SmartDraw makes working with flowcharts so simple, you can document complex processes in just minutes. Start with a flowchart template, add steps in just a few clicks, and connect and rearrange shapes effortlessly. Even swimlanes are just one click away.
Enhance your flowcharts with real data from Google Sheets or a CSV to help clarify responsibilities and costs.
SmartDraw works with the tools you already use. You can add flowcharts to:
Unlike other apps, SmartDraw doesn't force you to save files to its own cloud unless that's what you choose. You can keep full control of your data by saving files directly to your existing provider:
Have a question? Chat or email us. SmartDraw support is in-house and free!
SmartDraw makes it easy to work with your team to document processes. You can plan, design, and discuss processes in real-time. Document workflows and share comments and feedback.
Share your diagram with anyone, even if they don't own a copy of SmartDraw, with a link. You can also easily export any diagram as a PDF or common image formats like PNG or SVG.
Choose a flowchart template below to open SmartDraw in your browser to start making a flowchart right now.
It may seem obvious, but deciding what process you're visualizing is a crucial first step. If you make your subject matter something too broad, your flowchart will become too complicated and difficult to understand. You should start by defining a clear start and end point.
It's important to create a box around a key process that you want to examine so you can gather the critical steps in a timely fashion. For example, a flowchart for making a burger could begin by farmers raising cows, wheat and tomatoes, or you could assume that's not important to what you want to illustrate and focus on the parts relevant to the reason you're making a flowchart.
SmartDraw includes flowchart templates to put all the relevant flowchart symbols and tools at your fingertips. These templates make it easy to add symbols and shapes, add swimlanes, split or join paths, and more.
Need more inspiration? There are dozens of flowchart examples you can customize. You can make yes/no flowcharts, process models, decision flows and more.
Most flowcharts are read left to right or top to bottom, so add your first step in the top left corner of your workspace and add other key steps in order to map out your process in broad strokes.
Fill in key details and connect them to your main steps. You can drag and drop flowchart symbols, use easy line draw, or use SmartDraw's intelligent formatting to add the right shapes in just a click.
For example, SmartDraw helps you automatically format any flowchart symbol into a decision if more than one step is connected to it.
Read our full tutorial on how to make a flowchart.
Make sure you didn't miss anything by reading through every step at least once.
Apply a theme with a coordinating color scheme so your work looks professional and fits your vision. Consider using color to designate specific steps in the process to make your flowchart easier to read.
Share your flowchart with your team and work together to optimize your process. SmartDraw's collaboration features make it easy to share and add feedback and comments.
Once your flowchart is built you can insert it directly to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, PowerPoint®, Google Docs™, Google Sheets™, and more.
SmartDraw also has apps to integrate with Atlassian's Confluence and Jira. You can easily make a flowchart and share it in your Confluence documentation or attach a process flow to a Jira issue.
SmartDraw's flowchart software is the easiest way to make any type of flowchart or diagram representing a process. You start by picking one of the flow chart templates included and add steps in just a few clicks. Our flowchart maker aligns everything automatically so you don't have to worry about formatting, rearranging, or reconnecting steps.
A flowchart uses shapes connected by lines to show the steps in a process. By visualizing the process, a flowchart can quickly help identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies where the process can be streamlined or improved.
A flowchart template in SmartDraw helps you make flowcharts by docking the right flowchart symbol library and flowchart tools at your fingertips. When you start with a template, you'll be able to add a process step in just a click or create a decision point just as easily.
Types of flowcharts you can make with SmartDraw's flowchart maker:
A flowchart is a visual representation of the sequence of steps and decisions needed to perform a process. Learn more about flowcharts.
Flowcharts consist of a few common geometric shapes representing different steps in a process like start, ends, and decisions. The most common shape is a rectangle used to show a single action or operation. Learn more about flowchart symbols.
Flowchart types include swimlane flowcharts, workflows, data flow diagrams, SDL diagrams, EPC diagrams, and more. See all flowchart types.
A good flowchart should communicate a process clearly and effectively. You can make a flowchart in a few simple steps. Learn how to make a flowchart.
AI tools and LLMs like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude are great for generating high level conceptual workflows in the early stages of documenting a process. However, the images they produce are not editable and customizable for your organization. We recommend using LLMs alongside a tool like SmartDraw's flowchart maker. This gives you the best of both worlds. You can use a text prompt as your starting point and then customize your flowchart to fit your real workflow.
Make flow charts using SmartDraw's templates and insert them into Word® and other Microsoft Office® apps. Learn how to add flowcharts to Word®.
Flowcharts use special shapes to represent different types of actions or steps in a process. The pill shaped symbol is often used to represent the start of your flowchart. The rectangle shape represents a step in the process. A diamond is usually used to represent a decision with two possible outcomes. Some of the other common symbols and their meanings are listed below:
Common Flowchart Symbols
You can learn more about flowchart symbols on this page.
Discover why SmartDraw is the best free flowchart maker today.