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Pros: LucidChart is an amazing online app that I can use at my desk, on my tablet, and on my phone. It's simple touch controls are designed for efficiency. The templates provided are incredibly diverse. The ability to link other diagrams, notes, and comments to elements is a great feature. We have used this tool for effective remote collaboration on complex process flow topics and for generating professional, beautiful diagrams in high dollar proposals. Cons: Transferring ownership of a document was somewhat of an unclear process, but we ended up just copying it. I wish it would allow for more notifications when documents change.
Pros: This makes mockups and flow charts very easy to make. Those are the two main things I use it for. It does help me organize any structures or other ideas I need to see to think through and that makes it great for going from planning to action on something.
Cons: When it comes to work flows and processes, it's difficult to connect items unless you're giving them a lot of space for clean lines and directions. A little more customization options when it comes color and shapes would be nice, but it works for what I need it to do and probably does a lot more than I use it for. Overall: Provides an easy way to map out ideas, process, work flows and even wireframes and mockups. Pros: Has Everything: L:C has literally every type of chart, bubble, line, and template that I can think of. I've yet to run into a situation where LC did not have something that would work. Sharing Capabilities: Like Google Drive, users of LC can collaborate on charts.
I know that our engineering team uses this a lot, I have yet to find a need to collaborate on charts that I've created, but I love how easy it is should the need arise. It even integrates with Google Drive to boot!
Does One Thing: Sometimes this is a con; when a software is just a One-Trick Pony. I think that its a trap that a lot of software companies fall into, especially young ones. They try to do too much too quickly and come to market with incomplete, inconsistent, or generic products in saturated markets.
Nov 15, 2016 Pricing and Plans. Lucidchart offers a few tiers of service: free, Basic, Pro, and Team. The free account comes with limitations. You can only have five. Diagramming is quick and easy with Lucidchart. Start a free trial today to start creating and collaborating.
LC does charts and chart sharing so well that it can afford to do nothing else and I appreciate them for that. Cons: Direction: If you are a chart rookie or simply are not sure where to begin with chart creation, LC has templates that can help, but the user has to approach LC with the creative vision and direction in play already. There is no sandbox mode for this part of the chart-making process; I still use a legal pad to start with. LC's templates are neatly categorized based on business needs or otherwise, but they are still just templates. In some respects, this is not so much a con as it is a natural limitation on the creativity chart-makers must overcome in the first place. Pros: I started using this software in college for different classes like Information Technology and Operations Management. This software has also been great with helping me complete assignments.
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LucidChart is extremely user-friendly and I was able to learn how to use the software rather quickly. It's incredibly easy to drop in different shapes or images that you want and draw the connects from different processes/images to one another. Cons: Only Con I can really think of is sometimes it can be frustrating to format shapes and resize them at times. While the software is fairly user friendly I have definitely gotten frustrated at times trying to resize images and have had issues when I was trying to connect certain processes to another and the program picks the wrong shape to connect to. I also wish it was a bit easier to print out these charts, but I don't think it's very fair to blame the software on that since everyone's charts are going to vary by width/size so it's up to the user to format it for printing. Pros: It is very easy to use and has a lot of options for templates and shapes.
We were able to create seating charts using the desks that are already available. We also use it very often for process improvement. Cons: The part that i like least when using this software is the lines when creating a process/flowchart. They are a little tricky to get to go exactly the way you want.
Overall: We were able to create and map out processes that save our company a large amount of money. We also were able to do fun things like map out seating charts and ping pong tournament brackets. Pros: Lucidchart is hands-down the easiest to use flowcharting software I have experienced online. The software also has a gigantic library of UX images making this tool great for UX designers as well. The software is incredibly easy to use, offers a free version for making flowcharts using up to a limited number of elements. Education users can also get a great deal on Lucidchart for your school! Integration with Google products also adds to Lucidcharts value.
Cons: The software does come with a multitude of options and opportunities. Many of the shapes will not be useful to the common user but having options is not always a bad thing! Overall: A free, easy to use, Google product integrated software that allows me to create flow-charts to visualize processes with ease.
Pros: It's easy to navigate for the most part and it is a quick way to lay things out visually to help improve processes and workflows. It doesn't take any kind of intensive training. It's pretty instinctual, actually, which makes it a great addition. Cons: If you're OCD, it can be annoying sometimes to try and get your lines to match perfectly.
Also, if you're not careful about how you lay it out, crossing lines can be confusing. It takes the path of least resistance, and sometimes that comes out a little weird. Overall: It's cheap (compared to Vizio licenses) and it answered all our needs for workflow designs. Also, it has fun features that you can add in to help with other designs/layouts. (We used it to design seating charts in our call center and account management departments, too.). Pros: The interface prioritized commonly used shapes and chart types to allow you to quickly access the necessary shapes you need.
Layouts automatically re-adjust themselves to your diagram which allows you to focus on your diagram rather than fitting it neatly on one page! Cons: As I mainly use the free version there was a limit on the number of elements that could be included on one document- not really a con but as I wasnt in a postion to take out a paid plan for the business, it did limit me against using it for more complex diagrams Overall: Great cloud based alternative to Visio- allowed me to pick up when I left off when out of the office. Pros: Very good set of templates to draw upon. Good range of functionality and I particularly make use of the Present function. This allow s for more dynamic presentations than you can achieve with Powerpoint or other traditional presentation tools. Cons: Whilst it is easy to learn the basics, it can be a difficult tool to master.
It can be fiddly when you want to make changes to diagrams, particularly mind maps. Overall: It makes the sharing of information much easier - with the output and sharing features.
This helps in using the tool as a brainstorming and planning tool. Ability to share the diagrams easily. Extensive library of really useful diagrams and shapes including mind mapping, process, network and business diagrams.
Collaboration features - great to be able to pick up the colleague's work and add my own. Love the date-stamping feature. Very clean interface. No obvious version control.
Layers feature takes a bit of time to get used to. Expiring links for sharing. It is probably a useful feature, but it is not clear as to when the link expires when you share the document with someone. Overall: Edit and store and share process diagrams easily with my colleagues and clients. Ability to pick business analysis tools and start collaborating with colleagues and clients immediately. Pros: What else can I say?
It's a solid tool with lots of built-in graphics for all of your diagramming needs. I especially like the network rack tool, which lets you model out your whole rack intuitively. The Google integration means it's easy to get an entire school set up with accounts Cons: The Google backup feature can be a little clunky sometimes, but it may have improved since the last time I checked. I have noticed gradual improvements, so maybe they've tackled it and I didn't even know about it! Overall: Simple but powerful diagramming that also happens to be mobile-compatible. Pros: I love the browser based solution as well as the integration with Google cloud.
I also love the choice of multiple templates and the ability to create your own image templates. Cons: The licensing model is a bit atiquated and stodgy. The customer service is also diffracted between product offerings. Not have customer support services know about multiple customer channels is just not adequate in this era.
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Overall: Easy modeling of software systems as well as easy sharing with multiple collaborators. I thoroughly enjoy being able to store my design docs on my Google drive and have updates registered there.
Pros: It's very easy to use and is cloud based. I don't have to worry about saving and backing up a document. Also, publishing the chart on the web for my boss to view is very easy.
It is also very reasonably priced for everything that you get. They keep making product enhancements that are very useful and easy. It's also very easy to export files to share. Cons: The only thing that I dislike is sometimes the arrow lines can get messed up when you add an element. Overall: We use it to chart all of our marketing flow charts. It is easy to use and can be share easily. It's saved us a lot of time by providing a visual chart to others in the department.
Pros: We like how it is so much cheaper than Visio but does everything we needed to do in Visio. It's also very convenient that it is web-based, as you can use your account from any computer and it makes user turn over easier. Cons: Some features (like changing line style) were not very intuitive, but after clicking around for a few minutes, I found what I needed to. Very short, targeted training videos might help, as opposed to longer, more generic ones.
Overall: Everything we needed from Visio in a fraction of the price. Also, having a web-based platform makes it easier to access and turn over accounts when users leave the company. Pros: Easy to use, even easier to test it as they offer a free limited version online.
I really like that it provides several different object to be used within charts. And i also like the it is possible to add titles and text within any area of the chart. I felt like the system was very easy to learn, in fact I don't that i ever did any more than they quick tutorial.
Cons: I don't really have any, it doesn't include some of the features that other charting system offer, but I don't think those are cons, unless those feature are a must for you. Overall: I can go online an create a chart at any time from anywhere and that is really great. Pros: Mobile App capability Cons: Not as customizable (aesthetically) as a standard Adobe Artist software/program Overall: As a graduate student in a business related topic, I love this chart builder. The option to use an app while I ride the bus to complete charts on-the-go is -hands down- the best user function of Lucid Chart. Also, the various download option for a completed chart has been a wonderful tool that I use frequently. Recommendations to other buyers: Nope, I am not trained in the ins-and-outs of software design.
As far as I'm concerned, all I can say it 'Thank you!' For offering a student discount! Pros: Pretty easy to use.
Cons: hard to move objects around if there are lot of them on the page Overall: I have looked at and tried a number of different wireframing tools. Design and layout of web pages and software applications is a great deal of our business. After trying a bunch of different tools, we decided on Lucidchart.
It has all of the basics and a lot of images to choose from. It allows us to easily share our designs with our customers without having to purchase additional licenses. Only negative would be that it's hard to move elements around if there a lot on the page.
Comments: A large offering of features and applications. The best thing about Lucidchart is that it is Cloud-based, and I can access from wherever I want. Until now I could find everything that was necessary for my job, like flowcharts, use cases, class diagram and IT environment diagram. Pros: Easy to use, maintain and share. It has a lot of flowcharts and shapes, and lets you copy the contents of another document to your current document even you don't have some user image uploaded in your current document.
Cons: I didn't find any cons until now. Recommendations to other buyers: Like I said: 'easy to use, maintain and share'. Comments: I absolutely adore Lucidchart!
As a Computer Information Systems major, I use Lucidchart for many assignments in my classes including Swimlanes, GANTT charts, PERT charts, Data Flow charts, Work Breakdown Structures, basic flowcharts, diagrams, mockups, and even artistic images such as logos. Pros: It's easy to access and integrates with Google (our email platform). Cons: We did experience frequent connectivity and broadband issues, but our network infrastructure has been updated, and these issues are less frequent. Overall: We have been using Lucidcharts for several years and love the improved features (web images, collaboration, drag and drop, automatic arrows, etc.).
We are a one-to-one laptop school, and our students are advanced digital media users, so new users might take more time to learn the product, but once learned, should have no trouble using it for a variety of tasks. We use the charts for vocabulary maps, concept mapping, writing planners, project planning, storyboards, and decision trees. Thank you Lucidchart for allowing our small school for at-risk learners grow using your product. Your generosity is appreciated. I encourage all of our teachers to use Lucidcharts! Pros: Online and sharable. Cons: Moving and spacing of objects.
View options. Overall: Lucidcharts is pretty good, however it is not as user friendly as Visio is. The most annoying gaps are the sizing and moving of items does not snap into the grid as it does in Visio, putting objects in the exact desired spot can be difficult. Also the view is annoying. I feel that there is less view space than in Visio and it defaults to a zoomed in view. Not a big deal but just annoying.
Otherwise, Lucidcharts can be used to do anything else Visio does. Pros: Easy to use and share the diagrams Cons: Sometimes its hard to fine the objects or images you're looking for Overall: We use LucidChart as a part of our Project Management Tool, all projects need to have a ERD and Process flow associated to it before work is started. This LucidChart makes it easy to create the ERD and Process diagrams and share them with business users for approval Recommendations to other buyers: The presentation mode is really helpful when showing/sharing a new diagram with team members.
Pros: The basic functionality of creating dynamic maps on Lucid Chart any way you want them. Cons: Not intuitive; if you want to create something intricate or custom, it is difficult to figure out. Overall: I've only had a few minor problems using Lucid software products. To some degree, the software isn't incredibly intuitive, so I've had to do web searches for instructions on completing very basic functions through the software, but then could easily figure out what I was doing from there. That mostly applies to Lucid Chart. However, I tried to use Lucid's floor plan tool once and simply could not figure it out. That one was not intuitive for a custom project; perhaps it could have been more intuitive had I been putting together a floor plan for an apartment or something, but it was not easy to customize the components for my project.
Recommendations to other buyers: N/A. Comments: Lucidcharts is a great tool for helping students as they begin their computer science career. We use Lucidcharts in class to quickly design basic programs (structure charts and flowcharts) The focus is on the content - not the tool, because the tool is so easy to use. It helps students to easily organize their programs into functions and see the flow of information. The range of tools available in Lucidcharts make it something the students can use throughout their career: from requirements analysis to networking diagrams- there are tools for every type of system you need to visualize.
It a great communication and collaboration tool. Comments: I do valuestream, process, req/resp flow, and system mapping with Lucidchart. It works great for all that.
What really blew me away was the presentation mode hotspots, AWS metadata import and I hear there's one coming for Salesforce.com. The product and the roadmap are going to keep me with them for a while, i'd imagine Pros: Custom mapping objects. Custom templates. Static PDF and HTML shares for non-users. Mind Mapping. Tight integration to Google Docs: Embeddable Diagrams FTW!
Cons: The app is an HTML/JS SPA (just like gmail and the like) so there can be some variable behavior inconsistencies as the JS libraries improve and between browsers. The new version of the app has eliminated most of that now, it seems. Recommendations to other buyers: when you compare to the standalone app mapping tools or even gliffy, LC stands head and shoulders above, there really isn't a comparison anymore. Pros: Ease of use.
Wide ranging graphics standard compatibility. Cons: Sometimes, depends on the time of day, I notice slowness to respond to, e.g. A download current chart - request.
Overall: I have been using Lucidchart since April 2016, mostly for UML diagrams, sequence diagrams, etc. And I am most impressed! All the features I need are there, and I have been able to download the results and use them in our Wiki pages or JAMA documents. Recommendations to other buyers: Trial and error will get you up to speed as an everyday user.