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How to Make a Flowchart for Free

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Learn the basic flowchart shapes

    Learn the standard meanings first: an oval for start/end, a rectangle for a process step, a diamond for a decision, and an arrow for the direction of flow.

  2. Mark the start and end

    Decide where the process you are diagramming begins and ends, and mark both with oval shapes.

  3. List the process steps in order

    List the actual actions that happen between the start and end using rectangle shapes, in the order they occur.

  4. Mark decision points

    Mark any point where the flow branches based on a condition with a diamond, and label the arrows leading out of it with the branch outcomes, such as yes or no.

  5. Draw it with a free online tool

    A free online diagramming tool lets you drag shapes into place and connect them with lines, making it easy to finish a flowchart without design software.

When a flowchart earns its place

Describing a process or a decision-making sequence in plain text alone makes it easy to miss a branch, while sketching the same thing as a flowchart shows the full sequence and every conditional fork at a glance.

Keep complex processes split across pages

Rather than trying to cram an entire complex process onto one page, drawing the high-level flow first and breaking detailed sub-steps into separate linked flowcharts keeps each diagram readable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there fixed rules for flowchart shapes?

Yes, by convention an oval marks the start or end, a rectangle marks a processing step, and a diamond marks a decision β€” sticking to these makes your flowchart easier for others to read.

What is the best way to diagram a complicated process?

Rather than fitting everything onto a single page, sketch the overall flow first and move detailed sub-steps into separate linked flowcharts for better readability.