Comparison
Visio alternative for org charts
Visio is Microsoft’s general diagramming app: org charts are one of many diagram types, and it fits naturally into Microsoft 365. mivochart does only org charts. You upload an Excel or CSV staff list, get an automatic layout with staff positions, vacancies and FTE, and export it. It is free up to 25 people per chart.
Last checked:
Many people search for a Visio alternative because they need one org chart, not a diagramming suite, or because nobody on the team has a Visio licence. Others already have Visio through Microsoft 365 and wonder whether a dedicated tool would save time.
This page compares the two for that single job: turning a staff list into a clear, up-to-date org chart. Every statement about Visio links to a Microsoft page, checked on the date shown. Where we could not confirm something, we left it out.
At a glance
| Feature | mivochart | Visio |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Org charts only: people, teams and reporting lines | General diagramming: org charts sit alongside flowcharts, network and IT diagrams[1] |
| Org chart from Excel/CSV | Upload .xlsx or .csv; name, manager, title and department columns are recognised in English, German and French | Organization Chart Wizard (Visio Plan 2 and desktop editions) builds a chart from Excel, a text file or Exchange; people on Plan 1 can use the Data Visualizer add-in in Excel with a work or school account[2][3][1] |
| Automatic layout | Automatic tree, list or grid layout | The wizard adds shapes and connectors for you; Plans 1 and 2 list advanced org chart layouts[2][1] |
| Export formats | PNG, SVG, PDF and CSV on every plan; free exports carry a small watermark | PNG, JPEG and PDF (Plans 1 and 2); SVG with Plan 2[1] |
| Sharing and embedding | Read-only share link and embeddable live view; password and expiry with a Pass or Pro | Sharing and commenting in all plans, including in Microsoft Teams[4] |
| Collaboration | No real-time co-editing: one person edits, others view the shared link | Real-time collaboration in all plans[4] |
| Free plan | Up to 25 people per chart and 3 saved charts | Visio in Microsoft 365 (basic diagrams) is included in Microsoft 365 commercial plans; Plans 1 and 2 offer a free trial[4][1] |
| Paid plans | Pro from €8 per month, or a one-time Project Pass (90 days) for €39 | Visio Plan 1 from US$5.00 per user/month, paid yearly, as listed on 5 Oct 2026; check Microsoft’s page for your region[4] |
Prices change and differ by country. The figures above are what each vendor listed on the check date; confirm them on the vendor’s pricing page.
When Visio is the better choice
Visio has a much wider scope. Choose it if any of these describe you:
- Your organisation already works in Microsoft 365 and Teams. Visio in Microsoft 365 comes with commercial plans, and diagrams can be created and edited inside Teams.[4]
- You need more than org charts. Visio also covers flowcharts, cross-functional diagrams, network and IT diagrams, so one tool serves several teams.[1]
- Several people must edit the same chart at once. Visio offers real-time collaboration and commenting in every plan; mivochart does not.[4]
- Your chart must stay linked to company data. Plan 2 generates org charts from Excel, Exchange or Microsoft Entra ID and links shapes to data from Excel, SharePoint lists and SQL Server.[1]
- You need a desktop app that works offline with local files. That is part of Visio Plan 2.[1]
When mivochart fits better
mivochart is narrower on purpose. It tends to fit when:
- The org chart is the only diagram you need, and the staff list already lives in Excel or a CSV export.
- Nobody has a Visio licence and you want to start now. The editor opens in the browser without an account; you only sign up to save and share.
- Your chart needs staff positions, dotted-line reporting, open positions and FTE as built-in fields, with FTE totals per team.
- You maintain the chart every few months. Re-import the updated list and you see who joined, left or moved before anything changes.
- Your team works in German or French. The interface is available in both, and German and French column headings are recognised on import.
- You prefer saved charts to be stored in the EU. mivochart stores them in Frankfurt.
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.
How to switch from Visio
You do not need to convert the Visio file. What matters is the staff list behind it.
- If your Visio chart was generated from Excel (with the Organization Chart Wizard or the Data Visualizer), open that workbook. It already has one row per person.
- Check the manager column. mivochart links people by the manager’s name or e-mail address. If the sheet only has a manager ID, add a column with the manager’s name (an XLOOKUP on the ID does it).
- Save the sheet as .xlsx or .csv and upload it on the import page. Check the column mapping and the preview, then create the chart.
- If the chart was drawn by hand, export or type the names into a simple list with name, title, department and manager, then import that list.
Next time the organisation changes, update the same spreadsheet and import it again over the existing chart.
Frequently asked questions
Is mivochart a free Visio alternative?
For org charts, yes, up to 25 people per chart and 3 saved charts, with a small watermark on exports. It does not replace Visio for other diagram types. Larger charts, PowerPoint export and print PDFs on A3 or as poster tiles need a Pass or Pro.
Can I open a Visio (.vsdx) file in mivochart?
No. mivochart imports staff lists from Excel (.xlsx) or CSV files, not diagram files. If your Visio chart came from a spreadsheet, import that spreadsheet instead.
Does Visio create org charts from Excel?
Yes. According to Microsoft, the Organization Chart Wizard in Visio Plan 2 and the desktop editions builds a chart from an Excel worksheet, and people on Plan 1 can use the Data Visualizer add-in in Excel with a work or school account.
Can several people edit a mivochart org chart at the same time?
No. mivochart has no real-time co-editing. One person maintains the chart and shares a read-only link or an embedded live view. If simultaneous editing matters, Visio is the better fit.
Can I export my org chart to PowerPoint?
Yes, as editable PowerPoint with a Pass or Pro. Every plan exports PNG, SVG, PDF and CSV.
Try it with your own list
Upload the spreadsheet you already have and see the chart in a minute. No account is needed to start.
Sources, checked on October 5, 2026
- Compare Visio options (Microsoft, checked October 5, 2026)
- Create an organization chart automatically from employee data (Microsoft, checked October 5, 2026)
- Create an org chart based on Excel data by using Visio for the web (Microsoft, checked October 5, 2026)
- Microsoft Visio plans and pricing (US) (Microsoft, checked October 5, 2026)
Visio and Microsoft 365 are trademarks of their owner; mivochart is not affiliated with Microsoft.