PDF to flowchart with AI
OpenCharts converts a PDF into an editable flowchart in 5–15 seconds. Drag your file onto the canvas and Theo identifies terminals, processes, decision branches, and connections, applies auto-layout, and hands you a fully editable React Flow diagram. Works for process documents, SOPs, decision trees, and visual flowcharts already inside the PDF — and exports back to PNG, SVG, PDF, PPTX, or DOCX.
How it works
- 1
Open the editor and pick AI Extract
From any project, click ‘AI Extract’ in the toolbar or open /editor/new?mode=upload. The upload zone accepts drag-and-drop or click-to-browse.
- 2
Drop your PDF
Drop a PDF up to 10 MB. A preview confirms the right document is selected before extraction starts.
- 3
Theo identifies the structure
Theo scans the document, identifies nodes (terminal, process, decision, data), connections, branch labels, and loops, and proposes an editable flowchart layout.
- 4
Refine and export
Drag nodes, edit labels, add branches, and apply themes. One-click auto-layout cleans things up. Export to PNG, SVG, PDF, PPTX, DOCX, XLSX, or JSON.
What you get
- Up to 10 MB per PDF; multi-page documents supported (single-page extraction is most accurate)
- Identifies terminals, processes, decisions, data nodes, swimlanes, and labeled branches
- Auto-layout with top-to-bottom, left-to-right, radial, and force-directed options
- Real-time multiplayer editing on the result with live cursors and threaded comments
- Export to PNG, SVG, PDF, PPTX, DOCX, XLSX, JSON, and a public share link
- Free on every plan — no credit card required
Frequently asked questions
How long does PDF extraction take?
Most documents take 5–15 seconds. Complex multi-page PDFs with dense visuals can take up to 30 seconds. Theo prioritizes accuracy on the structural elements (nodes, connections, decision branches).
What kind of PDFs work best?
Clean, well-structured documents work best — process documents, SOPs, and PDFs that already contain a flowchart image. High-resolution images (300+ DPI) and clearly readable text produce the most accurate results. Handwritten documents are not currently supported.
Can I edit the result?
Yes. The output is a fully editable React Flow canvas. Drag nodes, edit labels, change colors, add branches, and rearrange. Use auto-layout to clean up the diagram with one click.
Is PDF-to-flowchart free?
Yes. AI extraction is included on every plan, including the free tier. No credit card required. Paid tiers raise AI credit limits for heavy users.
Can I import a Lucidchart or Miro PDF export?
Yes. Export your existing diagram from any tool (Lucidchart, Miro, draw.io, Whimsical) as PDF, drop into OpenCharts, and Theo rebuilds the structure as native nodes and edges.
Can I extract multiple flowcharts from one PDF?
Theo extracts the dominant flowchart structure per document. For PDFs with multiple distinct diagrams, run extraction once per page or split the PDF first for the cleanest results.
Compare to other tools
Try it free with OpenCharts
No credit card required. Free real-time collaboration and full export on every plan.