Microsoft Visio vs Software Ideas Modeler
Microsoft Visio
microsoft.comSoftware Ideas Modeler
softwareideas.netSide by side
| Figure | Microsoft Visio | Software Ideas Modeler |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 7 |
| Spec score · Diagramming tools | 8.8 (#10) | 8.9 (#9) |
| Spec score · Diagramming Software | 8.3 (#20) | 8.7 (#12) |
| Collaboration | Visio supports real-time collaboration, commenting, and sharing through its web app and Microsoft Teams app. | Real-time sharing, editing and commenting are available with Software Ideas Server installed. |
| Founded | 1975 | 2009 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | Redmond, Washington, USA | LinkedIn lists Bratislava, Slovakia as headquarters. |
| Integrations | The product page lists integrations with Teams, Power BI, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneDrive for Business, and Azure. | Ultimate edition lists AI support through the OpenAI API, while the product also supports SVN and XMI import/export. |
| Platforms | Visio for the web runs in a browser on Windows or macOS, while the full-featured desktop app is Windows-based and included with Plan 2. | The current version supports Windows 10 and Windows 11; older versions 13.x and earlier can run on Linux and macOS through Mono. |
| Security and compliance | The compared Visio plans include Microsoft Information Rights Management support for diagrams and support for GDPR compliance. | The maker's download page describes offline operation but does not state a security certification or compliance standard. |
Plans
Microsoft Visio
- Visio Plan 1$5 a month
- Visio Plan 2$15 a month
- Visio in Microsoft 365Free
- Visio Plan 1$5 a month
- Visio Plan 2$15 a month
Software Ideas Modeler
- Free trialFree
- StandardFree
- Software Ideas Modeler starting price$59, paid once
- PremiumPrice not published
- ProfessionalPrice not published
- StandardPrice not published
- UltimatePrice not published
In their own words
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio helps users communicate complex information through diagrams. Its supported formats include flowcharts, process and cross-functional diagrams, organization charts, UML and ERD models, network and cloud diagrams, floor plans, timelines, Gantt and PERT charts, and business diagrams such as matrices and value-stream maps. The web and Microsoft Teams apps support real-time collaboration, comments, and sharing. Listed integrations include Teams, Power BI, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneDrive for Business, and Azure. Visio Plan 2 can link diagram shapes to Excel, SharePoint lists, and SQL Server data. The compared plans support Microsoft Information Rights Management and GDPR compliance; IRM permissions must be set in the desktop app, though they are honored for online files opened in the web app. Accessibility support includes Narrator, an Accessibility Checker, and high-contrast display. Visio is available on Windows and the web, but Microsoft does not offer a macOS desktop app. Plan 1 costs $5 a month billed yearly; Plan 2 costs $15 a month billed yearly. First-time trial users with a work or school account can try either plan free for 30 days.
Software Ideas Modeler
Software Ideas Modeler is a CASE tool for designing software and processes with diagrams. It supports more than 110 diagram types, including UML, BPMN, SysML, ERD, and flowcharts. A project keeps diagram elements in a connected model, so an element can appear in several diagrams and edits carry across them. The software can generate and parse source code, reverse engineer code into models, and create SQL creation and change scripts from ER diagrams. Editions range from basic diagrams to documentation and diagram generation, project comparison, cooperation tools, and model versioning. Ultimate lists AI support through the OpenAI API; SVN and XMI import and export are also supported. It can work offline except for downloading, obtaining a license key, and internet-dependent features such as AI tools. Setup and portable packages are available for x64, x86, and Arm64. The maker is based in Bratislava, Slovakia, and was founded in 2009. The product has a free plan for non-commercial use and a 30-day trial.