Microsoft Visio
8.2#7 in diagramming toolsFrom $5 a monthFree planWebmacOSWindows
VisitMicrosoft Visio vs Sparx Enterprise Architect
Sparx Enterprise Architect
7.9#1 in uml modeling software$245 one-timeFree planWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Microsoft Visio | Sparx Enterprise Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Collaboration | Visio supports real-time collaboration, commenting, and sharing through its web app and Microsoft Teams app. | Built-in version control and deployable cloud-based servers support collaboration by globally distributed teams on shared projects. |
| Diagram types | Visio supports diagrams including flowcharts, network diagrams, mind maps, organization charts, UML diagrams, floor plans, and engineering diagrams, with availability varying by plan. | UML Use Case,Activity,State,Interaction Overview,Sequence,Communication,Package,Class,Object,Composite,Component,Deployment; BPMN; SysML |
| Founded | 1975 | 1996 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | Redmond, Washington, USA | Creswick, Victoria, Australia |
| Integrations | The product page lists integrations with Teams, Power BI, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneDrive for Business, and Azure. | External-data integration covers Jira, Confluence, Polarion, Azure DevOps/TFS, Wrike, ServiceNow, Autodesk, Bugzilla, Salesforce, SharePoint and Dropbox. |
| Platforms | Visio for the web runs in a browser on Windows or macOS, while the full-featured desktop app is Windows-based and included with Plan 2. | The native application supports Windows; Sparx lists Linux through Wine and macOS through Wine or CrossOver, with compatibility depending on the runtime. |
| Purpose | Visio helps users draw diagrams that communicate complex information at a glance. | Enterprise Architect is a multi-user visual modeling tool for business and IT systems, software and systems engineering, and real-time and embedded development. |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes |
Microsoft Visio plans
- Visio in Microsoft 365Free
- Visio Plan 1$5 a month
- Visio Plan 2$15 a month
Sparx Enterprise Architect plans
- Lite EditionFree
- Enterprise Architect LiteFree
- Professional Standard$245, paid once
- Professional — Standard License$245, paid once
- Corporate — Standard License$320, paid once
- Corporate Standard$320, paid once
Pick Microsoft Visio if…
Visio suits people who need to create business or technical diagrams, individually or with collaborators. It may also suit teams that want diagram shapes linked to data sources such as Excel or SQL Server.
Pick Sparx Enterprise Architect if…
It suits analysts, designers, architects, developers, testers, project managers, and maintenance staff working on shared models. Teams needing requirements traceability, model simulation, or code engineering may find its toolset relevant.