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yEd Graph Editor
yEd Graph Editor · Tübingen, Germany · founded 1998
What it is
yEd Graph Editor is a free desktop application for building diagrams manually or importing data and arranging it with automatic layouts. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its diagram palette includes elements for UML, BPMN, flowcharts, entity relationships, swimlanes, and networks; users can also add custom graphics and Visio VSX stencils. Layout choices include hierarchical, orthogonal, organic, circular, tree, radial, swimlane, and flowchart arrangements. The software imports GraphML, Excel XLS, GEDCOM, GML, and XML converted to GraphML with XSLT. Finished diagrams can be exported as PDF, SVG, EMF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, HTML image maps, or EPS. The interface supports English and German. yEd is built with Java Swing and the yFiles for Java diagramming library, so it requires a suitable Java Runtime Environment. The free license permits one installed copy for personal or commercial use, but not redistribution or use in automated processes.
For and against
For
- Free for personal and commercial use
- Supports many diagram types and automatic layouts
- Imports GraphML, Excel XLS, GEDCOM, GML, and XML
- Exports to PDF, SVG, PNG, and other formats
Against
- License permits only one installed copy
- Redistribution and automated-process use are prohibited
- Requires a suitable Java Runtime Environment
The verdict
yEd combines manual diagram editing, imported data, and a range of automatic layouts in a free desktop application. Check the one-copy license terms and Java requirement before choosing it.
Who it suits
It suits people who want a desktop tool for diagram creation and automatic layout, including users working with imported data. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Plans and prices
yEd Graph Editor
Free for personal and commercial use · one installed copy · no redistribution or automated-process use
Read 5 Oct 2026 · yworks.com
On the record
- Automatic layouts
- Layout options include hierarchical, orthogonal, UML-style orthogonal, organic, circular, tree, radial, swimlane, and flowchart layouts.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Current listed release
- The download page lists version 3.25.1 as the current release and provides Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux downloads.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Diagram elements
- Its palette includes UML, BPMN, flowchart, entity relationship, swimlane, and network elements, and users can add custom graphics and Visio VSX stencils.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Diagram types
- Supported diagram types include BPMN, semantic networks, family trees, flowcharts, social networks, and UML class diagrams.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- yEd exports PDF, SVG, EMF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, HTML image maps, and EPS.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Import formats
- yEd imports GraphML, Excel XLS, GEDCOM, GML, and XML transformed into GraphML with XSLT.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- License limits
- The license grants the right to install one copy and use yEd as an application; it prohibits redistribution and use as part of an automated process.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Localization
- The interface supports English and German localization.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Maker history
- yWorks says its journey began in 1998 as a University of Tübingen project and that it was founded 25 years ago to develop the yFiles project.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- yEd is a desktop application for manually creating diagrams or importing external data and arranging it with automatic layout algorithms.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Security update
- Release 3.25.1 updated Apache XMLBeans to prevent an XML External Entity injection vulnerability when parsing Excel files, identified as CVE-2021-23926.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The license says yWorks is not required to provide maintenance or support; the product page directs bug reports to [email protected] and links to a manual and Q&A forum.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Technical basis
- yEd is a Java Swing application based on the yFiles for Java diagramming library and requires a suitable Java Runtime Environment.yworks.com · read 5 Oct 2026
