Balsamiq vs draw.io: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Balsamiq and draw.io side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, draw.io leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Balsamiq
Sketch-style mockups for rapid wireframing
Best for you if:
- • You want fast wireframing
draw.io
Free, open-source diagramming for any use case
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Balsamiq requires payment)
| At a Glance | Balsamiq | draw.io |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $16/editor/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | Free plan, paid from $1.70/user/mo, billed monthly Confluence/Jira Cloud plan |
Category | UI/UX Design Prototyping | Diagramming Productivity |
Rating | 4.3/5 G2 4.2 · Capterra 4.4 879 reviews | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 452 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Enterprise features cost 50% more | Confluence/Jira Cloud pricing is per user, scales with team size. |
Choose Balsamiq or draw.io?
Choose Balsamiq if
- You want fast wireframing
- You want sketch aesthetic
- You work in UI/UX design, not diagramming
Choose draw.io if
- You want a fully free tool (Balsamiq requires payment)
- You want completely free
- You want no account required
- Budget matters ($1.70/user/mo, billed monthly vs $16/editor/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in diagramming, not UI/UX design
In-Depth Analysis
Balsamiq
Sketch-style mockups for rapid wireframing
Balsamiq's pricing is fair, especially given the unlimited users per project.
Watch out
Enterprise features cost 50% more
Strengths
- Pro: Fast wireframing
- Pro: Sketch aesthetic
- Pro: Easy to learn
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited for hi-fi
- Con: Desktop app dated
Key features
draw.io
Free, open-source diagramming for any use case
draw.io offers an incredibly generous free tier, making it an excellent value for individual users and small teams.
Watch out
Confluence/Jira Cloud pricing is per user, scales with team size.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free
- Pro: No account required
- Pro: Works offline
Weaknesses
- Con: Less polished UX
- Con: Limited collaboration
Key features
Plans and prices: Balsamiq vs draw.io
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Balsamiq |
| balsamiq.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| draw.io |
| diagrams.net read Oct 8, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Balsamiq pricing and draw.io pricing.
Key Takeaways
Balsamiq
- Choose if you want sketch-style mockups for rapid wireframing
draw.io
- Lower entry price: $1.70/user/mo, billed monthly vs $16/editor/mo, billed monthly
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, draw.io leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.3/5 from 879 reviews for Balsamiq, 4.4/5 from 452 reviews for draw.io).
- draw.io has the lower entry price: $1.70/user/mo, billed monthly (Confluence/Jira Cloud) against $16/editor/mo, billed monthly (Starter) for Balsamiq.
- Only draw.io has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Balsamiq and draw.io compare in 2026?
On the data below, draw.io leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.3/5 from 879 reviews for Balsamiq, 4.4/5 from 452 reviews for draw.io). draw.io has the lower entry price: $1.70/user/mo, billed monthly (Confluence/Jira Cloud) against $16/editor/mo, billed monthly (Starter) for Balsamiq. Only draw.io has a free plan.
What are Balsamiq and draw.io used for?
Balsamiq: Sketch-style mockups for rapid wireframing. draw.io: Free, open-source diagramming for any use case.
What does Balsamiq cost vs draw.io?
Balsamiq's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $16/editor/mo, billed monthly. draw.io's cheapest paid plan is Confluence/Jira Cloud at $1.70/user/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Balsamiq and draw.io?
Balsamiq's main strength: fast wireframing. draw.io's main strength: completely free.