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Technology · head to head

Lucidchart vs MadCap Flare

Lucidchart logo

Lucidchart

Technology

Intelligent diagramming for every team

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MadCap Flare logo

MadCap Flare

Documentation

Single-source technical authoring tool sold as a per-author annual subscription

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Lucidchart has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Lucidchart interface can overwhelm new users due to extensive features and customization options; MadCap Flare flare is now subscription-only at $3,150 per author per year; a buyer who previously owned a perpetual licence faces an ongoing cost that did not exist under the old purchase model
  • They diverge on capability: Lucidchart covers Flowcharts & diagrams, MadCap Flare covers Single-source publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lucidchart and MadCap Flare actually diverge.

Attributes where Lucidchart and MadCap Flare differ
AttributeLucidchartMadCap Flare
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownPer author per year, annual subscription only
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, macOS, WindowsWindows, Web
CategoryTechnologyDocumentation
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Lucidchart

  • Flowcharts & diagrams
  • Process mapping
  • Mind maps
  • Wireframes & mockups
  • Network diagrams
  • Data visualization
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Presentation mode

Only in MadCap Flare

  • Single-source publishing
  • Conditional text and variables
  • Flare Online cloud authoring
  • Topic-based structure
  • MadCap Central integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Lucidchart

  • Process documentationnot MadCap Flare
  • System architecturenot MadCap Flare
  • Workflow designnot MadCap Flare
  • Brainstormingnot MadCap Flare
  • Technical documentationnot MadCap Flare

MadCap Flare

  • A technical writing team moving off an unsupported or discontinued help authoring tool that needs single-source, multi-format publishingnot Lucidchart
  • An enterprise documentation team needing conditional content to manage several product editions from one sourcenot Lucidchart
  • A team wanting a familiar desktop authoring workflow rather than a browser-only or fully structured CCMS environmentnot Lucidchart
  • A documentation team that needs reviewer seats for subject matter experts without giving them full author licences, available on the Online plansnot Lucidchart

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Lucidchart

  • Interface can overwhelm new users due to extensive features and customization options
  • Drag-and-drop canvas can feel clunky compared to modern whiteboard tools like Miro

MadCap Flare

  • Flare is now subscription-only at $3,150 per author per year; a buyer who previously owned a perpetual licence faces an ongoing cost that did not exist under the old purchase model
  • A 12-month commitment is required on Flare Online, so a team cannot trial the cloud tier month to month before committing budget
  • Pricing above the Desktop base tier is entirely quote-based for Online plans, so team and business-tier costs are not comparable across vendors without a sales call
  • The authoring model, while less rigid than a full CCMS, still requires writers to learn topic-based structuring, conditional tags and variables, which is a real ramp for staff used to Word or a wiki
  • Storage is capped per tier with paid add-ons in 10 GB increments, so a documentation set with heavy image or video assets can incur additional cost beyond the headline price
  • Windows-only desktop authoring limits teams that standardise on macOS or Linux to the browser-based Flare Online tier, which may not have full feature parity with desktop

Pricing, plan by plan

Lucidchart

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 documents
    • 60 shapes
    • Basic templates
  • Individual$7.95/month
    • Unlimited documents
    • Advanced templates
    • Cloud storage
  • Team$9/editor/month
    • Real-time collaboration
    • Team management
    • All integrations
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Advanced security
    • SSO
    • Dedicated support

MadCap Flare

On request
  • Flare Desktop$3150/year
    • On-premises topic-based authoring
    • Unlimited tech support
    • Free introductory training
  • Flare Online (Individual/Team/Business)$undefined/year
    • Cloud authoring plus desktop for each author
    • Reviewer seats and storage scale by tier
    • 12-month commitment required

Which should you pick?

Choose Lucidchart if

  • You need flowcharts & diagrams.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want process mapping.
Lucidchart review

Choose MadCap Flare if

  • You need single-source publishing.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want conditional text and variables.
MadCap Flare review

Questions people ask

Is Lucidchart or MadCap Flare better?
Neither clearly leads. Lucidchart starts at Free and MadCap Flare at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lucidchart or MadCap Flare?
Lucidchart has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lucidchart and On request for MadCap Flare.
Does Lucidchart or MadCap Flare run on more platforms?
Lucidchart runs on Web, Desktop, macOS, Windows. MadCap Flare runs on Windows, Web.
Can I use Lucidchart for free?
Yes. Lucidchart has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MadCap Flare starts at On request.
What is Lucidchart best used for?
Lucidchart is most often used for process documentation, system architecture, workflow design, brainstorming. Of those, process documentation and system architecture are not what MadCap Flare is typically brought in for.
What can Lucidchart do that MadCap Flare cannot?
Lucidchart covers Flowcharts & diagrams, Process mapping, Mind maps, Wireframes & mockups. MadCap Flare covers Single-source publishing, Conditional text and variables, Flare Online cloud authoring, Topic-based structure.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lucidchart: What pricing plans does Lucidchart offer?

Lucidchart has a free plan (3 documents, 60 shapes), Individual plan ($7.95/month), Team plan ($9/editor/month), and Enterprise with custom pricing.

Source
MadCap Flare: Is there still a perpetual licence option?

No, MadCap Flare is sold on an annual subscription basis; the previous perpetual licence model is not offered on current pricing.

Lucidchart: Can I use Lucidchart offline?

Lucidchart is a cloud-based platform, but offers an offline desktop option for users who need to work without internet access.

Source
MadCap Flare: What is the entry price?

Flare Desktop is $3,150 per author per year; Flare Online plans are quote-only.

Lucidchart: What compliance certifications does Lucidchart have?

Lucidchart provides SOC 2 Type II, FedRAMP, HIPAA BAA, and GDPR compliance, making it suitable for regulated industries.

Source
MadCap Flare: Is there a minimum commitment?

Flare Online requires a 12-month commitment; Flare Desktop is billed annually.

Lucidchart: Does Lucidchart have AI diagram generation?

Yes, Lucidchart uses AI to auto-generate flowcharts, UML diagrams, ER diagrams, and org charts from text prompts, Excel data, CSV files, code snippets, or database schemas.

Source
Lucidchart: What integrations does Lucidchart support?

Lucidchart integrates with Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, Confluence, Google Workspace, and Salesforce for seamless workflow integration.

Source
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