ARIS vs. Microsoft Visio

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
ARIS
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Software AG's Business Process Analysis Platform, ARIS, uses robust architecture and process management / analysis capability to drive integrations with the existing business processes along with information technology and SAP systems.
$100
designer
Microsoft Visio
Score 7.6 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft offers Visio, a diagramming tool for building flowcharts, diagrams (e.g. network diagrams), org charts and floor plans, available online as a subscription and also in enterprise level packages (e.g. Visio Professional).
$5
per month per user
Pricing
ARISMicrosoft Visio
Editions & Modules
ARIS Elements
$100
designer
ARIS Advanced
$200
designer
ARIS Enterprise
contact us
ARIS Enterprise
contact us
Visio Plan 1
$5.00
per month per user
Visio Plan 2
$15.00
per month per user
Visio Standard 2024
$309.99
one-time fee On-premises diagramming solution, licensed for one PC
Visio Professional 2024
$579.99
one-time fee On-premises diagramming solution, licensed for one PC
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
ARISMicrosoft Visio
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
ARISMicrosoft Visio
Considered Both Products
ARIS
Chose ARIS
Bizagi Digital Business Platform and Signavio Process Manager
Chose ARIS
Yes, ARIS is one of the leading process modeling and analysis tools with advanced reporting and modeling capabilities. It also provides a license for simulation and process mining.
Chose ARIS
The Service area, they have been very useful. ARIS suite is covering number of applications. ARIS engine is very powerful and robust. The tool can be configured in many ways which can be beneficial but can be a curse at the same time. As a user, you need to apply this …
Chose ARIS
ARIS has its own EPC notation which is very easy, hence a preferred notation amongst many. It has some enhanced features like the ability to create custom reports, queries, adhoc analysis, and simulation, which not all tools offer. However, it is very high priced compared to …
Chose ARIS
ARIS is a much more complex ecosystem than Visio in terms of functionality, being able to create complex relations between people, departments, IT systems, input and output documents, and roles. ARIS handles all these via its library that is defined and created for the whole …
Chose ARIS

Features like SAP Solman Sync, Alfabet EA integration (another Software AG product) and a well defined framework for BPM or any consulting practice across any verticals or domains is useful in a consulting practice, whether it's TOGAF methodology, running a BPM Lifecycle or Six …

Microsoft Visio
Chose Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio defaults to more professional looking diagrams and has a simpler UX/UI, however it lacks hugely on the collaboration and engineering design templates side of things.
Chose Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio is easier to use than MindManager from the user experience. Whilst MindManager is lightweight and supports the browser which make it great with sharing diagrams, its display with information is not always intuitive especially when it becomes too nested. For …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Cost benefit is significant with Microsoft Visio vs Miro, as it is included in the MS 365 Suite. While it has less capability overall than Miro, for flowcharts specifically it is great.
Chose Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio is a much more improved software. Its technological features are very advanced compared to the ones from other softwares. It makes it easy to create work of quality, to analyze and visualize any process or data and generate ideas of any kind. It is the easiest …
Chose Microsoft Visio
We still use Sketchup for certain things - especially where the library of existing elements and drawings can be more easily grabbed and manipulated for our needs. Vectorworks is used by some of our main clients, and for theatrical lighting it’s the best out there. We also have …
Chose Microsoft Visio
I have personally never used or evaluated other programs similar to Microsoft Visio. I started using it following an indication from a colleague who told me that our University distributes it free of charge to its users. Since I first used it (more or less three years ago), I …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Publisher is more generic and while it is able to do what we need, Microsoft Visio allows us to do the same thing using less time and higher accuracy with features like custom icon sets, ease of linking and maintaining links to denote work flows as well as scaling up without …
Chose Microsoft Visio
I feel like they all can play an important role in your organization's success but for those who are comfortable with the Microsoft suite of tools, I would choose Visio.
Chose Microsoft Visio
Other paid services have rather better aesthetics and template/graphic support compared to Visio. However, Visio is a clear winner being a part of the Microsoft family and the positives it brings along such as collaboration, service, etc.
Chose Microsoft Visio
MS visio has the advantange of having variety stencils across all the OEM, I create the visual reprenstation of exact network design
Chose Microsoft Visio
Visio is easier to use however a smart draw is a wonderful tool with some unique libraries. Visio, however, is a little easier to license, install and manage.
Chose Microsoft Visio
Chose it for the ease of use, the professionalism of the exported visuals, and the quick and easy learning curve. I personally use Adobe Illustrator for some of the more complex graphics needed, as I've been using that platform for years; but training contractors and clients …
Chose Microsoft Visio
We have used Lucid charts in the past, Lucid chart does the job well. Microsoft Visio has more templates and seamless integration with MS word and excel. Both of the software does the diagram and charting pretty well but Visio is costly in comparison to Lucid charts. If you …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio is very user-friendly and has many options for the created to use in order to get to their final product. The tool helps to get complex ideas into a visual design, therefore making it easier for other team members to understand the message you are trying to …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Even though it’s a more expensive solution, Vizio is built for the enterprise. Therefore, it integrates perfectly with our existing Microsoft stack, and quite frankly, because it’s such a more mature product, it provides exactly the functionality we need and expect.
Chose Microsoft Visio
Well, I have more than 25 years of experience with all MS products since MS Windows was launched; the user interphase has changed to improve and accommodate the new feature requirements as they come along. Overall, MS Office is coming to have a single experience but separating …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Some comparable products I have used to complete similar tasks would be Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Illustrator. Although both of these are very great programs in their own right, I would say Microsoft Visio is still the best to use, specifically when wanting to create …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Honestly non, wish we knew this tool earlier and I feel so stupid for using Photoshop and Illustrator for doing such work.
Chose Microsoft Visio
Visio is superior to the Lucid chart. They are similar in functionality, but Visio is much better when combined with other Microsoft applications (e.g., MS word to document policies and procedures or MS power point when presenting to executives). I like the Lucid Chart is a …
Chose Microsoft Visio
I looked ar LibreOffice Draw and Lucidchart. While LibreOffice Draw was free and Lucidchart was less expensive, neither had the Microsoft familiarity that Microsoft Visio has. I found myself spending a great deal more time trying to figure out how to perform the same functions …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio is more aligned for professional presentation where a process flow is very important to be read and understood. Microsoft Visio is the market leader in this field and has all the great options. Comparing to other tool Microsoft Visio is great for flow charts and …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio and Miro are both diagramming and visual collaboration tools, but they have some differences in terms of their capabilities and intended uses.One main difference between the two is the range of diagram types that they support. Microsoft Visio is primarily …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Visio has a larger number of templates. More versatile. There are many ready-made elements. More reliable. It is better integrated with other software products, both from the Microsoft ecosystem and with other ecosystems. More convenient to learn. There are much more …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Lucidchart is very simple to use and integrates well with other Microsoft products. Lucidchart is great for simple diagrams but it is not a perfect solution for complex diagrams [compared to] Microsoft Visio which stands out. Microsoft Visio has really advanced diagramming …
Chose Microsoft Visio
We have evaluated Dia, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Good Drawings, but Microsoft Visio stands out in terms of flexibility, time, and efforts as well as impressive presentations. Microsoft Visio is very easy to use and produces standard and very complex diagrams in …
Features
ARISMicrosoft Visio
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
ARIS
9.1
Ratings
11% above category average
Microsoft Visio
-
Ratings
Dashboards7.90 Ratings00 Ratings
Standard reports9.70 Ratings00 Ratings
Custom reports9.80 Ratings00 Ratings
Process Engine
Comparison of Process Engine features of Product A and Product B
ARIS
7.4
Ratings
12% below category average
Microsoft Visio
-
Ratings
Process designer8.20 Ratings00 Ratings
Process simulation8.60 Ratings00 Ratings
Business rules engine6.40 Ratings00 Ratings
SOA support7.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Process player6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for modeling languages9.10 Ratings00 Ratings
Form builder7.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Model execution6.80 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration
Comparison of Collaboration features of Product A and Product B
ARIS
8.4
Ratings
0% below category average
Microsoft Visio
-
Ratings
Social collaboration tools8.40 Ratings00 Ratings
Content Management Capabilties
Comparison of Content Management Capabilties features of Product A and Product B
ARIS
9.3
Ratings
13% above category average
Microsoft Visio
-
Ratings
Content management9.30 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
ARISMicrosoft Visio
Small Businesses
Square 9 Softworks
Square 9 Softworks
Score 9.1 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.1 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Square 9 Softworks
Square 9 Softworks
Score 9.1 out of 10
Cvent Event Diagramming
Cvent Event Diagramming
Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises
CMW Platform
CMW Platform
Score 8.9 out of 10
Cvent Event Diagramming
Cvent Event Diagramming
Score 9.5 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
ARISMicrosoft Visio
Likelihood to Recommend
8.7
(0 ratings)
8.1
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
7.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.0
(0 ratings)
7.3
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
6.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
ARISMicrosoft Visio
Likelihood to Recommend
ARIS is well suited when we want to understand the interrelationship between different processes and their decencies on systems etc. It allows to create an integrated view with easy navigation from one process to another and allows to add information like metrics, risks, cycle time, FTE, etc. Overall, it is a great tool for modeling and analysis. Though it offers BPMN notation, it has limited compatibility with some other tools, hence if the objective is to implement these processes using tools like PEGA then is it not suitable. Further, it is very high priced, so for basic modeling, it might give the right ROI.
Read full review
I believe any company or individual that is looking to get a process map visualized; would be a great tool. The tool is a great way to get complex ideas onto “paper” for all to see. Visio can be harder to use if you have an idea that is going in many different directions. If all ideas can fit on one page, this is the tool to use to visualize it all.
Read full review
Pros
  • BPMN, EPC based modelling of business processes
  • Enterprise Architecture modelling and consulting using support of TOGAF and ArchiMate with extended packages to ARIS BPA
  • Continuously evolving product based on upcoming and current industry trends
  • Supports IOT modelling and also cloud based infrastructure management
Read full review
  • The templates for basic flowcharting are simple to use and cover most of the basic functions and touch points in a diagram.
  • The variety of included icons and connectors means it's very easy to create floor plans and/or network diagrams.
  • The ease at which you can customise connectors with different colours/thickness makes it very effective in overall presentation of a diagram.
Read full review
Cons
  • Has been used in multiple coe set up programs where ARIS has been super handy to use especially its modeling and documentation capability.
Read full review
  • Its inability to delve deeply into micro information successfully.
  • It is a paid software which comes after paying a Microsoft licensing fee.
  • The cost is high and the integration of the stencil library is unnecessarily fragmented.
  • The more you use it, the faster and more effective you will get.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
We use Microsoft Visio to keep our diagrams updated and to that end we will need the subscription to keep using the software. Otherwise we will be left with PDF versions of the diagrams.
Read full review
Usability
I am a BPM and Enterprise Architect Consultant and hence have been using different BPM and EA tools for consulting practice. Until now I have used Opentext Provision EA,Sparx EA, MS Visio and IBM Blueworks. All of the tools used are good and have their own unique features and capabilities. ARIS BPA is widely used by my current organization for different projects.
Read full review
I think Microsoft Visio is pretty easy to initially pick up and understand the user interface to dive into make basic models. It would be nice if there were some fit for purpose templates so that not as much time needs to be spent on some types of engineering diagram structure. Trying to work on a single Visio file with multiple team members is also a sticking point.
Read full review
Support Rating
It has good, even complex functionality that is provided by its library and ability to create relations between items, yet it is not hard to use. Anyone can use it in a short time. It provides reporting abilities and good documentation with the availability of exporting options. The only drawback I have seen was user management/login issues.
Read full review
Overall, I feel that Microsoft's support is weak. They are now such a behemoth that their model of putting documentation online for their users to sift through is totally outgrown. Given the amount of money you pay for these licenses, Microsoft should provide easy one-on-one support for their products via email or chat. The idea of paying their rates for support incidents is ridiculous. If you have an enormous amount of time on your hands, use their support websites and you will eventually find a solution most of the time.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Yes, ARIS is one of the leading process modeling and analysis tools with advanced reporting and modeling capabilities. It also provides a license for simulation and process mining.
Read full review
I have personally never used or evaluated other programs similar to Microsoft Visio. I started using it following an indication from a colleague who told me that our University distributes it free of charge to its users. Since I first used it (more or less three years ago), I have never left Microsoft Visio. Excellent!
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • Documentation of processes made it possible for anyone to see who does what, how and using what systems.
  • Dependency on specific people is eliminated.
Read full review
  • Greatly enhanced time to create share and finalize documentation.
  • Better collaboration between disparate teams, such as marketing opts and sales ops.
  • Transparency/visibility into standardize, workflows and processes have led to better team, relationships, and better results that translate directly to the bottom line and ROI.
Read full review
ScreenShots

ARIS Screenshots

Screenshot of Start page of ARIS Elements.Screenshot of Modeling a BPMN diagram using the web-based ARIS designer.Screenshot of A process landscape in the ARIS portal.Screenshot of A customer journey landscape in the ARIS portal.Screenshot of The steps view of a process model, automatically generated, enriched with multi-media content. An easier way to get process knowledge to employees.Screenshot of A management dashboard in the ARIS portal.