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 2.9% mindshare in the category. Lucid Software is ranked #2 in MMS , with an average rating of 7.9, and holds a 19.7% 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

2,665 Views
2,399 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Lucidchart

Read 65 Lucidchart reviews

5,491 Views
933 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 Camunda, Bizagi, Microsoft and others in Business Process Design.

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

Buyer's Guide

Business Process Design

May 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 2.9%, down 3.6% compared to last year.
Lucidchart, on the other hand, focuses on Mind Mapping Software, holds 19.7% mindshare, down 23.8% since last year.

Business Process Design Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
IBM Blueworks Live	2.9%
Bizagi	8.4%
Camunda	8.0%
Other	80.7%

Business Process Design

Mind Mapping Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Lucidchart	19.7%
Visio	20.4%
Xmind	13.9%
Other	46.00000000000001%

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

"Business users understand it really well, which means we can then help them automate their business processes."

"Blueworks Live gives insight into where processes can be more productive, providing that "Ah ha!" moment from a visual perspective and making it easy to tweak, update, and refine processes, which drives continuous improvement and better decisions."

"The scalability is good."

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

"The solution is easy to operate. Also, there is an automatic mode to make the business flow. You don't have to put any lines or arrows in a decision point in IBM Blueworks Live; it's very automatic."

"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, and it is just like a social network, which for me is very good."

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

More IBM Blueworks Live pros

"The templates are good, they eliminate creating something from scratch and allow me to create from a framework, which saves time and makes documenting processes and systems really easy."

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

"It is important that Lucidchart accommodates both Mac and PC users because if you support Mac, that means you also support the mobile applications on the iPad... Some of the other employees have access to an iPad, but not all of them do. When we're trying to talk through a process with them on-the-fly, or at the point of occurrence, it's so much nicer if we can both have it up on the iPad. That's why I would say the Mac support is essential."

"In general, the usability is great. You have a ton of customization options with different colors, different borders, different thicknesses of lines, different types of arrows, et cetera. There's so much variety. You can really make a chart with all sorts of color-coding, and color charts in different colors, link them together, for example, or use different types of arrows for different types of links between the chart elements. That variety, while not a specific feature, is really useful. If you want to make a chart, you can basically do anything."

"The interface is really good and it is very easy to use."

"We are using Lucidchart a lot for documenting things, such as processes, systems, new teams, etc., and its ability to document processes is great, with major pluses being the sheer number of templates and the flexibility in the types of things that you can document, which lets us structure content in whatever format we want and simply modify templates for our purposes instead of creating them from scratch."

"Some of the valuable features are drag and drop and connection through arrows, which makes work go by a lot faster without having to create each shape from scratch."

"It gives information about the roles and responsibilities of any architecture system and the exact system flow, business flow, or process flow. It also gives information about how the development team should take it forward. It shows the gap analysis in the flow charts and makes it easy to define the actor and his roles and responsibilities in the organization."

More Lucidchart pros

Cons

"The solution is a very basic discovery product so it doesn't have that much modeling capability. This can be improved."

"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."

"There should be an option to import from and export to Microsoft Visio. Being able to move files back and forth between Blueworks Live and Visio would be good."

"IBM Blueworks is BPMN 2.0 compliant, but it does not adapt to the overarching BPMN 2.0 concepts."

"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."

"The ability to create a very structured rule. With the capability that we have right now, Blueworks Live is more process focused. We should be able to enhance it to include a lot more of decisions as well."

"We would like the ability to add additional custom colors. We would like to color additional items to add notes to the blueprint."

More IBM Blueworks Live cons

"What I do find extremely frustrating is that when I've sent the sheet to non-license holders, you have to create an account. You create a username and password. The path taken to create that account is so confusing that everyone thinks that they have to give their credit card number, and then they're reluctant. They don't want to go through the sheet."

"Lucid should create some proper documentation and video tutorials to demonstrate the capabilities of the product to new users. It should explain everything that it offers and everything that it can be used for."

"They could provide more documentation or tutorials of ERDs or DDD on the Lucidchart site."

"I'd prefer this software to be an operating system, not a web tool, as I'd switch to LucidOS, if it existed, in seconds."

"If you're trying to expand a comments box that is sitting on top of the chart, it automatically defaults to assuming you're trying to connect it to the next step in the process, when all you're trying to do is make the box bigger. It automatically goes to the arrow, but I just want to resize the box. That gets a little cumbersome because it does it every single time. It's not just a bug."

"Overall, I would rate this product somewhere in the middle. Not bad, but not good."

"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."

"It might already exist and I haven't used it, but in terms of improvement, I would like a hot-key system for some of the diagrams to auto-generate things a bit quicker to be able to produce charts a lot faster, or have more standard templates that you can just go to if you're trying to generate something quickly."

More Lucidchart cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is not very expensive."

"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."

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

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

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

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

"Making it less expensive would be good."

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

"There is a nominal charge for the paid version of the product. They have a free version available and from what I could see, there was not much difference between it and the pro version."

"I was using the paid version, but at $12 USD per month, I canceled the plan because it was a little bit too expensive for me."

"The price was low enough to make me think that it was fine, I'll go for it. I think it's $80 or so. It's not too expensive."

"I have only used the trial version and have not yet paid for it, or explored the pricing options."

"Its pricing is very affordable and reasonable for the features that it provides. I am using its basic plan, and for my usage, it is perfectly reasonable. It suits perfectly."

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

"The pricing and licensing are fine, though I wish they didn't require you to buy the licenses in batches of five."

"The price of this product is a little bit high. It is probably 20% higher than what I expected to pay for such a solution."

More Lucidchart pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	18

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	30
Midsize Enterprise	15
Large Enterprise	28

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?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that we do not have to use the setup because we are using public cloud. We just created an account on Lucidchart and started using it.

See all answers

Comparisons

Visio vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 12% of the time

SAP Signavio Process Manager vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 12% of the time

ARIS BPA vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 10% of the time

ARIS Cloud vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 8% of the time

Camunda vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 6% of the time

More IBM Blueworks Live Competitors

Visio vs Lucidchart

Compared 14% of the time

Figma vs Lucidchart

Compared 12% of the time

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect vs Lucidchart

Compared 9% of the time

Bizagi vs Lucidchart

Compared 7% of the time

Mindjet MindManager vs Lucidchart

Compared 3% of the time

More Lucidchart Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Blueworks Live

May 2026

Download IBM Blueworks Live product report

Buyer's Guide

Lucidchart

May 2026

Download Lucidchart product report

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

May 2026

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