The following tables compare some key features between various versions of Visio.
To see which version you are using, go to "My account" on office.com, then search that page for Visio.
Which Visio plan is the best for you?
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Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|
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Included with Microsoft 365 commercial subscription |
$5/user/month (annual subscription) |
$15/user/month (annual subscription) |
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For casual diagrammers who need to create basic diagrams |
For professional diagrammers who are creating, editing, and maintaining diagrams |
For specialized diagrammers who need a comprehensive diagramming solution, or need a desktop app |
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Includes a lightweight web app |
Includes a web app |
Includes a web app and desktop app |
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With Visio in Microsoft 365, you can: Create general purpose diagrams by using easy-to-use, simple templates Share diagrams with other teammates for real-time review in the Visio web app or in Teams Example diagrams: basic flow charts, process diagrams, business diagrams such as block, Venn, matrix, etc. |
With Visio Plan 1, you can do everything in Visio in Microsoft 365 plus: Create diagrams for various industries and functions with a wide set of premium templates and shapes Easily create and manage professional diagrams by using grids and smart guides Optimize processes and get the full picture of what's happening in your organization by adding Visio diagrams into Power BI reports Example diagrams: cross-functional flowcharts, network diagrams, cloud architecture (Azure and AWS), UML diagrams, Chen's and crow's foot notation, and org charts with a comprehensive set of shapes and templates |
With Visio Plan 2, you can do everything in Visio Plan 1 plus: Create any type of advanced professional diagram by using capabilities such as offline work, layers, containers, and more Make informed business decisions by linking diagrams to data from internal and external sources and even automatically creating diagrams from data Do even more with Visio and other Microsoft 365 apps: export a diagram to Word, create and edit diagrams directly in Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, even export Visio process diagrams into Power Automate to easily automate repetitive processes Create or import your own custom shapes and add them as a stencil Get access to a rich repository of partner-created diagrams for a variety of industries Get access to over 250,000 partner-created shapes for a variety of industries and diagram types Example diagrams: mind maps, floor plans, timelines, electrical diagrams, P&ID diagrams, BPMN, wireframes, rack diagrams, value stream maps, Gantt charts, six sigma diagrams, and others. |
See this page to try or buy one of the Visio subscription plans.
Feature comparison
Collaboration and sharing
Save diagrams in the cloud, collaborate in Microsoft Teams, and work with others in a file at the same time.
Key:
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Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Save diagrams to OneDrive for business and view diagrams from virtually anywhere online |
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Co-author, edit, and comment on diagrams in real time within the Visio web app |
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See where co-authors are working in the canvas with a simple presence indicator |
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Create, view, edit, and collaborate on diagrams within Microsoft Teams1 |
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View and share diagrams connected to real-time data |
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Embed Visio diagrams into Power BI dashboards and connect those diagrams to Power BI data2 |
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1 Requires a Microsoft 365 subscription to use Microsoft Teams
2 Requires a Power BI subscription for editing
Intelligent diagramming
Use smart feature such as such as auto align and distribute, and Smart Guides, to make diagramming easier.
Key:
|
Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Use almost any browser to create, edit, and share diagrams |
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Start with a simple Getting Started experience and powerful search |
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Add flyout shapes, insert and delete shapes with connection healing, and change shapes while preserving diagram layout and shape metadata |
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Enjoy familiar layout features, such as auto align and distribute, and Smart Guides |
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Choose from a variety of starter diagrams and get up to speed quickly with contextual tips and tricks |
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Use Document Stencil to create a collection of shapes and quickly use them in your document |
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Get support for ruler and layers |
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Gridlines on canvas and snap-to-grid |
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Leverage the power of the ShapeSheet to describe visual relationships between elements in your diagram |
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Validate your structured diagrams against pre-defined rules and fix the issues identified |
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Create a report of shape data that lists the text or data that is associated with your shapes |
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Use Drawing Explorer to view and alter objects and elements in your drawing |
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Use or write Macros or Visual Studio Tools for Office Addins to enable advanced drawing automation or customization scenarios |
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User experience and features
Use touch-based features, pan and zoom, and auto-save your work.
Key:
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Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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AutoSave your work—enabled by default for Visio for the web diagrams |
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Use touch to work more naturally on a touch-enabled device |
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View shapes in full fidelity online with intuitive pan and zoom functionality |
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Save diagrams locally in PNG or JPEG format with customization options for resolution, background color, transparency, and size |
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Add hyperlinks to shapes that redirect to external sites, email addresses, files stored online, or pages within the same file |
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Edit shapes using Control Points, and easily apply themes to create modern diagrams |
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Export diagrams in SVG format with an option to include or exclude their Visio data |
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Navigate through commands with Tell Me integration |
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Use your finger or pen to draw and annotate on a touch-enabled device |
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Apply shape effect options, like shadow, bevel, glow, and others |
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Templates, stencils, and shapes
Start your diagram from a template and choose from a rich set of predefined shapes.
Key:
|
Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Use templates for basic flowcharts, process diagrams, and block diagrams to create impactful stories |
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Choose from dozens of built-in, versatile templates and stencils, including Basic, Matrix, Cycle, Pyramid, and Venn |
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Annotate your shapes with informative text by attaching callouts to shapes |
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Visualize relationships between phases and functions using a cross-functional flowcharts (or swim-lane diagrams). |
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Sketch your Azure or Amazon Web Services architecture with access to hundreds of Azure and AWS shapes |
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Illustrate how devices and networks all work together with a variety of basic and detailed network templates, shapes, and connector tools |
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Visualize your systems and software using a rich repository of IT content including Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD) and UML Diagrams |
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Model the behavior of systems and functions of a process with Specification and Description Language (SDL) |
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Visualize your organizational structure by using org chart templates and samples3 |
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Brainstorm and organize your ideas visually using mind maps |
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Represent business processes graphically with a rich set of Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and Integration Definition for Process Modeling (IDEF0) content |
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Quickly create high-fidelity mockups and prototypes of your websites with web and mobile wireframes |
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Bring your architecture designs to life with a rich library of floor plan templates and samples |
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Get an overhead view of your office space, residential area, or public transportation route with templates for office layouts and directional maps |
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Access templates and sample diagrams that cover core education and extracurricular activities, including algebra, chemistry, physics, music, and sports |
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Communicate project schedules, tasks, and progress with timeline diagrams, Gantt charts, and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) charts |
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Create accurate, detailed business diagrams with templates for IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) diagrams, Pivot Diagrams, Six Sigma, and value stream maps |
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Create detailed engineering diagrams with templates for basic electrical and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID) |
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Develop clear and professional design plans with templates for HVAC plans and plant layout |
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Simplify your system design process with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)and rack diagrams |
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Design a SharePoint workflow in Visio or import a workflow from SharePoint Designer for Visio to generate a diagram4 |
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Use containers to visually group your Visio shapes together and perform operations on the group |
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Access more than 250,000 shapes through the online content ecosystem in Visio |
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Access a rich repository of partner-created diagrams for a variety of industries |
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3 Organization charts are partially supported in Visio in Microsoft 365: Some capabilities—such as pictures and employee fields—are not available.
4 Requires an Office 365 commercial or standalone subscription to SharePoint
Accessibility, security, and compliance
Visio supports accessibility and security features.
Key:
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Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
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Get accessibility support with Narrator, Accessibility Checker, and high-contrast support |
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Help secure diagrams with Microsoft Information Rights Management (IRM)5 |
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Support compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) |
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View .vsd files created in Visio 2000 and later versions |
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Edit .vsd files created in Visio 2000 and later versions |
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5 Setting IRM permissions is only available in the Visio desktop app; however, those permissions are honored for Visio files stored online and accessed through the Visio web app
Support for standards
Visio supports industry standards such as UML and BPMN.
Key:
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Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Get support for UML 2.5 process standards |
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Get extended support for various process standards in Visio desktop, including BPMN 2.0, and IEEE |
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Validate diagrams using built-in and extendable business rules |
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Import DWG files, including enhanced file format support |
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Connecting diagrams to data
Work with data sources such as Excel, SharePoint, SQL Server, or Azure Active Directory.
Key:
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Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
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Create diagrams from Excel data starting from Visio6 |
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Apply a rich set of data graphics, icons, and colors to visualize data |
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Link diagram shapes to data from multiple sources, including Excel, SharePoint lists, and SQL Server |
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Generate org charts from data sources like Excel, Exchange, or Azure Active Directory7 |
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6 Requires a license for the desktop version of Office apps
7 Data connectivity to these sources requires an Office 365 subscription for Excel, Exchange, or SharePoint; Exchange and SharePoint can also be purchased as their own subscription; SQL Server and Azure Active Directory are sold separately, too
Integrations with Microsoft 365 apps
Export your visuals to other Microsoft apps.
Key:
|
Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Export parts of your diagram to PowerPoint for easy sharing and consumption |
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Automatically export Visio process diagrams, including shapes and their metadata, to Word |
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Export Visio workflows to Power Automate to quickly automate business processes8 |
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6 Requires a license for the desktop version of Office apps
8 Requires a Power Automate subscription
Inclusion of the desktop version of Visio app for PC
Have access to the Windows-based version of Visio.
Key:
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Visio in Microsoft 365 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Fully installed and always up-to-date version of Visio for Windows PC9 |
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Each user can install the Visio desktop app on up to 5 PCs |
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9 Requires a Power Automate subscription
See Also
See this page to buy one of the versioned Visio products.
Standard versus Professional editions of Visio
Both editions come with templates to help you get started. The Professional edition helps you make more kinds of drawings:
Standard
Standard edition includes:
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Flowcharts: Basic, cross-functional, workflow
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Schedules: Timeline, calendar, Gantt, PERT
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Networking: Basic network diagram
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Maps, floor plans: office layout, directional map
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Business: org chart, TQM, EPC, marketing, cause & effect, brainstorming, fault-tree analysis, audit, graphs
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Multipurpose: Block diagram, numerous shapes
Professional
Professional edition includes everything in the Standard edition, plus:
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Engineering: basic electrical, piping, instrumentation, fluid power, systems, industrial controls, circuits and logic, process flow, parts and assembly
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Software & database: Website, UML, database model, enterprise app, web and mobile wireframes, data flow, program structure, web site map
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Flowcharts: BPMN, SDL, IDEF0/1, SharePoint workflow
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Networking: Azure, Amazon Web Services, rack, detailed network, LDAP directory, Active Directory
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Maps, floor plans: electrical and telecom, reflected ceiling, home, space, HVAC, plant layout, crime scene investigation, security and access, floor plan, plumbing and piping, site, social distancing
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Business: value stream map, Pivot Diagram, Six Sigma, ITIL
Tools for collaboration and for linking data to your drawings are also included.
Feature comparison
The following tables include information about the single-purchase desktop versions of Visio. They also include information about the Visio Plan 2 subscription for comparison purposes.
Get started easily
Make diagrams look great quickly with shape effects and a theme.
Key:
|
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio 2021 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Intuitive drawing experience—flyout shapes, inserting and deleting shapes with connection healing, and changing shapes while preserving diagram layout and shape metadata |
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Publish to Visio viewer |
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Auto align and space |
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Easy-to-apply themes to create modern diagrams quickly |
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Shape effect options—shadow, bevel, glow, and others |
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Starter diagrams and contextual tips and tricks |
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"Tell Me" support to search and navigate through commands |
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Draw tab—use finger or pen to draw and annotate |
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Create anything visually
Use a broad set of templates and standards-compliant stencils.
Key:
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Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio 2021 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Versatile templates and thousands of shapes |
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Smart shapes for maps and floor plans |
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Ability to import DWG and DXF files into Visio |
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Sub-processes to break complex processes into manageable pieces |
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Option to validate diagrams using built-in and extendable business rules |
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Easy shape customization |
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Apply colors to shapes by using Hex color values |
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Container to classify shapes |
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Support for various process standards, including Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) 2.0 |
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Electrical solution with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) compliance |
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UML templates conforming to Unified Modeling Language (UML) 2.5 standard |
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Sketch your Azure or Amazon Web Services architecture with access to hundreds of Azure and AWS shapes |
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Create wireframe diagrams for web sites and mobile apps |
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Work with AutoCAD drawings |
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Easy access to third-party templates and sample diagrams |
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Create a database model from an existing database |
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Bring diagrams to life with data linking
Link shapes to external data sources.
Key:
|
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio 2021 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ability to link diagram shapes to data from multiple sources, including Excel, Excel Services, SharePoint Lists, SharePoint Business Connectivity Services, and SQL Server |
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Ability to apply an extensive set of data graphics and colors to visualize data |
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Automatic creation of data legends, providing a key for applied data graphics |
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Ability to refresh data automatically, either on a defined schedule or manually |
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Automatic generation of organizational charts from data sources like Excel, Exchange, or Active Directory |
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Rapid data connectivity with Excel tables and ability to swap data graphics with one click |
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Collaborate throughout the process
Save diagrams in the cloud, collaborate in Microsoft Teams, and work with others in a file at the same time.
Key:
|
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio 2021 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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In-app commenting on a diagram or shape |
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Co-authoring—two or more people working on a single diagram at the same time (Requires Microsoft 365 or SharePoint) |
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Ability to see where co-authors are working in the canvas with a simple presence indicator (for files saved in the cloud) |
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Secured diagrams with Microsoft file protection technologies |
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Delve support for team document discovery |
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Communicate one version of the truth
Key:
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Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio 2021 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Easy diagram sharing and access with the web app (Requires eligible SKUs from Microsoft 365, or SharePoint Online) |
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Intuitive pan and zoom to view shapes in full fidelity with the web app or iPad app (Requires eligible SKUs from Microsoft 365 or SharePoint Online) |
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Hyperlink to a web page or diagram file in the web app |
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Ability to search shape text in the iPad app |
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Ability to switch layers on and off in the iPad app |
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No-code dashboard with the web app (Requires eligible SKUs from Microsoft 365 or SharePoint Online) |
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Simplify IT management
Key:
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Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio 2021 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Backward compatibility to open a Visio 2013, Visio 2010, Visio 2007, Visio 2003, or Visio 2000 file |
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Availability through Microsoft 365 as a subscription |
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Roaming application—ability to install Visio temporarily on a Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 PC |
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Touch support on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8 PCs |
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Compatibility with Windows 11 |
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Ability to have an Office-like experience with high DPI and Dark Theme support |
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