The Best Google Drive Add-ons for Creating Flowcharts and Diagrams

Google Docs has a number of interesting features that render it an awesome productivity tool to use in your instruction. With the use of add-ons, the strength of Google Docs is even expanded allowing you to do amazing things with your documents. From creating mindmaps and bibliographies to generating word clouds and electronically signing documents, the educational possibilities in Google Docs are endless. In today’s post we are bringing to your attention four excellent add-ons you can use to easily create beautiful charts, diagrams, and flowcharts right in your documents.

1- Lucidchart

Lucid chart is an excellent Google Docs add-on that allows you to create and insert diagrams, flowcharts and mind maps into your Docs. Some of the features it provides to users include: hundreds of shapes and templates to choose from, drag and drop to add your own images, export to (vector) PDF, PNG, and JPG, embed diagrams in blogs or wikis, import documents from Microsoft Visio (.vsd, .vsdx and .vdx) and many more.

2- Gliffy

Cliffy is another great tool to use in your Google Docs to create professional looking diagrams and flowcharts. Some of its features include: easy-to-use diagram editor, extensive shape library with hundreds of industry-standard shapes and connectors, snap-to-grid, drawing guides, shape alignment and distribution tools, great for drawing a basic diagram, flow chart, UI mockup, site map, network map, business process model, org chart, floor plan, venn diagram, SWOT analysis, and other technical diagrams.

3- Charts

Charts allows you to build a chart from data in your Google Spreadsheet and insert that right into your document. Here is how it works:

• Open Charts from the add-ons menu
• Select a chart type. (The Chart Builder will explain how to organize your data)
• Click the load data button and choose your spreadsheet
• Now you can drag to select your data
• That’s it; just click the Insert button.