A Lucidchart alternative built for BPMN
Lucidchart draws beautiful boxes. Swimdraft models processes: generated from your notes, validated against the BPMN 2.0.2 spec, exported as real .bpmn interchange XML, priced per diagram instead of per seat.
No credit card required · Export SVG, PNG, and .bpmn
Lucidchart is genuinely good at collaborative drawing, and its BPMN shape library covers the notation. But process mapping with it is still drawing: you place every shape, you enforce the BPMN rules yourself, and the seat-based pricing means the whole team pays monthly for something most of them touch quarterly. Its BPMN import/export also sits behind the higher tiers, and what it checks is diagram tidiness, not whether your gateway actually has valid branch conditions.
Swimdraft starts one step earlier: the notes, transcript, or spreadsheet that describe the process. It generates the diagram, validates it against 19 normative rules of the OMG BPMN 2.0.2 specification with clause citations, and gives you a browser editor with live re-validation for the refinements. Pay per diagram generated; editing, validation, and exports stay free.
Swimdraft vs Lucidchart for BPMN
| Feature | Swimdraft | Lucidchart |
|---|---|---|
| Generate BPMN from notes, transcripts, or spreadsheets | Yes | No |
| Validation against BPMN 2.0.2 normative rules, with clause citations | Yes | No |
| BPMN 2.0 .bpmn interchange import/export | Yes | Higher tiers |
| Runs in the browser | Yes | Yes |
| Live re-validation while you edit | Yes | No |
| Auto-layout of pools, lanes, and flows | Yes | Partial (manual for BPMN) |
| Pricing model | Per diagram: first 5 free, from £0.53 each | Per seat, per month |
Frequently asked questions
Can I import diagrams from Lucidchart?
If your Lucidchart plan exports BPMN 2.0 XML, the file opens in the free viewer and validator here, and the flow can be brought into the studio. Generic Lucidchart documents without BPMN export cannot be imported. They are drawings, not models.
Is Swimdraft collaborative like Lucidchart?
Collaboration works review-style rather than multiplayer-cursor-style: generate, edit, export or share the result, and anyone can view .bpmn output in the free viewer without an account. For live co-drawing sessions, Lucidchart remains stronger.
What happens when my diagram breaks a BPMN rule?
During generation, violations are repaired automatically before you see the result. While editing, the validation panel re-checks all 19 rules on every change and shows exactly which rule failed, where, and the OMG 2.0.2 clause behind it.
Why per-diagram pricing instead of a subscription?
Process mapping is bursty: a discovery phase produces a dozen diagrams, then nothing for months. Paying £0.53 to £0.70 per generated diagram, with editing and exports free forever, matches that reality better than a per-seat monthly fee.
Do exported diagrams work in other BPMN tools?
Yes. Exports are standard BPMN 2.0 interchange XML that opens in Camunda Modeler, Signavio, Bizagi, ARIS, and Visio, plus SVG and PNG for documents. No lock-in either direction.
Generate your first diagram free
Paste your notes, transcript, or spreadsheet and get a spec-validated BPMN 2.0 diagram in seconds. Your first 5 diagrams are free.
Start freeNo credit card required