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What Is Visio?

Microsoft Visio is a diagramming solution with a robust library of templates and shapes, data connectivity capabilities, and integrated collaboration tools to empower remote workers and teams anywhere. Create impactful visualizations using provided shapes and starter files. Edit diagrams stored online simultaneously with colleagues through a web browser to work with others anywhere securely and effortlessly. Even connect diagrams to real-time data to make decisions quickly.

Who Uses Visio?

Microsoft Visio is a diagramming solution with a robust library of templates and shapes, data connectivity capabilities, and integrated collaboration tools to empower remote workers and teams anywhere

Visio Software - Microsoft Visio flowchart creation
Visio Software - Data Visualizer add-in
Visio Software - Export to Power Automate
Visio Software - Export to Microsoft Word
Visio Software - Network diagram in Teams

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Reviews of Visio

Average score

Overall
4.5
Ease of Use
4.2
Customer Service
4.2
Features
4.4
Value for Money
4.2

Reviews by company size (employees)

  • <50
  • 51-200
  • 201-1,000
  • >1,001
Martha
Martha
CEO in Canada
Verified LinkedIn User
Retail, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Visio Review

5.0 6 months ago

Comments: I am a very long time Visio user and I have always loved it.

Pros:

Visio is a very simple tool to learn and to use.

Cons:

Really, this is a product I have nothing negative to say about.

Jeb
Jeb
Project Manager in US
Verified LinkedIn User
Government Administration, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Visio worked great but I don't know better

4.0 7 months ago

Comments: Overall Visio was great to use. It was very intuitive and I would be happy to use it again.

Pros:

I was able to easily jump into using Microsoft Visio. I had never used it before before working at LBC and they are a MS company. So Visio was my option. I liked it and was happy to use it.

Cons:

Visio being a Microsoft program seems a tiny bit behind the rest of the industry in terms of innovations. It's rock solid but not cutting edge.

Thomas
MGR Technical Training in US
Information Technology & Services, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Tool for my diagrams

5.0 last month New

Comments: Visio has been very helpful in my work, especially when I need to create an organizational chart to show a structure. I also use it to customize maps or diagrams with more detailed information and colors.

Pros:

I enjoy using Visio because it helps me create professional diagrams, flowcharts, organizational charts, and more with ease. It also allows me to link my diagrams to real-time data sources, and I’ve used it to collaborate on the same document with my team simultaneously.

Cons:

What I don’t like about this tool is that it has limited compatibility with some operating systems, which means I can't use it on all my devices without interruption.

Shane
Network Technician in US
Information Technology & Services, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Visio web and desktop clients

3.0 4 months ago

Comments: I've used it for parking lot diagrams and IT diagrams

Pros:

I like the desktop application. Not so much the web application. There are no options to upload specialized equipment diagrams on the web client.

Cons:

I don't like the watered down web client. There's not enough capability

Royce
Technology and Process Manager in US
Museums & Institutions, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Visio is more than a profess flow app.

5.0 3 months ago

Comments: I am very satisfied with Visio and have been using it for years for just about everything. No complaints.

Pros:

Visio serves as my primary whiteboard for project management. It provides much more than it's intended use as a process flow application. You can also add images, hyperlinks, rich text, and more.

Cons:

Organization. If I could combine Visio with OneNote, it would be perfect.

Delicia
Quality and training manager in US
Telecommunications, 5,001–10,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Great for large companies with locations in many different places

5.0 last month New

Comments: Great program especially for large companies with offices in many different locations.

Pros:

This is perfect for projects such as training and managing the flow of different departments when your company has offices all over the US or the world.

Cons:

Sometimes system can be tricky to get it to do exactly what I envision for my project or the company's vision. Just takes time and sometimes readjustment to get it where we want it.

Shaun
Continuous Improvement Analyst in US
Food & Beverages, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Visio, a true diamond in the rough!

4.0 2 months ago

Comments: My overall experience with Visio has been very positive. Personally I have utilized Visio primarily for Work/Process flow design and creation of Organization Charts.

Pros:

I loved the simplicity and how versatile it can be for many various use cases.

Cons:

Some of the functions within Visio were less than intuitive and required a decent amount of investigation both within the application and utilizing outside resources to learn.

Smrati
TSM in Canada
Information Technology & Services, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Comprehensive Diagramming Tool Analysis

4.0 last month New

Comments: Visio leverages a rich data connectivity framework, allowing users to link diagrams to external data sources, such as Excel or SQL databases, enabling dynamic data visualizations through features like Data Graphics. This integration enhances the contextual relevance of diagrams by providing real-time data updates.
Overall, Visio is a versatile tool, yet its usability may be constrained by licensing costs and a steep learning curve for advanced functionalities. Its integration capabilities and data visualization strengths position it as a powerful asset for professionals requiring detailed and dynamic schematic representations.

Pros:

1. Visio integrates well with other Microsoft Office products, enhancing productivity and collaboration across different tools. 2. It allows for real-time collaboration, so teams can work together on diagrams, making it great for group projects. 3. Users can easily customize diagrams to fit their specific needs, allowing for flexibility in design.

Cons:

1. Exporting diagrams to non-Microsoft formats can sometimes be tricky or limited, which may hinder sharing with users of other platforms. 2. It’s primarily available on Windows, which can be a limitation for users on other operating systems.

Usman
Lecturer in Engineering in UK
Higher Education, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Visio for designing diagrams

4.0 last month New

Comments: Overall Visio is a great tool for beginners and students to generate schematics and block diagrams nicely.

Pros:

Visio is a great tool to generate block diagram, flow charts and schematics. I have also used Visio to design System Architectures. the three features of shapes, connectors and text makes this software quite important to design from basic to completed diagrams.

Cons:

There are little to no debugging and checking tools available which can debug or find errors in the connection being made. This is very Visio should have developed some additional tools which could identify any gaps or missing connections. Moreover in terms of designing architectures, Visio lacks some features which could help the user in system-level architectural modelling.

Ahmad Farhad
Chief Marketing Officer in US
Management Consulting, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

Essential for Business Success

5.0 3 weeks ago New

Comments: As a business owner, I rely on Microsoft Visio daily to create clear, professional diagrams to streamline processes and communicate ideas effectively. Its user-friendly interface, extensive templates, and seamless integration with other Microsoft tools save time and improve productivity, making it an essential part of my workflow.

Pros:

Microsoft Visio is a powerful diagramming tool known for its user-friendly interface, extensive templates, and seamless integration with Microsoft Office tools. It supports real-time collaboration, data linking for dynamic updates, and advanced features like process modeling. Visio delivers professional-quality outputs, offers customization options, and is scalable for various use cases, making it ideal for industries ranging from IT to business. Its compatibility with Windows and the web enhances accessibility, while cloud-based sharing ensures efficient teamwork.

Cons:

Visio's cost may concern smaller budgets, but affordable Visio Online plans and discounts for certain groups make it accessible. Its robust features often outweigh the price, making it a valuable tool for professional diagramming.

Vince
IT Director in US
Textiles, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Using Visio help our processes

5.0 7 months ago

Pros:

The ease and familiar interface of Visio makes it quick for users to document processes.

Cons:

The cost is a bit higher than some other products that are out there.

Joshua
Application Specialist in Australia
Retail, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Being part of the Microsoft Suite makes it effortless

5.0 6 months ago

Pros:

We primarily operate on the Microsoft suite so this takes away a lot of the troubles of using an external product. With all our users educated well on saving things on OneDrive/Sharepoint, this makes it very easy to do so and place them in shared folders for them to be accessed by other individuals. We are currently in a process of mapping out internal processes to be shared with new partners that have entered our business and this makes it effortless for our users, coupled with the fact it integrates with the rest of the Microsoft suite easily.

Cons:

I think for users that have never used visio before, there is a bit of complexity to product high quality diagrams.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Higher Education, 5,001–10,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Frequent Visio User Review

5.0 7 months ago

Pros:

I like how easy it is to use Visio out of the box. If you are familiar with LucidCharts or Adobe Illustrator, I view it more like LucidCharts. You have templates and other visual elements are your fingertips to build meaningful diagrams. If you integrate Visio with other Microsoft suite

Cons:

Nothing. The only con I would add is that if you are working collaboratively, it makes sense if other stakeholders are integrated into the Microsoft environment.

Shashanka
Shashanka
Project management in India
Verified LinkedIn User
Construction, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Visio user reviews

4.0 7 months ago

Comments: It's good experience with visio morethan 25+ project and process design by me it's very much helpful

Pros:

We can easily design a workflow station, organisation hierarchy model process mapping

Cons:

Something file not saved and quite automatically

Ahmed
manager in Egypt
Education Management, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Excellent Tool for Working on Flowcharts and Diagrams

4.0 10 months ago

Comments: MS Visio's powerful diagramming features, which enable users to produce expert and thorough visual representations of processes, systems, and workflows, are among its most notable features. Quick diagram creation is made simple by the large selection of pre-built templates and shapes, and customization options allow for fine-tuning to meet specific requirements. The ability to share and collaborate on diagrams, together with its seamless interaction with other Microsoft applications, improves team productivity and cooperation.

Pros:

Visio is an excellent program for creating technical drawings, architecture diagrams, intricate flowcharts, and more. It makes it simple to collaborate with coworkers to work simultaneously and integrates with Office 365. Professionals in a variety of industries, such as business, engineering, and information technology, may find it to be an excellent and adaptable tool. But, much as with any other Microsoft Office application, there are occasionally delays in updates while working with colleagues. With the many customization options offered by Visio, users may produce extremely intricate and well-designed diagrams. Excellent tool for data connection, allowing users to integrate other data sources, like Excel, to dynamic visualizations. Simple to use for drawing intricate diagrams.

Cons:

Diagrams are frequently reworked as a result of the unreliability of online sharing and updating. It can be difficult to follow version control instructions from peers.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Hospital & Health Care, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Useful tool for projects

4.0 4 months ago

Comments: Using Visio has been a largely positive experience, especially when it comes to creating professional and detailed diagrams. Super useful tool for projects

Pros:

Visio supports a wide range of diagram types, including flowcharts and organizational charts to be used for my work. Extensive customization is allowed. Easy formatting

Cons:

Very expensive. Also, it was not easy to learn.

Ibrahim
electric engineer in Egypt
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Microsoft Visio

5.0 4 months ago

Comments: I used it when doing my graduation project and it made it easy for me to draw electrical circuits and internal distribution panels for buildings

Pros:

it help me to draw electrical circuteand internal distribution panels for buildings

Cons:

I like everythingbecause it help and save my time

David
Professional Nurse in US
Verified LinkedIn User
Medical Devices, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

diagrams with more life

5.0 2 months ago

Comments: It has improved my way of creating diagrams faster, better represented with a presence that attracts the visualization without being normal and boring diagrams.

Pros:

Creating diagrams is much easier with Visio, it has really powerful functions that give life to each diagram, attracting the attention of everyone who views the diagrams. The integration with Microsoft Excel is perfect for creating diagrams with the recorded data.

Cons:

I am not bothered by anything about Visio, in what I have used it it has not failed me or made me feel unhappy.

Kym
Kym
HR Business Partner in US
Verified LinkedIn User
Printing, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Quick and Professional

4.0 4 months ago

Comments: When I need an org chart quickly, I can open it and create a professional looking org chart in minutes.

Pros:

I can prepare an org chart quickly that looks professional and clean.

Cons:

When I copy/paste the org chart into PPT, it sometimes captures more of the background than just the org chart itself and I can't seem to release the background.

David
CEO in US
Pharmaceuticals, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Great workflow management tool

5.0 6 months ago

Comments: This is definitely a good software for manufacturers with the process visualization and data management. It also helped us out with our org chart. All in real time

Pros:

The templates available and the data visualization that you get from them are top notch.

Cons:

It is a tad bit spendy but at the same time well worth it.

Ramesh
System Adminidtrator in India
Staffing & Recruiting, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: Free Trial
Reviewer Source

Visio provides an intuitive, user-friendly interface

5.0 4 weeks ago New

Comments: My overall experience with Microsoft Visio has been very positive. It’s a powerful tool for creating detailed diagrams, whether for complex business processes, organizational charts, or floor plans. The variety of templates makes it easy to get started, and the integration with other Microsoft Office tools is a big plus for seamless workflow. While there was a bit of a learning curve for some advanced features, once I got the hang of it, the flexibility and customization options made it worth it. I’d recommend Visio for anyone looking to create professional, visually appealing diagrams.

Pros:

Visio provides an intuitive, user-friendly interface, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.

Cons:

Visio’s subscription or purchase cost can be expensive, especially for small businesses or personal users.

Guilherme
IT Specialist in US
Information Technology & Services, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Best Flowchart and Diagrams tool

5.0 last year

Comments: I use almost every week to create and update my company processes and diagrams, it is so useful in the IT area.

Pros:

I use Visio to draw workflows and Network Diagrams since I was an IT intern 15 years ago and for me there is no competitors so far, the toll is great, simple to use and make the flowcharts and diagrams look so professional.

Cons:

No complains so far, I just like the tool and how easy is to use it to create my Company diagrams and processes flowcharts.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Good software that's easy to use even if you're not a professional

5.0 5 months ago

Comments: If you want to visualize something, I recommend Visio. It's perfect for the most intuitive expression.

Pros:

It is the best alternative to expressing the procedure. It can be expressed intuitively and can be used easily without learning. Also, I think it is the best SWW to visualize your thoughts.

Cons:

It's a shame that the cost is getting higher and higher. Functionally perfect, but I think the disadvantage is that it is a little difficult to be compatible.

Amanda
Assistant Director in Netherlands
E-Learning, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

Visio Review: Powerful Tool with a Few Drawbacks

4.0 3 months ago

Comments: My Experience with Visio has been just fine. It easy to draw simple design and flowchart but while working on advance features it really feels complicated. Goes well for teamwork collaboration. The premium plans are bit expensive.

Pros:

First thing what I like about Visio is that it really makes creating diagrams and flowchart easily because of the draw and drop feature now I can quickly organized my idea visually. A great tool for teamwork because we can share our designs and ideas.

Cons:

Things what I dislike about Visio are it feels little tuff while using advance features. Also the interface is not much user friendly so it takes time to get use of it. It is kind of pricey as compared to other options available for drawing tools.

Gordon
Senior SAP Consultant in Canada
Computer Software, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

One of the Best Diagramming and Flowchart Tools in the Market

5.0 last year

Comments: Overall, I like the tool. I can't say anything bad about it. To me, it serves it's rightful purpose.

Pros:

- I have used Visio for a while now. I use it when am doing SAP Blueprints for client implementation projects to make the flow chart diagrams of how each business process will be in SAP. After the blueprint documentation, while at the blueprint workshops, it is so easy to explain the blueprint when it has the flow chart diagrams that I have done with Visio. Visio basically makes my work so much easier.- It is also a pretty easy to use tool. I remember that I did not need that much training when I first started using Visio. I think just needed some few pretty short youtube videos to show me around and in no time, I was good to go. - I also think that Visio, being a Microsoft product it comes with alot of credibility and stability, so I have not had any major issue with the application. It just does the job and gives me what I need. - The other thing I like about Visio that I should probably mention is how seamlessly it works with Microsoft word. So some times am able to make edits to Visio diagrams straight from Microsoft word. I find that pretty convenient.

Cons:

- Visio is not included int he standard Microsoft office suite/365. It has to be purchased separately - something that might not be affordable to many.- There is also a bit of a learning curve involved if you want to do some pretty advanced stuff with Visio.