About the Flowchart Maker
Flowchart Maker draws a flowchart from a few lines of text. Write your steps and the arrows between them, for example A[Start] --> B{Is it working?}, and the diagram appears next to your text and updates as you type. Boxes, rounded boxes and diamonds for decisions are all supported, along with labels on arrows, dotted lines and left to right or top to bottom direction. Pick a colour theme, start from an example, and download the result as a PNG or an SVG. It runs in your browser with the open Mermaid library, so your text is never uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Flowchart Maker
- 1Choose an example from the list, or clear the box and start your own.
- 2Write each step as a letter and a label, joined with arrows: A[Start] --> B{Ready?}.
- 3Add labels to arrows with A -- Yes --> B.
- 4Pick a colour theme and watch the chart update as you type.
- 5Download the flowchart as PNG or SVG.
The basics of the text format
Every flowchart has nodes and arrows. A node is a letter or word followed by a label in brackets: A[A box], B(A rounded box), C{A decision}, D((A circle)). An arrow is two dashes and an arrow head: A --> B. You can put a label on an arrow with A -- text --> B. The first line sets the direction.
Planning a good flowchart
Start with where the process begins and ends. List the steps in order, then find the decisions: points where the path splits depending on an answer. Keep each box to a few words, use a diamond only for yes or no questions and make sure every decision has all its paths labelled.
- One start and one or more ends
- Short labels: verb plus object
- Label every arrow that leaves a decision
- Avoid crossing lines by reordering steps
Common uses
Flowcharts explain how to fix a problem, how an order moves through a business, how a user signs up for a service or how a program makes a choice. They are also useful for documenting rules, such as who must approve a request, in a way that everyone can follow.
Other diagram types
For brainstorming around a central idea, use the Mind Map Maker. To show who talks to whom over time, the Sequence Diagram Maker draws message flows, and the Gantt Chart Maker plans tasks on a timeline. The Online Whiteboard is better for freehand drawing.
Tips for sharing
Use the Neutral theme for printing in black and white and Dark for dark slides. If the chart is wide, switch to top to bottom, or split the process into two smaller charts. Save the text next to the image so that you can edit it later.
Features
- Draws from plain text as you type
- Boxes, rounded boxes, circles and decision diamonds
- Labels on arrows and dotted connections
- Top to bottom or left to right layout
- Four colour themes
- Download PNG or SVG
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to learn a language?
A little. The text format is simple: each line connects two steps with an arrow. The quick guide under the box shows the main patterns, and the examples give you something to change.
How do I make a decision diamond?
Write the label in curly brackets: B{Is it working?}. Then draw arrows from it with labels, such as B -- Yes --> C and B -- No --> D.
How do I change the direction?
Start with flowchart TD for top to bottom or flowchart LR for left to right. Others are BT (bottom to top) and RL (right to left).
Why does it show an error?
The text has a mistake the drawing cannot read, such as a missing arrow or an unclosed bracket. The message shows the first useful line. Fix that line and the chart appears again.
Can I move boxes by dragging?
No. The layout is worked out automatically from your text, which keeps the chart tidy and lets you change it quickly by editing words, not by dragging.
Which format should I download?
PNG for documents, slides and messages. SVG when you need to scale it without losing sharpness or edit it in a drawing program.
Can I share a flowchart with a colleague?
Download the image, or copy the text. Anyone can paste your text into the tool to get the same chart.
Is my text uploaded?
No. The chart is drawn in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.