How to Create a Flowchart Online for Free (2026)
Build flowcharts with drag-and-drop shapes, decision diamonds, and connectors. Export as SVG or PNG. No account, no signup, runs in your browser.
- Build flowcharts with drag-and-drop shapes, decision diamonds, and connectors.
- What Is a Flowchart?.
- Covers standard flowchart shapes.
- Covers building a flowchart step by step.
- Covers flowchart best practices.
What Is a Flowchart?
A flowchart is a visual representation of a process, algorithm, or workflow. It uses standardized shapes — rectangles for processes, diamonds for decisions, rounded rectangles for start/end points — connected by arrows that show the direction of flow. Flowcharts have been used in software engineering since the 1940s (predating most programming languages) and remain one of the most effective tools for documenting business logic, troubleshooting procedures, and onboarding new team members to complex systems.
Standard Flowchart Shapes
Rectangle (Process): represents an action or operation — 'Calculate total', 'Send email', 'Update database'. Diamond (Decision): represents a yes/no or branching condition — 'Is user logged in?', 'Amount > $100?'. Rounded Rectangle (Terminator): marks the start or end of the flow — 'Begin', 'End', 'Return result'. Parallelogram (Input/Output): represents data entry or display — 'Enter username', 'Display results'. Circle (Connector): links separate parts of a flowchart when the diagram spans multiple pages or sections. Cylinder (Database): represents data storage or retrieval operations.
Building a Flowchart Step by Step
Start with the entry point — drag a rounded rectangle onto the canvas and label it 'Start'. Add process steps as rectangles, connecting each to the next with arrows. When you reach a decision point, use a diamond shape and label the outgoing arrows 'Yes' and 'No' (or the relevant conditions). Each branch continues with its own process steps. Merge branches when they converge. End with another rounded rectangle labeled 'End'. The Flowchart Maker handles all of this with click-to-add shapes and drag-to-connect arrows.
background-size animation or @property registered custom properties instead.Flowchart Best Practices
Flow top to bottom or left to right — never upward or backward unless showing a loop. Keep decision labels on the outgoing arrows, not inside the diamond. Use consistent shape sizes throughout the diagram. Limit the flowchart to one page — if it doesn't fit, break it into sub-processes and use connector symbols. Every decision must have exactly two outputs (yes/no or the relevant branches). Avoid crossing arrows — rearrange shapes to eliminate crossings. Label every arrow when the flow isn't obvious from the shape sequence alone.