The 8 Best Flowcharting Software of 2023

Miro

If you need to design intricate processes, Miro is a great flowchart program. It has a few limited color settings and needs training.

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Best for Ease-of-Use

Cacoo

Cacoo is an online diagramming tool that enables users to build a variety of diagrams, and share them quickly and simply with team members locally or remotely.

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Best for Professional

Edraw Max

One of the greatest flowchart programs is Edraw Max since it is simple to use, has a ton of features, and creates diagrams of a high caliber.

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Here are the eight best flowchart software of 2022:

What are the eight best flowchart software of 2022?

1. Miro

Miro is perfect for team meetings and workshops, brainstorming, research and design, mapping, and diagramming. They have intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces that make it easy to create complex processes quickly. Plus, they integrate with many other software platforms, so users can easily edit files from anywhere. In-browser collaboration is central to Miro’s functionality, making it ideal for any meeting or workshop.

Nick's Take

I think Miro is an excellent flowchart software for those who need to create complex processes. However, it requires training and has limited color settings.

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Features

Document co-authoring is a feature of Miro that enables teams to easily collaborate on the same document without leaving the platform.
Miro includes styling tools so you can customize your diagrams however you like, facilitates collaboration through feedback and co-authoring, and integrates with other software platforms such as Dropbox and Google Suite for quick file edits.
Though not mandatory, using Miro will help new users get started more quickly with this powerful toolkit.
In-browser collaboration is central to Miro’s functionality, making it ideal for any meeting or workshop.
The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to plot flowcharts together to check off all essential steps in your process.
Miro is free to use for both individual users and teams.

Pros:

Miro is a visual collaboration platform: Miro lets teams brainstorm, research and design, map and diagram, and speedily check off essential steps in their processes.
It is an online whiteboard platform: With its online flowchart maker, Miro makes it easy for teams to create flowcharts quickly.
It has an intuitive interface with styling tools: It includes styling tools that make it easy for users to give their diagrams a professional look and feel.
You can collaborate easily through feedback and co-authoring: Feedback helps you track changes made by other team members, while co-authoring allows multiple people to contribute edits simultaneously without conflict.
Integrates with other software: Miro integrates seamlessly with Google Docs, so users can edit files directly in the flowchart maker.

Cons:

Difficulty selecting options: It can be not easy to select options within the Miro platform because the system is not picking up your choices correctly.
Challenging to use: It is difficult to use Miro because it is intuitive for experts but difficult for novices.
Limited copy and paste functionality: Miro does not allow you to copy and paste text with the mouse.
The font size can be too small: When zooming in, the font can become too small and lose track of the bigger picture.

Miro Pricing

Miro has a free and paid plan starting at $8/month/user.

2. Cacoo

Cacoo is a cloud-based diagramming software that has received positive reviews for its ease of use and team collaboration features. Cacoo is an online drawing software that helps users create a wide range of diagrams such as wireframes, flowcharts, UML, org charts, and mind maps, sharing plans and layouts quickly and easily with team members in the same office or around the world.

Nick's Take

I think Cacoo is one of the best flowchart software options because it is easy to use and has powerful team collaboration features. They are great for facilitating team collaboration and creating professional diagrams. They’re simple to use, have a wide variety of templates, and offer to export to various formats.

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Features

With its easy-to-use cloud-based platform, you can work together from any location with team members around the globe.
The diagramming software offers various templates and shapes that make it easy to create professional diagrams. Plus, there’s a chart feature for quickly entering data into your diagrams.
You can easily share your diagrams with others via email or the Cloud Storage option. And if you need to make changes or corrections, they’re just a click away, thanks to revision history.
If you’re looking for an app with vast application potential, look no further than Cacoo – it’s perfect for marketing plans, sales charts, product designs, and more!
So whether you’re looking for an affordable tool for collaboration or need something built specifically for your business needs, Cacoo is worth considering!

Pros:

The price is affordable: You can try out Cacoo for free before subscribing to a paid plan if you need more than one user account.
Cacoo is an excellent mind-mapping tool: Cacoo is an easy-to-use and versatile mind-mapping tool that can be used for marketing, sales, accounting, and advertising.
The templates are industry-specific: There are industry-specific templates available for marketing, sales, accounting, and advertising which make creating mind maps easy.
Variety of options: There are various options available for you, including mind maps, Venn diagrams, and calendars.
Cacoo is easy to use and has a great team collaboration feature: You can video chat with up to five people simultaneously, all while using the whiteboard feature.

Cons:

Limited features: Some features are limited to specific plans or types of users.
Cannot export diagrams in different formats: Users cannot export their charts in various formats, such as PDF or SVG, which may limit their ability to share the diagram with others easily
Limited flowchart shapes: Cacoo does not offer a variety of standard flowchart shapes, which may be limiting for some users.
Variety of industry-specific templates: Cacoo offers a variety of industry-specific templates, which is great for specific fields.
Poor video quality: The video quality is not very good, with lag and noticeable buffering.

Pricing

The price of Cacoo starts at $4.95/month for single users and goes up to $15/month for teams of five people or more (depending on your server configuration).

3. Edraw Max

Edraw Max is a comprehensive diagramming software that makes it easy to create professional-looking flowcharts, organizational charts, mind maps, and other diagrams. It offers a wide variety of built-in shapes and symbols and powerful drawing and editing tools. You can use Edraw Max to create diagrams for business or personal use.

Nick's Take

I think Edraw Max is one of the best flowchart software because it is easy to use, offers a wide variety of features, and produces high-quality diagrams. With 1300 objects and 100 different flowchart templates to choose from, it can do just about anything you need.

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Features

This software is geared towards professionals but is surprisingly robust, given the price.
The learning curve for this software can be steep, but it’s hard to go back once you get started. There are no collaboration or sharing features, though.
You can add attachments, notes, and comments to flowcharts, expand and collapse shapes, collaborate on diagrams via the Cloud (with other users), and more efficiently than with other diagramming software options!
Another helpful touch is that Edraw Max automatically aligns swim lanes and flowchart objects – making your diagrams looks neat & tidy without any extra effort on your part!
If that isn’t enough, try out Edraw Max for free!

Pros:

Edraw Max is a powerful diagramming software: It can be used for professional purposes, such as designing products or marketing plans.
EDraw Max supports vector graphics and has many different templates and objects to choose from: You can easily create complex diagrams.
Supports attachments: You can attach images, diagrams, and other files to your drawings.
Office-inspired interface: It has a familiar interface that is easy to use.
Automatically aligns flowchart swimlanes: Aligns the flowchart’s swimlanes automatically, so they look correct and orderly.

Cons:

Limited collaboration features: There are no sharing or collaboration features.
It feels like it was ported from Windows to Mac: Edraw Max feels like it was ported from Windows to Mac, which may be a bit of a hassle for some users.
Powerful but complicated: Although powerful, Edraw Max can be somewhat complex to use, especially if you are unfamiliar with Microsoft Office or drawing software.
Licensing costs: The licensing costs vary depending on how often you use the software.
Limited storage: There is 1GB of free storage, but this limits how much you can save and keep track of your work.

Pricing

The cost for a one-year license is: $99 per year gives you access to the full version of FlowCharter.

4. Draw.io

Draw.io is a free online diagramming tool that lets you create flowcharts, UML diagrams, ER diagrams, network diagrams, and more. It’s simple to use, and you can create diagrams in minutes. You can create diagrams in minutes, and there’s no need to download or install any software. The diagrams are also easy to share, as you can export them to PNG, JPG, PDF, or SVG format.

Nick's Take

I think Draw.io is an excellent choice for flowchart software as it’s easy to use and has plenty of features. I would recommend Draw.io to anyone looking for excellent flowchart software.

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Features

This free online flowchart software is effortless, with a user interface that resembles that of Google Docs and Sheets. You can play around with various elements, such as shapes, text, and arrows, adjusting their shape, size, and color.
You can create diagrams quickly and easily with Draw.io’s drag & drop interface or the automatic layout function.
Remember information easily withdraw.io’s mind maps feature; make it easier to remember complex business processes and workflows.
The shape library includes all the components you need to build your BPMN diagrams (business process model notation), making it visually easy to understand complex business processes.
It is a free-to-license web application for everyone. It is free to use for any purpose; there is no premium pay-for functionality.

Pros:

Great drawing editor: Draw.io offers a great drawing editor that allows you to create and edit drawings quickly and easily.
You can save your drawings: Draw.io allows you to keep them so you can revisit them later without losing any edits you make.
The drawing editor is easy to use: The drawing editor is easy to use, making it simple for anyone to start creating drawings immediately!
You can share your drawings with others: You can share your drawings with others, allowing them to appreciate your work and give feedback on it.

Cons:

No tutorials: There are no tutorials for new users, making it difficult to use the program.
Free-to-use but lacks some features: draw.io is free to use but does not have all the features of paid versions, such as watermarking or premium pay-for functionality.
Limited range of colors: The content of available colors is relatively narrow.
Not suitable for large drawings: The size limit for drawings is relatively small, and they are not ideal for large drawings or illustrations.
Disappointing performance: Although the app claims to be fast, it does not live up to that promise in practice.

Pricing

If you need flowchart software that is free to use and has all the basic features you need, then Draw.io is a good option. However, if you need more advanced features, you may want to consider one of the other options on this list.

5. Canva

Canva is a simple, drag-and-drop design tool that makes it easy to create professional designs. With over 1 million templates and tools available and varying levels of complexity, it’s suitable for everything from simple flyers to more complex marketing materials.

Nick's Take

I think Canva is an excellent choice for those who need a simple, drag-and-drop design tool that is easy to use and offers a wide range of templates and tools. However, its performance can be disappointing, and is not the best choice for more complex designs.

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Features

This platform offers features such as photo straightener, image cropper, add text to photos, speech bubble maker, image transparency tool, photo enhancer, 8,000 templates, photo blur, photo vignette, design grids, free icons, photo frames, web wireframe, stickers, badges, and add texture.
With its powerful drag-and-drop editor and a vast selection of images, fonts, and templates
Canva makes it easy for users to build documents and designs from scratch.
You can easily organize your thoughts with Canva’s two folders system – making it easy to find what you’re looking for.
And if that’s not enough – magically resize your designs or upload custom fonts for your brand.
You can also set color palettes for your brand or save templates for yourself and your team.
With priority support on hand – you can be sure that any issue or question will be answered quickly and efficiently.

Pros:

Canva is user-friendly: Canva is easy to use and reliable, making it perfect for businesses, organizations, and individual professionals.
Canva offers a vast selection of templates and tools: Its powerful drag-and-drop editor allows users to build documents and designs from scratch quickly.
You can easily make stunning graphics with Canva: The platform offers features such as photo straightener, image cropper, add text to photos, and speech bubble maker, which makes creating graphics quick and easy.
You can easily resize your designs: With just a few mouse clicks, you can resize your design to the perfect size for your needs.
Save templates for yourself and team members: Canva allows users to save templates for themselves and their team members, so they never have to start from scratch again.

Cons:

No support for third-party applications: If you want to use a third-party application such as Photoshop or Illustrator, you will not be able to do so using Canva’s platform
Limited storage: Users have a 1GB limit for photos and assets.
Difficulty finding designs: It can be challenging to find specific designs if you’re not familiar with the search function or use different terms than those used in the templates
Android application has some flaws: The Android application of canva has some flaws, such as faulty features.
Cannot be used for free: Many good designs and templates on Canva are not free; you need to pay a subscription.

Pricing

Canva charges $12.95 per user per month for Canva for Work, or contact them on-site to inquire about enterprise options.

6. Creately

Creately is a diagramming and flowchart software that helps you easily create professional-looking diagrams. With Creately, you can create flowcharts, mind maps, org charts, UML diagrams, wireframes, and more. Creately is easy to use and beautiful, with a wide range of templates and tools to help you get started. It is affordable and easy to use – perfect for small businesses.

Nick's Take

I think this software is not for those who want complete control over their projects. However, if you need a program to get the job done and are willing to sacrifice some flexibility, Creately may be the right choice for you.

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Features

This data-connected tool combines the capabilities of an online whiteboard and a database, allowing users to lay out ideas, plans, and diagrams on an intelligent canvas.
With Creately, you can capture knowledge, plan projects, and execute work with increased efficiency and innovation.
There are thousands of ready-made templates available in Creately’s extensive shape library, as well as 100s of expertly designed custom templates.
One of the best features of Creately is “1-click create,” with which users can quickly draw shapes and connections between them with just one click.
With real-time collaboration enabled through email or the Creately Online Desktop App, collaboration is also easy.

Pros:

Creately is an efficient tool for teams: It allows users to visualize, document, and analyze workflows, systems, and processes.
Creately has customizable flowchart templates: You can create your flowchart templates or use the existing ones.
Real-time collaboration allows teammates to work together: You can collaborate with your team members using Creately’s drag-and-drop tools.
Other features include drag-and-drop tools, context-aware shape switching, and dynamic connectors that rearrange automatically: All of these make it easy for you to get started with Creately quickly and efficiently.
Template libraries: You can use Creately’s template libraries to create content quickly and easily.

Cons:

Limited to a few people: Creately is only available to a few people, and it’s not very open to user feedback.
Limited templates: There are only a limited number of templates available, and they are not very versatile or customizable.
Requires an internet connection: To work with Creately, you need an internet connection.
Challenging to navigate: The interface is difficult to understand and navigate, especially when trying to make changes or add new content.

Pricing

Price for individual use: $5 per month/ $49 per year, 5 Users: $25 per month/ $249 per year, 10 Users: $45 per month/ $449 per year, 25 Users: $75 per month/ $749 per year.

7. Gliffy

Gliffy is a cloud-based diagramming software that enables users to create and collaborate on diagrams online. Gliffy offers a wide range of features and shapes, making it a powerful tool for creating any diagram. Gliffy is an excellent choice for those who need to create diagrams frequently, as it offers a wide range of features and shapes. Gliffy is also a good choice as it provides an easy-to-use interface and real-time collaboration.

Nick's Take

I think Gliffy is an excellent flowchart software. It’s easy to use and has many features and shapes. It’s also a good choice for those who need to collaborate on diagrams.

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Features

With Gliffy, you can easily create flowcharts, network diagrams, floorplans, user interface designs, and other kinds of diagrams in just minutes.
Easy to customize and integrate with other software – so you can turn your ideas into reality quickly and easily.
Collaborate with coworkers or friends without worrying about software compatibility or browser limitations – because Gliffy runs on an HTML5 editor that’s more than twice as fast as Flash.
Easily use templates and themes to get started with diagramming – and then customization options let you take your diagraming to new heights.
The Shape Library offers a wide variety of shapes for you to use in your diagrams, including arrows, circles, stars, and squares! And if that’s not enough, you can add your custom shapes using the drag-and-drop interface.
Gliffy is easy to use and can be integrated with various software – making it perfect for any business or project. So get started today and see how easy diagramming can be!

Pros:

Gliffy is easy to set up and use: You can quickly create diagrams with Gliffy’s simple yet powerful interface.
Gliffy has many customization options: You can customize your diagrams to fit your specific needs.
Multiple integration options: Gliffy integrates with various other tools, making it easy to share your diagrams with others.
Users like that Gliffy is affordable and easy to use: Affordable for small businesses and teams who need diagramming software but still require some time for familiarization.
Gliffy is easy to use and perfect for team collaboration: Gliffy makes it possible to work with anyone without worrying about software or browser compatibility.

Cons:

While Gliffy has some unique features, it is still limited in its functionality.
Not very modern visuals: The visuals are not as modern and sleek as some other diagramming software options available on the market.
Limited collaboration: You can only collaborate with people who have Gliffy installed on their computers.
Slow performance: The online editor is slow and does not work well with large diagrams.
Does not support older browsers: Gliffy does not support older browsers, such as Internet Explorer 8 or 9, which may exclude some users from using it.

Pricing

The pricing starts from $3.99/month – there’s a discounted rate available for those who sign up for the subscription service. The Freemium model is available with unlimited revisions.

8. Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visio is a diagramming and vector graphics application for Windows that uses the core features of Microsoft Office. The software was first released in 1992 and is part of the Microsoft Office products. Microsoft Visio allows you to create flowcharts, diagrams, and other types of drawings using a variety of shapes and stencils. It also includes built-in templates and wizards to help you get started.

Nick's Take

I think Microsoft Visio is an excellent flowcharting tool with many features and an intuitive interface. However, it can be expensive, and some cheaper alternatives are available.

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Features

This product integrates seamlessly into Microsoft Office, making it perfect for users familiar with the platform.
You can easily convert your Excel data into Visio diagrams, making it an ideal tool for creating professional designs.
You can collaborate on Visio files with others effortlessly and share diagrams securely using the provided sharing features.
Microsoft Visio offers a library of useful templates and supports real-time collaboration, meaning you can work on documents offline or with other team members online.
The user-friendly interface makes it easy to understand and navigate, while the robust storage options make storing your diagrams easy no matter where you are.

Pros:

User-friendly interface: Navigate and use Visio with ease.
Supports conversion of excel sheets into diagrams: Convert your data into easy-to-understand diagrams with Visio.
Offers a library of useful templates: You will have access to various templates to help create the perfect diagram for your needs.
It provides the ability to work offline and on cloud support: Microsoft Visio supports offline and online modes, so you can work on your diagram even when you’re not connected to the internet.
It has many icons or symbols for workflows: Microsoft Visio comes with many icons or logos for workflows, making it easier for you to understand how your diagram works.

Cons:

Limited data visualization: Microsoft Visio is limited in its ability to visualize data.
Not available on Mac or Linux: Microsoft Visio Professional is only available for Windows computers and does not support Mac or Linux users.
Requires expensive licensing: Microsoft Visio requires expensive licensing, which can be costly for small businesses.
Limited functionality: While Microsoft Visio has some limited functionality, it doesn’t have many features compared to other more popular software options like Adobe Photoshop or Inkscape.

Pricing

Pricing plans include annual subscription prices of $6 per month or $60 per year and monthly payment options starting at $5 per month!

What is a flowchart?

A flowchart is a visual representation of a process or plan. It can be used to show the steps in a process, the program hierarchy, or the structure’s order. Flowchart software can create a sequence diagram of interconnected shapes that sketches the flow, hierarchy, order, or structure of a plan or idea. Flowchart software can range from simple charts to diagrams having multiple routes.

What are the benefits of using a flowchart?

1. Helps to visualize complex processes

Flowcharting can help visualize complex processes quickly and easily, providing benefits such as the ability to identify patterns and communicate ideas clearly and straightforwardly. Flowcharting tools are an excellent resource for understanding and speaking about organizational processes and ensuring procedures are performed correctly and consistently. Additionally, flowcharting can help optimize operations and improve communication between teams.

2. Helps to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies

Flowcharting can help identify and eliminate redundancies and inefficiencies in a process. Flowcharts are a visual way to communicate complicated procedures, which can help organizations improve their workplace efficiency by finding and streamlining bottlenecks. Flow charts can also be used to develop plans, business process documentation, and training materials. They can also help analyze business waste and inefficiency.

3. Helps to communicate processes to others

Flowcharts can help in the communication by providing a visual representation of the steps involved in a process. A flowchart can be helpful when describing a complex process to another person or when trying to remember the actions involved in completing a task.

4. Helps to find errors and potential problems

Flowcharting can help you find mistakes and potential problems in your work. By visually representing the steps involved in a process, flowcharting can help you understand the flow of information in a process and the relationships between different parts of the process. Flowcharting is valuable for identifying and eliminating redundancies and finding errors and potential problems.

5. Helps to promote process improvement

Flowcharting can help promote process improvement in businesses by helping to visualize and optimize complex workflows. They are commonly used to communicate complicated processes to stakeholders without confusing them and to analyze business waste and inefficiency. Flow charts and process maps can be used in different industries, making them versatile tools for enhancing efficiency across the board.

6. Helps to increase productivity

Flowcharts can help to improve productivity by outlining a process. Flow charts can help reduce ambiguity and enhance communication within a business by visually communicating a process to stakeholders. Flow charts are also commonly used to develop plans, business process documentation, and training materials. Additionally, flow charts can be used to analyze business waste and inefficiency.

What are the key features to look for in flowchart software?

An exemplary flowchart software has to meet five main criteria:

User Interface (UI): An exemplary flowchart should be sleek and user-friendly, with attractive presentation tools for sharing your diagrams with clients and teams. Above all, it should be easy to learn and use.
Usability: Flowchart software is a visual tool, so making it easy to master is crucial. Companies offer good tech support, templates, tutorials, and training that make learning how to use their software relatively painless.
Integrations: To get the most out of your flowchart diagramming endeavors, you’ll want a program with export features or integrative compatibility with other tools. This way, you can easily share your work across multiple platforms without hassle.
Functions: A competent app should have all the tools any flowcharting needs, from necessities such as templates and shapes library to more advanced features like drag and drop and export capabilities.
Value: The software should be reasonably priced without feeling overpriced or too restrictive for larger-scale projects.

How do I choose the best flowchart software for me?

Step 1: Determine your needs

You’ll want to identify the process you wish to diagram. Choose an existing flowchart from our template gallery or start from scratch with a blank canvas. Once you’ve selected your chart type and chosen your software, it’s time to select features that are important to you.

Step 2: Compare features

When it comes to flowchart software, there are a lot of options available on the market. If you are looking for comprehensive flowchart software to help you efficiently communicate your ideas to clients and teams, look no further than our comparison of top options.

Step 3: Consider ease of use

When choosing the best flowchart software, ease of use is vital. The software should be easy to learn and use, with an intuitive interface. Good tech support and training resources should be available to help users get the most out of their Flowchart software.

Step 4: Compare pricing

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s time to compare pricing. Flowchart software can range in price from free to hundreds of dollars per month. If you’re just getting started, you may want to choose a free or low-cost option. However, remember that you may need to upgrade later if your needs change.

Step 5: Check out user reviews

When narrowing down your choices for flowchart software, you must consider what other users have to say about the programs you’re considering. User reviews can give you a good sense of a program’s features, ease of use, and customer support.

FAQ’s

What is the best flowchart software?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as the best flowchart software depends on your specific needs and preferences. However, some of the most popular flowchart software products include Microsoft Visio, Gliffy, and draw.io.

What is the best flowchart software for businesses?

The best flowchart software typically offers a simple solution to managing ideas, workflows, and projects – making it perfect for exploring business creativity and brainstorming.

While not everyone needs this type of software, those in business should consider it a vital tool for creativity and productivity.

Of course, not all flowchart software is the same – but the best will share core features such as basic templates and predefined objects. You’ll likely need it to allow for collaborative work between teams, making it great for small businesses looking to get the most out of their collective brainpower.

What is the best flowchart software for personal use?

The best flowchart software for personal use includes Visio and OmniGraffle. These programs have various features, such as templates and cloud connectivity, that make them easy to use. They are also compatible with a variety of applications, making them useful for a variety of purposes.

What is the best flowchart software for Mac?

One of the most popular flowchart software options for Mac is OmniGraffle. This software is packed with features, making it an excellent choice for teams who need a lot of flexibility in their workflow. OmniGraffle also has a wide range of export options, so you can easily share your work with others.

If you’re looking for a free option, you may want to try Draw.io. This software is open source and has a wide range of features, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget.

Whatever your needs, there’s sure to be a flowchart software option right for you.

Conclusion

There you have it! Our list of the eight best flowchart software programs of the year. We hope you found the perfect fit for your needs. If you’re still undecided, we recommend you sign up for the free trials offered by most of these programs. That way, you can test them out and see which one works best for you.

About the Author

Nick Patrocky

Nick Patrocky writes SaaS and Business Software reviews. He's also the head of design at a rapidly growing fintech company. Nick's worked with hundreds of software companies and startups over the last 10 years. Reach out if you have any questions or if you'd like to collab.

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