draw.io vs Gliffy

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.

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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