Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Crossref VS Cacoo

Compare Crossref VS Cacoo and see what are their differences

Crossref logo Crossref

Crossref makes research outputs easy to find, cite, link, assess, and reuse. Weโ€™re a not-for-profit membership organization that exists to make scholarly communications better.

Cacoo logo Cacoo

Diagram, brainstorm, and build ideas together all in one place with Cacooโ€™s visual collaboration tool. Create flowcharts, wireframes, mind maps, and workflows in real time, and collaborate effortlessly โ€” no matter where your team is located.
  • Crossref Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-26
  • Cacoo In-app Video Chat
    In-app Video Chat //
    2026-01-16
  • Cacoo UML Diagram
    UML Diagram //
    2026-01-16
  • Cacoo Cacoo Template Library
    Cacoo Template Library //
    2026-01-16
  • Cacoo Mind Map Diagram
    Mind Map Diagram //
    2026-01-16
  • Cacoo Real-time Collaborate With Voting & Comments
    Real-time Collaborate With Voting & Comments //
    2026-01-16

With Cacoo, your team can brainstorm freely, visualize ideas clearly, and turn concepts into real, actionable outcomes faster than ever. No more endless email chains or confusing versions of documentsโ€”just a single, collaborative space where ideas come to life. Cacoo transforms the way teams communicate, plan, and execute projects, making teamwork more efficient, creative, and fun.

Cacooโ€™s ready-made templates and customizable shapes make it easy to get started quickly, so your team can focus on creativity and problem-solving rather than starting from scratch. Multiple users can edit diagrams simultaneously, add comments, and chat live, keeping communication seamless and ensuring everyone stays aligned no matter where they are. Sharing your work is simple with Cacoo. Export diagrams in multiple formats, embed them in presentations, or share links with stakeholders for instant feedback. You can even set permissions and password protection to ensure sensitive information stays secure. Cacoo integrates smoothly with popular productivity and collaboration tools like Slack, Google Drive, Google Docs, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, Backlog, and Adobe Creative Cloud, helping you maintain a seamless workflow across platforms.

Beyond diagramming, Cacoo helps teams visualize processes, organize project plans, and streamline meetings. Use it to map out project milestones, plan agile or waterfall workflows, and track progress visually, making complex ideas easy to understand and execute. From small teams to enterprise organizations, Cacoo scales with your needs and provides powerful collaboration features without slowing your workflow.

Crossref

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

Cacoo

Website
nulab.com
$ Details
freemium $6.0 / Monthly ($6 per user per month, up to 1,000 users)
Release Date
2010 January
Startup details
Country
Japan
Founder(s)
Masanori Hashimoto, Shinsuke Tabata
Employees
100 - 249

Crossref features and specs

  • Comprehensive Metadata
    Crossref provides an extensive database of metadata for scholarly content, facilitating easy discovery, citation, and linking of research outputs.
  • DOI Assignment
    It allows publishers to assign Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to their content, ensuring persistent linking and easy access to research materials.
  • Interoperability
    Crossref's systems are designed to be interoperable with other systems, which helps integrate with various platforms and services used by researchers and institutions.
  • Wide Adoption
    Widely used by journals, publishers, and academic institutions worldwide, which enhances consistency and reliability in academic publishing.
  • Crossmark Service
    Provides a way to identify the current status of a document and access additional information such as corrections, updates, or retractions.

Possible disadvantages of Crossref

  • Cost
    There are costs associated with assigning and maintaining DOIs, which might be a barrier for some smaller publishers or independent researchers.
  • Complexity
    The system can be complex to navigate for new users, especially for those unfamiliar with DOI management and metadata requirements.
  • Dependency on Members
    Crossref relies on its member organizations to accurately submit data, which can sometimes lead to inconsistencies or errors if not managed properly.
  • Limited to Registered Content
    Only content registered by Crossref members benefit from its services, which can limit access to some research resources if not universally adopted.

Cacoo features and specs

  • Collaboration
    Cacoo allows real-time collaboration, enabling multiple users to work on the same diagram simultaneously, which enhances teamwork and productivity.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible even for users who are not very tech-savvy.
  • Extensive Template Library
    Cacoo offers a wide range of templates for various types of diagrams, such as flowcharts, wireframes, and network diagrams, helping users get started quickly.
  • Integration Options
    Cacoo integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Google Drive, Confluence, and Slack, facilitating smooth workflow integration.
  • Affordable Pricing
    Compared to some other diagramming tools, Cacoo offers competitive pricing and flexible plans to suit different needs and budgets.

Analysis of Cacoo

Overall verdict

  • Cacoo is considered a good tool for individuals and teams who need an intuitive platform to create diagrams and collaborate effectively. Its range of features, ease of use, and collaborative capabilities make it a strong competitor in the diagramming space.

Why this product is good

  • Cacoo is a versatile online diagramming tool that allows for real-time collaboration, extensive template options, and a user-friendly interface. It supports a wide range of diagrams like flowcharts, wireframes, mind maps, and more. The ability to collaborate in real-time makes it an excellent choice for teams working remotely or across different locations. Additionally, the integration with cloud services and various other productivity tools enhances its utility for many users.

Recommended for

    Cacoo is recommended for project managers, designers, engineers, educators, and remote teams who require a collaborative environment to brainstorm, visualize ideas, and manage projects through diagrammatic representations.

Crossref videos

Rachael & Rosa - Enriching the Review Process with Crossref

More videos:

  • Review - CrossRef Financial Review

Cacoo videos

Getting started with Cacoo

More videos:

  • Demo - Start collaborating with Cacoo
  • Tutorial - Cacoo Features: The complete walkthrough

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Crossref and Cacoo)
Data Integration
100 100%
0% 0
Diagrams
0 0%
100% 100
Mockups
100 100%
0% 0
Wireframing
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Crossref and Cacoo.

What makes your product unique?

Cacoo's answer:

Cacoo is easy to use, highly collaborative, and built for teams who want to move quickly without sacrificing clarity. You can create diagrams, add comments, track versions, and work together in real time โ€” all in your browser. With templates for everything from wireframes to org charts to user journey maps, Cacoo helps teams get started faster and stay aligned at every stage of a project. Plus, its pricing is accessible for teams of all sizes.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Cacoo's answer:

Cacoo stands out from competitors because itโ€™s easy to use and makes visual collaboration simple. Teams can quickly create diagrams, wireframes, and workflows with ready-made templates, and work together in real time. It integrates with Google, connects to wikis for easy documentation, and works entirely in the cloud โ€” no installation or storage headaches. Everything stays organized and shareable, so everyone can see, comment, and collaborate in one place.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Cacoo's answer:

Our core audience includes product teams, UX and design teams, engineering teams, and project managers who rely on visuals to communicate ideas. At the same time, marketing, business, and operations teams use Cacoo to plan workflows, run workshops, and keep everyone on the same page.

What's the story behind your product?

Cacoo's answer:

Cacoo was created by Nulab, a Japan-based software company, to make teamwork easier and more enjoyable. We wanted a tool that made it easy to map ideas and workflows together โ€” whether teammates were in the same room or across the world. Since its launch, Cacoo has become a global platform used by thousands of teams to plan projects, explain ideas, and collaborate visually.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Cacoo's answer:

Cacoo's backend is written using the programming language Go. This robust foundation helps Cacoo run smoothly, even when managing large projects or complex tasks.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Cacoo's answer:

Cacoo is trusted by teams at DMM.com, Megazone Cloud, and Giftee, as well as thousands of startups, agencies, and enterprises worldwide.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Crossref and Cacoo

Crossref Reviews

We have no reviews of Crossref yet.
Be the first one to post

Cacoo Reviews

Top 10 Alternatives to Draw.io / Diagrams.net - Flowchart Maker Reviews
Cacoo has a great suite of productivity apps to help you get things done. Our main complaint is the UX a bit lacking.โ€
The 10 Best UML Diagram Tools 2020
As weird as the name of the platform is, Cacoo is one of the best available options when it comes to UML diagramming. It does allow you to have a very sophisticated and sleek approach to the process with the in-built templates and accessory functions.
The Top Free Digital Classroom Management Software and Classroom Collaboration Tools
Cacoo is a free diagram and flowchart creator made specifically for real-time collaboration. This app is perfect for visual learning in the classroom and off-site so long as teachers and students have an internet connection. Cacoo also integrates with other free educational programs such as G Suite for Education, allowing for easier sharing and access to information.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Crossref seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Crossref mentions (2)

  • Need an access to Arthur Kaufman Small Scale Right ot Resist
    Can't find DOI of an article by Arthur Kaufman Small Scale Right to Resist. I try to find it on crossref.org but nothing there. I have only a link for an article from heinoline. Unfortunately, I haven't access to this platform:. Source: over 4 years ago
  • What is a website everyone should know about?
    Crossref.org It does a better job on finding things than google scholar and helps to find DOI ( to get articles from sci-hub.se with the doi ). Source: over 4 years ago

Cacoo mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Cacoo yet. Tracking of Cacoo recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Crossref and Cacoo, you can also consider the following products

Mendeley - Easily organize your papers, read & annotate your PDFs, collaborate in private or open groups, and securely access your research from everywhere.

LucidChart - LucidChart is the missing link in online productivity suites. LucidChart allows users to create, collaborate on, and publish attractive flowcharts and other diagrams from a web browser.

Academia.edu - Academia is a website where you can share papers that are written with other users. You can use a Google or Facebook account to sign in to the website.

draw.io - Online diagramming application

Flatfile - The new standard for data import

Gliffy - Gliffy is a powerful HTML5 online diagram maker. Create a flow chart, network diagram, UML diagram, organizational chart or wireframe with ease.