Creately

Diagrams that stay tied to real data

Creately describes itself as a diagramming application that runs in the browser and a visual workspace for teams. The tool is used for flowcharts, org charts, mind maps, concept maps and entity relationship diagrams, and the company says a user can start producing professional-looking diagrams within minutes. Built-in commenting and live collaboration let colleagues or clients work on the same canvas, which the company presents as a way to avoid passing files back and forth.

Templates for each kind of diagram

The template library is broad. It includes BPMN process models, UML designs, sequence diagrams, web mockups, SWOT analysis, AWS architecture layouts and org charts. Students and educators use the tool in lessons, and businesses use it to document processes and map value chains and systems. The site also lists templates for marketing campaign planning, brainstorming, workshops and meetings.

Workflows and databases without code

Beyond drawing, Creately links items on the canvas to data. The same item can appear in several contexts, so one entry can be seen as a diagram, a plan or a list, and a change made in one view shows in the others. The company says users can set up task roles, goal alignment, formulas and access rules without writing code, and that clients can be given tailored views containing only the items relevant to them. Dynamic search results can gather a subset of items automatically.

Integration, security and support

The platform connects to other applications. According to the company, data from another tool can be brought into Creately with two-way synchronisation, with extra fields added to it. A wiki feature keeps daily tasks, reference material and organisational knowledge on the canvas, so that information is easier to find. For larger organisations the company cites ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, data residency options and uptime service levels. It offers live chat support inside the app, and says teams can work in real time or asynchronously, from an office, at home or in a hybrid arrangement. It describes its audience as more than eight million people and thousands of teams.