livediagram vs Google Slides
A canvas built for diagrams, not slides
Plenty of people draw diagrams in Google Slides because it's already open. But Slides is a presentation tool: connectors don't route themselves, there are no diagram templates, and the canvas is a fixed slide. livediagram is purpose-built for diagrams.
| Feature | livediagram | Google Slides |
|---|---|---|
| Built for diagrams | Yes | No, it is for presentations |
| Arrows track shapes | Yes, they re-route as you move | Manual lines |
| Diagram templates | Flowchart, mind map, kanban… | None |
| Canvas | Infinite and pannable | Fixed slide size |
| Real-time multiplayer | Yes | Yes |
| Get it into a deck | Export PNG, SVG or PDF | Already a slide |
| Price | Free, open source | Free with a Google account |
Why pick livediagram
- Arrows that stay connected to shapes and re-route as you move them.
- Start from a diagram template (flowchart, mind map, kanban…) instead of an empty slide.
- An infinite, pannable canvas instead of a fixed slide, with a minimap to navigate big ones.
- Diagram-native tools: smart snapping, a format painter, quick-connect arrows, charts and icons.
- Real-time multiplayer with live cursors and comments, plus a present mode to walk through it.
- Free and open source, with no Google account required to start.
Where Google Slides is the better pick
- You're already building a slide deck and just need a quick diagram inside it.
- Everyone in your org already lives in Google Workspace.
- You want the diagram living on a slide inside the deck itself (livediagram embeds target wikis and docs, not slide decks).
Connectors that actually connect
The moment a Slides diagram grows past a few boxes, the lines betray you: they don't follow shapes you move, they cross each other, and every layout tweak means redrawing arrows by hand. In livediagram, arrows are attached to the shapes they connect. Move a box and its arrows follow, re-routing around obstacles and avoiding collisions with other lines. Curved and elbowed arrows have draggable handles when you want manual control, and alignment guides plus snapping keep the whole layout square.
Start from a diagram, not a blank slide
Slides has slide templates; it has no idea what a flowchart is. livediagram starts you from real diagram templates (flowcharts, mind maps, kanban boards, org charts, timelines and more) and themes the whole canvas in one click, so the result looks deliberate without manual styling.
The palette is diagram-native too: an icon library, full-colour technology icons for architecture diagrams, charts, freehand pencil sketching with shape recognition, and device frames for wireframes. And the canvas is infinite and pannable, with a minimap for navigating big diagrams, instead of a fixed 16:9 rectangle.
Sharing and presenting stay easy
The reason people reach for Slides is that sharing is effortless, and livediagram keeps that: share a link and anyone can view or edit in real time, no account needed, not even a Google one. Comments and live cursors work like you'd expect.
When it is time to present, a built-in present mode walks a call through the diagram with a laser pointer and spotlight. And if the diagram ultimately belongs in a deck, export it as PNG, SVG, or PDF and drop it onto the slide; for wikis and docs, a share link embeds as a live-updating read-only iframe instead.
Google Slides alternative FAQ
Do collaborators need a Google account?
No account of any kind. Share a link and anyone who opens it can view or edit in real time. Signing in (email code or Google) is optional and mainly adds cross-device sync and teams.
Can I put a livediagram diagram into my slide deck?
Yes. Export the tab as a PNG, SVG, or PDF and place it on the slide. For living documents like wikis and docs, embedding the share link as an iframe is better: it updates automatically as the diagram changes.
Can livediagram replace Slides for presentations?
No, and it does not try to. It has a present mode for walking people through a diagram (with a laser pointer and spotlight), but it is not a slide-deck tool. If you are building a deck, build it in Slides and export your diagrams into it.
Is livediagram free?
Yes. It is MIT-licensed open source with a free hosted version, every feature included, and no paid tier. You can even use it without creating an account at all.
Comparisons reflect each product’s general positioning and may change. Check Google Slides’s own site for current details.
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