Miro vs. SmartDraw

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Miro
Score 9.1 out of 10
N/A
Miro is a web-based Collaborative Whiteboard platform that provides teams with an infinite digital canvas for visual planning, diagramming, and workflow mapping. The platform integrates a spatial user interface with automated drawing tools and natural-language processing (NLP) to structure freeform ideas into defined project workflows and database schemas.
$0
SmartDraw
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
SmartDraw is a diagramming and flow chart building tool from SmartDraw Software in San Diego, California.
$119.40
per year per user (3 minimum)
Pricing
MiroSmartDraw
Editions & Modules
1. Free - To discover what Miro can do. Always free
$0
2. Starter - Unlimited and private boards with essential features
$8
per month (billed annually) per user
3. Business - Scales collaboration with advanced features and security
$16
per month (billed annually) per user
4. Enterprise - For work across the entire organization, with support, security and control, to scale
contact sales
annual billing per user
Team
$119.40
per year per user (3 minimum)
Individual
$131.40
per year single user
Enterprise
Contact Sales
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
MiroSmartDraw
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
Additional DetailsMonthly billing also available at $10 per month for the Starter plan, or $20 for the Business plan.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
MiroSmartDraw
Considered Both Products
Miro
Chose Miro
I personally tested Microsoft Visio and Mural for the same work that we do now with Miro. These tools were good but were not offering all the features in the same place. Other than that these application felt like slow to me if we compare them with Miro that is why gave my …
Chose Miro
It was the tool available within the enterprise environment that is approved for use. Generally lower barrier to entry and requires less approval.
Chose Miro
Miro is simpler than Figma without sacrificing many features. It has also been much easier for me to share Miro boards with teammates who may not have Miro installed. With Figma, we'd often encounter issues when sharing a board with non-Figma users. Aside from getting signed up …
Chose Miro
More friendly to use, neat, more modern, more comprehensive, more easy and accessible, better interface, more templates etc
Chose Miro
not many to be honest, Miro is definitely leading its category
Chose Miro
Miro allows for more freedom when facilitating remote lessons and workshops that require lots of participant interaction and drawing diagrams. Other diagramming tools require learning how to use it. Same with design prototyping tools.
Chose Miro
Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Excel
Chose Miro
We evaluated so many tools before jumping to Miro. Those tools would be Mural, Google Jamboard and Notions. Google Jamboard was easy to use but it was more suitable for basic brainstorming. Notion is excellent for documentation and knowledge management. Mural was a good choice …
Chose Miro
Miro is faster to enter as a free tier and good enough for freelancers or very small teams. Also, FigJam does not include a UI library like Miro. Whimsical is the closest competitor.
Chose Miro
There are many reasons and its different for each. FigJam provides excellent experience for design focused collaboration and it works particularly well since we are pretty invested in the Figma ecosystem.
Jira and Jira product discovery are valuable for tracking execution and …
Chose Miro
we had tried draw.io, figjam google whiteboard earlier as well so they work well for basic, but Miro is the easier and more functionality than these apps. in the Miro have the more feature like real time editing and team collaboration and remote team, so Miro is better …
Chose Miro
For me, it’s my go-to tool, and aside from the few use cases mentioned earlier I’ve been using nothing but Miro for a long time.

Pour moi c'est ma référence et hormis les quelques cas d'usage mentionnés précédemment, je n'utilise que Miro et depuis longtemps.
Chose Miro
Miro is well-suited to our organization, offering many features not available in the above-mentioned software. The above-mentioned software is not up to the mark compared to Miro, and Miro is better than Draw.io. So, we stopped using Draw.io and shifted to Miro.
Chose Miro
that was long time ago. Lots of game developers are familiar with Miro
Chose Miro
I have used Figma and an Excel sheet to brainstorm and create diagrams. Both are useful, but I found Miro to be more flexible when working with large groups and other types of projects. What I like most about Miro is that it brings all our tasks into a single workspace, like …
Chose Miro
Miro is far superior to Mural (and I used to be a heavy Mural user a few years ago). The rate of innovation at Miro has helped the product blow Mural out of the water.
Chose Miro
Miro stacks below Figma for me. I only selected Miro because that is what my company uses. However, I think they chose Miro over Figma because they are more interested in collaborative features than in the prototyping that Figma prioritizes. They also probably chose Miro …
SmartDraw
Chose SmartDraw
I have used Draw.io & MS Visio. I noticed SmartDraw offer more templates than draw.io. Additionally, its more affordable and can access across platforms. In general, SmartDraw provides what we need.
Chose SmartDraw
We really like the features of smart draw and the unique library of objects.
Chose SmartDraw
SmartDraw is NEXT LEVEL! Microsoft is yesterday's news when it comes to creating charts. SmartDraw allows you to create and deliver dynamic charts and diagrams that truly convey the data you are inputting turning it into a stunning visual explanation.
Chose SmartDraw
As noted in first question, SmartDraw has them beat in every category I can think of (except for price; but need to keep in mind the old adage "you get what you pay for"!). This product allows for VASTLY-improved uploading of data than the Lucidchart product, and customer …
Chose SmartDraw
We haven't selected other tools, SmartDraw was our test product and we are in the middle of determining if we will go with them long term.
Chose SmartDraw
Indigo Studio and Visio were other products used in my department.
We chose SmartDraw over Visio on both features and cost.
Chose SmartDraw
We have used Corel Draw and Adobe Acrobat. Both of those tools were good when they came out but the abilities of SmartDraw far outweigh both those tools. Corel Draw was also more complex to operate and do tasks, as was Adobe Acrobat in which some basic tasks took additional …
Best Alternatives
MiroSmartDraw
Small Businesses
Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite
Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite
Score 9.0 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.8 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite
Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite
Score 9.0 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.8 out of 10
Enterprises
Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite
Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite
Score 9.0 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.8 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
MiroSmartDraw
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(0 ratings)
2.8
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.3
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.5
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Availability
8.9
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.8
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
7.1
(0 ratings)
8.4
(0 ratings)
In-Person Training
3.3
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Online Training
8.6
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Configurability
8.5
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
8.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
8.6
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
6.4
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
6.5
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
MiroSmartDraw
Likelihood to Recommend
For me, the greatest joy is watching a messy tangle of abstract thoughts instantly click into place. I can quickly drag in colorful sticky notes, connect them with smooth lines, and watch a beautiful, structured workflow come to life right before my eyes. It takes the stress out of alignment by letting everyone see the big picture immediately.
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As a developer i use it extensively for sharing ideas specially related for system design and application flows. Entire team finds it comfortable to use it, understand it and make changes swiftly. We use it for High Level System design. While discussing the only missing thing we find about it is the integration of an ide for Low Level Design but in my opinion this tool isn't made for that purpose.
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Pros
  • Makes internal coordination between admin team and tutors extremely painless. It's like a single place where everyone can drop ideas, get updates and notes without loss of context which usually happens in long email threads.
  • Versioning and board history are handled very well, which drastically reduces the workload. They help me track how a policy or math guideline has evolved, and also make it easy to revert changes if something doesn't work.
  • Comments stick exactly where they are meant to, making internal reviews much clearer. Admins don't have to guess which note refers to which rule or section.
  • Exports are clean, so even non-Miro teammates get it instantly.
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  • Provides examples to work off of--these are helpful when you don't know exactly where to start.
  • Provides a number of stylistic options without making things too complex, so you can be creative without getting overwhelmed.
  • Provides a wide variety of templates, meets a wide variety of needs.
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Cons
  • It looks somewhat hokey at times and can come off as a little cartoony.
  • Its singular focus can often be its drawback, given that it has multiple use cases, but those are often not explored with its core features.
  • It could be a bit more complex, which somewhat ties into my above point.
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  • A month-to-month plan would be ideal for users that don't have a need to create many projects
  • The sidebar navigation can be a little confusing with all of the tools listed.
  • Offering customizable plans with only the feature you need would simplify navigation
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Likelihood to Renew
Miro saves my day. I would spend at least 4x more time on documenting my projects and work without this tool. It support my day to day role and helps me be successful while saving my capacity. It is not only very easy to start working on it without additional training required, but also adapts to any use case that I might need to implement
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No answers on this topic
Usability
This is a hard one.. and totally subjective.. Initially when i started using Miro, i had trouble scrolling here and there.. the canvas was so vast and zoomed out .. Now i have learnt how this works .. I feel we need some kind of indexing at board level, which will give the topics / headings in a concise way .. Like a birds eye view of the components on the board. That might improve usability a bit.
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I rated 8 because its simple to use and easy to create network topologies quickly. I liked the drag and drop option which makes designing the network topology and flow chart easier. In general its does what it needs to.
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Reliability and Availability
I have not encountered events where Miro is not available. It is quite nice and reliable to be fair, even on my freemium version (startup) I don't have reliability issues. It does have sometimes where the screen refresh or "freezes" or "consumes a lot of data" and we have to rewind windows and the likes, this instances are very less
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No answers on this topic
Performance
I took the loading quickly to be related to availability which I commented on before, so ditto with those comment on load time here. Although to reemphasize, Miro doesn't crash or just refuse to load like some other programs. The weak point of Miro for me is integration of files like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint (especially the later two). When you embed these, it gets slow, and complicated to bring them up while you're in the application.
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No answers on this topic
Support Rating
We have never reached out to or contacted support because Miro's platform has been incredibly intuitive and user-friendly. The comprehensive resources available, such as tutorials, documentation, and community forums, have provided all the guidance we needed. The seamless integration with our existing tools and the reliability of the platform have ensured that we rarely encounter issues that require external assistance. This self-sufficiency has allowed us to focus more on our projects and collaboration without interruptions. Overall, our experience with Miro has been smooth and efficient, eliminating the need for additional support
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They are always very helpful, we get computers every two years and I have to call them to move the license from one computer to another and they do it with a smile in their voice!
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Online Training
There was a series of webinars which Miro hosted with our organization that went over the basics, then progressively became more advanced with additional sections. The instructors were knowledgeable, and provided examples throughout the sessions, as well as answered peoples' questions. There was ample time and experience on the calls to cover a range of topics. The instructors were also very friendly and sociable, as well as honest. Of course Miro isn't a "God-tool" that does absolutely everything, but the instructors were aware and emphasized the strengths where Miro had them and sincerely accepted feedback.
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No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Easy to learn, Miro has a series of videos on YouTube that effectively taught this program to my team members and me. The program is drag-and-drop and works excellently. People pick up on how to use it efficiently, and it's great for organizing ideas more freely. This product is more challenging for some older audiences who are not accustomed to using a touchpad, but for most, it was very easy to use.
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No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
We looked at other tools for the freeform communication and collaboration, as well as for tracking timelines and roadmaps, and Miro was just the best overall tool because we can keep everything in one spot and our team only has to learn and one use tool, as opposed to having to log into multiple spots.
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As noted in first question, SmartDraw has them beat in every category I can think of (except for price; but need to keep in mind the old adage "you get what you pay for"!). This product allows for VASTLY-improved uploading of data than the Lucidchart product, and customer service is real, tangible service... they understand that when you have a question and need an answer, waiting 2 or 3 days for an email response is not acceptable.
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Scalability
Miro is great for scaling. In every department and subdivision across my entire organization, there is someone using it. From Sales to marketing, to manufacturing and operations; and even in legal and finance, there isn't a process or a department that is not using Miro, and if they aren't, they're missing out! Even at the highest to the lowest levels of the organization, it is essential for virtual collaboration.
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No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
  • Miro has helped increase productivity within teams because all the brainstorming, planning, and collaborative tasks can now be done within one tool.
  • Conversations about projects and decision-making processes are now quicker, allowing teams to plan and document their work much faster.
  • Working remotely has become much better because everyone can collaborate through Miro, eliminating communication gaps.
  • It has become easier to create documentation and follow up on meetings, saving time during the process.
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  • SmartDraw has provided good return for our internal purposes. Using it to understand an organization's structure and inner workings has been valuable. On the client side, creating steps and businesses processes has also been a big plus. It has helped decrease confusing reporting structures and has provided a detailed map for individuals to understand where they fit within their organization.
  • Unfortunately, SmartDraw has been somewhat inefficient with some of the more complex projects on our plate and has really deterred certain employees from even wanting to use it.
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ScreenShots

Miro Screenshots

Screenshot of Miro's design sprint templates, used to solve big challenges, create new products or improve existing ones.Screenshot of the Sprint Planning features in Miro, that assists Development Teams in creating a transparent understanding of what can be built and how. Users can run sprints and turn a team into creative and active participants. Today, many organizations use Agile tools to manage software development and other non-IT projects.Screenshot of the PI Planning Template that brings teams toward one vision of what stories to develop. Used to manage a backlog, increase productivity, and build the foundation for a successful PI Planning event. Miro’s PI Planning Template helps to get an overview of any PI Planning event, with step-by-step frames to guide the process.Screenshot of diagrams, concept maps, and system mapping templates used to communicate complex flows and create a shared understanding. Users can check off all the essential steps of the diagramming process and gain a complete overview of operations with Miro's diagramming templates collection.

SmartDraw Screenshots

Screenshot of where to create diagrams, including: flowcharts and swimlanes, organizational charts, mind maps, CAD drawings & floor plans, project charts, network diagrams, and wireframes & mockups.Screenshot of a workspace that combines brainstorming with technical diagrams. SmartDraw can be used to visualize processes, organizations, roadmaps, and even generate diagrams from data.Screenshot of SmartDraw's templates and tools used to make flowcharts, swimlanes, and process maps.Screenshot of the org chart tool, used to document organizational structure and work as a team to plan for growth or manage change. Data can be imported to generate a chart automatically.Screenshot of the CAD drawing and floor plan tools, used to design a home or optimize office space to improve traffic flow in a retail space.Screenshot of an example of the built-in templates for landscapes, gardens, backyards used to design outdoor spaces. Users can drag-and-drop flowers, shrubs, and other plants, or add sprinkler systems, lights, and walkways, and apply photo-realistic textures for a professional finish.