SmartDraw vs Software Ideas Modeler
SmartDraw
smartdraw.comSoftware Ideas Modeler
softwareideas.netSide by side
| Figure | SmartDraw | Software Ideas Modeler |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.75/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 7 |
| Spec score · Diagramming tools | 9.3 (#2) | 8.9 (#9) |
| Spec score · Diagramming Software | 8.6 (#15) | 8.7 (#12) |
| Collaboration | Teams can edit diagrams in real time, comment, share links and use version history. | Real-time sharing, editing and commenting are available with Software Ideas Server installed. |
| Founded | 1994 | 2009 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | The Woodlands, Texas, USA | LinkedIn lists Bratislava, Slovakia as headquarters. |
| Integrations | Integrations include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Teams, Confluence, Jira, Trello, SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, AWS, Azure, GitHub, Entra ID, ChatGPT and Claude. | Ultimate edition lists AI support through the OpenAI API, while the product also supports SVN and XMI import/export. |
| Rating on Capterra | 4.2 out of 5 from 153 reviews. | 4.6 out of 5 from 28 reviews. |
| Rating on G2 | 4.5 out of 5 from 403 reviews. | 4.5 out of 5 from 1 review; G2 says there are not enough reviews for buying insight. |
| Rating on GetApp | 4.2 out of 5 from 153 reviews. | 4.6 out of 5 from 28 reviews. |
| Support | SmartDraw offers free in-house email and chat support; enterprise customers receive dedicated support representatives. | The maker directs users to its support forum and email for help with purchase and licensing issues. |
| System requirements | The legacy IT installation guide lists Windows 7/8/10 or Vista, 2 GB RAM and 4 GB free disk space, and documents MSI deployment through Group Policy or Configuration Manager. | Current version targets Windows 10/11, .NET 9, x64/x86/Arm64 processors and at least 4 GB RAM. |
| What it does | SmartDraw is a visual workspace for creating professional diagrams, drawings, floor plans and data visualizations without specialist CAD training. | Software Ideas Modeler is a desktop CASE and diagramming tool for designing and documenting software and processes. |
Plans
SmartDraw
- Individual$9.95 a month
- Team$8.95 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
- Team$8.95 a year
- Individual$9.95 a year
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
SmartDraw
SmartDraw is a diagramming tool for creating scaled floor plans and professional diagrams, from building layouts and evacuation plans to flowcharts, organizational charts, network diagrams, UML diagrams, and mind maps. SmartDraw AI can turn natural-language prompts into editable diagrams and floor plans. Templates and automatic layout adjustment help shape diagrams as users add, move, or delete elements. Teams can edit together, comment, and review version history. The service supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web, though its desktop launcher opens the web app and requires an internet connection. Files can be imported from formats including PDF, Visio, Lucidchart, and common image files, then exported as JPEG, PNG, SVG, PDF, or Visio. SmartDraw lists integrations with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Jira, Confluence, Azure, AWS, GitHub, ChatGPT, and Claude. The paid product has a free trial but no free plan; Team requires at least three users. SmartDraw was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.
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.