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Gliffy vs draw.io vs Plectica Comparison

Last updated:

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…

draw.io

4.3(320 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

draw.io is a flexible, easy-to-use tool for creating diagrams that run in your browser. Perfect for visualizing software and websites, or creating flowcharts, organizational charts, workflows and more. It is a simple, af…

Plectica

Starting at $3 /Month

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Plectica is software for creating professional, polished technical diagrams. It is used in the aerospace, manufacturing, and other industries to create richly-annotated drawings which clearly communicate the design of co…

draw.io leads on user satisfaction with a 4.3-star rating across 320 reviews.

Gliffy vs draw.io vs Plectica — at a glance

FeatureGliffydraw.ioPlectica
Rating4.1 / 54.3 / 5
Reviews188320
Starting price$8 /MonthContact for pricing$3 /Month
Free trial Yes No No
Free version No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business
CategoryDiagramming SoftwareDiagramming SoftwareDiagramming Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Gliffy and draw.io

  • Pricing: Gliffy starts at $8 /Month. draw.io pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Gliffy offers a free trial; draw.io does not.
  • Target audience: Gliffy is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while draw.io targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
  • User satisfaction: draw.io scores higher with a 4.3-star average.
  • Deployment: Gliffy supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; draw.io supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Gliffy vs draw.io vs Plectica — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

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.

Gliffy - Diagramming Software
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Talk to an expert
draw.io - Diagramming Software
Compare diagrams.net
Compare diagrams.net
Plectica - Diagramming Software
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Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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.

draw.io

Best for

Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business

Plectica

Best for creating detailed, richly-annotated technical diagrams in engineering.

Choose if
  • You need to communicate complex aerospace or manufacturing designs clearly.
  • Your team consists of design engineers or technical illustrators.
  • You want a flexible, productivity-optimized environment for polished technical visuals.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require simple diagrams for non-technical teams.
  • You are a large enterprise needing extensive integrations and customizations.

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

Description

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

draw.io is a flexible, easy-to-use tool for creating diagrams that run in your browser. Perfect for visualizing software and websites, or creating flowcharts, organizational charts, ... Read More about draw.io

Plectica is software for creating professional, polished technical diagrams. It is used in the aerospace, manufacturing, and other industries to create richly-annotated drawings which ... Read More about Plectica

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $8 , Billed Yearly
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $3 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.2/10

Not Available

8.6/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

1-50 employees51-500 employees
Small BusinessMedium Business
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Get pricing help
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Software Demo

Demo

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How do Gliffy, draw.io and Plectica Compare on Features?

Total Features

8 Features

8 Features

8 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Gliffy, draw.io and Plectica 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

        • $8 , Billed Yearly
        • Not Available
        • $3 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Professional

          • Unlimited diagrams

          • Access to templates

          • Import from other applications

          Show more +

        • Enterprise

          • Easy admin controls

          • Centralized security

          • Team management

          Show more +

        • Not Available
        • Basic

          • Up to 250 cards

          • Map building, storing, sharing

          • Attach files up to 25MB

        • Student

          • Unlimited cards

          • Unlimited building, storing, sharing

          • Attach larger files - up to 250MB

          Show more +

        • Pro

          • Unlimited cards

          • Unlimited building, storing, sharing

          • Attach larger files - up to 250MB

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans

        Pricing Page

        Gliffy pricing

        Pricing information not available

        Plectica pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Medium Business
        • Freelancers
        • Large Enterprises
        • Small Business
        • Individuals
        • 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)
        • 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
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Not Available
        • Not Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

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

        HIPAA

        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global
        🌐 Global
        🌐 Global

        Gliffy vs draw.io User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        No reviews available for the product

        Rating Distribution

        98

        17

        5

        1

        2

        130

        19

        1

        0

        0

        No reviews available for this product

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        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

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is positive across 150 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

        What buyers like

        • Flexible and easy to use
        • Browser-based access
        • Supports various diagram types

        Common complaints

        • Limited advanced features
        • May lack offline access
        • Performance issues with large diagrams

        Buyer sentiment

        Insufficient user feedback to determine overall buyer sentiment.

        What buyers like

        • Detailed diagramming capabilities
        • Productivity optimization
        • Professional technical communication

        Common complaints

        • Lack of pricing clarity
        • Limited user reviews

        Pros and Cons

        • 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

        • Browser-based access allows for easy use anywhere.

        • Affordable pricing makes it accessible for all.

        • User-friendly interface encourages quick adoption.

        • Limited advanced features may not satisfy power users.

        • Internet dependency can restrict access.

        • Rich graphic user interface for detailed diagramming

        • Optimized environment for productivity and consistency

        • Ability to create richly-annotated technical diagrams

        • Lack of publicly available pricing information

        • Limited data on user ratings and reviews

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        List of Customers

        Customers

        No Customers information available.

        Cisco

        Cisco

        Canon

        Canon

        HP

        HP

        No Customers information available.

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        How to draw an ERD diagram

        5 Screenshots

        Mind Map

        7 Screenshots

        Plectica screenshot

        3 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        Alternatives

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        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Gliffy or draw.io?
        draw.io edges out the other on user ratings (4.3 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do Gliffy and draw.io offer a free trial?
        Gliffy offers a free trial. draw.io does not.
        What is the starting price of Gliffy vs draw.io?
        Gliffy starts at $8 /Month. draw.io starts at Contact for pricing.
        What are the top alternatives to Gliffy?
        Top alternatives to Gliffy include Miro, FigJam, SmartDraw, Cacoo, Microsoft Visio.
        What are the top alternatives to draw.io?
        Top alternatives to draw.io include Miro, FigJam, SmartDraw, Gliffy, Cacoo.

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