Free Flowchart Maker

Step 1. Set up a Creately workspace and add collaborators

To begin, open a workspace in Creately and invite your team members or stakeholders. You can add them as collaborators with edit access to ensure they can contribute to the flowchart creation process in real-time. Creately’s flowchart software allows multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously, fostering seamless collaboration.

Step 2. Define the goal and objectives of the flowchart

Before diving into the design, align with your team on the purpose of the flowchart. Discuss the goals and the key information that needs to be conveyed. This step is crucial, as it sets the foundation for your flowchart and ensures everyone has a clear understanding of what the final diagram should achieve.

Step 3. Gather all necessary information

Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to collect the information required to build the flowchart. This involves brainstorming and documenting the process steps, decision points, and any other details that need to be visualized. The clarity of your flowchart depends on the accuracy and completeness of this information. Creately’s free flowchart software makes it easy to capture ideas and notes directly within the workspace.

Step 4. Create a rough draft using Creately’s flowchart templates

Once the information has been gathered, start by creating a rough draft of the flowchart. You can do this from scratch using the drag-and-drop tools in Creately — place basic shapes like ovals, rectangles, and diamonds to represent steps and decisions. Alternatively, to save time, use one of the many flowchart templates available in Creately’s library to get a head start.

Step 5. Review and refine the flowchart draft

After the initial draft is ready, it’s time for a team review. Use the in-line commenting feature on Creately’s flowchart software to share feedback, suggest improvements, and discuss changes with collaborators. Your team members can use multi-cursors to make adjustments in real-time, and all modifications are tracked, ensuring a smooth revision process. The version history tool allows you to revert to any previous version of the flowchart if needed.

Step 6. Monitor changes and version history

As team members make edits, you can track their changes live on the canvas via multi-cursors. Creately’s flowchart maker also provides a version history feature, enabling you to review past iterations and revert to earlier versions if necessary. This is particularly useful when experimenting with different design or content approaches.

Step 7. Finalize and distribute the flowchart

Once the team is satisfied with the flowchart, ensure that all steps, decision points, and details are accurately represented. Review it one final time to confirm it’s easy to follow and achieves its objectives. After finalizing, distribute the flowchart to relevant stakeholders. Creately allows you to export the flowchart in multiple formats, such as PNG, PDF, or share it via a link for online access.

Step 8. Periodically review and update the flowchart

As processes and workflows evolve, your flowchart may need updates. Set regular review periods to ensure the flowchart stays relevant and reflects any changes in the process. Creately’s flowchart software makes it easy to revisit and update diagrams, keeping them current without needing to start from scratch.