Creately vs Microsoft Visio

May 19, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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Creately
Easily draw diagrams online using Creately's online diagramming tool. Diagram software packed with templates and features. 50+ types of diagrams with specialised features to help you draw faster and better. Real-Time collaboration and Projects help you work with clients and colleagues where ever you are.
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Microsoft Visio
Create professional diagrams to simplify complex information with updated shapes, collaboration tools and data-linked diagrams. Simplify complex information with professional diagrams you can create in just a few clicks. Visio makes diagramming simple - whether you want to quickly capture a flowchart that you brainstormed on a whiteboard, map an IT network, build an organizational chart, document a business process, or draw a floor plan.
Creately and Microsoft Visio are both popular diagramming tools, but they have distinct features and target different user bases. Creately is a web-based diagramming tool that offers an intuitive interface, a wide range of templates, and collaboration features. It emphasizes ease of use and quick diagram creation, making it suitable for users who want to create diagrams efficiently without a steep learning curve. On the other hand, Microsoft Visio is a comprehensive diagramming software that provides advanced diagramming capabilities, extensive customization options, and integration with other Microsoft products. It is often favored by professionals and enterprises with complex diagramming needs and a requirement for detailed control over diagram elements.

See also: Top 10 Diagramming software
Creately vs Microsoft Visio in our news:

2018. Microsoft Visio integrates with Hololense



Microsoft is positioning its AR headset, HoloLens, as a tool to enhance productivity, improve quality, and ensure safety by enabling companies to reimagine their processes, data, and workforce, ultimately driving business impact and customer value. One area of focus for Microsoft is updating its Visio software, which now includes features tailored to intelligent manufacturing scenarios, such as facility layout optimization. To demonstrate the potential of intelligent manufacturing, Microsoft will collaborate with its customer, Dürr AG, and incorporate the expertise of Visio partners, including FaciWare GmbH for facility management solutions and X-Visual Technologies GmbH for PnID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) solutions.


2017. Microsoft launches Visio Online editor


Microsoft Visio held the distinction of being the initial favored tool for constructing schemes, diagrams, and designing software and site interfaces. However, the emergence of numerous online alternatives such as Gliffy and OmniGiraffe, offering collaborative features, caused many users to shift their attention away from the resource-intensive Visio. Interestingly, while Microsoft released online versions of popular Office editors like Word and Excel, they initially did not provide an online version of Visio. Only in 2016 did the company introduce Visio Online Viewer, which allowed users to view Visio files online. Recently, Visio Online has transformed into a comprehensive application that permits diagram creation and editing directly in the browser, facilitating team collaboration. This full-featured version is priced at $5 per user per month, while the free Visio Online Viewer is included in nearly all Office 365 plans.


2017. Visio Online adds new themes, shapes and guides



Microsoft has introduced an update to its Visio Online service, enabling users to effortlessly create, edit, and share diagrams directly from their web browser. The addition of Quick Shapes greatly enhances the diagram creation process. By hovering over the arrows adjacent to any shape, users can access the quick shapes panel, allowing them to select the desired shape that will automatically connect to their existing one. Furthermore, smart guides facilitate shape alignment, while the flexibility to customize connector types based on specific requirements has been implemented. In addition to expanding the shape library, Microsoft has incorporated a search-box above the shape panel, enabling users to easily locate their desired shapes. Beyond the capability to include personal images, users now have the option to utilize the "Find and Add a picture from web" feature to incorporate external images from the internet.


2017. Microsoft Injects Power BI Insights Into Visio Diagrams



Microsoft Power BI users now have the capability to integrate their business analytics with floorplans, business processes, and other diagrams created in Visio. Currently available in preview, this new feature allows users to leverage diagrams created in Visio as a foundation to overlay valuable business insights. By combining Visio and Power BI, users can present and analyze data both as diagrams and traditional Power BI visuals in a unified platform, facilitating operational and business intelligence for a holistic understanding. It is possible to establish a connection with a Visio diagram hosted on SharePoint or OneDrive for Business. The underlying Power BI data is then automatically and intelligently linked to the diagram based on its shape properties, eliminating the need for manual linking.


2017. Microsoft releases public version of Visio Online for Office 365 commercial users



Microsoft has unveiled a cloud-based edition of Visio, granting paid Office 365 users access to this popular software for the first time. Initially, a preview version of Visio Online was released exclusively to a limited group of Office 365 users in November, and Microsoft has since incorporated their valuable feedback into the current version. Similar to its predecessor, the public release of Visio Online is free and primarily designed to enable users of the full Visio for Windows application to seamlessly view and collaborate on Visio diagrams across various platforms via a web browser. As Visio Online functions solely as a viewer, it is necessary to create your Visio diagrams using the complete version and subsequently share them through OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online. Once the diagrams are available online, you can utilize the Visio Online version to conveniently share them with others.


2017. Visio allows to convert process map data in Excel into Visio diagrams



Microsoft has introduced a new feature called Data Visualizer in Visio, enabling the automatic conversion of process map data from Excel into data-driven Visio diagrams. This functionality empowers business analysts to transform process steps and associated metadata, organized in a structured Excel table, into visually appealing Visio diagrams. Users have the flexibility to utilize either a pre-designed Excel template or their own customized spreadsheet. The Data Visualizer feature includes a basic template as well as a template specifically designed for cross-functional flowcharts. The latter provides a sample mapping table that can be populated with diagram metadata. The mapping table consists of predefined columns such as process step number, description, dependencies, owner, function, phase, and more. Additionally, users have the freedom to personalize the table by adding their own custom columns, ensuring that it aligns with their specific business requirements. With Data Visualizer, Microsoft aims to streamline the process of creating data-driven Visio diagrams, empowering analysts to efficiently visualize and communicate complex information.


2017. Microsoft Improves Database Diagramming in Visio Pro



Microsoft is leveraging its diagramming application, Visio Pro, to provide insights into intricate database deployments and business processes. Recently, the company introduced a database reverse engineering tool that enables users to delve into the structure of their databases and comprehend the interconnectedness of various elements. This tool is part of the Database Modeling add-in and offers support for several popular databases, including MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft's SQL Server. Through an intuitive wizard, users can select the source database and specify elements to be included in the visual representation, granting them complete control over the resulting diagram. Notably, the database diagram automatically updates whenever there are changes in the source information, ensuring that everyone has access to the most up-to-date data.


2016. Microsoft is bringing Visio to Android and Windows Phone



Just a short while after Microsoft commenced testing Visio for iOS, the company has now announced its plans to bring the Visio app to Android and Windows phones in the near future. Unfortunately, there is limited information available regarding the specifics of the app itself. Microsoft has not yet revealed the exact release date for the Windows Phone and Android versions. However, it has been confirmed that the Android and Windows Phone app will offer the same features as the iOS app, which is definitely promising. Visio is primarily utilized for creating diagrams and charts. Despite its usefulness, it remains relatively unknown to many users. Visio simplifies complex information by presenting it in clear and comprehensible diagrams, making it an invaluable tool for professionals in various industries.


2016. Microsoft Visio is coming to iPad



Microsoft has introduced a limited new Visio on iPad Insider Program, aiming to make their diagramming solution accessible on iPads. This version of Visio will be compatible with all iPad models, including the iPad mini and iPad Pro, and will require iOS 9 or a more recent version. During the pre-release phase, it will be available in multiple languages, including English, Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish. To access the program, users must sign in with a Microsoft account. Once signed in, users can conveniently view files from OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint, or files received as email attachments. The Pan and Zoom functionality is optimized for small touch screens, allowing users to toggle the visibility of layers, copy the current view of a Visio diagram as an image for use in other applications, share files as links or attachments, and search for text within shapes.

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com