Bay Alarm Medical is a company that specializes in providing medical alert systems and services for seniors and their families. It offers home-based and mobile systems with 24/7 professional monitoring services. It has been in business for over 70 years and has a headquarters in Concord, California. It overall gets high marks with 4.8 out of 5 stars based on over 10,000 reviews.

That said, we’ve had too many issues with connection and sensitivity issues. The issues actually overshadow the benefits of Bay Alarm Medical's overall value. Twice we’ve had issues with medical alert devices not connecting to the emergency response center that the brand has partnered with. And twice we’ve had fall detection sensors call for help when nobody was around, resulting in an ambulance being sent out to us. Twice. That said, we recognize the issues might be isolated to our experience and not endemic to the service as a whole. 

Still, it is a concerning pattern that we can’t ignore. While Bay Alarm Medical offers some benefits, we've encountered persistent problems with connectivity and sensitivity. These issues overshadow the overall value of the service. Twice, our medical alert devices failed to connect to the emergency response center that Bay Alarm Medical partners with. Additionally, our fall detection sensors triggered false alarms twice, resulting in unnecessary ambulance dispatches.

It's important to note that our experience may not be representative of the service as a whole. However, the recurring issues are concerning and cannot be disregarded.

Bay Alarm Medical: Medical alert systems

In keeping with the practices of many medical alert companies, Bay Alarm Medical utilizes the MyTrex MXD system for both the in-home landline and cellular systems. This system incorporates a speakerphone with a high volume output, offering both advantages and drawbacks. Having evaluated numerous MyTrex MXD systems, we have found that while they consistently deliver the highest volume output on the market, the audio quality can be variable. We believe this is due to the practice of reusing medical alert systems after they have been returned by customers who have canceled their service. Over time, the speaker will inevitably deteriorate, leading to poor communication quality with emergency responders. We strongly recommend testing the speaker quality and returning the device if you are not satisfied with its performance.

Additionally, Bay Alarm Medical offers a unique in-car medical alert system. This system connects to your vehicle's AC adapter and automatically calls for assistance in the event of an accident or if you are stranded, lost, or in need of help.

During our initial three-week testing period, we received a device that was programmed with an invalid phone number. When we pressed the help button, we received an automated message stating that the number was no longer valid, followed by a request to call a different number. However, the message was always terminated before the complete number was provided. We reported this issue to Bay Alarm, and they promptly sent us a replacement device. Unfortunately, by the time we received the new medical alert system, it was no longer practical to conduct comparative testing with other systems in terms of their call response times.

During the execution of the second phase of testing, our team experienced connectivity challenges with Bay Alarm Medical's mobile medical alert system. On two separate occasions, the system failed to establish a connection with an emergency response center, necessitating them to contact our personal telephone number to ascertain our well-being. Additionally, the system initiated two false alarms when no individuals were present, resulting in the dispatch of an ambulance to our testing facility on both instances. Currently, the precise cause of these issues remains uncertain. Bay Alarm Medical has provided an apology and has offered to replace the device; however, the persistent issues have undoubtedly given us cause for concern. 

Bay Alarm Medical: Emergency response center

The initial testing phase revealed that the emergency response time was not satisfactory, with an average of approximately 50 seconds, which exceeded the industry standard. Notably, there were two instances where calls remained unanswered after a duration of five minutes. These instances were excluded from the final results due to a suspected device malfunction. 

It is noteworthy that in both cases, the emergency response center proactively contacted us via our private phone line to ensure our well-being. This indicates that the call for assistance was received, but the device encountered an unexplained technical issue that prevented it from establishing a connection with an operator. In comparison, GreatCall demonstrated significantly faster response times for emergency calls, with an average of 20 seconds per call, which is approximately four times faster than our device's performance. 

One positive takeaway was the quality of the calls. When we were successfully able to connect, the calls were excellent. The operators were clearly well-trained, maintaining an interested, yet calm demeanor. They made sure to ask if we were okay multiple times and almost always required us to confirm our identity, a necessary security measure often skipped by call centers. One positive aspect of the calls was their overall quality. When connections were successfully established, the calls were consistently excellent. The operators demonstrated a high level of training by maintaining a professional and attentive demeanor throughout the interactions. They consistently inquired about our well-being and almost always requested confirmation of our identity, which is a vital security measure that is frequently overlooked by other call centers.

Bay Alarm Medical: Medical alert service

Bay Alarm Medical employs a relatively assertive approach to marketing and sales strategies compared to its competitors. Upon providing personal information, individuals should anticipate a consistent stream of emails, texts, and phone calls. Nevertheless, such practices are commonplace within the industry. It is important to note that Bay Alarm Medical operates on a no-obligation basis, ensuring that customers are never pressured into making unaffordable purchases.

Bay Alarm Medical has forged a partnership with Bella Charms to enhance the aesthetics of medical alert pendants through innovative decorative elements. This strategic collaboration aims to address the social stigma associated with traditional medical alert devices. By concealing the pendant within an attractive piece of jewelry, the solution increases the likelihood of seniors adhering to the usage of their devices.   

Bay Alarm Medical: Pricing

Bay Alarm Medical offers different plans and packages for their medical alert systems and services. The pricing varies depending on the type of system, the features, and the payment frequency. Here are some examples of their pricing:

SOS Home Landline: This is the basic package that works with a landline phone and a help button. It starts at $24.95 per month with no equipment cost.

SOS Home Cellular: This is similar to the landline package but works with a cellular network instead of a phone line. It starts at $29.95 per month with no equipment cost.

SOS Home Cellular with Fall Prevention: This is a device that combines the features of the in-home and mobile systems. It has a base station, a help button, and a GPS tracker. It can work both in and away from home. It starts at $39.95 per month with a one-time fee of $159.

Also note that there is free shipping on devices, and some plans offer a free month of service.

Bay Alarm Medical: Support

If you need support from Bay Alarm Medical, you have several options to contact them. You can call them at 1-877-522-9633 or 1-925-677-1400 and press “1” to reach their customer service team. You can also send them an email at cs@bayalarmmedical.com. Their customer service hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Pacific Time.

We also visited their website and found helpful guides and videos on how to use their products and services. If you have a medical emergency, you can push your help button and a professionally-trained operator will be on the line.

Bay Alarm Medical: Final verdict

Bay Alarm Medical has low prices for its landline and mobile systems, starting at $25 and $30 per month respectively. It also has a unique in-car medical alert system that sets it apart from other services.

However, we are less than satisfied with Bay Alarm Medical due to the frequent issues we have faced. The connection problems with both the MyTrex and the mobile system reduce the value of the service, despite the otherwise attractive pricing.

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Microsoft Visio is a powerful diagramming and flowchart software platform that’s up there with the most popular in the world. Originally released in 1992, it was bought by Microsoft in 2000 and has been regularly updated in the years since. 

Even the most cursory glance shows why Visio is used by business owners and marketers across the world. It offers great tools, comes with a beginner-friendly interface, is affordable, and even includes a 30-day free trial.

However, be warned: compared with other flowchart and diagram-making tools, Visio is difficult to get hold of.

Microsoft Visio: Plans and pricing

Microsoft Visio comes with a range of different pricing options suited to everyone from individual users to large businesses. New users have the choice of two monthly plans, two permanent licenses, and a 30-day free trial. 

There isn’t a free version, but there is a basic version, included in Microsoft 365 plans. This features basic editing, limited templates, real-time collaboration, commenting, and sharing, and the usual Microsoft 365 security, privacy, and support.

It’s useful for home use, but not really suitable in the workplace. For that, you’ll need Visio Plan 1 or Plan 2. 

Visio’s two monthly subscriptions are both based on a per user model, with a range of useful tools and no lock-in contracts. Visio Plan 1 costs just $5.00 per user per month if you pay annually or $6.00 with monthly payments. It includes access to the Visio web app and 2 GB of OneDrive storage, and allows users to create simple diagrams directly with their internet browser. 

Alternatively, signing up for Visio Plan 2 costs $15.00 per user per month ($18.00 with monthly payments) and includes the Visio desktop app. It comes with a much wider selection of tools and is a better choice for larger businesses and those who want to create more advanced diagrams and flowcharts. 

Along these monthly subscriptions, Visio offers two permanent licenses for those who want to buy the software outright. A Visio Standard 2021 license will cost you $309.99 for the program’s basic features. It allows you to work on both your desktop or a tablet/hybrid and includes the most common tools.

The pricier Visio Professional 2021 costs $579.99, meanwhile, and comes with advanced features for larger businesses, including powerful collaboration tools.

It’s worth noting that both the Standard and Professional license are only valid for one computer.

Microsoft Visio: Features

Visio comes with an impressive range of native features that back its reputation as an industry-leading diagramming and flowcharting program. 

For starters, Visio allows users to easily create professional flowchart diagrams. You can base your design on any one of a range of powerful templates or start with a blank canvas. 

Visio’s collaboration tools are up there with the best we’ve seen. They allow team members to work on the same document from different devices, increasing productivity and eliminating the need for third-party messaging apps. 

Another of our favorite things about Visio is its ability to integrate with real-time data sources. This means that you can set your flowcharts and diagrams to automatically update when new information becomes available. A few of the things you can link to include Microsoft Excel workbooks, SQL Server databases, and Access databases.

Visio also offers impressive flexibility, with both desktop and web versions available. The web app is a great tool for those who regularly work from different devices, as it doesn’t require a PC-specific license.

Finally, Microsoft Visio also comes with complete Microsoft 365 integrations, allowing you to easily connect your project to programs like Excel and Word to further streamline workflow processes.

Microsoft Visio: Ease of use

Visio supports desktop and browser-based use. Both interfaces are extremely intuitive and beginner friendly. 

Selecting a shape to begin composing your first diagram is as simple as you would expect. While different to most other Microsoft tools, Visio nevertheless shares a collection of standard tools found in other diagramming and flowchart apps. If you’re familiar with competing tools, it won’t take long for you to develop familiarity with Microsoft Visio.

The web version is the simplest, and also a great option for those who want to work on the go. It’s very easy to navigate and comes with Visio’s core features. The desktop app is even more impressive, allowing you to perform advanced actions and create high-quality diagrams at the touch of a button. Its collaboration features and integrations with other Microsoft software will help you streamline team feedback and various other processes.

Microsoft Visio: Customer support

Microsoft Visio’s support offering is disappointing, lacking live chat and phone help. However, there are a few other options available to users. 

For starters, the Visio help center contains a wide range of articles, video tutorials, and how-to guides. It’s a great first choice when you’re having trouble understanding how to do something. Alternatively, users can also make use of the Visio community forum or reach out to the Microsoft team via an online contact form.

Being a Microsoft product, you’re not going to be short of answers online. The problem is finding the right answer – even on Microsoft’s own support forums, that’s not always easy.

Microsoft Visio: The competition

Although Microsoft Visio is a powerful tool for those who need to create top-quality diagrams and visualize workplace processes or data, there are numerous alternatives out there. 

For example, Lucidchart is a popular option due to its affordability and the slightly different features it offers. It is important to recognize, however, that the landscape has shifted considerably over the past few years. Strong alternatives to Visio exist, such as EdrawMax and Canva Flowchart Maker, both of which have free versions. 

Given how difficult it is to access Visio even with a Microsoft 365 account, these competing tools might be easier to sign up to and use.

Microsoft Visio: Final verdict

Microsoft Visio has developed a reputation as one of the best diagramming and visualization programs in the world, and for good reason. It comes with an impressive range of tools, great collaboration features, four different payment options, and a 30-day free trial. 

However, Visio does fall down slightly on the customer service front, and some of its competitors offer significantly cheaper subscription options. In some cases, the competition is free.

All things considered, it’s certainly worth considering Visio as an option if you’re looking for a powerful program to streamline workflow processes. But if you need a flowchart or diagramming solution in a pinch and you don’t have a suitable Microsoft account already, look elsewhere.

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In 2006, Michael Hollauf and Till Vollmer founded their company, Meister, launching MindMeister a year later. It’s a web-based, cross-platform app that helps you capture your ideas, develop them, and share them visually with others. MindMeister can be used for brainstorming, planning projects, taking notes, and more.

Today, Meister is an international company that employs 50+ people in Munich, Vienna, and Seattle. Over 14 million people use MindMeister, and the company’s second product, MeisterTask, is a well-regarded collaborative task management software platform.

MindMeister: Plans and pricing

If you are new to MindMeister, you can use the Basic plan free of charge. Though limited (you can only create a maximum of three mind maps), you can still test out most of the functionality included in MindMeister and receive support from the Meister team via email. 

Users who want to create a larger number of mind maps should opt for one of the paid subscription plans. If you upgrade to the Personal plan ($6.50 per person per month), you get the ability to create as many mind maps as you would like, attach files and images, and print your mind map or export it as an image or PDF.

Upgrading to the Pro plan ($10.50 per user per month) adds Google Workspace tools, more customization options, and additional export options. The Business plan ($15.50 per user per month) comes with regulatory compliance features, a custom domain that your collaborators can use to access your projects, and priority support via email and telephone.

(Payments based on annual subscription. A 6-monthly option is also available.)

Meister offers discounts to those affiliated with academic or nonprofit institutions. If you want both mind mapping software and task management tools, you can purchase both of Meister’s products at a 30% discount.

MindMeister: Features

When creating a mind map, you can get started with a blank document in the editor. However, if that’s overwhelming, you can choose to begin with one of the templates provided by MindMeister instead. The map template library has many options from which you can choose, including ones for brainstorming, taking notes, and writing a business plan. 

MindMeister features collaboration tools that allow you to share your mind maps with as many people as you'd like. They can comment and edit in real-time, which makes sure that everyone is on the same page.

The History Mode included with MindMeister lets you see all of the changes that have been made to your mind map over time. You can see when the changes were made as well as who made the change.

MindMeister allows you to create various types of mind maps, and the app includes templates to help you get started. The drag-and-drop editor allows you to work on your mind maps with ease, and you can upload custom items, such as background images and logos, for use with your projects.

If you need to present your ideas, MindMeister has features that help you turn your mind maps into presentations similar to those you would create with Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides.

Meister also puts out MeisterTask, which is a task management suite. It integrates well with MindMeister if you are interested in placing mind maps into your task and planning notes.

MindMeister: Ease of use

MindMeister’s clean, modern interface is appealing, and the minimalist toolbars and context menus make it easy for you to find the features you want to use. There is a learning curve as you get used to where MindMeister has placed certain things, but for the most part, we found it easy to get started with a template and add, edit, or remove items.

MindMeister also offers a mobile-friendly version so that you can view projects as well as create, edit, or comment on mind maps when you’re away from a laptop/desktop. The apps were fairly well designed, but as mind maps got bigger, we found it more challenging to work on the smaller screens.

MindMeister: Customer support

You should enjoy a headache-free MindMeister experience, but if you encounter any challenges, click the ? button in the lower-right corner of the design space. This provides links to keyboard shortcuts, tutorials, a feature requests form, and the Help Center.

The searchable MindMeister Help Center includes step-by-step how-to articles as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. MindMeister also offers tutorial videos and training courses.

If you want to reach out to the MindMeister team, you can do so via email. Those with the enterprise-grade Business subscriptions receive priority email and telephone support. 

MindMeister: The competition

If you want to look at several options for mind mapping before making your final decision, there are several alternatives you should consider, including Lucidchart and draw.io.

Lucidchart is a web-based diagramming and flowchart creator tool that, while not strictly designed for mind mapping, can be used for such. It comes with some fairly advanced features, including built-in data/analytics tools. However, Lucidchart tries to make its product accessible despite its power feature set and functionality.

If what you’re looking for is a simple, easy-to-use solution for quick drawings, consider draw.io. It is free to use, and though it doesn’t pack a punch the way MindMeister and Lucidchart do, it may be sufficient for simple drawings.

MindMeister: Final verdict

MindMeister is a powerful, feature-rich mind mapping tool that can be used to visually convey your ideas. Furthermore, MindMeister comes with useful tools that facilitate collaboration, track changes to mind maps over time, and more. 

Most importantly, it’s easy to use. Effortlessly getting your ideas into visual form is an important part of the creative process, so this is a particular strength of MindMeister.

Though the product’s applications are somewhat limited and the support team offers only email-based contact to most users, MindMeister is nevertheless a great option for its intended audience.

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Lucidchart is one of the best flowchart software platforms available. Powerful and data-based, it is used by 99% of the world’s largest Fortune 500 companies. Based on professional flowchart diagrams, it’s a great choice for those looking for actionable information that they can use to improve company workflow processes. 

A web based (HTML5) tool that enables online collaboration among local and distributed teams, Lucidchart has been around since 2008. It’s become quite a big name in the diagramming market, hence the high regard in which it is held.

Along with an impressive range of features suited to businesses of all sizes, Lucidchart comes with a great free trial and easy-to-use templates to get you started. 

We’ve spent some time using Lucidchart to help you decide if it is the right tool for your purposes. Lucidchart has been evaluated based on price, features, ease of use, support provision, and competing tools.

Lucidchart: Plans and pricing

With both personal and business plans, Lucidchart offers a range of pricing options for users of all sizes. It’s worth noting that all subscriptions include a free trial so you can test before you buy.

The Free subscription is quite limited but gives you access to free shape libraries and all design templates. It’s a good choice if you just want to play around and make a few diagrams for your personal project. 

On the other hand, the Individual subscription costs $7.95 per month but offers significantly more powerful features. Among these are 1 GB of storage, unlimited documents and shapes, Visio import and export, premium shape libraries, and premium templates.  

If you’re looking for a more powerful subscription to cover your entire business, Lucidchart’s Team plan starts at just $9 per user user per month. This plan includes everything in the personal Pro plan, along with revision history, the Visual Activities feedback tool, collaboration tools, and a range of useful integrations with Microsoft, Google. You also get access to the Lucidchart API.

If you’re running a larger business, Lucidchart also offers a custom Enterprise plan which is priced according to your needs. Along with this, it includes a range of management features and optional enhancements to help you boost your business. 

Lucidchart: Features

As one of the leading diagramming tools available, Lucidchart comes with an impressive range of noteworthy features. We’ve covered some of the best here, but it’s by no means a comprehensive list. 

One of the most noteworthy things about Lucidchart is its great list of keyboard shortcuts. Designed to help you streamline otherwise time-consuming processes, you should find that these dramatically improve your productivity. 

Lucidchart also comes with powerful layering features. These allow you to create diagrams within diagrams, which should, in turn, help you build a clean, intuitive layout that’s easy to understand. 

Similarly, you can also keep things simple by linking to text boxes or blocks within your diagram. These will only appear when the relevant element is clicked.  

There’s nothing more annoying than having to communicate with your coworkers via email or other messaging apps. Luckily, Lucidchart includes a range of integrated collaboration features which you can use to communicate with your team members while you’re working. Asana, Atlassian, Microsoft, and Google products are all supported. There is even the option to use Microsoft Copilot to produce AI summaries of your diagrams.

Traditional diagramming software can be messy and hard to work with, especially if you have to create neat, presentation-quality images. However, Lucidchart includes a range of “smart” design elements which automatically keep your diagrams tidy. 

Lucidchart: Ease of use

An in-depth trial of the Lucidchart user interface shows why it’s up there with the best management software available. It’s easy to use from the beginning and took us no more than a couple of minutes to get the hang of.

On top of this, Lucidchart allows you to specify exactly what you’re going to be using it for. Doing so causes the most relevant tools to be presented in an easy-access dashboard. 

When you actually begin to build your first diagram, you will be able to start with a blank document or choose from one of a range of templates. From there, it’s all a matter of adding the elements you want via the intuitive editing interface.  

These are accessed via a menu on the left-hand side of the screen. Standard formatting tools can be found across the top of the interface, and right-clicking a placed element will reveal a context menu. It’s all easy to use, uncomplicated, and fast. 

Remember, this is browser-based software, so you can use it on any operating system provided you have a compatible browser.

Lucidchart: Customer support

Unfortunately, Lucidchart does fall down slightly on the customer service and support front. It doesn’t offer any online live chat, but it does come with quite an impressive resource center and community forum. 

If you do want to speak with a member of the Lucidchart team, you will have to call or reach out via their social media pages. Helpfully, a Lucidchart flowchart illustrates the process to follow – search the help center, search the community, and post in the community if you need help with the app. If the problem relates to how Lucidchart works, you can raise a support ticket.

It is a relief that the resource center contains solutions to a range of popular questions. We found it very useful, and expect you will too. The Lucid community board is a friendly place, and thanks to the wide use of the software, pretty busy.

Lucidchart: The competition

Although Lucidchart is a leader in the world of diagramming and presentation software, there are numerous great alternatives that are worth considering. 

Microsoft Visio is perhaps the biggest name in this field, but has issues. Its baked-in Microsoft-ness, outdated legacy artwork, and the comparative difficulty of actually accessing the tool, make it pretty undesirable. Its collaboration tools fall short, too.

Lucidchart, by comparison, feels light and fresh, and probably easier to use. 

Meanwhile, platforms like Draw.io and EdrawMind are full cloud integrations, allowing you to save and access your diagrams and charts from anywhere. They’re closer to Lucidchart than Visio, and we think that similarity proves Lucidchart’s superiority.

Lucidchart: Final verdict

All things considered, it’s easy to see why Lucidchart is up there with the best diagramming and chart management software available. Its prices are extremely reasonable, and it even comes with a full free trial. 

Similarly, Lucidchart’s depth of features is almost unrivaled, and its user interface is simple and intuitive. Although its customer service does fall down slightly, everything else about this program is so good that we think you’ll love it.  

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SmartDraw is online and downloadable diagramming software with a range of features including flow charts, and mind mapping. This software also works with geographic maps, health diagrams, and floor plan creation. 

First released in 1994, SmartDraw has long been an industry leader, and early on was a main competitor of Microsoft Visio. In recent years, its desktop app has been accompanied by an online, cloud-based web app.

We’ve assessed SmartDraw to see how its capabilities stack up against the competition, on pricing, features, ease of use, and customer support.

SmartDraw: Plans and pricing

SmartDraw has both a Windows desktop and an online version. When you first check out the SmartDraw site, it can be unclear what you’ll actually pay before entering your email and creating an account. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the SmartDraw pricing so you know exactly what you’re going to get. 

SmartDraw: Online Edition

For a single user, a cloud-based SmartDraw account is $9.95 per month. A team of at least 3 users is $8.25 per user per month. All accounts are billed annually, so you’ll actually be paying around $120 when you check out for a single account. SmartDraw does offer a seven-day free trial which is worth checking out to ensure the software works for you.

The Site option is for larger companies, and is available “for as low as $1 per user per month.” This is with annual billing, but there is no automated sign-up option here. Instead, you’ll need to contact SmartDraw’s sales department to discuss your requirements.

SmartDraw is the ability to sync with Google Drive and other Google products. What may surprise you is that the online edition has everything the PC edition does with just a handful of exceptions. This even includes architecture and genealogy tools that are hard to find on this kind of cloud-based software.

SmartDraw: PC Edition

The downloadable PC version of SmartDraw is a one-time $297 purchase. There are no extra fees and you’ll be able to use SmartDraw without any mandatory updates that competing products like MindManager require.

After purchasing a license, you will receive free updates and premium support for one year. Following that, the maintenance and upgrade service costs $69.95 per year. However, upgrading is not required to run the program. It is also worth mentioning that for more than five users you can get a yearly subscription for $595, which could be a good deal for businesses.

As far as use goes, the main difference you’ll notice between the PC version and the online version of SmartDraw is that there are more templates in the Windows variant. In addition, there are schedule and calendar creators, presentation capabilities, and process documentation. 

Choosing the right edition will be about what you need the program for and for how long you’ll need it.

SmartDraw: Features

SmartDraw stands out because of the wide variety of capabilities it offers for a large number of fields. This program hasn’t narrowed itself down to a particular niche but instead works for academic, business, and personal users.

Like the competing MindManager and MindView software packages, SmartDraw can help you build organizational trees, mind maps and many different types of charts. SmartDraw’s mapping interface might not be as advanced as, say, MindView’s, but it will cost you significantly less.

SmartDraw is pretty advanced in the architectural design realm and even stacks up well against specialized software like AutoCAD. While SmartDraw doesn’t have 3D modeling capabilities, it can import CAD files and provides you with numerous ready-to-go floor plans.

Not only that, but for quick and simple designs, you can use SmartDraw to throw together ready-made building blocks like office spaces, bedrooms, and dining rooms. This makes it a great tool for interior designers or novices who want to give their architect an idea of what they are looking for.

SmartDraw sets itself apart by the huge volume of templates it has to offer. These include diagrams for the health sector like family history genograms, personal charting, electrical diagrams, body charts, and nutrition graphics. Engineers will also get a lot to work with such as vehicle designs, electrical wiring diagrams, and software project plans. If you run an interdisciplinary team, this software could be for you.

SmartDraw: Ease of use

To get started with SmartDraw, you can either download the Windows desktop version by entering your email or create an account for SmartDraw online. Both will prompt you to purchase during your seven-day free trial.

Once you are signed up, you can begin designing diagrams and checking out the SmartDraw templates. When you first open SmartDraw, you’ll see a long list of them on the left side of the page. Some of these are populated with sample information, but others are mostly empty, intended for more radical revision.

The way the toolbox on the left-hand of the screen appears will be different based on what you are designing. For example, in an architecture template, you’ll see rooms and walls, whereas, in a genogram, it’ll show individual family members. The toolbar at the top of the screen stays pretty much the same and is fairly basic compared to programs that are more task or industry-specific like Mindmanager or AutoCAD.

SmartDraw: Customer support

Getting started using SmartDraw is straightforward. The interface provides some useful tips on first launch, and a number of learning resources can be found on the website. These cover templates, diagrams, and general resource. There are also developer resources, including a guide to the SmartDraw API.

For assistance using SmartDraw, you can open the Support menu and click the Help button or Contact Support. This launches the SmartDraw Knowledge Base, where you will also find a contact form to open a support ticket. Alternatively, you can call the SmartDraw technical support team over the phone during standard working hours.

SmartDraw: The competition

Diagramming, mind mapping, and flowchart tools are most web-based these days, with cloud storage. Key competitors to SmartDraw include Lucidchart, Cacoo, and Creately. Each of these has a similar feature set, price point, and are easy to use.

For most purposes, there is little between them.

The offline version of SmartDraw stacks up favorably against other downloadable software such as Microsoft Visio. Its accessibility, low price-point, and broad feature set makes it a superior option. However, SmartDraw’s template graphics are quite close in style to those in Microsoft Visio, more than any other tool we’ve seen. 

SmartDraw: Final verdict

If you are looking for diagramming software that can do it all, SmartDraw is the tool for you. For advanced industry-specific capabilities, you may want to explore other options, but in all likelihood, SmartDraw will be the right way to produce any type of diagram or chart you need without blowing your budget.

The free trial is really useful, but in most cases you won’t need the desktop tool. SmartDraw’s modern cloud-based web-app offers more flexibility and won’t take up space on your SSD. 

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MindManager is mind map software for Windows PC and Mac, which also has a cloud-based version. 

With it, you can create flowcharts, organizational charts, and even manage your workforce. Originally published by Mindjet in 1998, the company has been acquired by the former Corel Corporation, now known as Alludo. As such, MindManager is part of a stable of well-known applications and utilities.

In this review, we’ll discuss MindManager’s main features and the pros and cons associated with the platform. You’ll quickly see why we consider this one of the most advanced and user-friendly mind-mapping tools on the market today.

MindManager: Plans and pricing

If you want to download MindManager to see if its right for you without splashing out, you can take a look at the web version. You can also click the Try it free link to get a 30-day trial for Windows or macOS.

Three plans are available: Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise.

Essentials is the web version of MindManager, for individual use, and costs $99 a year.

The Professional plan is for individuals and small teams, and is $179.00 a year. This includes a full suite of features, collaboration tools, and regular updates. You can use this with up to 5 users.

For larger teams, the Enterprise option is $179 per user per year, where the software is used by 5 or more personnel. Quotes and pricing options are available for this tier, which offers various extended features, such as SSO, dedicated support, and training and consultation services.

Note that there is also a one-time purchase option for MindManager. This covers licenses for Windows and macOS, and costs $369.

MindManager: Features

MindManager is a popular brainstorming and organizational tool and is well-recognized for its feature density. This software particularly stands out for its mind mapping toolkit and selection of add-on options. One of the great things about MindManager is the extent to which you can visually customize any charts you use it to create.

As mapping is MindManager’s foremost feature, its capabilities in this area are impressive. Maps can be connected to each other and exported to Word or similar software. You can create Gantt charts, add indexes, schedules, and even display your charts and maps in a presentation mode.

For project management planning and business start-up, MindManager has development, risk management, and training templates. You can also sync your MindManager business data with other productivity platforms such as Outlook and Slack. The big benefit here is that MindManager will track your team’s progress in real-time, and notify you if things are off-track or if any information is missing.

If starting from scratch seems intimidating, MindManager’s wealth of templates will help you get started. These include example data that you can leave in place – useful if you are just getting to grips with the tool – or create the mind map as a bare-bones project to complete as you go.

When using MindManager as a team, individuals can drop links to detailed notes, references, and URLs in the same project. The MindManager system also features app-integration with Microsoft Sharepoint, and Jira. It has Microsoft Team integration, too.

MindManager: Ease of use

Upon opening the software, you’ll see that MindManager resembles a Microsoft product. This is not by accident. MindManager’s interface was designed to make those who are already comfortable with the office suite feel at home. 

In addition to some very familiar tabs like, “Insert” or “View”, you’ll see buttons that change depending on what you’re working on such as the “Task” project management tab.

The main ribbon-like toolbar is nice and compact, but most of the interaction with your projects will take place within the main design space. This is a great interface, one that makes it easy to add topics and sub-topics to your mind map. Useful context menus and formatting tools help you to expand your mind maps and convey concepts in a myriad of stylish ways.

MindManager: Customer support

In the MindManager program, you can click on the help button to find FAQs, quick tips, and keyboard shortcuts. If you’re in need of more hands-on help, you can fill out a ticket, send an online chat message, or contact one of MindManager’s many international offices by phone or email.

In most cases, this probably won’t be required. The tool is exceptionally easy to use, and offers quick pop-up tips when you access a new feature or template. Additionally, the example data that can be optionally opened in new templates also includes information on how to use the chosen mind map.

MindManager: The competition

For several years, the main competitor to MindManager was MindView. Both have very similar user-interfaces, capabilities, and price-points. MindManager’s organizational charts are slightly more advanced and it has several more diagrams and map templates that you won’t find on MindView. 

Having used them both relatively recently, I found MindManager to be slightly superior to MindView. But the competition is far greater than a simple battle between these two apps. Scapple, Mindomo, LucidChart, and many others are vying for attention, all boasting spacious design areas, slick shortcuts, and stylist layout and formatting options. 

MindView doesn’t stand out against many alternatives, but MindManager does.

MindManager: Final verdict

Whether you’re a business manager looking to organize a team or an academic needing to visualize your ideas, MindManager is a fantastic program without bloatware and with all the features you could ask for from a diagram and mind-mapping tool. 

For businesses, contacting MindManager to discuss adding its Enterprise version to your tech stack could be one of the best things you do for your company. 

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