EdrawMax and LucidChart are powerful freemium flowcharts, mind-mapping and diagram-making apps that offer you tools to create visually appealing diagrams.
They are both user-friendly, have intuitive features, and provide an extensive collection of templates to make it easier for you to design the graphs.
Now, while EdrawMax and LucidChart offer nearly similar functions, they have distinct strengths that set them apart.
In this article, I have compared their core features to uncover the visible difference between the two and help you pick out the best tool.
Let me start with a brief overview of EdrawMax and LucidChart.
EdrawMax – Overview
EdrawMax is a multi-purpose diagram app that lets you create almost every type of graph.
With this tool, you can draw flow charts, mind maps, floor plans, timelines, to multi-layer illustrations. It offers a rich library to generate complex charts and extends enough sharing to collaborate with your team.
What’s amazing is that EdrawMax is a part of the Wondershare Edraw suite. Meaning, once you’ve signed-up for the app, you can easily gain access to its sister products. This makes EdrawMax incredibly convenient.
All in all, it is user-friendly and shares both desktop and online versions.
LucidChart – Overview
LucidChart is an advanced free web-based tool that offers versatile functions and a diverse range of templates to create professional graphs.
You can use the app for basic organizational graphs, challenging network diagrams, and even technical plans.
LucidChart, like EdrawMax, is also a part of the Suite. But unlike EdrawMax, LucidChart provides direct access to its sister product, allowing you to toggle back and forth between the two, right on the dashboard. Surmise to say, the app is incredibly time-saving.
You can use LucidChart for both your personal assignments and business projects.
EdrawMax VS LucidChart
As I mentioned earlier, in most areas EdrawMax and LucidChart share identical services. But you’ll still see some slight differences that give one party an edge over the other.
Here, I have put together seven features to show a comparison between EdrawMax and LucidChart.
Let’s get started.
1. Interface
EdrawMax interface has a standard drag-and-drop action, a whiteboard with a grid for accurate sketching, and neatly organized panels.
The chart is surprisingly easy to create and requires you to merely drag the shape you want to use and start building the diagram. Each shape has nodes attached on four sides to let you draw paths and a right-click menu to quickly select the shapes.
You’ll find a large collection of illustrations on EdrawMax and a separate space to collect your favorite shapes. It also opens up a color customization panel every time you click on any box or branch.
LucidChart shares a similar interface but comparatively fewer features than EdrawMax. Ironically, this makes the app hassle-free and convenient for some.
It displays all the essential functions on the top panel and a visible status CTA to change the progress as you work on your graph. If by chance, you require assistance, you can also turn on the onboarding tutorials to show you the ropes.
Just like EdrawMax, you can create graphs on LucidChart without accessing each action individually and customize color and size on the spot.
Which is Better?
It’s a tie.
While LucidChart is relatively more user-friendly, both are super easy to operate.
Do you see the above screenshots? It took me under a minute to sketch the skeleton of the two charts.
2. Customization
EdrawMax facilitates you with extensive design actions and a diverse collection of custom templates.
You can select a ready-to-use chart and personalize it by importing your data to the graph.
Alternatively, you can also design your chart from scratch. The app offers custom options to change the theme of the chart, alter the text style, and insert images. You can also embed links, comments, and symbols. Moreover, the available illustrations allow you to create an entire family tree into a full-fledged house blueprint.
LucidChart graph customization features are at par with EdrawMax, but the shape library is disappointingly small. While you can pretty much build complex projects, you might feel restricted, at least on the free plan.
Moreover, the editor’s view is also somewhat limited. In EdrawMax, you can individually add or remove action buttons. The same is not true for LucidChart.
That said, LucidChart is comparatively simple, making it easy to customize your graph. The app wouldn’t overwhelm you with a bunch of custom fields when you merely wanted to change the branch’s appearance.
Which is Better?
EdrawMax is the clear winner.
The app offers complete flexibility and tons of personalization functions.
3. Auto-Formatting
Technically, you don’t need a smart tool since you can comfortably create graphs without the aid of auto-options. Still, automation functions work well for those who regularly handle short deadlines.
Both apps, fortunately, share smart styling features for such individuals.
EdrawMax provides you with two automation functions to change the appearance of your chart. One is manual and the other is auto-action.
The manual theme feature displays various styles to give you ideas on how to make your graph visually appealing. Its auto-formatting button randomly selects a theme and changes your diagram color.
You’ll also find another button by the name of Quick Style near the auto-format CTA. The action replaces multi-colors with one shade and switches the border thickness.
LucidChart’s auto-format function, on the other hand, is much more interesting.
Besides the themes, LucidChart offers conditional formatting that allows you to use the “If and then” rule to your theme. So, if you command the app to change the shape color blue for Sales, the app will automatically replace the style of your shapes when the condition is met. Amazing, isn’t it?
Which is Better?
LucidChart.
The app auto-styling is better than EdrawMax’s.
4. Collaboration Features
EdrawMax allows team collaboration through various sharing options.
You can publish your file on popular social networks as well as generate HTML links, on your free account. If you upgrade your plan, you can also set the expiry date to your file and view the number of shares.
The premium account additionally permits you to build a team and create separate cloud storage for them. You’ll have full control over assigning editing authority to any user, and will have the means to communicate with your team via Comments.
LucidChart offers more flexibility in its free account.
You can invite other users to collaborate and permit them editing rights. It will allow you both to work simultaneously on the project and see real-time changes. You can also follow your team’s progress and track where they have altered the document.
Should you decide to go for the premium plan, you’ll be able to create business folders and connect with your team.
Which is Better?
LucidChart.
Although both extend the equal level of collaboration features, LucidChart shares it for free.
5. File Import and Export Options
EdrawMax offers most of its import and export options to its premium users. While you can certainly import data in EdrawMax free version and even export your document in PDF, the choices are not only limited, but the document will come engraved with a watermark.
Its premium plan supports two file formats to import data. You can select a Visio file or insert your SVG document into the editor. The app will correctly display the premade chart you’d generated in another software.
The s export choices, however, are many. You can save your document in five widely popular formats, including HTML, and also export files in editable Word Docs.
In LucidChart, you can import the Visio file for free, but to edit it, you may have to upgrade your plan. The app is compatible with four graphics files and shares the LucidSpark option to integrate with the sister product. You can also sync your chart with a live Google sheet to automatically update data.
As for its export options, LucidChart doesn’t have any restrictions on its free version. You can download the “view only” PDF file as well as editable SVG.
Which is Better?
Both.
LucidChart, undoubtedly, is an excellent choice if you go for a free account, but the app doesn’t support Word or Excel export. It has an ad-in instead that lets you directly import the file to your MS Word, which some might find inconvenient.
6. Compatibility
EdrawMax is compatible with major systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can download the software on Windows and operate it online. It doesn’t, however, have the mobile version.
It also offers cloud space and allows you to connect your Dropbox account—though the latter is available on the paid plan only.
LucidChart, in contrast, shares a diverse range of integrations. You can sync it with Slack, add it to your Asana software, and connect it with your Google account.
It also has a Microsoft Office integration option. Remember, I said earlier, LucidChart doesn’t support Excel export, but the app does offer an ad-in? The MS integration allows you to generate a link between the platforms and directly insert your chart into MS doc.
Anyway, the app is compatible with five different systems and works well on both Desktop and Mobile.
Which is Better?
LucidChart -The app offers more options.
7. Price
EdrawMax offers flexible plans to tailor your subscriptions according to your team size, budget, and industry.
If you’re a solopreneur, you can buy an annual plan for $100 with an option to cancel or renew it at any time. You can also choose a semi-annual subscription, purchase a lifetime plan for $245, or pick a bundle deal to gain access to all Edraw’s products.
For teams, EdrawMax shares custom plans charging $119 per user. The standard plan can support up to 20 members, but you can get quotes for larger teams.
There’s also a third choice EdrawMax provides, particularly for the education sector. The education plan is geared toward students, and it’s comparatively affordable.
LucidChart’s pricing structure is simple.
It offers four standard plans for individuals, teams, and large enterprises.
As an individual, you can upgrade your free plan to a monthly subscription at approx. $8. If you are part of an organization, you can choose a team plan for $20 a month.
The team plan unlocks advanced features and integration options you’ll not get on the basic plan.
Which is Better?
It depends on your requirements.
While LucidChart is cheaper, EdrawMax offers versatile plans.
We recommend EdrawMax for personal use cases. If you’re going to use a mind mapping and visualization tool for business, LucidChart is a better choice.
Verdict
EdrawMax and LucidChart are both amazing communication tools you can use to plan strategies and brainstorm ideas. They help you squeeze a large chunk of information into simple diagrams to make your content easily digestible.
While LucidChart appears better than EdrawMax in many areas, the latter offers a large library that almost overshadows everything else.
I suggest prioritizing your requirements before going for any of the two.
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