Overview

EdrawMax is diagramming software for people who need to create different kinds of visuals, from flowcharts and floor plans to circuit, UML and network diagrams. It is a strong fit for users who value broad format support and a large library of starting points; the free plan is less suited to finished work because it caps document size and adds watermarks to exports.

EdrawMax Online supports more than 210 diagram types. The product spans browser, desktop and mobile apps, so individuals and teams can choose between online access and local document processing.

Key features

Diagram types, templates and AI

The advertised library includes more than 20,000 free templates and 26,000 symbols. That breadth can help users get started across varied diagramming tasks, rather than building every visual from scratch. EdrawMax also offers more than 40 AI diagram generators and tools, including AI diagramming, presentation creation, drawing, symbols, analysis, copywriting, OCR and stickers. The free plan's 500 AI tokens make it a way to try those tools, not an obvious fit for sustained AI use.

Formats, publishing and storage

EdrawMax imports Visio, SVG and CAD files and exports PNG, JPG, PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SVG and Visio. That range is useful when diagrams need to move between applications, but free users face limited Visio, SVG and CAD import, and exports carry a watermark. Paid plans remove the watermark; Basic also raises Visio and CAD import to unlimited. Premium users can save and open files directly with Google Drive and Dropbox. Data import, interactive publishing and team collaboration are also supported.

Online, desktop and mobile

The browser-based version processes files on EdrawMax's servers, while the desktop app processes documents locally on the user's computer. That distinction gives users a choice between browser access and local processing. Android and iOS apps are available through Google Play and the Apple App Store, with diagram export to image or PDF. EdrawMax Online supports English, French, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

Security and support

EdrawMax says it secures information and file transfers with SSL encryption and uses advanced encryption fraud protection for financial and personal information. It says cloud data is stored on Alicloud, with physical, technical and administrative safeguards against unauthorized access and disclosure. The company advertises rapid technical support and a 30-day money-back guarantee under accepted circumstances.

Pricing

EdrawMax is freemium, with free and paid plans. The free tier offers 500 AI tokens, 100M cloud storage and three editable cloud files, but limits general diagrams to 60 shapes, specific diagrams to 120 shapes and documents to two pages. Its watermarked exports make it better for learning or rough drafts than for polished deliverables.

Basic Plan costs 5.90 USD per month, billed annually at $70.8, and can be canceled anytime. It includes 10,000 AI tokens per month, unlimited shapes, themes and pages, 1G cloud storage, and exports without a watermark. It is the practical step up for regular users who have outgrown the free plan's page, shape or export caps.

Unlimited Plan costs 8.25 USD per month, billed annually at $99, and can be canceled anytime. It includes unlimited AI tokens, unlimited community paid templates, 1G cloud storage and the Basic features. The higher token allowance and paid-template access suit users who expect to rely heavily on those resources; Basic is the more restrained choice if 10,000 monthly tokens are enough.

Business Plan has custom pricing for 20+ users. It adds multi-user control, easy deployment, volume discounts and senior technical support, making it the relevant tier for larger organizations rather than an individual buyer. A 7-day trial is available.

Platforms

EdrawMax is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows. The browser version handles files on EdrawMax's servers; the desktop version processes them locally. Choose between them according to whether browser access or local processing better suits your workflow.

Who it's for

EdrawMax suits people who work across multiple diagram types, need to import or export common design and office formats, or want a substantial template and symbol library. Its paid plans are more compelling for users whose documents exceed the free shape and page caps, who need clean exports, or who want more AI tokens. Occasional users who can work within the free limits may have little reason to pay.

Pros and cons

Pros: More than 210 diagram types, plus 20,000+ free templates and 26,000+ symbols, give users a broad set of starting points.
Pros: Visio, SVG and CAD imports and a wide range of export formats help diagrams move between tools, while paid plans remove export watermarks.
Pros: Web, desktop and mobile availability gives users a choice of platform and, between web and desktop, server-side or local document processing.
Cons: The free plan's two-page cap and shape limits can block larger projects, and its export watermark makes finished files less presentable.
Cons: Unlimited AI tokens and community paid templates require the more expensive Unlimited tier; Basic offers 10,000 tokens per month instead.

Alternatives

Choose Creately if you want a free plan with unlimited canvases and collaborators, and can work within its 45-item-per-canvas limit. Cacoo is another option if six sheets, PNG exports, real-time editing and in-app video chat cover your free-plan needs.

Microsoft Visio is an alternative for buyers who prefer a paid product with an annual subscription. ProcessOn may suit users who need Android, iOS or web access and can work within its free-plan file and collaborator limits. Lucidchart is worth considering if its free allowance of three editable documents and 60 shapes per document fits your work.

draw.io is the alternative to consider if you want a free, open-source option with no sign-up required. For users focused on modeling, Eclipse Papyrus is a free, open-source modeling environment. Visual Paradigm offers a free tier restricted to non-commercial use.

For more options, browse Diagram Software, Infographic Software and Diagramming Software.

Verdict

Choose EdrawMax if you need one tool for many diagram types, broad file compatibility and a substantial template library. Its main drawback is the free plan's tight document and export limits, so check whether Basic or Unlimited fits your usage before committing; if you only need simple diagrams or a free, open-source tool, look elsewhere.

	EdrawMax	Napkin AI
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	Yes
Paid from	$5.90/mo	$9/mo
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	Android, api, iOS, Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Data import	Yes	Yes
Interactive publishing	Yes
Team collaboration	Yes	Yes
Publishing mode	both	static
Paid from		9 /user/mo
Brand kit		Yes

EdrawMax vs Napkin AI

EdrawMax

Napkin AI