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yEd Graph Editor vs Microsoft Visio: catalog facts
yEd Graph Editor	Microsoft Visio
Free Free to download and use; yWorks sells its other diagramming products separately.	Paid Subscription plans or one-time Standard and Professional 2024 licenses, with a free trial.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, Web
Automatic layout arranges large diagrams in one step Imports data from Excel spreadsheets and XML	Large library of templates, shapes and stencils Covers flowcharts, org charts, network, UML and BPMN diagrams
Closed source Desktop only; online editing requires other yWorks products	Paid, with several confusing plan and license options Desktop version is not available for macOS
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Web application
Closed source	Closed source
License: Proprietary freeware	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.