IBM Blueworks Live vs Lucidchart comparison

The compared IBM and Lucid Software solutions aren't in the same category. IBM is ranked #12 in BPD , with an average rating of 7.5, and holds a 2.8% mindshare in the category. Lucid Software is ranked #2 in MMS , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 18.1% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Lucid Software users who would recommend it.

IBM Blueworks Live

Read 22 IBM Blueworks Live reviews

2,878 Views
2,619 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Lucidchart

Read 66 Lucidchart reviews

5,795 Views
1,101 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

IBM Blueworks Live

Lucidchart

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM Blueworks Live and Lucidchart based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Bizagi, Microsoft, Camunda and others in Business Process Design.

To learn more, read our detailed Business Process Design Report (Updated: July 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Business Process Design

July 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM Blueworks Live

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Business Process Design (12th)

Lucidchart

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Mind Mapping Software (2nd), Visual Collaboration Platforms (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

IBM Blueworks Live and Lucidchart aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. IBM Blueworks Live is designed for Business Process Design and holds a mindshare of 2.8%, down 3.4% compared to last year.
Lucidchart, on the other hand, focuses on Mind Mapping Software, holds 18.1% mindshare, down 23.2% since last year.

Business Process Design Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
IBM Blueworks Live	2.8%
Bizagi	7.9%
Camunda	7.4%
Other	81.9%

Business Process Design

Mind Mapping Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Lucidchart	18.1%
Visio	19.6%
Xmind	13.8%
Other	48.5%

Mind Mapping Software

Featured Reviews

Nupur Wadhwa

Consultant 2 at Protiviti

Enables efficient process mapping but requires improvement in maintaining server stability

The pricing of the solution can be quite expensive when compared to competitors, though IBM Blueworks Live stands out from a technical standpoint. IBM Blueworks Live provides clear ROI as it saves both time and money. I have successfully imported Visio flowcharts into both IBM Blueworks Live and ARIS. Both tools handled the imports successfully, though some manual intervention was required because Visio is quite a basic tool. Importing flowcharts into advanced tools such as ARIS and IBM Blueworks Live requires some manual effort. The primary advantage is the ease of use. I have not encountered any features in other tools that I couldn't find in ARIS. This is a major factor because I don't have to switch between tools to find specific features. Using ARIS for the past three years has built confidence and trust in the tool.

Read full review

AlexMartin1

Senior Software Engineer at Nestlé

Visual collaboration has improved remote workflows and supports faster shared decisions

The best features Lucidchart offers are that it diagrams processes very well. It allows for project management to help with client timelines. It is also easy to use and create diagrams, especially mermaid diagrams. Collaborating is easy. Out of all those features, collaboration stands out to me the most because it is easy to share with team members to do joint design work. Lucidchart has positively impacted my organization by improving productivity and collaboration. In terms of specifics, collaboration helps us come to conclusions. I notice better throughput as it is easy to use. Improved productivity allows us to express ourselves more quickly.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"IBM Blueworks Live helps improve operational efficiency, especially where requirements are uncertain and clarity is needed, as it helps determine and provide visibility to clients and enables an easy shift to the design phase."

"It raised the process maturity of the organisation from a low level to a reasonable degree of awareness and introduced some process language and conventions to the organisation."

"I don't think that there is another product out there quite like it."

"Valuable features include real-time modeling and design work, the ability to perform workshops with clients in real-time with the tool, and getting instant output."

"Collaboration is most valuable. You can collaborate online with many people. People can comment, and you can comment back. It is just like a social network, and that, for me, is very good."

"It is a stable solution since there has not been any downtime. Everything loads fast."

"The licenses are transferrable between different users."

"The ease of documenting and digitizing the processes was valuable to us."

More IBM Blueworks Live pros

"The templates are quite valuable, as is the fact that you can export to PDF, to a Visio document, or as a picture. These are valuable features for me because they give me the ability to make changes in any other product that I'm using. I'm not bound by one platform."

"Using Lucidchart, I was able to save between two and three hours on my project."

"The most valuable features are the different templates that they have already created, as well as all the different shapes you can use in the process charts because each shape stands for a different element or thing that's being done. It's easy to distinguish between different steps using the already set-out shapes."

"My advice would be to be open to another product that, in the end, is just a whole lot more intuitive and easy to adopt and so much more valuable for collaboration."

"The ability for Lucidchart to create database schemas or modify existing data structures is strong. That's what I initially introduced it for in our organization. The script that Lucidchart provides works with other systems like Oracle, SQL Server, and Postgres that I can copy-paste, and get a quick dump of metadata and import into has saved me a ton of steps that I didn't have to manually create these tables. I had a lot of things where I still had to put in the linkages between tables, but I didn't have to type in every field name, every data type, and everything else that came in. That saved me tons of time."

"Out of all the choices that I saw come across my desk, Lucidchart was the best and easiest choice."

"With the clean format and the straightforward boxes and arrows and everything like that, it makes it so you don't have to dig and you don't have to spend personal time flipping through pages, because everything is right there and super easy to read and super understandable."

"One of the features that I really like is the collaboration aspect of it. During the pandemic, it's very important that we're able to collaborate virtually."

More Lucidchart pros

Cons

"I think the spaces could be improved, it's not well organized so it's really convoluted."

"Sometimes, the tool is automatic, which can complicate it, but once you're accustomed to manipulating it, you can use it very effectively."

"Some of the import functionality was a bit restrictive, in terms of loading data in from other data sources. Something as simple as Excel, loading data tables from Excel, wasn't great. And vice-versa. Some of the export and import functionality with something like Visio - which, I know it's a slightly different tool - but being able to work seamlessly with those other tool sets would've been quite useful. I know it was something that was in the pipeline to be looked at. So that would be useful."

"We'd also like to see it be Six Sigma or Lean compatible, a lot of people have asked about that."

"The APIs are great, except the normal business user doesn't know how to create APIs. So it's hard because IBM comes to us as the business users and tell us to create reporting with APIs, except we don't know that, so we have to turn around and flip it to our IT people."

"The initial setup is neither straightforward nor complex however you do need to know what you are doing."

"While it is scalable, I don't see it being equal with other enterprise solutions."

"I can't insert any images. For example, within the process map, if I want to put it in the box or rectangle, or circle. If I have to use one image or icon, that's not possible."

More IBM Blueworks Live cons

"One of the major drawbacks is that we have to extract the work in Lucidchart as an image when we want to create a presentation."

"Wireframing can be improved. For mock-ups and wireframing, only 10% of what is required is there."

"I wish Lucidchart would add dark mode to improve the user experience."

"A couple of times when I tried to move a line, connecting two shapes on an organizational chart, occasionally the line doesn't move as intuitively as I think it should. I have to fiddle around with it a few times to get it to do what I want it to do."

"One downside is that you can only modify things online, but when you download work, you download it as an image. It would be useful to have an option to modify it locally."

"In terms of improvement, they should make it very clear, whether it's a single A4 page or two A4 pages, it should be mapped out. Either I don't know how to use it, or it's not there, but having to stick to margins so I can see what's going to be on different pages when I print it or move it to a PDF has been my only challenge so far."

"The layering is something that can be improved because sometimes, it is confusing for me when I'm trying to get to the layer that I want to edit."

"Though I really appreciate Lucidchart, I feel it is not as intuitive as it could be."

More Lucidchart cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Making it less expensive would be good."

"They have a free subscription model that gives a lot of power to the users."

"There are editor licenses that are around 50 euros per month, and contributor licenses that are around 30 euros per month."

"The solution is very, very cost-effective."

"The solution is not very expensive."

"Price wise, IBM Blueworks Live is in the middle range, and I would give it a five out of ten."

"Based on the licenses purchased, from a footprint perspective, you can have as many people as you want. You have multiple different categories of licenses to keep the cost low."

"We are seeing ROI from this solution. The solution has saved us time."

"I had a quick glimpse of it. It was about 100 Canadian Dollars a year for just me. I don't know if there are any additional costs."

"The licensing is pretty cost-effective but I haven't considered it on an enterprise level."

"Pricing-wise, it is pretty fair. I don't really know what group pricing looks like, but right now, I pay $10 a month for my Lucid subscription. One thing I would say is that I do worry about my bosses being okay with paying $10 a month for every single employee because we would have around 20 people. It makes me a little nervous about whether they are going to pay $200 a month for people to be able to use this software. At the same time, from where I'm sitting, it's totally worth it. We save a thousand dollars from using this software. It's still a no-brainer."

"The pricing and licensing are fine. It has a lot of features that I prefer over some of the other programs, which is good. Being that it is web-based, I feel that it is acceptable that it's on a monthly pay basis. However, I think I pay on an annual basis, which is fine with me."

"We chose Lucid based on the price comparison between it and draw.io... Lucidchart was about 15 percent cheaper per user... I was surprised to learn that it came with a separate subscription model and was not included in my existing Lucidchart subscription."

"The pricing is very reasonable, and they have a free trial available that you can play with."

"The pricing is very competitive. It is more cost-effective than some competing products, such as Visio."

"Pricing comes in at about $100 for a year's subscription, which is very reasonable if this is a tool that you will use more than once."

More Lucidchart pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	19

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	30
Midsize Enterprise	15
Large Enterprise	29

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Blueworks Live?

I do not have exposure to IBM Blueworks Live pricing since this is managed by other personnel who handle the financial aspects of licenses.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Blueworks Live?

I do not use Security Identity Governance and Intelligence, as it is not implemented here. I would prefer an on-premises solution for IBM Blueworks Live, and this could be a recommendation. Regardi...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Blueworks Live?

IBM Blueworks Live and security management are my primary products within the IBM suite. I particularly work on automation-related items, so most of my automation work lies with IBM, and I oversee ...

See all answers

LucidChart vs LucidSpark for brainstorming sessions over Zoom

Hi @Krista Thompson - Yes, LucidSpark is a much more nimble and, in some ways, user-friendly tool than LucidChart. LucidSpark is designed to do a better job managing multiple users participating ...

See all answers

Do you recommend Lucidchart?

I definitely recommend Lucidchart. I feel it is one of the top visual collaboration platforms that’s available on the market. Out of all the solutions I have tried, it is by far the best for diagra...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Lucidchart?

It is cloud-based, so no setup is required. Currently, we are using a free plan.

See all answers

Comparisons

Visio vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 11% of the time

SAP Signavio Process Manager vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 9% of the time

ARIS BPA vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 9% of the time

ARIS Cloud vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 7% of the time

Camunda vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 5% of the time

More IBM Blueworks Live Competitors

Visio vs Lucidchart

Compared 14% of the time

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect vs Lucidchart

Compared 10% of the time

Figma vs Lucidchart

Compared 9% of the time

erwin Data Modeler vs Lucidchart

Compared 7% of the time

More Lucidchart Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Blueworks Live

July 2026

Download IBM Blueworks Live product report

Buyer's Guide

Lucidchart

July 2026

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Also Known As

IBM Lombardi Blueprint

No data available

Overview

IBM Blueworks Live offers a cloud-based tool with real-time collaboration and BPMN 2.0 support, designed for efficient process mapping and management. It integrates well with IBM services and allows seamless Visio flowchart imports, emphasizing ease of use and intuitive process documentation.

IBM Blueworks Live is designed to facilitate business process discovery and optimization. It supports collaborative workshops for process mapping, providing a central repository for all business process information. This tool is ideal for companies aiming to innovate and transform their processes through detailed modeling and analysis. With automation support and cloud accessibility, it streamlines process governance and role management. Potential areas for improvement include cost efficiency, reliability, better integration, user management, and customization features.

What are the key features of IBM Blueworks Live?

Ease of Use: Intuitive interface for streamlined navigation and mapping.
Real-time Collaboration: Enables teams to work together efficiently.
BPMN 2.0 Support: Advanced process modeling standards for industry compatibility.
Cloud Accessibility: Access and manage processes from anywhere.
Visio Integration: Seamlessly import existing flowcharts for continuous use.

What benefits should users expect when using IBM Blueworks Live?

Process Efficiency: Quick and accurate process documentation and management.
Improved Collaboration: Enhanced team communication and workflow management.
Automation Support: Streamlined governance with built-in roles and workflows.
Scalable Integration: Compatibility within IBM's business process management suite.

In specific industries, companies leverage IBM Blueworks Live for comprehensive business transformations, integrating it with IBM BPM for deploying intricate process models. It serves both internal process architecture and external customer engagement needs, facilitating process discovery sessions and collaborative innovation.

IBM

Lucidchart offers a dynamic platform for visual collaboration, enabling teams to enhance workflows and boost productivity through real-time updates and diverse templates.

Lucidchart provides an intuitive interface designed for seamless integration with tools like Google Workspace and Salesforce. This enhances team collaboration by reducing misunderstandings and accelerating workflows. Its cross-platform compatibility ensures both Mac and PC users achieve visual clarity in process management. While users value its efficiency, there is a desire for improvements in handling complex diagrams, more accessible pricing for advanced features, and enhanced offline capabilities. Customization, such as color schemes and dark mode, along with robust tutorials, remain areas for potential enhancement.

What features define Lucidchart?

Real-time Collaboration: Allows teams to work simultaneously on diagrams.
Drag-and-Drop Interface: Simplifies the creation process with intuitive controls.
Diverse Templates: Offers a variety of pre-built templates for extensive usage scenarios.
Seamless Integration: Connects effortlessly with Google Workspace and Salesforce.

What benefits can be expected from Lucidchart?

Enhanced Productivity: Facilitates efficient collaboration and workflow acceleration.
Time Savings: Streamlines process mapping, saving teams significant time.
Visual Clarity: Aids in clear project management and teamwork communication.

In sectors like technology and business, Lucidchart is extensively used for visualizing workflows, system architectures, and process maps. It serves as a powerful tool for collaboration, brainstorming, and documenting procedures. Teams find it effective for demonstrating technical and business structures, improving coordination, and supporting tasks like planning, migration, and development.

Lucid Software

Sample Customers

Cloudsoft Corp. Ltd., Bayer, S¾SS, Essex County Council

Google, Salesforce, Adobe, Whirlpool, Uber, Wal Mart, Pearson, Twitch, Riot Games, Western Union, Trimble, Starbucks

Buyer's Guide

Business Process Design

July 2026

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