Cacoo vs draw.io
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Cacoo, made by Nulab, is an online diagramming tool for creating flowcharts, wireframes, network diagrams, and org charts with real-time collaboration built in. Multiple people can edit the same diagram simultaneously, with in-app video chat and commenting so teams can talk through a diagram without leaving the canvas. It integrates with tools teams already use, including Slack, Google Drive, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, and Adobe Creative Cloud, and offers enterprise options like SAML authentication and private server hosting. Cacoo reports over 4 million users worldwide, spanning project managers, software architects, and small business teams who need shared visual diagrams rather than static files.
draw.io (also known as diagrams.net) is a free diagramming application used for flowcharts, network diagrams, wireframes, and technical documentation, with a strong emphasis on privacy and self-managed data storage. It is available as a browser app at app.diagrams.net and as a desktop application, and it deliberately maintains long-term backward compatibility with older diagram files.
- Free plan supports unlimited users, useful for small collaborative teams
- Real-time editing and in-app video chat streamline remote diagram discussions
- Wide range of third-party integrations (Slack, Confluence, Teams)
- Backed by Nulab, an established company also behind Backlog and Typetalk
- Free with no mandatory account creation or paywall
- Strong data-privacy stance with self-hosted or local storage options
- Old diagram files remain compatible with the current app
- Deep integrations with common workplace tools like Confluence and Jira
- Free plan is capped at just 6 sheets total
- Revision history and premium templates require a paid plan
- Enterprise security features require contacting sales for pricing
- Interface is more utilitarian than some modern whiteboard-style competitors
- Advanced enterprise security features are less prominent than dedicated paid diagramming suites
- Less built-in template variety than some commercial diagramming tools
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing datadraw.io offers a completely free, open‑source diagramming tool with strong data‑privacy options, while Cacoo provides a freemium model with richer real‑time collaboration features but limits on the free tier.
Key differences
- •Free vs. freemium pricing model (draw.io always free, Cacoo free tier limited to 6 sheets)
- •Open‑source vs. closed source (draw.io open source, Cacoo not)
- •Collaboration depth (Cacoo includes in‑app video chat and commenting; draw.io only real‑time editing)
- •Enterprise security features (Cacoo offers SAML SSO, SCIM, password‑protected diagrams; draw.io’s security is more basic)
- •Template and shape library breadth (Cacoo lists extensive templates and shape libraries; draw.io notes fewer built‑in templates)
Pricing & value
draw.io is completely free with no mandatory account; Cacoo’s free plan caps at 6 sheets, requiring paid upgrade for more.
Ease of use / learning curve
Cacoo’s modern UI with video chat and commenting may be easier for teams new to collaborative diagramming.
Features & depth
Cacoo provides in‑app video chat, revision history (paid), and password‑protected diagrams; draw.io lacks these advanced features.
Integrations & ecosystem
Both integrate with Confluence and major cloud suites; draw.io adds GitHub/VS Code, Cacoo adds Slack, Teams, AWS, Adobe.
Collaboration
Cacoo includes real‑time editing plus video chat and commenting; draw.io offers only real‑time editing.
Scalability
draw.io’s open‑source, self‑hosted option lets organizations scale without licensing limits.
Security & privacy
draw.io allows local/self‑hosted storage and has a strong privacy stance; Cacoo’s enterprise security requires paid plans.
Choose Cacoo if…
Groups that value built‑in video chat, richer templates, and enterprise security and can afford paid plans if needed.
Choose draw.io if…
Teams needing unlimited free diagrams, self‑hosted storage, or open‑source compliance.
Common questions
Can I use draw.io without creating an account?
Yes, draw.io offers free diagramming in the browser with no mandatory sign‑up.
What limits does Cacoo’s free tier have?
The free plan allows unlimited users but only up to 6 sheets total; additional sheets require a paid plan.
Does either tool support self‑hosted deployment?
draw.io is open source and can be self‑hosted; Cacoo is a cloud SaaS only.