ProcessOn Review - A Web App for Creating Diagrams - Free Alternative to Microsoft Visio

Business professionals, students, researchers, and organizers frequently use visual aids like diagrams and flow charts to improve communication and collaboration in team operations. Right now the leading professional diagramming software is Microsoft Visio, which costs $299.

However, Chinese software development company "Beijing YanhuangYingdong Technology Development Co.” launched an innovative free web app/service called ProcessOn last year, introducing a completely cost-free alternative to Microsoft Visio for businesses and individuals to take advantage of.

ProcessOn provides an online interface in which to create, edit, and share detailed diagrams that significantly improve workflow and productivity. This app/service is literally the only of its kind - providing a free yet robust online diagram designer that supports real-time sharing and collaboration within a social network-like environment.

Various types of graphical representations can be created, shared, and group edited within ProcessOn, including but not limited to flowcharts, mockups, Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams, and Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) charts.

With a ProcessOn account you'll be able to do almost everything you would do in Microsoft Visio, and registering is fast and easy. In fact, you can even sign up using your Google, Yahoo, or LinkedIn credentials.

Once logged in you'll have access to an intelligent diagram designing app, complete with hundreds of high-quality shapes and dozens of productive tools. The service is available on the web at ProcessOn.com or via the ProcessOn extension for Chrome.

To give you an idea of what the app is capable of, check out this map of "The Forbidden City" that the developers created to illustrate the power of the site's powerful diagram creator:

ProcessOn leaves little to be desired in its design and annotation capabilities - this is a tool that can benefit everyone who uses it, from professional architects to student event organizers to busy project managers.

Signing up for ProcessOn is fast and simple - you can sign in using your Google account to save time. Once logged in you'll be greeted with this convenient dashboard:

Clicking the "Explore" tab brings you to a wall of the latest and greatest diagrams created in ProcessOn:

To begin creating your own diagram, simply click the "New Diagram" button in the top right corner:

ProcessOn has an extremely robust diagram creator that can be used to create virtually any type of graphical representation in various formats and templates:

The extensive library of preloaded templates provides ideal design foundations for users of all skill levels. For example, take a look at this basic sample flowchart to get an idea of what the editor looks like:

As you can see, all of your fundamental modeling and annotation features are available in a neatly organized icon-based UI.

The site itself is like a combination of a social network and a diagram creator web app. Integrated collaboration features make it easy to find and share diagrams. You can also use the site to network with other diagram creators and specialists in your field.

The Main Advantages of ProcessOn

Here are some of the perks that you get when using ProcessOn:

• Instant access to the largest online diagram library - even if you don't intend to create your own diagrams from scratch, ProcessOn will equip you with thousands of premade diagrams that you can easily fill in with your own information. The library is constantly expanding because it is contributed by the ever-growing ProcessOn user base.
• Unlimited storage space - you can create and store as many diagrams as you'd like in your ProcessOn account. There is no limit to how large or extensive your diagrams can be.
• Unlimited team members - add as many team members as you'd like to your team.
• Completely free - no need to upgrade to a pro version or pay for a monthly subscription; ProcessOn is a fully free service
• Network with the best - gain access to a social network of innovative diagram creators and project managers in all types of industries. You can also invite other members to join you in creating a particular diagram.

Conclusion

With all of the aforementioned advantages, it would be silly to not to at least visit the site. You can skip the whole sign up process by logging in with your Google account. Anyone who needs to make or discover diagrams of any kind should certainly give this free service a try.