Cloud Architecture
Create cloud architecture diagrams for AWS, Azure, GCP, and more. Design scalable infrastructure with professional cloud icons.
Yes—draw.io works offline via desktop app and browser PWA. Learn what features work without internet, how it compares to Lucidchart, and the AI vs offline tradeoff.
Click Cloud Architecture to open AI Line Studio and generate diagrams from natural language in seconds.
The desktop application is the most robust offline solution. It's a free, standalone application that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Since version 10.7.5, it has been a fully offline application — you don't need any internet connection to use all the built‑in shape libraries and templates.
What works offline:
What doesn't work offline:
.vsd (Visio) filesThe desktop app is ideal when data security is a concern — your diagram data stays isolated on your local device, with no external communications except for checking application updates. It's also the best choice for intermittent connectivity, like working on a plane or in a remote location.
How to get it: Download the installer for your operating system from get.diagrams.net.
You don't need to install anything to work offline. The draw.io web editor at app.diagrams.net runs as a progressive web app (PWA).
How it works:
This works on mobile devices as well as desktop computers. You can save diagrams to your device or keep them only in your browser.
Limitations when offline in the browser:
Note: You may need to reconnect before closing the browser tab, depending on where you saved your diagram.
For teams that need offline capability across multiple users, you can self‑host draw.io. This gives you full control over the environment and allows you to continue working on diagrams even without an internet connection. You can extend it with custom shape libraries and templates, and your diagrams remain private when self‑hosted.
| Capability | draw.io Desktop | draw.io Browser (PWA) | Lucidchart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully offline | Yes | Yes (after loading) | No |
| AI diagram generation | No | Yes (online) | Yes |
| Cloud storage sync | No | Yes (online) | Yes |
| Real‑time collaboration | No | Yes (online) | Yes |
| Data stays local | Yes | Yes | No |
| Price | Free | Free | Paid |
Lucidchart is a cloud‑based solution and does not support offline work. Its desktop version is offline, but this prevents synchronous viewing and editing of diagrams by multiple users.
draw.io's offline desktop app is security‑first — your data never leaves your device. But that security comes with a tradeoff: no AI diagram generation.
AI‑powered features — like generating a diagram from a text description — require an internet connection because they rely on large language models. If you need AI‑generated cloud architecture diagrams while working offline, you're out of luck with draw.io.
For teams that need both offline capability and AI generation, a hybrid approach works: use a tool like AI Line Studio for rapid, prompt‑first diagram generation when online, and draw.io Desktop for secure, offline editing and refinement of those diagrams. AI Line Studio generates production‑ready cloud architecture diagrams from plain‑language descriptions in 15–20 seconds, with 3,000+ officially licensed icons across AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI. You can export the diagram and continue editing it offline in draw.io Desktop.
Yes, draw.io works offline. You have two primary options:
Choose the desktop app if you need guaranteed offline access, data security, or work in restricted environments. Choose the browser PWA for occasional offline work when you forget to install the desktop app.
And if you need AI‑generated architecture diagrams, use an online AI‑powered tool first, then bring the result into draw.io Desktop for offline refinement.