Diagramming and wireframing tools are integral to many companies’ workflows and operations. Therefore, finding the right tool for your company is one of the most important parts of building an internal workflow and diagramming system.
Two of the leading platforms, SketchWow and LucidChart, are popular choices amongst organizations large and small. In this article, we will compare the two, their pros and cons, and provide insights into how they work and what they cost.
Overview of SketchWow
SketchWow is an “unconventional” design and diagramming platform created with IT professionals, designers, executives, developers, educators, and creative enthusiasts in mind. Boasting a user-friendly interface, SketchWow offers a wide array of digital design tools, customizable formats, and advanced layering options, making it ideal for both beginners and professionals alike.
SketchWow has accumulated a large fan base over the past 3 years, due in part to the unique “hand drawn style” workflows, mindmaps and diagrams that SketchWow creates. Whether you’re creating internal presentations or working on marketing materials, SketchWow provides the perfect environment to bring these ideas to life.
Overview of LucidChart
LucidChart is a web-based diagramming and visualization tool for professionals across various industries, including IT professionals, educators, and business analysts. It offers a robust set of features to its users, such as real-time collaboration, extensive template options, and seamless integration with popular productivity tools. These features make it easy to create flowcharts, mind maps, and organizational charts. Overall, LucidChart allows teams and individuals to work smarter and more efficiently.
Comparing SketchWow and LucidChart
User Interface and Ease of Use
Both SketchWow and LucidChart offer user-friendly interfaces and high functionality, but they cater to different types of users, with some overlap. SketchWow’s interface is designed for designers, artists, and creative professionals, featuring intuitive tools, templates, drag-and-drop elements, and advanced layering options. It is visually appealing and easy to navigate, making it accessible even for beginners.
LucidChart, on the other hand, focuses on a broader range of professionals who need to create diagrams and visual representations of data. Its interface is cut and dry, with a drag-and-drop functionality that simplifies the creation of flowcharts, mind maps, and more. The learning curve for both platforms is relatively low, though users might find LucidChart slightly harder to master and less visually striking.
Features and Functionality
Both platforms shine in their respective domains when it comes to features. SketchWow is packed with digital drawing and design tools, offering a wide array of elements, color palettes, and layering options that cater to a broad audience. It supports detailed sketching, mind mapping, diagramming, and illustration, making it a powerful tool for beginners and professionals.
LucidChart, on the other hand, excels in simplistic diagramming and visualization, supporting various types of diagrams such as flowcharts, wireframes, and mind maps. Both platforms offer robust collaboration tools; SketchWow allows individuals to share and collaborate on projects, while LucidChart provides real-time collaboration features. Customization options are abundant in both tools, with SketchWow focusing on artistic flexibility and LucidChart on diagram customization.
Pricing and Plans
SketchWow and LucidChart have different pricing models that reflect their target audiences. SketchWow offers tiered subscription plans, providing a range of features at different price points.
LucidChart’s pricing is structured around individual, team, and enterprise plans, with features scaling accordingly. While SketchWow’s plans are generally more affordable for solo users, LucidChart’s higher-tier plans offer extensive collaborative and integration features, making it a potentially better fit for enterprise-level businesses and larger teams that require live collaboration.
Both platforms provide competitive options in terms of value for money, but SketchWow rises to the top on a dollar-by-dollar principle due to the lifetime deal, saving users hundreds to thousands over the use period. However, the choice depends on each user’s specific needs and wants.
Performance and Reliability
- Evaluation of the performance and reliability of SketchWow and LucidChart.
- Factors such as uptime, speed, and responsiveness.
Both SketchWow and LucidChart are known for their reliable performance. SketchWow is optimized for smooth, responsive drawing and diagramming, ensuring that users experience minimal lag even when working on more complex projects.
LucidChart also boasts a high level of performance, with quick load times and a responsive interface, which is crucial for real-time collaboration. Both platforms have nearly 100% uptime, ensuring users can access each respective tool whenever needed.
Customer Support and Resources
Customer support is a critical aspect of both platforms. SketchWow offers support through email, live chat, social media channels, a comprehensive FAQ section, and a vibrant community forum where users can engage with members and moderators, exchange tips and solutions, and more. Users of SketchWow often comment on the excellent level of customer support provided, a fact we are proud of.
LucidChart provides robust customer support, including live chat, email support, and an extensive knowledge base filled with tutorials, guides, and webinars. Both platforms are dedicated to ensuring users have the resources they need. The size of LucidChart makes it difficult to provide an individualized experience and effectively solve issues, the only major flaw in their system.
Conclusion
In summary, SketchWow and LucidChart are powerful tools that are designed for relatively distinct user bases with different needs. SketchWow excels as a digital drawing and diagramming platform, offering a rich set of features for users, and an unique hand-drawn feel, including customizable elements, advanced layering, templates, AI integrations, and providing a vibrant community for collaboration. LucidChart, on the other hand, is a versatile diagramming tool ideal for professionals who need to create clear, traditional-looking visual representations of data and processes, with high collaboration capabilities and seamless integrations with other productivity tools.
Ultimately, both platforms provide excellent value within their respective domains. When choosing between SketchWow and LucidChart, consider your own specific needs and preferences. If you are an entrepreneur, executive, educator, or other individual who needs a tool centered around digital illustration and creative freedom, SketchWow is the ideal choice. Its user-friendly interface and powerful features will help bring your presentations, maps, or diagrams to life. Conversely, if you are a professional looking to streamline workflows, visualize data, and collaborate with teams in real-time, LucidChart offers the functionality and integrations necessary.
