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Technology · head to head

Lucidchart vs Steampipe

Lucidchart logo

Lucidchart

Technology

Intelligent diagramming for every team

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Steampipe logo

Steampipe

Developer Tools

Query cloud APIs, SaaS tools and code with SQL, with no extract or load step

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lucidchart interface can overwhelm new users due to extensive features and customization options; Steampipe aGPL-3.0 across all four engines is a procurement blocker at organisations that ban the licence outright, and the network clause reaches any internal portal or service that puts a web interface in front of it.
  • They diverge on capability: Lucidchart covers Flowcharts & diagrams, Steampipe covers SQL over live APIs.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lucidchart and Steampipe actually diverge.

Attributes where Lucidchart and Steampipe differ
AttributeLucidchartSteampipe
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, with paid hosting through Turbot Pipes
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, macOS, WindowsmacOS, Linux, Windows, Docker, Web
CategoryTechnologyDeveloper Tools
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Steampipe

  • SQL over live APIs
  • Wide plugin set
  • Embedded Postgres
  • Compliance benchmarks
  • Joins across providers
  • Hosted option

What people use each for

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

Lucidchart

  • Process documentationnot Steampipe
  • System architecturenot Steampipe
  • Workflow designnot Steampipe
  • Brainstormingnot Steampipe
  • Technical documentationnot Steampipe

Steampipe

  • Security teams answering posture questions against live cloud accounts rather than a nightly exportnot Lucidchart
  • Compliance evidence gathering where the answer must reflect the account at the moment it is askednot Lucidchart
  • Inventory and drift questions spanning several cloud providers in one querynot Lucidchart
  • Engineers who would rather write SQL than learn each provider command line toolnot 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

Steampipe

  • AGPL-3.0 across all four engines is a procurement blocker at organisations that ban the licence outright, and the network clause reaches any internal portal or service that puts a web interface in front of it.
  • Dashboards, benchmarks and mods were removed from Steampipe entirely at version 1.0 in October 2024 and now live in a separate product, so pre-2024 documentation and tutorials describe commands that no longer exist.
  • Live querying is bound by cloud provider API rate limits and keeps no persistent store by default, which is why a separate DuckDB-backed product exists for log volumes and why large accounts return slowly.
  • The company is fifteen people and bootstrapped, maintaining four command line tools plus a hosted service plus two further products, and the newer tools have thin community traction relative to that surface area.
  • Hosted tiers include only three users regardless of tier, with additional Enterprise users charged separately, so a team of thirty costs an order of magnitude more than the headline figure before compute and storage are counted.

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

Steampipe

Free
  • Steampipe CLIFree
    • AGPL-3.0
    • All plugins
    • No user or query limits
  • Pipes DeveloperFree
    • One user
    • 400 compute minutes
    • 3GB storage
  • Pipes Team$49/month
    • Three users
    • 2,000 compute minutes
    • 20GB storage
  • Pipes Enterprise$249/month
    • Three users
    • 10,000 compute minutes
    • 100GB storage

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 Steampipe if

  • You need sql over live apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Linux, Windows, Docker, Web.
  • You also want wide plugin set.
Steampipe review

Questions people ask

Is Lucidchart or Steampipe better?
Neither clearly leads. Lucidchart starts at Free and Steampipe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lucidchart or Steampipe?
Lucidchart starts at Free and Steampipe at Free.
Does Lucidchart or Steampipe run on more platforms?
Lucidchart runs on Web, Desktop, macOS, Windows. Steampipe runs on macOS, Linux, Windows, Docker, Web.
Can I use Lucidchart for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Steampipe is typically brought in for.
What can Lucidchart do that Steampipe cannot?
Lucidchart covers Flowcharts & diagrams, Process mapping, Mind maps, Wireframes & mockups. Steampipe covers SQL over live APIs, Wide plugin set, Embedded Postgres, Compliance benchmarks.

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
Steampipe: When did Steampipe become AGPL?

May 2021, about four months after the project went public. It is a settled licence rather than a recent change, and predates the Business Source Licence wave it is often confused with.

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
Steampipe: Where did the dashboards and benchmarks go?

Into Powerpipe. They were deprecated in March 2024 and removed from Steampipe at version 1.0 in October 2024, so the check, dashboard, mod and variable commands are gone.

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
Steampipe: Is it fast on a large cloud estate?

Not always. Queries call provider APIs at request time, so rate limits rather than query planning set the pace, and there is no persistent store by default.

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
Steampipe: Does the AGPL affect internal use?

Running it internally for your own analysis is fine. Putting a web interface in front of it that other people use is where the network clause becomes a question for your legal team.

Lucidchart: What integrations does Lucidchart support?

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

Source
Steampipe: Is a bootstrapped vendor a risk?

It cuts both ways. There is no investor pressure toward a licence change or an exit, and there are also fifteen people supporting a large product surface.

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