Microsoft Visio vs Visual Paradigm
Microsoft Visio
microsoft.comVisual Paradigm
visual-paradigm.comSide by side
| Figure | Microsoft Visio | Visual Paradigm |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5/mo | $4/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 9 |
| Spec score · Diagramming tools | 8.8 (#10) | 8.8 (#11) |
| Spec score · Diagram Software | 8.3 (#14) | 8.1 (#21) |
| Spec score · Diagramming Software | 8.3 (#20) | 8.0 (#30) |
| Spec score · Flowchart Software | 8.2 (#10) | 8.1 (#12) |
| Diagram types | Visio supports diagrams including flowcharts, network diagrams, mind maps, organization charts, UML diagrams, floor plans, and engineering diagrams, with availability varying by plan. | UML,SysML,flowchart,organization chart,ER,BPMN,data-flow,EPC,mind map,C4,Gantt,wireframe,cloud architecture |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | Redmond, Washington, USA | Hong Kong |
| Integrations | The product page lists integrations with Teams, Power BI, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneDrive for Business, and Azure. | Integrations include Jira, Confluence, Eclipse, NetBeans, IntelliJ IDEA, Visual Studio, and Android Studio. |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes |
| Paid from | 5 | 4 |
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
Visual Paradigm
- FreeFree
- Starter$4 a month
- Advance$9 a month
- Combo$15 a month
- Deluxe$30 a month
- Modeler$6 a month
- Standard$19 a month
- Professional$35 a month
- Enterprise$89 a month
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.
Visual Paradigm
Visual Paradigm is a visual modeling and development platform covering diagramming, code engineering, agile management, and enterprise architecture. It supports UML, SysML, flowcharts, organization charts, ER, BPMN, data-flow, EPC, mind maps, C4, Gantt, wireframes, and cloud architecture diagrams. AI can generate class diagrams, flowcharts, and user stories from descriptions, while the Unified Platform provides access to more than 100 specialized apps. Users can work across the desktop application and external web browsers, with project synchronization between them. Visual Paradigm Cloud supports concurrent design, review, and commenting. Listed online collaboration limits are three participants for Free, five for Starter, and unlimited for higher plans. Integrations include Jira, Confluence, Eclipse, NetBeans, IntelliJ IDEA, Visual Studio, and Android Studio. The Free plan is strictly for non-commercial use and includes more than 40 AI-powered apps and basic diagramming. Starter costs $4 a month billed annually; desktop subscriptions start with Modeler at $6 a month billed monthly. A 30-day trial is available.