Visio Reviews

Name: Visio
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 3.9 (106 reviews)

Vendor: Microsoft

3.9 out of 5

106 reviews
80% willing to recommend

3,226 followers

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What is Visio?

Visio is an innovative collaborative solution that enables users to quickly visualize data-connected business process flows with a host of integrated intuitive features that bring the power of Microsoft 365 to Visio. Visio allows users to easily create professional diagrams, graphs, and other visual data, easily anywhere, anytime, and with anyone. Users are able to confidently and easily transform data into creative powerful visuals. Visio provides dozens of easy-to-use templates along with thousands of customizable colorful shapes that bring a user's best ideas to life. Visio is available for all Microsoft 365 commercial users and is available on desktop and Web applications.

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Visio is the #1 ranked solution in top Mind Mapping Software and #2 ranked solution in Business Process Design tools. PeerSpot users give Visio an average rating of 7.8 out of 10. Visio is most commonly compared to Camunda: Visio vs Camunda. Visio is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 72% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 16% of all views.

Helped 839,422 peers since 2012

Featured Visio reviews

Tugrul TASCI

IT Professor at Sakarya University

I am generally using Visio to create some diagrams Visio should implement more complex tools or graphics to facilitate processing and use flexible templates. It should allow users to easily drag and drop some previously created diagrams. The tools supplied or provided are very basic, and there…

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Enas Selim

Product Manager at Diyar United Company

The ease of use for review purposes is notable. Even individuals lacking technological expertise can navigate it effortlessly. In my assessment, I would rate it a nine, considering that some users may require familiarity with business model notations, which is distinct from the tool itself. This is analogous to the need for background knowledge when using applications like Excel, where understanding equations and formulas is prerequisite. It takes no more than one hour for the complete deployment of all packages. Whether it involves Three hundred sixty-five, Outlook, or any other component, the download and installation process concludes within the span of one hour.

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Greg Swain

Director of Solution Architecture at Winslow Technology Group

It had the same struggles the entire time it has been around. It is a good tool, but it got a little bit of a learning curve. Sometimes, you got to figure out how to make the line snap correctly so it is not really confusing, but it is a valuable tool. People want to use it. I would rate it an eight out of ten. It is a really good application for what it does. I'm sure there are one or two other solutions out there that are pretty good, but I don't have a lot of exposure to them.

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Visio mindshare

Product category:

As of March 2025, the mindshare of Visio in the Business Process Design category stands at 12.4%, down from 13.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Process Design

PeerAnalyst reports based on Visio reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Business Process Design	Mar 4, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Mar 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Visio vs Camunda	Mar 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Visio vs ARIS BPA	Mar 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Visio vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect	Mar 4, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Camunda	4.1	12.4%	89%	77 interviews Add to research
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect	3.9	11.2%	87%	99 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Visio's most valued features include seamless integration with Microsoft Office products and customizable templates. The user-friendly interface supports various diagrams like flowcharts and network layouts. It offers BPMN 2.0 validation and a large library of shapes, enhancing efficiency in business process modeling. Automation features simplify complex tasks, making them easy to implement. Extensive online support and the capability to import data from Excel enable users to create detailed visualizations easily.

"I recommend Visio to others based on my experience."
"Overall, Visio is stable for my needs."
"On the scalability front, the aspect of increasing the number of endpoints is relatively easy to handle."

Room for Improvement

Visio could enhance its capabilities in template creation, process conversion, and role definition. Support for XPDL files, better pen input on Surface devices, and an intuitive layering feature are sought after. Seamless tool transitions, improved integration with Office, enhanced inking capabilities, and web publishing are highly desired. Diagram linking, database modeling, and advanced automation need refinement while price adjustments would be advantageous. Users suggest additional features like traceability, real-time collaboration, and integration with platforms like Microsoft Teams.

"The visual icons and shapes for different vendors like Cisco network could be improved. Often, I have to contact vendors to get specific icons to use in Visio diagrams, which makes the process cumbersome."
"Visio should implement more complex tools or graphics to facilitate processing and use flexible templates. The tools supplied or provided are very basic, and there are not enough tools for design."
"Visio should implement more complex tools or graphics to facilitate processing and use flexible templates."

ROI

Users experience time savings with Visio, leading to consistent documentation and improved technical communication. Many save hours of manual effort per graphic and enjoy better deliverables, reducing project timelines by 35%. An eight to ten percent time saving is noted in document quality. Although exact financial metrics are often unavailable, users report a perception of value over options like PowerPoint. Some companies note returns after years of use, highlighting the tool's longevity.

Pricing

Visio pricing varies based on user needs and licensing models. Standard and Professional versions are available, with Professional nearly double in price due to additional features. Microsoft 365 users can access Visio, often bundled with other services. For organizations, costs can be higher with enterprise licenses or subscriptions, yet some find it reasonably priced. Discounts may be available through educational institutions or as part of a Microsoft bundle, making Visio a strategic investment.

"The product is expensive, but it is cheaper if you buy it as a part of a bundle or an enterprise-level agreement."
"The pricing is reasonable and I would rate it 6 out of 10."
"If I want to buy Visio for myself, I think it will be around 80 to 120 USD, though it is important to consider that I am unsure of its actual costs."

Popular Use Cases

Visio is widely used for designing architectural diagrams, process flows, and business process mapping. Organizations utilize it for UML, ERD, network, and architecture diagrams. As a business tool, it aids in documenting enterprise architecture, performing process modeling, and re-engineering processes. Many users appreciate its capabilities in creating proposals, mind maps, and visualizations. Teams across various industries, including IT, business consulting, and engineering, rely on Visio to streamline projects and enhance communication through visual representations.

Service and Support

Many users have not accessed Visio's customer service, relying on internal IT, documentation, or online resources. Those who contacted support experienced varying levels of effectiveness. Microsoft is praised for professional past service, but some find direct access challenging. Documentation and community support are frequently used for troubleshooting. Subscription-based support is available, and premier support options are appreciated for fast responses. Local reseller support and internal solutions are often utilized for additional assistance.

Deployment

Visio's initial setup is frequently described as straightforward and simple, similar to other Microsoft products. Many users handle installation with ease, mentioning it as a quick process. Some express that while basic tasks are easy, certain advanced features require training. Installation typically involves downloading from the vendor's website, with IT departments often overseeing deployments in business environments. For most users, experience and familiarity with Microsoft tools enhance the setup experience, though occasional challenges may occur.

Scalability

Visio has noticeable scalability potential, being highly adaptable across various company sizes and industries. However, some encounter limitations with version compatibility, desktop nature, and the need for additional features or tools for optimal scalability. Users highlight the ease of expansion but note that full integration and teamwork capabilities are more limited compared to other robust tools. User comfort with Visio varies; some find it complicated, hindering broader adoption.

Stability

Visio is widely regarded as stable, with many users reporting no significant crashes or bugs. Some feedback mentions issues with multiple diagrams open or handling complex tasks, but overall, stability is appreciated. Occasional glitches are noted, often tied to external factors like system configuration. Updates over time have enhanced robustness, and users rate its performance positively despite some slow loading times. Stability ratings typically score 8 or 9 out of 10.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Visio Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Government

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

University

Educational Organization

Insurance Company

Healthcare Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Retailer

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Transportation Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Non Profit

Wholesaler/Distributor

Legal Firm

Logistics Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Hospitality Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Wellness & Fitness Company

Compare Visio with alternative products

Learn more about Visio

Visio Features

Visio can easily create visual data for today’s business needs. Some of its most useful visual data include:

Flowcharts: Users can easily bring business concepts to fruition with Visio’s robust flowchart features. Visio provides a huge library of shapes, stencils, and templates to transform numbers and data into impactful, easy-to-understand business stories.
Organizational charts: Visio makes it easy to design articulate org charts to better visualize team, reporting, and hierarchy structures. Users are then able to seamlessly share the charts with stakeholders, teams, and employees.
Network diagrams: Users are able to creatively display how a system design processes function and visually illustrate how devices and networks interact with each other using a variety of network shapes, templates, and connector tools.
Brainstorming: Visio makes brainstorming simple and actionable with a wide range of templates designed specifically for interpreting problems and mapping out solutions, including fishbone and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) diagrams.
Floor plans: Users can design ergonomic workspaces, retail store layouts, new homes, and more with accurate, scalable templates and tools to help them better visualize function, flow, and overall aesthetic appeal.
Accessible: Visio is able to integrate with a wide variety of accessibility tools, such as Narrator, Accessibility Checker, and high-contrast support, to ensure Visio diagrams are available to your entire team.

Reviews from Real Users

“Visio has improved my workflow by making it easy to create charts, diagrams, and essential illustrations to use in my client reports and proposals. It has saved me a lot of time I would otherwise spend creating visuals for clients manually.” - Michael B., Principal Consultant at Lexington Consulting

“I use it for diagramming networks, racks, data centers, data flow applications, etc. It is a useful tool to map data flows, network objects, and computer science technology and to show to clients. It does what I need it to do. It's a tool I've used the longest, so I know it the best, and that's probably the claim to fame.” - Greg S., Director of Solution Architecture at Winslow Technology Group

“We use Visio for architecture modeling. We also use it to facilitate communication with other people. The feature I like most about Visio is that it acts as a facilitator of communication, as it displays information in a way that's easier to understand.” - Guy M., IT/Business Architect at a financial services firm

Visio was previously known as Microsoft Visio.

Visio customers

Thomas College, Hamburg Port Authority, Portigon AG, Conseil G_n_ral du d_partement des Hautes-Alpes, AAA Auto a. s., Commonwealth Financial Network, ICA, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company