OmniGraffle

OmniGraffle is for turning ideas into precise diagrams: flowcharts, UML, network topologies, wireframes, floor plans, mind maps. It has the layout engine — smart guides, canvas grids, automatic graph layouts — to make those diagrams look deliberate rather than dragged together.

Why it makes the list

For over two decades OmniGraffle has been the app Mac users open when a diagram has to be exact. It is fully native, scriptable to the point of being programmable, and built by a studio with a long record of supporting its software.

Standout features

• Smart guides and alignment with fine control over every object

• Automatic layout for tree, force-directed, and hierarchical graphs

• Stencils — thousands of shared shape libraries via Stenciltown

• Shared layers, multiple canvases, and a table tool for complex documents

• Export to PDF, SVG, PNG, and Visio

• Deep automation with AppleScript, Omni Automation (JavaScript), and plug-ins

Pricing

Free to download and trial. A one-time licence unlocks the app: Standard from $124.99, Pro from $249.99. A subscription option is also offered.