yEd Graph Editor

yEd Graph Editor is a free desktop application for drawing diagrams manually, importing structured data, and applying automatic layouts. It is best suited to people who need many diagram styles and file formats on Linux, macOS, or Windows, and who are comfortable installing Java. The main trade-off is a one-copy license with restrictions on redistribution and automated use.

Overview

yEd combines a diagram editor with graph-layout automation. You can build a chart from scratch, bring in external data, or reorganize an existing graph through layout algorithms. That combination fits analysts, developers, students, and teams producing structured diagrams rather than casual collaborative whiteboards. The desktop deployment keeps the tool focused on installed use, while the free price removes a subscription decision for both personal and commercial work.

The application comes from yWorks, whose work began as a University of Tübingen project in 1998 and whose company is based in Tübingen, Germany. The current download listing identifies version 3.25.1 and provides installers for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

Key features

Supported diagram types include BPMN diagrams, semantic networks, family trees, flowcharts, social networks, UML class diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, and swimlane diagrams. The palette supplies corresponding UML, BPMN, flowchart, entity-relationship, swimlane, and network elements. Custom graphics and Visio VSX stencils extend the built-in vocabulary, which is useful when a standard symbol set does not match a project’s notation.

Automatic layout choices cover hierarchical, orthogonal, UML-style orthogonal, organic, circular, tree, radial, swimlane, and flowchart arrangements. These options matter when imported or fast-growing graphs become difficult to position by hand: the layout can impose a readable structure, although choosing the appropriate style still depends on the diagram’s purpose.

Import support includes GraphML, Excel XLS, GEDCOM, GML, and XML converted to GraphML with XSLT. Export reaches PDF, SVG, EMF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, HTML image maps, and EPS. That breadth supports both editable data workflows and delivery as documents, images, or web-oriented output.

The interface is localized in English and German. yEd is a Java Swing application built on the yFiles for Java diagramming library, so a suitable Java Runtime Environment is required; stable JDK versions up to Java 21 are supported. Release 3.25.1 updates Apache XMLBeans to address CVE-2021-23926, an XML External Entity injection vulnerability when parsing Excel files.

Pricing

yEd Graph Editor — free. The free plan permits personal and commercial use, making it suitable for individual diagrammers, consultants, students, and businesses that can work within its license terms. There is no free trial because the product itself is free.

The important limits are legal rather than usage quotas: the license grants one installed copy, prohibits redistribution, and forbids using yEd as part of an automated process. Those terms make it a poor fit for distributing bundled installations, embedding the editor in a service, or running unattended diagram generation. yWorks is not required to provide maintenance or support under the license, although bug reports can be sent to [email protected] and a manual and Q&A forum are provided.

Platforms

yEd is a desktop application for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It runs as Java bytecode and supports stable JDK releases through Java 21. A plugin build-integration model is listed, but the license restriction on automated processes should be considered before incorporating it into a pipeline.

Who it's for

Choose yEd when you need a broad set of formal diagram types, automatic graph layouts, substantial import and export coverage, and a zero-cost desktop license. It is particularly appropriate for data-driven diagrams that benefit from hierarchical, tree, radial, or other automated arrangements. Look elsewhere if your deployment requires multiple installed copies, redistribution, unattended automation, or a non-Java desktop stack.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Wide notation coverage: BPMN, UML, flowcharts, networks, family trees, entity relationships, and swimlanes are handled in one application.
• Useful layout range: nine layout families can impose structure on manually created or imported graphs.
• Flexible interchange: GraphML, XLS, GEDCOM, GML, and XSLT-transformed XML imports pair with numerous document, image, and web exports.
• No purchase cost: personal and commercial use are covered at 0.00 USD.

Cons

• One-copy license: each installation is limited to one copy, and redistribution is prohibited.
• No automated use: the license rules out incorporating yEd into automated processes.
• Java dependency: a suitable Java Runtime Environment is mandatory.
• Limited support obligation: yWorks does not have to provide maintenance or support.

Alternatives

For a wider survey of diagram tools, see Diagram Software and Diagramming Software. If your need is software protection rather than diagram creation, Code Obfuscation Software is the more relevant category.

ByteHide Shield is a freemium obfuscator with a free core plan and paid advanced techniques across desktop, mobile, web, and self-hosted platforms; choose it instead for code obfuscation. JS-Confuser is free and open source for JavaScript-focused obfuscation. ProGuard is a free, open-source Java/Kotlin shrinker. Tigress offers a free plan and trial for its obfuscation workflow. Obfuscar is a free MIT-licensed .NET assembly obfuscator. Garble is a free Linux Go obfuscator requiring Go 1.27 or later. JavaScript Obfuscator offers free standard obfuscation with a 25 MB lifetime VM quota and 4 MB file limit, plus a paid Pro plan. Obfuscator-LLVM is a free open-source LLVM fork for Linux.

Verdict

yEd is a strong choice for anyone who wants a capable, format-rich diagram editor without paying, especially when automatic layouts and desktop workflows matter. Choose it for personal or commercial diagram production on a Java-capable system; look elsewhere when one-copy licensing, no-automation terms, or Java installation conflicts with how you need to deploy and share the software.