Org chart software helps you visualize your company's reporting structure, team hierarchy, and departmental relationships in a clear, shareable diagram. Whether you're onboarding new hires, planning a reorg, or simply trying to figure out who reports to whom, the right tool saves hours of manual work and keeps everyone aligned.
We tested over a dozen org chart tools to find the best options for small and growing teams. Here's what actually works in 2026.
Quick Comparison: Top Org Chart Software
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan | HRIS Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucidchart | Real-time collaboration | $9/mo | ✅ (3 docs) | ❌ |
| Creately | Template variety | $5/mo | ✅ (5 docs) | ❌ |
| Microsoft Visio | Microsoft 365 users | $5/mo/user | ❌ | Via Power Automate |
| SmartDraw | Auto-generation from data | $9.95/mo | ❌ | CSV import |
| ChartHop | Workforce planning | Custom pricing | ❌ | ✅ |
| Pingboard | Employee directory + charts | $149/mo | ❌ | ✅ |
| The Org | Public employer branding | Free (basic) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Google Drawings | Quick, free charts | Free | ✅ | ❌ |
| Tiny Team | Small team HR + structure | $299/year | 14-day trial | Built-in |
Top Org Chart Tools Reviewed
1. Lucidchart — Best for Real-Time Collaboration
Lucidchart excels at visual collaboration with real-time editing, comments, and data-linking capabilities. Import employee data from CSV or Google Sheets, and charts build automatically. Updates to the spreadsheet refresh the chart instantly.
Pricing: Free plan with 3 documents. Paid plans start at $9/month per user.
Best for: Teams needing collaborative diagramming beyond just org charts.
Drawback: Limited free tier and per-seat pricing gets expensive.
2. Creately — Best for Template Variety
Creately provides thousands of templates with intuitive drag-and-drop editing. Database-backed shapes store structured data (role, department, start date), creating a lightweight employee directory within your chart.
Pricing: Free plan with 5 documents. Paid plans start at $5/month per user.
Best for: Teams wanting flexibility across multiple diagram types.
Drawback: No direct HRIS integration — requires manual updates.
3. Microsoft Visio — Best for Microsoft 365 Users
Visio integrates natively with Excel, SharePoint, and Power BI for seamless chart generation from employee spreadsheets. The org chart wizard builds hierarchies automatically from Excel files with names, titles, and reporting relationships.
Pricing: Plan 1 at $5/month per user (web) or Plan 2 at $15/month per user (desktop + web).
Best for: Companies in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Drawback: Overkill for simple charts; steep learning curve for desktop app.
4. SmartDraw — Best for Automatic Chart Generation
SmartDraw generates complete org charts from CSV, Excel, or LDAP data in seconds. The automatic formatting engine handles layout, spacing, and alignment for presentation-ready results without manual tweaking.
Pricing: $9.95/month per user (annual). Free trial available.
Best for: Companies generating charts from existing data sources.
Drawback: Dated interface and limited collaboration features.
5. ChartHop — Best for Workforce Planning
ChartHop syncs directly with HRIS systems (BambooHR, Workday, Gusto) for living org charts that update automatically. Its planning mode lets you model reorganizations and budget impacts before implementation.
According to SHRM's research on organizational design, companies that regularly review org structures report 23% higher employee satisfaction with role clarity.
Pricing: Custom pricing, typically starts around $8/employee/month.
Best for: HR teams at companies with 50+ employees needing strategic planning.
Drawback: Expensive for small teams with significant learning curve.
6. Pingboard — Best for Employee Directory + Org Charts
Pingboard combines interactive org charts with rich employee directories, showing profiles, direct reports, and personal details. HRIS integrations with BambooHR, Workday, and ADP keep charts current automatically.
Pricing: Starts at $149/month for up to 50 employees.
Best for: Companies wanting directory and org chart functionality combined.
Drawback: Per-employee pricing scales expensively with limited layout customization.
Free Org Chart Options Worth Trying
Not every team needs a paid tool. If you're a small team looking to create a basic org chart without spending anything, these options work well.
Google Drawings is built into Google Workspace with basic shapes and real-time collaboration, but lacks org chart templates — you're building from scratch.
Canva provides modern org chart templates with beginner-friendly editing. Export as PNG, PDF, or share directly, though it won't sync with HR systems.
The Org offers public-facing org charts for employer branding. Companies like Shopify and Stripe use public org charts to attract talent.
Draw.io (diagrams.net) is fully free, open-source diagramming with browser access, Google Drive/OneDrive integration, and no user limits.
HR Software with Built-in Org Charts
Many modern HR platforms include org charts as a built-in feature, which means you don't need a separate tool at all. Your employee data is already in the system — the org chart simply visualizes it. For a comprehensive comparison of HR platforms, check out our guide to the best HR software for small businesses.
BambooHR generates org charts automatically from your employee records. Any changes to roles, departments, or reporting lines reflect instantly. At around $13/employee/month though, you're paying a premium if all you need is an org chart.
Rippling includes dynamic org charts alongside its broader HR suite. The charts pull from employee profiles and update in real time. Pricing starts around $8/employee/month.
Tiny Team takes a different approach with its Work Structure feature. Instead of per-seat pricing that balloons as you grow, Tiny Team uses flat annual pricing — $299/year for up to 15 people, $899/year for up to 50, or $1,399/year for up to 100. You get custom roles, titles, departments, and a visual team structure alongside people management, a team calendar, and performance reviews. For small teams, it's dramatically more affordable than enterprise HR suites.
How to Create an Effective Org Chart
Building an org chart isn't just about drawing boxes and lines. A poorly structured chart creates more confusion than clarity. Here's a step-by-step approach that actually works:
Step 1: Audit your current structure. Before opening any tool, document every role, reporting relationship, and department. Talk to team leads — you might discover informal structures that don't match what's on paper.
Step 2: Choose the right chart type. Not every company fits a traditional top-down hierarchy. Consider these options:
- Hierarchical — Classic tree structure. Best for companies with clear reporting lines.
- Matrix — Employees report to multiple managers (common in project-based orgs).
- Flat — Minimal management layers. Popular with startups under 20 people.
- Divisional — Separate charts for each business unit or region.
Step 3: Start with departments, not individuals. Map out your departments and teams first, then populate with specific roles. This prevents the common mistake of building a chart around current employees rather than the structure you need.
Step 4: Keep it updated. An org chart that's three months stale is worse than no chart at all. Set a calendar reminder to review it monthly, or better yet, use a tool that syncs with your HR system automatically.
The Harvard Business Review has published extensive research on organizational design principles — it's worth reading if you're designing a structure from scratch rather than just documenting what exists.
Org Chart Best Practices for Growing Teams
A 15-person startup has very different needs than a 100-person company. Here's what matters at each stage:
Under 20 employees: Keep it simple with Google Drawings or Canva. Focus on helping new hires understand roles, not complex reporting.
20–50 employees: Dedicated tools like Creately or SmartDraw become valuable as departments form and management layers emerge.
50–100 employees: HR-integrated tools like ChartHop or Pingboard prevent manual update fatigue and provide planning capabilities.
According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace report, employees who clearly understand their role and where they fit in the organization are 2.8 times more likely to be engaged at work. A well-maintained org chart contributes directly to that clarity.
What to Include in Your Org Chart
At minimum, each node should contain:
| Information | Required | Nice to Have |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | ✅ | — |
| Job title | ✅ | — |
| Department | ✅ | — |
| Reporting line | ✅ | — |
| Photo | — | ✅ |
| Contact info | — | ✅ |
| Start date | — | ✅ |
| Location/timezone | — | ✅ |
For remote and hybrid teams, adding timezone and location data makes the chart significantly more useful for day-to-day collaboration.
Integrating Org Charts with Your HR System
The biggest pain point with standalone org chart tools is keeping them in sync with reality. Every new hire, departure, promotion, or team transfer means a manual update — and in a fast-moving company, the chart is always behind.
The solution is integration. Most modern HRIS platforms either include built-in org charts or connect with dedicated tools via API. Here's what to look for:
- Automatic sync — Changes in your HR system should reflect in the org chart within hours, not days.
- Bidirectional updates — Ideally, you can plan changes in the org chart and push them back to your HR system.
- SSO compatibility — The org chart should be accessible to everyone without creating separate logins.
- Permission controls — Not everyone should see salary data or contractor status in the chart.
If you're already using an HR platform, check whether it has org chart capabilities before buying a separate tool. You might be paying for a feature you already have.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is org chart software used for?
Org chart software creates visual diagrams of your company's reporting structure, showing who reports to whom, how departments are organized, and where each role fits in the hierarchy. Teams use it for onboarding, workforce planning, and improving internal communication.
Is there a free org chart maker?
Yes. Google Drawings, Draw.io (diagrams.net), Canva, and The Org all offer free org chart creation. Google Drawings and Draw.io are fully free with no restrictions, while Canva and The Org have free tiers with some limitations.
Can I create an org chart in Excel or Google Sheets?
You can create basic org charts using SmartArt in Excel or shapes in Google Sheets, but the results are limited. Dedicated tools like Lucidchart and SmartDraw can import data from spreadsheets and generate much better-looking, automatically formatted charts.
How often should I update my org chart?
Review your org chart at least monthly, or immediately after significant changes like new hires, departures, promotions, or team restructuring. Tools that sync with your HR system handle this automatically.
What's the difference between an org chart tool and an HRIS?
An org chart tool focuses specifically on visualizing team structure. An HRIS (Human Resource Information System) manages employee data, time-off, documents, and other HR functions — many include org charts as one feature among many. For small teams, an all-in-one HR platform is usually more practical than a standalone chart tool.
Do remote teams need org chart software?
Remote teams arguably need org charts more than co-located teams. Without the ability to physically see who sits where or overhear conversations, a clear visual structure helps remote employees understand team relationships, find the right person to contact, and feel connected to the broader organization.