Got your unfinished projects saved in VSD or VSDX formats, but no Microsoft Visio access to open these files? Having no subscription means you are missing out on important tasks. The panic is real since accessing Visio requires a Microsoft 365 business subscription.
The older VSD format has become practically obsolete and replaced by the newer VSDX. However, the version of your file format is not the problem. How do you open VSD files for free? Try out software like Edraw.AI that allows accessing and editing VSD files. Continue reading to find out how!
In this article
Why Do You Need to Open VSDX Files?
There are endless possibilities as to why you might need a VSDX file editor. It might be that you have an old unfinished project but no longer have access to your Microsoft 365 Business Suite.
Or, your colleague might have shared a VSDX file with you for feedback or revisions.
Many project managers and online workers still have no Microsoft account, which takes a serious toll on communication between team members. Let’s say your team member is working on Visio, and you don’t have the software subscription to open or edit the VSDX files.
But what to do if you are not in a position to get a subscription? Look for affordable software that supports the VSDX format. It allows you to import and edit your Visio files.
How to Open VSDX Files using Edraw.AI for Free?
You can easily open VSDX files with Edraw.AI. The best part? It doesn’t require any installation or subscription. You can get started with Edraw.AI online with your browser. Here’s how.
STEP 1:
Open Edraw.AI in your browser and log into your account. You can also use a social media account for access.
STEP 2:
Once on the homepage, you can access your previous projects or create new ones. So, click New from the left sidebar.
STEP 3:
Click Import File from the main menu at the top-right and a pop-up will appear on your screen. Select Upload Files > Visio, and browse a file from your device. Or, simply drag and drop your VSDX file to open it.
STEP 4:
Once uploaded, click Open File to access and edit the VSDX file into the canvas.
STEP 5:
Edit your file however you like using the Edraw.AI symbol library from the left side of the canvas and the right-side customization panel. Finally, navigate to the File menu and click Export > Desired Format to download your file.
What is Edraw.AI?
Edraw.AI is an AI-powered diagramming solution that streamlines your routine brainstorming, planning, summarizing, and designing tasks. The tool uses advanced algorithms to generate a wide variety of diagrams, including flowcharts, charts, graphs, org charts, and more.
Edraw.AI also features an integrated chatbot to help boost your creativity and get diagramming suggestions. It gives diagram ideas, provide textual information, assist with research, translate your input, and more.
What stands out about Edraw.AI is that it supports several file formats, including Visio. Hence, importing and catching up on projects from other platforms onto Edraw.AI canvas is seamless. Let’s see how it can benefit you as a student and office worker.
- Feature-rich free version: You don’t have to buy Edraw.AI to try it out. The app has a free version with all essential features, including 500 AI tokens to generate diagrams. Plus, you get all the editing options with 100 MB of cloud storage to easily access your projects anywhere.
- Collection of templates: Are you new to diagramming? You can start with pre-made templates in the Edraw.AI library. Search for the required template, open it, and edit it. Alternatively, you can get ideas from these templates and make new diagrams.
- One-click diagram generation: Edraw.AI gives you more freedom to express your creativity. Enter your prompts, and a diagram is ready in seconds. Then, enter the canvas and add the finishing touches.
- Real-time collaboration: You can invite your team and collaborate on projects with Edraw.AI. It allows multiple members to co-edit a document at the same time.
- Variety of diagrams: Edraw.AI lets you create different diagrams, including flowcharts, roadmaps, mindmaps, architectures, charts, tables, timelines, floor plans, engineering plans, and infographics.
Edraw.AI vs. Visio: A Comparative Analysis
Edraw.AI can open VSDX files for free, but can it replace Microsoft Visio? Let’s compare the two to provide a clearer picture:
Cost Effectiveness
Visio is available in all commercial plans for Microsoft 365. The basic Microsoft 365 pricing plan costs $33.75 per month. You can also get premium Visio add-ons with this monthly package. Visio Plan 1 and Plan 2 cost $5 and $15, respectively.
What do you get in these premium plans? More shapes, templates, icons, and diagrams. You can try these plans for a month for free, but you will still need a Microsoft 365 subscription.
In comparison, Edraw.AI offers flexible pricing packages, with the Pro Plan starting at $11.9 per month and the Unlimited Plan costing $15.9 monthly. It has unlimited AI tokens, team members, and 10GB of cloud storage.
This way, you can start with the free version of Edraw.AI, which offers 500 AI tokens, a maximum of 2 pages, 100 templates, and 1 team member.
User Interface & Ease of Use
Microsoft Visio is popular among office workers, partly because of its intuitive user interface. It is an easy-to-use diagramming tool with several automated features, like data linking. Plus, it also offers templates that you can use to create diagrams or get inspiration.
Like Visio, Edraw.AI is also easy to use, thanks to its drag-and-drop interface and AI integrations. The tool automates various aspects of diagramming, from getting ideas and research to diagram generation. It also comes with a library of templates that you can easily modify.
Features & Functionality
Microsoft Visio focuses more on advanced diagramming, like UML, org charts, block diagrams, brainstorming plans, flowcharts, processes, matrices, and Venn diagrams. You get all the essential shapes and icons at your disposal that you can add to your projects via the drag-and-drop framework.
Edraw.AI offers a versatile selection of diagrams, including charts, tables, UML, mindmaps, roadmaps, engineering plans, and timelines. It gives you ideas for prompts and provides a decent library of shapes. Plus, it also works on the simple drag-and-drop framework.
Offline Access & File Management
Microsoft Visio has an offline version that you can download and use without the internet. However, that version is only available in the more expensive, Plan 2. Also, you can not access templates or install updates while offline. Microsoft Visio also provides cloud storage in its premium plans thanks to its integration with OneDrive.
Edraw.AI is only available as a web application. Hence, you can not access it offline without the internet. That said, it comes with a personal cloud space for teams to access their work from any device. Even its free version offers 100MB of storage, enough to save a few diagrams. For enterprises, its most expensive package, Unlimited Plan, has 10GB of cloud storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open Visio files in Excel?
- Yes, you can open VDXS files in Excel. Go to the Insert menu and select Object. Then, click Create from File. Now, the dialogue box will ask you to browse and add the file. So, select the Visio file, check the Link to file option, and click Ok. This option can come in handy to add Visio projects in specific Excel cells.
How do I convert VSDX to Docx?
- You can copy your Visio project to Microsoft Word and save it in Docx format. Alternatively, you can use a third-party conversion tool to convert your file formats. A diagramming tool, like Edraw.AI, also allows importing VSDX projects.
What format is a Visio file?
- A Visio file can be in various file formats with the most popular being VSDX. It is the modern version of VSD which was replaced in 2013. However, Visio also has other file formats, like VSTX, which is for templates. VDW is for graphics, while VSSM is the stencil format in Visio. Any format with the addition of “M” in the end represents the macro-enabled version of that file in Microsoft Visio.
Ending Note
Today, it is not a problem to open or edit VSDX files thanks to various online conversion tools. You can practically convert any format into your required one. Microsoft users will find it easier to manage Visio files. They are easily supported by other Microsoft tools like Excel and Word.
However, there’s no need to worry if you don’t have a Microsoft account or subscription. You can still use diagramming tools like Edraw.AI to replace your Visio needs. Most of these tools can also open VSDX files, providing an all-in-one solution.
