makes the rest of the design easier.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Venn diagram maker?
It's a tool that draws overlapping circles so you can show what groups share and what's unique to each.
Are Venn diagram makers free?
Several are free to use. Check the free plan column above, then confirm on each vendor's site.
How many regions does a three-circle Venn diagram have?
Eight, including the space outside all the circles for items that belong to none of the groups.
What is an area-proportional Venn diagram?
It's a diagram where each circle's size matches how many items the group holds, so overlaps are drawn to scale.
Can I make a Venn diagram with four sets?
Yes. Some tools handle four or more groups, though four-set diagrams get harder to read.
Can students use a Venn diagram maker in class?
Yes. Classroom tools let students fill in each region and share their diagram with a link.
