Mac users aren’t at all shy about making their requests for applications known:

With Visio on your PC or mobile device, you can: Organize complex ideas visually. Get started with hundreds of templates, including flowcharts, timelines, floor plans, and more. Add and connect shapes, text, and pictures to show relationships in your data. SmartDraw is easily the most powerful yet easy to use alternative to Microsoft Visio for. Upgrade macOS to continue receiving Microsoft 365 and Office for Mac updates. Excel for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 Outlook for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 Publisher for Microsoft 365 Access for Microsoft 365 Visio Plan 2 Visio. Some parts of Office may still display in the language of your copy of Microsoft Office.

How about Visio for Mac?

When will IE return to Mac?

Will we ever see a Microsoft Project for Mac?

Where can I get Access for Mac?

When will (insert name of hot new game here) be available for Mac?

Most of these requests are for well-known Microsoft applications on Windows, and Mac users want them. Let me address a few of these in some detail.

Microsoft Visio

It’s unwise to say “never” with regard to future development efforts by a company as large as Microsoft, so I will predict this about Visio for Mac: it’s very, very unlikely to ever happen.

I, and many others, believe the development costs to produce a Mac Visio that would faithfully render any existing Visio drawing (and have almost all the functionality of Visio for Windows) would never be recouped by Microsoft.

For any Mac software company, a software product that brought in $50 million per year would be viewed as a fantastic success. But in the rarified world of the Microsoft Office team, such a product would be considered a dismal failure.

For any Mac software company, a software product that brought in $50 million per year would be viewed as a fantastic success. But in the rarified world of the Microsoft Office team, such a product would be considered a dismal failure.

Microsoft Access

Exactly the same as Visio: very, very unlikely to ever happen, and for exactly the same reason.

Internet Explorer

Never going to happen.

There was a version of IE for Mac about 15 years ago. Microsoft ceased development of IE for Mac in July 2003. Given that there is no new development for IE for Windows (because of the release of Microsoft Edge in 2015), there is no chance at all for a future release of IE for Mac.

Any Hot New Game by Microsoft

Never going to happen.

The graphics foundations on Mac and Windows diverge sufficiently that porting any hot new Windows game over to the Mac is a major undertaking. It would be unlikely to recoup development costs, for the same reasons as the Office applications. You can read more details about DirectX and OpenGL.

What’s a Mac User to Do?

There are a couple of options for a Mac user:

• Use a viewer application. In some cases, a viewer application that faithfully renders a document that you could not otherwise open will suffice. In the case of Visio, Microsoft has released a Visio Viewer for iOS, as shown in Figure 1.

• Use a competing application. Search for “Visio for Mac” on Google, and many of the results will be for third-party applications for Mac that open Visio drawings and provide much of the same functionality.
• Run the real Windows application on your Mac. If you need the real Visio with all its functionality, then use Parallels Desktop® for Mac to run Windows 10 on your Mac and purchase Visio from Microsoft. You lose no functionality or visual fidelity, since you are running the real Visio in the environment it expects: Windows 10.

(Already own Visio? No problem. Just use the Migration feature in Parallels Desktop to move everything on your PC—including Visio—into a virtual machine on your Mac.)

Figure 2 shows Visio running on my MacBook Pro®.

Figure 2_Visio 2016 running in Windows10 on a Mac with Parallels Desktop

Figures 3 and 4 show Access, and Figure 5 shows IE—all running on my MacBook Pro.

Figure 3_Access 2016 in Windows 10 running on a Mac with Parallels Desktop

Figure 4_Access 2016 in Windows 10 running on a Mac with Parallels Desktop

Figure 5_IE in Windows10 running on a Mac with Parallels Desktop

While you may not be able to get the Mac applications you desire, you can get the Windows versions and run them right alongside your Mac applications.

As the product manager for Parallels Desktop, you might consider my opinions to be a bit biased. (They aren’t, but you might think that.) So, here is a quote from a Network World review (emphasis mine):

“I’ve been a Mac user for many years, and like with most Mac users, there are occasions when I have core business apps that require me to run Internet Explorer for a browser, or run Visual Studio for app development work, or even run Microsoft Project and Visio that just aren’t available on a Mac. And while Apple provides BootCamp where I can switch between booting from a Mac to booting as a Windows system, that means I have to constantly reboot my system to switch between operating platforms. So I’ve been a happy user of Parallels for years where I can run Windows and Mac applications side by side at the same time.” –Rand Morimoto, Network World

Try Parallels Desktop for free for 14 days!

If you looking for Microsoft Visio alternative for your Mac. Then you’ve visited on right article Microsoft Visio is diagramming and vector graphics application specially developed for visual communication. However, there are some of the drawbacks in Visio program.

• Visio Microsoft professional version can cost $590
• It doesn’t support sync with Microsoft Projects
• The interface of Microsoft Office Visio is difficult to understand for users

Let’s look for Visio alternatives and their features and compare them with Visio Professional version. We have gathered some of the best Viso alternatives for free of cost for Mac users.

There is some best alternative for Microsoft Visio app that can replace Viso Professional version in Mac and they can be cheaper compared to Viso program with some new features. First, we start with a free version and then with paid Visio alternative.

Free Viso Alternative For Mac OS X

List of free Visio Alternative that can replace Microsoft Office Visio Professional version from your Mac device. There are lots of free diagramming software that offer multiple features same as Visio Office for free or cheaper prices.

Here is the list of some of the best free Visio alternatives that you can select to replace Microsoft Visio.

The Creately has over 1000 diagram templates and symbols the application can be run on Windows and Mac, Linux. It also offers free online collaboration program and some other features such as Google Image Search, Share Project on social sites.

In comparison Creately way to better than Microsoft Visio. It has more features compared to the Visio program. It allows you to create the flowchart, UML diagram, mockups, mind maps, wireframe and lot more. In terms of prices the company offers 5 diagrams for free and after that, you’ve to pay $5 per month for personal use only.

Download: Creately For Mac

Lucid Chart is also a great diagramming software for Mac. It’s is also a great replacement for Microsoft Visio. According to the Lucid Chart company statement “Thousands of company has switched from Visio to Lucid Chart”.

The software offers more real-time features compare to Visio office. Lucid Chart supports drag and drop functionality simplify for example you can draw line easily by dragging from the edge on an object. The company has hosted with multiple secure data centers such as Amazon Web Services.

Website: Lucid Chart

Edraw is an online drawing tool from which you can create your diagrams through your Mac device. The software supports over 260+ drawing types including mind maps, flowchart, floor plans and lot more.

The software supports 12000+ built-in vector symbols and template with thousands of free examples. In terms of Import and Export, you can easily export your diagram into PowerPoint, Excel, PDF, SVG and Import Visio files. With the help of Edraw, you can create fashion design, fault tree, business chart, Gantt chart from your Mac device. It’s also the best Visio alternative for project management.

Edraw is free to download with limited features for advanced features and full access you’ve to buy its premium version for $179 for personal use only.

Download: Edraw For Mac

Microsoft Office Visio For Mac

Draw.io is same as other online diagram maker app from which you can easily create your project such as flow chart with the help of templates, symbols, and some other tools. Free recording video for desktop. Its cloud-based online diagramming software which saves your project to Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive or you can export your project to your own Mac system.

With the help of features like “More Shapes” and Scratchpad, you can easily add more symbols, shapes, and images to your project with drag and drop function.

Website: Draw.io

5 # Libre Office

The LibreOffice for Mac is a free software for diagram making it’s a great Visio alternative. It’s similar to Visio Office you can draw side by side and lot more diagrams because of its simple user-friendly interface.

The software runs on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. It’s free to use with limited features. One of its great features is Libre Office probably lets you carry any of its tools from the flash drive or hard drive.

Download: LibreOffice for Mac

6 # YED Graph Editor

yEd graph editor is an open source diagramming tool that can be used for creating quick and effective projects with graphics and diagrams. With this tool, you can create a Flow Chart, UML diagrams, Fashion Design and lot more.

The tool offers thousands of templates, symbols, and objects to help professionals to make great diagrams with the help of this yED Graph Editor. You can easily import Visio files and export your project to your device without having a hassle.

Download: yEd Graph Editor For Mac

7 # Dia Diagram Editor

Dia Diagram Editor is an online diagram maker lets you create dynamic diagrams for your school projects and business charts. The software has the easy interface that helps you to create the flowchart, UML diagrams through thousand of templates along with the free example.

The software supports on Windows, Linux, and Mac. Dia Diagram Editor supports 30 different diagram types like network diagram, database model and lot more. There are more than thousands of objects help you to draw the professional diagram.

Download: Dia for Mac

Paid Visio Alternative (Diagramming Software) For Mac

Until now you’ve seen some of best free Visio alternative that allows you to draw for free on desktop or online through the internet connection on a browser. But there is the limitation of using them you can’t get full access to free diagramming software.

However, there are some of the software companies who offer cheaper diagramming software in comparison to Microsoft Visio with new features that can’t be found in Viso Office. Check out the list given below.

8 # Ardoq

The Ardoq is a great Visio alternative it’s also known Norwegian Microsoft Visio alternative. The software is specially developed for project managers, process owners, architects. With the help of Ardoq, you can easily convert complex information into the infographic chart or flow chart.

The software work as a project manager for drawing difficult business charts. The software has thousands of diagrams which help you to input your data and immediately start visualizing it. In terms of interactions, the users can Import files from Excel and Visio Office, Visualize the Docker Stack, Generate documentation.

Ardoq is a cloud-based software that lets you work together with your office members or with your colleagues from anywhere.

Compatible: JavaDoc, .Net Assembly Documentation Tool, API Import Tool, Jira, Excel

Price: 30 Days Free Trial (Maximin 10 Users)

Download: Ardoq for Mac

9 # Gliffy

You can use Gliffy as Flow Chart software, network diagram software, floor plan software, Org Chart Software, Venn Diagram software and lot more. The software work directly in your web browser and its supports Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.

Gliffy is far cheaper than Microsoft Visio and its a great replacement for Visio office. The interface of the program is quite simple with drag and drop function. However, the software doesn’t have many template options. But it’s also listed in Visio alternative.

Microsoft Office For Mac Visio Setup

Prices: Free Version available ($4.99 per month with full access ) for teamwork.

Website: Gliffy

10 # OmniGraffle

OmniGraffle 7 for Mac is an effective software and best Visio alternative in terms of prices and features. The software specially developed for artboard presentation for creating mockup documentation and lot more.

In features OmniGraffle has Touch Bar, Infinite Canvas, Convert Text to Shapes, Convert Line to Shapes, Point Editor tool and much more. With OmniGraffle software, you can draw eye-popping graphics documentation by lines and shapes and given templates along with symbols.

You can also import and export Microsoft Visio files and edit them with styling tools and other diagramming tools. with the keyboard shortcut for Zoom In and Zoom Out or previewing the presentation before saving it.

Prices: Free Version Available 14 days trial ($99.99 per month for OmniGraffle 7 )

Website: OmniGraffle For Mac

11 # ConceptDraw Pro

ConceptDraw Pro is full-featured diagramming software that lets you create, preview and edit presentation. Basically, the software is developed for project management for business owners. The interface of the software is quite simple all you’ve to do is to fill out the data in the given templates and your chart will be prepared.

There is two version of this software ConceptDraw PROJECT and ConceptDraw Pro. If you need an online diagram maker tool with complete features and full access. Then I recommend you ConceptDraw PRO which is and a great replacement for Visio.

Prices: $199 per month (Professional use only )

Website: ConceptDraw Pro

12 # SimpleDiagrams

SimpleDiagram is a desktop online diagram maker which lets you create simple diagrams quickly without having a hassle. If you’re a college student, in this case, this is one of the best Visio alternatives for you. Because, it is cheaper, easy to use, supports clear sketches of symbols.

You can get 7 days trial package for free after that you’ve to pay $49 per month for complete access. There are some new features that you get when you buy a full version of SimpleDiagrams.

SimpleDiagram comes with 500 pre-drawn shapes, create custom libraries for your own shapes. Its also allow you to export your project work to PDG, SVG, and PNG.

Prices: 14 days free trial after that ($49 per month )

Website: SimpleDiagrams

13 # DiagramPainter

DiagramPainter comes with multiple diagrams including intelligent line docking algorithms with objects. with this software, you can quickly create flowcharts, mind mappings, organization charts and lot more.

The software supports both Windows and Mac OS X but it was best known for Mac devices. It also supports Rich Text which means you can directly type your text into the diagram. You can also export and import Visio files into DiagramPainter from your Mac system.

Prices: 30 days free trial after that ($32 per month)

Website: DiagramPainter

14 # Zengobi Curio

Zengobi Curio 11 is a great Visio alternative. Its supports multiple features of diagramming software that let you draw your project in few easily in few steps. However its a complex diagramming software but it has lots of features that you needed for your diagram project.

Microsoft Visio online, free For Mac

The Curio 11 is specially developed for Students, Web developers, Scientists, Videographers, Programmers, Product Managers, Project Lenders and much more. The Zengobi Curio 11 comes with Rich Text, Sticky lines, Flowcharting shapes. Import and Export as text, Images, PDG, HTML, CSV, OPML and some other formats.

Prices: Free Version Available ($70.79 per month with core features)

Website: Curio 11 For Mac

15 # Draw Anywhere

DrawAnywhere is an online diagramming tool from which you can draw diagram through your web browser and save it on your device. With this software, you can draw FlowCharts, Process Diagrams, Network Diagrams and lot more.

The software also allows you to share your diagram project with other on social network sites or through an individual link. You can also export your diagram into image files (JPG, PNG ) etc.

Prices: 30 Days Free Trial Version after that ($30 per year for the single user)

Website: DrawAnywhere