A comparison of draw.io and Visio

draw.io in Confluence: your integrated diagramming tool

If you are a Confluence or Jira user currently using Visio, draw.io offers a fully integrated solution for you and your teams’ diagramming needs.

Seamlessly embed diagrams in your Confluence pages or Jira issues. This is particularly useful for cross-team collaboration on key documentation such as working on new starter onboarding flows, creating organizational charts, and visualizing any company process you can think of.

Here, we’ll be looking at the strengths of using draw.io within Confluence. For more information, see our side-by-side comparison of draw.io and Visio features, and discover why draw.io should be your go-to diagramming app in Confluence.

Everything everywhere, or everything all in one place?

It’s easy for businesses to end up with multiple drafts and versions saved in different formats all over the place. Streamline your documentation and processes by keeping everything in your one source of truth: Confluence.

By embedding your draw.io diagrams directly into the relevant Confluence pages, along with cross-team collaboration this also means:

• your diagrams and data are all stored in Confluence, not in draw.io servers
• yours, along with any diagrams on company-wide Confluence pages, are searchable using the global Confluence search bar.

Everyone has front row seats, not just a select few

With draw.io in Confluence you are not bound by individual seats, or editing rights for only a select few. Everyone across your company has a seat at the table and gets to collaborate, edit diagrams, and share their ideas. With the revision history you can quickly see who’s worked on what, compare different versions, and even revert changes to a previous draft.

Easily import multipage diagrams

You can easily import diagrams with multiple pages from Visio. Simply export your diagram in .vsdx format, then drag and drop the file onto a blank draw.io canvas. See how this works in practice in this video.

Invest in your teams and save in the long run

When you purchase draw.io from the Atlassian Marketplace, you are investing in your whole company.

In many cases, draw.io works out better when purchasing for all your teams from a cost point of view. Check for yourself: use the Atlassian Marketplace listing calculator, to compare.

Even if draw.io works out slightly more expensive, it has the additional advantages we looked at earlier:

• Confluence and draw.io are made for collaboration by design. Keep Confluence as your single source of truth, and add the power of visualization by embedding diagrams within your Confluence pages.
• Your data is only stored as page attachments within Confluence, nowhere else.
• Everyone has the opportunity to edit, share their ideas, and add value.

Confluence and draw.io are made for collaboration

Above are just some of the reasons to choose draw.io for your teams. For a comprehensive breakdown of all the key features, see A comparison of the two diagramming apps draw.io and Visio.