Which is better, Designer or Gliffy?

Designer edges out Gliffy based on user ratings across 2,692 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — Gliffy may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between Designer and Gliffy?

Key differences between Designer and Gliffy include pricing (Designer starts at undisclosed vs Gliffy at $8). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Designer and Gliffy offer a Free trial?

Yes, both Designer and Gliffy offer a Free Trial.

Who are the typical users of Designer?

Designer is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

Who are the typical users of Gliffy?

Gliffy is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of Designer and Gliffy?

The starting price of Gliffy is $8/Month. Pricing for Designer is unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to Designer?

Some top alternatives to Designer include Miro, FigJam, SmartDraw, Gliffy, Microsoft Visio.

What are the best alternatives to Gliffy?

Some top alternatives to Gliffy include Miro, FigJam, SmartDraw, Cacoo, Microsoft Visio.

Designer vs Gliffy Comparison

Last updated: May 18, 2026

Designer

4.7(2,692 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

Designer is the professional diagramming application for those who create, document, and publish technical or business content. This diagramming software is completely customizable to suit everyones needs. Whether a publ…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Gliffy

4.1(188 reviews)

Starting at $8 /Month

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

Gliffy is web-based diagramming software that allows users to bring diagrams to life. Upload and share diagrams, import documents, add shapes, and drag and drop text for a meaningful collaboration experience. Stay on tra…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Designer leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 2,692 reviews.

Designer vs Gliffy — at a glance

Feature	Designer	Gliffy
Rating	4.7 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	2,692	188
Starting price	Contact for pricing	$8 /Month
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Free version	No	No
Best for	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Diagramming Software	Diagramming Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
API	—	Available
Support modes	Online	Business Hours, Online
Certifications	—	GDPR
Data residency	US	Global

Key differences between Designer and Gliffy

Pricing: Gliffy starts at $8 /Month. Designer pricing is not publicly listed.
User satisfaction: Designer scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
Deployment: Designer supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Gliffy supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Designer vs Gliffy — find the better fit before you commit.

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Diagramming Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	Designer (7) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	Gliffy (123) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Designer

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Gliffy

Best for simple, collaborative web-based diagramming with easy drag-and-drop.

Choose if

You need a low-complexity, intuitive tool for quick diagram creation.
Your team requires real-time collaboration with alerts on edits and deadlines.
You want cloud-based access to support remote and distributed teams.

Consider alternatives if

You require extensive offline functionality for uninterrupted work.
You need highly advanced shape customization beyond basic templates.

Designer typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Gliffy tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description	Designer is the professional diagramming application for those who create, document, and publish technical or business content. This diagramming software is completely customizable to suit ... Read More about Designer	Gliffy is web-based diagramming software that allows users to bring diagrams to life. Upload and share diagrams, import documents, add shapes, and drag and drop text for a meaningful ... Read More about Gliffy
Entry Level Pricing	Not Available	Starts from $8 , Billed Yearly
Free Trial Availability	Free Trial available	Get Free Trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	7.0/10	9.2/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.7 (2692)	4.1 (188)
Best Company Size	—	1-50 employees51-500 employees
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do Designer and Gliffy Compare on Features?

Total Features	2 Features	8 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote

Compare Designer and Gliffy on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option
Starting From	Not Available	$8 , Billed Yearly
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Professional Get Started Unlimited diagrams Access to templates Import from other applications Show more + Enterprise Get Started Easy admin controls Centralized security Team management Show more +
Pricing Page	Pricing information not available
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported	Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises Small Business Individuals	Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises Small Business Individuals
Platforms Supported	Installed - Windows Browser Based (Cloud) Installed - Mac Mobile - iOS Mobile - Android Browser Based (Cloud)	Installed - Windows Browser Based (Cloud) Installed - Mac Mobile - iOS Mobile - Android Browser Based (Cloud)
Modes of support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Not Available	Available
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

HIPAA	✗ No	✗ No
GDPR	—	✓ Yes
Single Sign-On (SSO)	—	✓ Yes
Data Encryption	—	✓ Yes
Data Residency	🇺🇸 US	🌐 Global

Designer User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.7 (based on 2692 reviews)	4.1 (based on 188 reviews)
Rating Distribution	6 1 0 0 0	98 17 5 1 2
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is very strong across 7 reviews, with consistently positive feedback. What buyers like Customizable shapes Professional-grade diagrams User-friendly interface Common complaints Can be expensive Limited collaboration features Steep learning curve	Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use and collaboration features, tempered by limitations in free version and customization. What buyers like Ease of use Collaboration capabilities Shape and template variety Common complaints Limited free version features Lack of advanced customization
Pros and Cons	Highly customizable for professional needs Extensive library enhances diagram quality User-friendly for creating complex diagrams Can be costly for small teams Limited collaboration options	Intuitive drag-and-drop interface enabling quick diagram creation Extensive library of shapes and templates supporting diverse diagram types Cloud-based access facilitating collaboration and remote work Free version has limited features, often requiring paid upgrades Limited advanced customization options for shapes and templates
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	1 Screenshots	5 Screenshots
Videos	2 Videos	3 Videos

Top Alternatives to Designer and Gliffy in 2026

Alternatives	Miro 4.7 FigJam SmartDraw 3.9	Miro 4.7 FigJam SmartDraw 3.9

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Designer or Gliffy?: Designer edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Designer and Gliffy offer a free trial?: Yes, both Designer and Gliffy offer a free trial.
What is the starting price of Designer vs Gliffy?: Designer starts at Contact for pricing. Gliffy starts at $8 /Month.
What are the top alternatives to Designer?: Top alternatives to Designer include Miro, FigJam, SmartDraw, Gliffy, Microsoft Visio.
What are the top alternatives to Gliffy?: Top alternatives to Gliffy include Miro, FigJam, SmartDraw, Cacoo, Microsoft Visio.

Designer vs Gliffy Comparison

Designer

Gliffy

Designer vs Gliffy — at a glance

Key differences between Designer and Gliffy

Designer vs Gliffy — find the better fit before you commit.

Designer

Gliffy

Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Software Demo

Demo

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

How do Designer and Gliffy Compare on Features?

Compare Designer and Gliffy on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Designer User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Top Alternatives to Designer and Gliffy in 2026

Related Blogs and Articles for Diagramming Software

Frequently asked questions