Comparison
draw.io alternative for org charts
draw.io is a free, open-source diagramming tool: no sign-up, an offline desktop app, and files stored wherever you choose. It can build org charts from CSV once you write a configuration header. mivochart recognises ordinary Excel or CSV staff lists without configuration and adds staff positions, vacancies and FTE, but its free plan has limits.
Last checked:
draw.io (also known as diagrams.net) costs nothing. People still look for an alternative when the CSV import feels technical, or when they need org-chart-specific features rather than a general canvas.
This page compares both for building and maintaining an org chart. Facts about draw.io link to draw.io’s own site and its GitHub repository, checked on the date shown.
At a glance
| Feature | mivochart | draw.io |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Org charts only: people, teams and reporting lines | General diagramming, free and open source[1] |
| Org chart from Excel/CSV | Upload .xlsx or .csv; name, manager, title and department columns are recognised in English, German and French | CSV import with configuration lines (label, connect, layout) above the data; an org chart example is provided[2] |
| Automatic layout | Automatic tree, list or grid layout | Arrange > Layout > Org Chart re-arranges shapes automatically[3] |
| Export formats | PNG, SVG, PDF and CSV on every plan; free exports carry a small watermark | PNG, SVG, JPEG, WebP, PDF, HTML and the editable .drawio/.xml file[4] |
| Collaboration | No real-time co-editing: one person edits, others view the shared link | Real-time collaboration when files are stored in Google Drive or OneDrive[5] |
| Where data is stored | Unsaved charts stay in your browser; saved charts are stored in Frankfurt (EU) | Your choice: Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, GitHub or your own device; draw.io states it cannot access your data[1] |
| Free plan | Up to 25 people per chart and 3 saved charts | Free forever, no sign-up[1] |
draw.io’s web app is free. Integrations sold through third-party marketplaces have their own prices.
When draw.io is the better choice
draw.io has clear advantages here. It is likely the better choice if:
- Budget is zero and stays zero. draw.io is free and needs no sign-up.[1]
- Open source matters to you. draw.io publishes its source code under the Apache 2.0 licence.[1]
- You need to work offline. The desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux is designed to stay off the internet apart from updates.[6]
- Files must stay in your own storage, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, GitHub or a local folder.[1]
- You also draw other kinds of diagrams and want one tool for all of them.[1]
- Several people edit at once. With files in Google Drive or OneDrive, draw.io supports real-time collaboration; mivochart does not.[5]
When mivochart fits better
mivochart trades draw.io’s breadth for a narrower, guided path. It tends to fit when:
- You want to import an ordinary Excel or CSV staff list without writing a configuration header. Columns are matched for you, and you check the result in a preview.
- Your list uses German or French column headings, or comes from an HR export.
- You need staff positions, dotted-line reporting, open positions and FTE with totals per team, as fields rather than shapes.
- The chart changes regularly. Re-import the updated list to see who joined, left or moved before applying.
- You need an editable PowerPoint or a print PDF split by department or as poster tiles (with a Pass or Pro).
What mivochart does not do
- No real-time co-editing: two people cannot work on the same chart at the same moment.
- No single sign-on (SSO) and no live connection to HR systems. Lists from Personio, BambooHR or similar tools are imported as exported files.
- Org charts only. If you also draw flowcharts, network diagrams or floor plans, you need another tool for those.
- The free plan covers up to 25 people per chart and 3 saved charts, and free exports carry a small watermark. PowerPoint export and print PDFs on A3, as poster tiles or one page per department need a Pass or Pro.
- No offline desktop app: mivochart runs in the browser. Saved charts are stored in Frankfurt (EU), not in your own cloud storage.
How to switch from draw.io
If your draw.io org chart came from a CSV, you are almost done.
- Take the CSV you used for the draw.io import and delete the configuration lines that start with #. What remains is a plain table.
- Make sure there is one row per person and a column with the manager’s name or e-mail address. If the manager column holds an ID, add a column with the manager’s name.
- Upload the file on the import page, check the column mapping and the preview, then create the chart.
- If the chart was drawn by hand, type the names into a spreadsheet with name, title, department and manager, and import that.
Keep the spreadsheet as the source of truth and re-import it after each change.
Frequently asked questions
Is draw.io free for org charts?
Yes. draw.io describes itself as free forever with no sign-up, and its blog shows how to build org charts by hand or from CSV.
Why does the draw.io CSV import need a header?
draw.io’s CSV import reads configuration lines starting with # that set labels, connections, styles and layout before the data. mivochart instead maps ordinary column headings for you.
Is mivochart free?
Up to 25 people per chart and 3 saved charts, with a small watermark on exports. A Pass or Pro removes the limits and adds PowerPoint export and print PDFs on A3 or as poster tiles.
Can I keep my org chart files in my own storage with mivochart?
You can export PNG, SVG, PDF or CSV and store those files anywhere, but saved charts live in mivochart’s database in Frankfurt (EU). If files must stay in your own storage, draw.io is the better fit.
Try your CSV without the header
Upload a plain staff list and see the chart with an automatic layout. No account needed to start.
Sources, checked on October 5, 2026
- draw.io home page (draw.io, checked October 5, 2026)
- draw.io blog: Insert from CSV (draw.io, checked October 5, 2026)
- draw.io blog: Org charts (draw.io, checked October 5, 2026)
- draw.io docs: Export a diagram (draw.io, checked October 5, 2026)
- draw.io blog: Collaborate in real time (draw.io, checked October 5, 2026)
- draw.io Desktop (GitHub) (draw.io, checked October 5, 2026)
draw.io and diagrams.net are trademarks of their owner; mivochart is not affiliated with JGraph Ltd.