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Technology · head to head

Lucidchart vs Whimsical

Lucidchart logo

Lucidchart

Technology

Intelligent diagramming for every team

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Whimsical logo

Whimsical

Technology

Where great ideas take shape

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lucidchart and Whimsical actually diverge.

Attributes where Lucidchart and Whimsical differ
AttributeLucidchartWhimsical
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, macOS, WindowsWeb
Founded20102017

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$9/editor/month
    • Real-time collaboration
    • Team management
    • All integrations
  • Enterprise$undefined/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.
Lucidchart review

Choose Whimsical if

  • You need flowcharts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want wireframes.
Whimsical review

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.

Source
Whimsical: What are Whimsical's pricing tiers?

Whimsical offers three plans: Free at 0 dollars per month per editor, Pro at 10 dollars per month per editor, and Business at 20 dollars per month per editor.

Source
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
Whimsical: What is included in the Free plan?

The Free plan allows creation of up to 50 board objects and 50 doc blocks per month, includes watermarked exports, and provides 7-day version history. Storage is limited to 1GB.

Source
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
Whimsical: What features unlock in the Pro plan?

The Pro plan removes the object creation limits, provides unlimited board objects and doc blocks, removes watermarks from exports, extends version history to 90 days, and offers 100GB of storage.

Source
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
Whimsical: What security and team features come with Business?

The Business plan adds private teams, SAML single sign-on, SCIM and advanced security controls, unlimited version history, priority support, and a dedicated success manager. Storage starts at 2TB.

Source
Lucidchart: What integrations does Lucidchart support?

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

Source
Whimsical: Do discounts apply for annual billing?

Yes, annual billing offers a 17 percent discount compared to monthly rates. Additionally, nonprofits receive a 20 percent discount and students and teachers get full access.

Source
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