TechRadar Verdict
MyDraw features tools for creating slick, professional diagrams, but while the low price is attractive, the user interface creates an impression of an under-powered Microsoft Visio.
Very affordable
Easy to use
Browser version is welcome
Design tools are limited compared with competing apps
Browser version only works on Chrome
Clunky UI will not suit designers
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MyDrawis a diagramming and vector graphics tool developed by Nevron Software. You can use this package to create organizational maps and professionalflowchartseither by downloading to your desktop or using the web app.
Nevron Software was founded in 1998, and specializes in charting, diagramming, anddata visualizationsolutions. Its cross-platform framework for .NET applications has simplified cross-platform software development. MyDraw is available for Windows and macOS, and both the desktop apps and the web app are identical.
But MyDraw isn’t the slickest-looking piece of software package, although its features make it an ideal choice for communicating complicated concepts and plans visually.
We’ve spent some time using MyDraw, and have compared it with competing apps, looking at price, features, ease of use, and support options.
MyDraw: Plans and pricing
The three versions of MyDraw are referred to as MyDraw for Windows, MyDraw for Mac, and MyDraw for Web.
A MyDraw license costs $36 for 12 months and gives you 3 simultaneous sessions. You can also pay $18 for a 3 month subscription.
MyDraw offers a free 30-day trial to allow you to test out the platform before signing up, but any images you create during this period are watermarked.
If you have a large enterprise and want to purchase a MyDraw license for multiple employees, you can access volume discounts for up to 40% off the cost of an individual license. Similar discounts are available for government, educational, or non-profit organizations. There’s also a recommendation program through which you can get a free MyDraw license by telling 5 friends about the software.
Meanwhile, discounts are available if you are thinking of transferring away from a competing product.
MyDraw: Features
MyDraw is mostly aimed at users with little or no previous experience of using a graphic diagramming toolkit before. It doesn’t take long to produce your desired visual output thanks to a large range of shapes, and a suite of advanced vector operations that let you combine objects and change their geometry.
If you need to create a complex diagram in a hurry, MyDraw has a selection of ready-to-go tree and graph layouts. Through these, you can find a way to arrange your data that highlights the flow of a process and ensures displayed information is as readable as possible. MyDraw comes with customizable automatic layouts, so you’re certain to find one that suits your unique needs.
Ideally, professional diagrams should be easy to interpret at a glance but also contain plenty of information for anyone who needs it. With MyDraw, you can achieve this by hiding additional information in your images with linear, data matrix, and QR barcodes.
Barcodes can be placed anywhere you like in a MyDraw diagram, but they work best next to relevant parts of your image so that readers can learn more about a particular element if they want to. Diagram barcodes are a great way to add in product codes, tracking information or links to other relevant documents.
If you want to design complex, custom vector shapes to add to your projects, MyDraw includes usefuldrawing tools. You can use a library of premade shapes and draw freehand curves, circular arcs, or bezier curves. The geometry of any shape can be modified by dragging control points at its edges.
But that’s not all. To get the effect you’re looking for, you can subtract one shape or combine objects to create a new, composite object. In order to keep the design process simple, MyDraw provides drawing aids like guidelines, rulers, and scales.
MyDraw: Ease of use
The MyDraw interface is complex but will be immediately familiar to anyone who has used an application in theMicrosoft Officesuite. Nevron intentionally matched the look of MyDraw toMicrosoftOffice programs to create a shallow learning curve for first-time users.
Overall, the interface isn’t particularly exciting to look at, but it does a good job of making objects that you need to access frequently easy to get too. It doesn’t take long to figure out how to resize shapes, create new ones, or even modify the entire layout of a project that you’re working on.
The interface doesn’t change much between Windows and Mac versions of the software, as both are equal in terms of functionality. If you want to change things up, a small selection of different MyDraw skins is available.
However, we found some difficulty using the MyDraw for Web version. It seems that only the Chrome (and Chromium-based) browser is supported.
MyDraw: Customer support
Although Nevron Software has done everything it can to make things easy for new users to get to grips with MyDraw, you may want a little extra help with more advanced functions. For this, you can check out MyDraw’s selection of video tutorials. If you need additional help with the software or your MyDraw license, phone support is available on weekdays.
MyDraw: The competition
There are plenty of other great professional diagramming tools out there, but MyDraw keeps pace with the best of them thanks to its large range of design functions and the ability to import data directly fromExcelfiles. It’s also significantly more affordable than some competitors.
However, considering that it is competing against some notable free tools (such asdraw.io), MyDraw doesn’t really do anything outstanding. I was left with a lasting impression of software resembling a cut-downMicrosoft Visio.
MyDraw: Final verdict
If you’re looking for a piece of diagramming software to use in your organization or professional environment, MyDraw is worth considering primarily for its low price.
It stands out thanks to its large range of drawing features, and for adding a web app, but suffers from its similarity to Microsoft Office. Design tools have moved on from Microsoft’s dated ribbon, and consequently MyDraw is closer to Visio thanLucidchartorCreately.
You can make mind maps, flowcharts, wireframes, even genealogy charts, but MyDraw seems like software from a different generation.
Also check out our complete list of thebest mind map software
Christian Cawley has extensive experience as a writer and editor in consumer electronics, IT and entertainment media. He has contributed to TechRadar since 2017 and has been published in Computer Weekly, Linux Format, ComputerActive, and other publications. Formerly the editor responsible for Linux, Security, Programming, and DIY at MakeUseOf.com, Christian previously worked as a desktop and software support specialist in the public and private sectors.
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