Technology · head to head
Lucidchart vs Whimsical
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Lucidchart interface can overwhelm new users due to extensive features and customization options; Whimsical the free plan is capped at 3 team boards, 3 teams and 10 guest seats
- They diverge on capability: Lucidchart covers Flowcharts & diagrams, Whimsical covers Flowcharts.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lucidchart and Whimsical actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lucidchart | Whimsical |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, macOS, Windows | Web |
| Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
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
- Wireframes & mockups
- Network diagrams
- Data visualization
- Presentation mode
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Office
Only in Whimsical
- Flowcharts
- Wireframes
- Sticky notes
- Docs
- Templates
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Notion
- Figma
Both cover
- Mind maps
- Real-time collaboration
- Slack
- Confluence
- Jira
- GitHub
- SOC2
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Lucidchart
- Process documentation
- System architecturenot Whimsical
- Workflow designnot Whimsical
- Brainstorming
- Technical documentationnot Whimsical
Whimsical
- Product planningnot Lucidchart
- UI/UX designnot Lucidchart
- Brainstorming
- Process documentation
- Project visualizationnot Lucidchart
Both are used for process documentation, brainstorming, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
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
Whimsical
- The free plan is capped at 3 team boards, 3 teams and 10 guest seats
- File uploads are limited to 5MB per file and 1GB in total on the free plan
- Version history on the free plan goes back 7 days
- Voting, the timer, private teams, the GitHub integration, password-protected files and watermark removal all need Pro at $10 per editor per month
- SSO and SAML are Business tier only at $20 per editor per month
Pricing, plan by plan
Lucidchart
Free- FreeFree
- 3 documents
- 60 shapes
- Basic templates
- Individual$7.95/month
- Unlimited documents
- Advanced templates
- Cloud storage
- Team$9/editor/month
- Real-time collaboration
- Team management
- All integrations
- Enterprise$null/custom
- Advanced security
- SSO
- Dedicated support
Whimsical
Free- StarterFree
- Up to 4 boards
- Unlimited viewers
- 7-day version history
- Pro$10/month
- Unlimited boards
- Unlimited version history
- Advanced permissions
- Org$20/month
- Everything in Pro
- SSO
- User management
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.
Choose Whimsical if
- You need flowcharts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want wireframes.
Questions people ask
- Is Lucidchart or Whimsical better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lucidchart starts at Free and Whimsical at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lucidchart or Whimsical?
- Lucidchart starts at Free and Whimsical at Free.
- Does Lucidchart or Whimsical run on more platforms?
- Lucidchart runs on Web, Desktop, macOS, Windows. Whimsical runs on 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, system architecture and workflow design are not what Whimsical is typically brought in for.
- What can Lucidchart do that Whimsical cannot?
- Lucidchart covers Flowcharts & diagrams, Process mapping, Wireframes & mockups, Network diagrams. Whimsical covers Flowcharts, Wireframes, Sticky notes, Docs. Both handle Mind maps, Real-time collaboration, Slack, Confluence.
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.
SourceLucidchart: 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.
SourceLucidchart: What compliance certifications does Lucidchart have?
Lucidchart provides SOC 2 Type II, FedRAMP, HIPAA BAA, and GDPR compliance, making it suitable for regulated industries.
SourceLucidchart: 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.
SourceLucidchart: What integrations does Lucidchart support?
Lucidchart integrates with Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, Confluence, Google Workspace, and Salesforce for seamless workflow integration.
Source