Affinity Diagram Tools: A Comparison of the Top 10 Options

In brainstorming sessions or group discussions, you will need some sort of way to organize ideas. An affinity diagram allows you to put those ideas in organized structures for easier comprehension.

In this article, let’s have a look at what an affinity diagram can do and 10 tools you can use to create one.

What Is an Affinity Diagram

An affinity diagram is a chart that is used to organize a large number of ideas into their natural relationships. It also goes by the terms affinity mapping, affinity chart, thematic analysis, and the K-J Methods. The diagram is simply the organized output from a brainstorming session and can be used to consolidate information related to a complex issue. Once you have generated ideas, you use the diagram to group them according to their affinity or similarity.

What to Look for in an Affinity Mapping Tool

The choice of an affinity mapping tool will depend on how well it represents your ideas of products. Essentially, an effective affinity diagram tool should be able to make a complex issue easy to understand without looking disorganized or overwhelming. Some of the things you need to look for in an affinity diagram maker include:

1. A variety of templates and customization options are available.
2. Ability to collaborate with others in real-time.
3. Scalability of the affinity diagram maker to meet growing needs.
4. Integration with other project management tools.
5. The ease of sharing the map with others and exporting options available.

10 Affinity Diagram Tools You Should Try

Choosing the right affinity diagram maker is crucial to ensuring a productive brainstorming session. With a good affinity mapping tool, you can achieve logical decision-making and ensure a straightforward problem-solving process with your team. Let’s have a look at the top 10 affinity diagram tools that you can use:

Boardmix

Boardmix offers you a simplified diagram to create an infinity diagram for your organization. You only need to sign up an account with Boardmix, select the affinity diagram template, and customize it to meet your organization’s needs.

Pros

1. An easy-to-use affinity diagram tool.
2. User-friendly interface with a customizable template for your affinity diagrams.
3. More affordable than other affinity diagram makers.
4. Collaborative tools to share the affinity diagram with your team members.
5. Export the final affinity diagram in multiple file formats.

Cons

1. Requires you log in to customize the template.
2. You may need a bit of time to learn all the features.

Pricing

• Free Plan
• Monthly Plan: US$5.9/mo.
• Annual Plan: US$ 4.9/mo. charged annually
• 3-Year Plan: US$ 2.9/mo. charged every three years

EdrawMax

Edrawmax offers an array of features suitable for creating detailed affinity diagrams. With robust file compatibility, you can export your affinity map in multiple formats and allow multiple users to collaborate.

Pros

• SSL encryption to protects all your diagram files.
• Export and share your diagrams in multiple file formats.

Cons

• There is no way to update text size or image scale automatically, and you have to update each element individually.
• The user interface is not as intuitive.
• No free plan is available.

Pricing

• Subscription plan: US$99/yr
• Lifetime plan: US$198 one-time purchase

Moqups

Moqups offers a quick solution for a clean affinity map template that you can use to create a foolproof business strategy. The easy-to-use platform is ideal for both beginners and seasoned diagraming experts.

Pros

• An easy-to-use
• Ready-to-use templates for quick creation of charts.
• Unlimited integrations, powerful expressions, animations, and designs.

Cons

1. Issues with payment with some users reporting automatic renewals without notice.
2. It can be time-consuming to select one element at a time when editing.

Pricing

• Free Plan
• Solo: US$13/mo.
• Team: US$23/mo.
• Unlimited: US67/mo.

Figma

Figma is one of the most highly collaborative tools when it comes to making affinity diagrams. The real-time collaboration capabilities and vector-based editing tools allow multiple teams to work together and create versatile affinity diagrams.

Pros

• Vector-based design for precise creation and modification of visual elements.
• Collaborative tools for teams to simultaneously work on an affinity diagram project.
• Cloud-based features ensuring convenience and accessibility for remote teams and across different time zones.

Cons

• Performance lags sometimes, especially when working on highly complex affinity maps or when many users are working simultaneously.
• A steeper learning curve for non-designers due to the huge feature set.
• Requires access to an internet connection when working on your affinity map.

Pricing

• Free Plan
• Professional: US$12/mo./user
• Organization: US$45/mo./user

SmartDraw

SmartDraw is a great tool for those looking for an affinity diagram tool with many templates to choose from. The website offers a wide range of symbols to help you create professional-looking diagrams quickly and various ways of collaborating with teams.

Pros

• Show quantitative data with bar graphs, line graphs, and pie charts.
• Automation features update existing diagrams to reflect information changes.
• Integration with the tools like Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, OneDrive, Jira, Confluence, and Dropbox.

Cons

• No free trial.
• Problems with software crashes.

Pricing

• Single user: US$9.95/mo.
• Multiple users: US$8.25/mo./user

Visual Paradigm

With Visual Paradigm, you can create an affinity diagram using a range of diagramming features. The website offers numerous templates and drawing tools that simplify the process of representing complex ideas visually.

Pros

• Dedicated infographics templates that simplify complex reports.
• Drag-and-drop feature to create diagrams quickly.

Cons

• Some users find diagram connections complicated when building maps.
• Lacks essential collaborative features.
• Shortcuts sometimes don’t work.

Pricing

• Modeler: US$6/mo./user
• Standard: US$19/mo./user
• Professional: US$35/mo./user
• Enterprise: US$89/mo./user

Lucidchart

Lucidchart offers a vast suite of affinity diagram tools coupled with an intrusive interface. With multiple affinity diagram templates and drag-and-drop functionality, the website allows you to streamline complex ideas for easier understanding.

Pros

• Affinity diagram template library.
• Save your favorite elements.
• Link diagrams to live data for dynamic visual representation.
• Integration with Google Workspace.

Cons

• Can be overwhelming initially for some users.
• Data linking requires premium subscription.
• The mobile app lacks the full range of features.

Pricing

• Free Plan
• Individual: US$7.95/mo./user
• Team: $9/mo./user
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing by the Lucidchart team

ClickUp

ClickUp provides a great tool for making an affinity diagram, with a user-friendly interface and several customization options. It also comes with a robust collaboration feature, allowing you to share your diagram with the team.

Pros

• Versatile workspaces where you can sketch, construct diagrams, and insert shapes, charts, and graphs with a simple drag-and-drop interface.
• Easily lay out the workflow and illustrate the relationships between ideas in your affinity diagramming project.
• A wide choice of templates to choose from.

Cons

• Needs a bit of time to learn and discover various use cases.
• The mobile app lacks essential features available in the web-based and desktop versions.

Pricing

• Free
• Unlimited Plan: US$7/user/month
• Business Plan: US$12/user/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Creately

Creately is a professional diagramming tool that offers its users speed and simplicity in making affinity diagrams. The site comes with an array of templates to choose from and drawing tools that make diagramming an easy task for beginners.

Pros

• Users can add links and other data to visual elements in the diagram.
• Supports collaboration by allowing only stakeholders to edit and other team members to  view or comment only.
• Integrates most popular business software programs, including Github, Microsoft 365 programs, and Slack.

Cons

• Often difficult to get all elements lined up for perfect layouts.
• The mobile app misses some key features.

Pricing

• Free: $0
• Starter: $8 per month per user.
• Business: $149 per month for unlimited users.

Miro

Miro is another great affinity mapping tool that comes with comprehensive digital whiteboarding capabilities. You can choose from the array of templates available and design an affinity diagram that matches your needs.

Pros

• A rich library of elements including icons, shapes, connectors, and pre-built flowcharts.
• Add notes, comments, and elements, or use the drag-and-drop feature to bring your affinity diagram template to life.
• Integration with Atlassian project management tools such as Jira and Confluence.

Cons

• Importing graphics is not seamless.
• Lacks many of the best features for creating affinity maps.
• The infinite canvas can be overwhelming or difficult to navigate.

Pricing

• Free
• Starter: US$8/mo./user
• Business: US$16/mo./user
• Enterprise: Contact the Miro team for pricing

Choose the Best: BoardMix Affinity Diagrams

Boardmix offers a versatile and dynamic experience when it comes to creating affinity maps. With a range of features to choose from and a ready-made template, getting your affinity diagram to life is just a matter of minutes. Just try it out now!