Gliffy vs SmartDraw
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Gliffy, owned by Perforce, is a diagramming tool built to work natively inside Confluence and Jira, letting teams create flowcharts, UML diagrams, BPMN process maps, and network diagrams without leaving their existing Atlassian workflow. It supports drag-and-drop editing, freehand drawing, and full-text search of diagram content within Confluence. Gliffy also offers a standalone Gliffy Online product and a Gliffy Zero Egress option built for regulated industries that require diagram data to stay within their own Atlassian environment for compliance reasons such as ITAR, GDPR, and HIPAA. The product holds SOC 2 Type II compliance and ISO 42001 certification.
SmartDraw is a diagramming platform that lets users create flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, network diagrams, mind maps, and technical engineering drawings without CAD expertise, using automatic formatting and drag-and-drop symbol libraries. It ships with over 4,500 professionally designed templates covering more than 70 diagram types, each paired with an industry-relevant symbol library, from commercial floor plans to fire pre-plans and accident reconstructions. SmartDraw integrates with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace for one-click export and sharing, and supports both cloud and desktop access with enterprise features like SSO provisioning and dedicated support. It is used by a large share of Fortune 500 companies and is positioned as a more template-rich, automation-focused alternative to blank-canvas diagramming tools like Visio or draw.io.
- Deep native integration with Confluence and Jira workflows
- Free tier covers small teams of up to 10 users
- Compliance-focused Zero Egress option for regulated industries
- Supports importing existing Visio and draw.io diagrams
- Massive template library reduces time spent building diagrams from scratch
- Automatic formatting keeps diagrams visually consistent with minimal effort
- Strong Microsoft and Google Workspace integration for easy sharing
- Used by a large majority of Fortune 500 companies
- Primarily useful for teams already invested in the Atlassian ecosystem
- All purchases route through the Atlassian Marketplace, adding a dependency
- Standalone diagramming outside Confluence/Jira is less of a focus
- No free-forever tier, only a limited trial
- Per-user pricing can be costly for larger organizations
- Less flexible for fully custom, non-template diagram styles compared to blank-canvas tools
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Gliffy
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Alternatives to SmartDraw
View all →Real-time collaborative diagramming for flowcharts, wireframes, and org charts by the makers of Backlog.
The Omni Group's Mac and iPad tool for professional diagrams, wireframes, and vector design.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataGliffy is the low‑cost, Atlassian‑centric choice with compliance features; SmartDraw is the richer, template‑driven option that costs more and targets broader office suites.
Key differences
- •Gliffy embeds directly in Confluence and Jira; SmartDraw integrates with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
- •Gliffy offers a free tier for up to 10 users; SmartDraw requires a paid subscription.
- •Gliffy provides Zero Egress data handling and SOC 2/ISO 42001 compliance; SmartDraw lists no specific security certifications.
- •SmartDraw supplies >4,500 templates and automatic formatting; Gliffy relies on AI prompts and supports fewer built‑in templates.
- •Gliffy’s collaboration lives inside Atlassian pages; SmartDraw’s cloud/desktop model is more standalone.
Pricing & value
Gliffy has a freemium tier covering small teams; SmartDraw only offers paid subscriptions.
Ease of use / learning curve
SmartDraw’s automatic formatting and massive template library reduce manual effort for new users.
Features & depth
Both provide strong diagram types; Gliffy adds AI generation and compliance, SmartDraw adds extensive templates and data‑linked diagrams.
Integrations & ecosystem
Gliffy excels in Atlassian environments; SmartDraw excels with Microsoft and Google suites. Preference depends on existing stack.
Collaboration
Gliffy embeds diagrams in Confluence/Jira pages with full‑text search, enabling native team collaboration.
Security & privacy
Gliffy offers Zero Egress, SOC 2 Type II and ISO 42001 compliance; SmartDraw provides no listed certifications.
Support
SmartDraw includes dedicated account support for Site plans, whereas Gliffy support is via the Atlassian Marketplace.
Choose Gliffy if…
Atlassian teams needing embedded, compliant diagrams and a free tier.
Choose SmartDraw if…
Enterprises wanting a vast template library and strong Microsoft/Google integration, willing to pay.
Common questions
Can I try SmartDraw before buying?
SmartDraw offers a limited trial but no free‑forever tier.
Does Gliffy work outside Confluence or Jira?
Gliffy can be used standalone, but its primary focus and strongest features are within Confluence/Jira.
Which tool meets strict data‑privacy regulations?
Gliffy provides Zero Egress and SOC 2/ISO 42001 compliance; SmartDraw does not specify comparable certifications.