The following table compares some key features between various versions of Visio.
To see which version you are using, open Visio and go to File > Account or File > Help. For more details, read What version of Office am I using?
See this page to try or buy one of the Visio subscription plans.
Standard versus Professional editions of Visio
The primary difference between the standard and professional editions is the kinds of drawings you can make. Both editions come with templates to help you get started. The professional edition has templates for more kinds of drawings.
The standard editions are designed to work with basic business diagrams, basic flowcharts, organization charts, and multipurpose drawings. Templates are included for these kinds of basic drawings, but not for the more advanced kinds of drawing named in the next paragraph.
The professional editions are designed to create more advanced types of drawings, such as engineering schematics, floor plans, advanced process diagrams, logical network layouts, software mapping, and database modeling. Templates are included for basic drawings and advanced drawings. Tools for collaboration and for linking data to your drawings are also included.
Visio Plan 2 (in the far right column of the table below) is a professional edition of Visio.
Visio Plan 1 is also known as Visio for the web, the browser-based version of Visio.
Feature comparison
Feature is new
Feature is improved
Feature is included
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Create anything visually |
Visio 2010 |
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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Versatile templates and thousands of shapes |
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Smart shapes for maps and floor plans |
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Ability to import DWG and DXF files into Visio |
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Sub-processes to break complex processes into manageable pieces |
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Option to validate diagrams using built-in and extendable business rules |
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Easy shape customization |
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Container to classify shapes |
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Support for various process standards, including Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) 2.0 |
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New electrical solution with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) compliance |
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New UML templates conforming to Unified Modeling Language (UML) 2.5 standard |
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Work with AutoCAD drawings |
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Easy access to third-party templates and sample diagrams |
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Create a database model from an existing database |
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Feature is new
Feature is improved
Feature is included
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Bring diagrams to life with data linking |
Visio 2010 |
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ability to link diagram shapes to data from multiple sources, including Excel, Excel Services, SharePoint Lists, SharePoint Business Connectivity Services, and SQL Server |
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Ability to apply an extensive set of data graphics and colors to visualize data |
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Automatic creation of data legends, providing a key for applied data graphics |
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Ability to refresh data automatically, either on a defined schedule or manually |
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Automatic generation of organizational charts from data sources like Excel, Exchange, or Active Directory |
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Rapid data connectivity with Excel tables and ability to swap data graphics with one click |
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Feature is new
Feature is improved
Feature is included
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Get started easily |
Visio 2010 |
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
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Intuitive drawing experience—flyout shapes, inserting and deleting shapes with connection healing, and changing shapes while preserving diagram layout and shape metadata |
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Publish to Visio viewer |
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Auto align and space |
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Easy-to-apply themes to create modern diagrams quickly |
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Shape effect options—shadow, bevel, glow, and others |
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Starter Diagrams and contextual tips and tricks |
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Tell Me support to search and navigate through commands |
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Draw tab—use finger or pen to draw and annotate |
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Create wireframe diagrams for websites |
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Feature is new
Feature is improved
Feature is included
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Collaborate throughout the process |
Visio 2010 |
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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In-app commenting on a diagram or shape |
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Co-authoring—two or more people working on a single diagram at the same time (Requires Microsoft 365 or SharePoint) |
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Ability to use presence awareness and visibility to IM or call other people (Requires Skype for Business or other compliant IM client) |
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Secured diagrams with Microsoft file protection technologies |
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Delve support for team document discovery |
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Feature is new
Feature is improved
Feature is included
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Communicate one version of the truth |
Visio 2010 |
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Easy diagram sharing and access with the new web app (Requires eligible SKUs from Microsoft 365, SharePoint Online, or OneDrive for Business) |
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Intuitive pan and zoom to view shapes in full fidelity with the new web app or iPad app (Requires eligible SKUs from Microsoft 365, SharePoint Online, or OneDrive for Business) |
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Hyperlink to a web page or diagram file in the new web app |
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Ability to search shape text in the new iPad app |
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Ability to switch layers on and off in the new iPad app |
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No-code dashboard with the new web app (Requires eligible SKUs from Microsoft 365 or SharePoint Online) |
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Feature is new
Feature is improved
Feature is included
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Simplify IT management |
Visio 2010 |
Visio 2013 |
Visio 2016 |
Visio 2019 |
Visio Plan 1 |
Visio Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Backwards compatibility to open a Visio 2013, Visio 2010, Visio 2007, Visio 2003, or Visio 2000 file |
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Availability through Microsoft 365 as a subscription |
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Roaming application—ability to install Visio temporarily on a Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 PC |
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Touch support on Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 PCs |
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Compatibility with Windows 10 |
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Ability to have an Office-like experience, including Dark Theme support |
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