Comparison
How MapVS Compares
The most complete value stream mapping platform at a fraction of the cost. See how we stack up against the alternatives.
Recommended
VS
MapVS Pro
Cloud-native VSM platform
$29
/month
Or $290/year (save 17%). Free tier available.
- ✓DES with animated playback
- ✓Apple Watch hands-free recording
- ✓What-If with ROI & payback
- ✓1,000+ templates, 33 industries
- ✓NFC/GPS-triggered recording
eVSM
eVSM
Visio-based add-in
$1,950
/year
Requires Visio ($280+/yr). No free tier.
- ✕No simulation
- ✕No mobile or Watch app
- ✕No AI capabilities
- ~~50 templates
- ✕No API access
Sim
SimVSM
VSM + simulation
€500
/mo (Ultimate)
Strong simulation. Free tier available.
- ✓Dynamic simulation
- ✕No Watch app
- ✕No NFC/GPS triggers
- ✕No What-If with ROI
- ✕No recording runs
Lc
Lucidchart
General diagramming
$9
/mo
General-purpose. No VSM-specific features.
- ✕No simulation
- ✕No process recording
- ✕No lean metrics
- ✕No mobile recording
- ~Generic shapes only
M
Miro
Whiteboard collaboration
$8
/mo
Collaboration-first. No VSM-specific features.
- ✕No simulation
- ✕No process recording
- ✕No lean metrics
- ✕No data boxes
- ~Generic shapes only
Feature Matrix
Detailed Feature Comparison
| Feature |
VS
MapVS $29/mo
|
e
eVSM $1,950/yr
|
S
SimVSM €500/mo
|
Lc
Lucidchart $9/mo
|
M
Miro $8/mo
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core VSM Capabilities | |||||
| Interactive VSM canvas | ✓ 47 shapes, 12 connections | ✓ ~30 shapes | ✓ ~15 shapes | ~ Generic shapes | ~ Generic shapes |
| Standard VSM iconography | ✓ Full set | ✓ Full set | ~ Partial | ✕ | ✕ |
| Enhanced data boxes (CT, WT, ST, OEE, Yield) | ✓ Auto-calculated | ✓ Manual entry | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Dark mode canvas | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lean calculations overlay | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Multi-product flow mapping | ✓ Product Variant Flows | ~ eVSM Mix ($1,450+ extra) | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Current / Future state toggle | ✓ | ✓ | ~ Manual | ✕ | ✕ |
| Shift calendars per station | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Export PNG / SVG / PDF | ✓ | ✓ (via Visio) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Simulation & Analysis | |||||
| Discrete Event Simulation (DES) | ✓ With animated canvas playback | ✕ | ✓ Dynamic simulation (Ultimate) | ✕ | ✕ |
| Monte Carlo simulation | ✓ Statistical distributions | ✕ | ✓ Ultimate only | ✕ | ✕ |
| What-If with financial impact ($$/ROI) | ✓ Savings, ROI, payback | ✓ Basic what-if | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| OEE per station | ✓ Auto-calculated | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| PCE & bottleneck detection | ✓ Visual + data | ~ Manual | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Lean metrics (takt, PCE, lead time) | ✓ 15+ metrics auto-calculated | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Stage trend tracking across runs | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Map evolution timeline | ✓ Stage additions/removals | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Line Balance chart | ✓ Auto-generated | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Standard Work chart | ✓ Auto-generated | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Multiple Activity Analysis | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Both-hand (two-hand) Analysis | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| 3-way work classification (V/I/W) | ✓ Valuable, Incidental, Waste | ~ VA/NVA only | ~ VA/NVA only | ✕ | ✕ |
| AI & Automation | |||||
| AI video analysis | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| AI photo digitisation | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Smart improvement suggestions | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| BYO LLM API key | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Video annotation & markup | ✓ Per-frame annotations | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Video comparison (side-by-side) | ✓ Before/after | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Partial video zoom & crop | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Play with rating (pace rating) | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Procedural manual export | ✓ Auto-generated | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Data Capture | |||||
| Apple Watch standalone app | ✓ Hands-free, haptic alerts | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Mobile recording (iOS/iPad) | ✓ One-tap, VA/NVA, photos | ✕ | ~ Viewing only | ✕ | ✕ |
| Desktop screen recorder | ✓ Idle detection | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| NFC-triggered recording | ✓ Scan to start/stop | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| GPS waypoint auto-timing | ✓ Geofenced start/stop | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Recording runs (numbered) | ✓ Compare Run #1 vs #2 vs #3 | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Re-record individual steps | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Resource isolation | ✓ Workers record own stages | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Offline-first recording | ✓ | ✓ Desktop | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| 6-digit Watch pairing | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Photo capture & annotation | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Collaboration & Management | |||||
| Live recording banner | ✓ Person, device, step | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Cross-map overlays | ✓ Align & compare | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Merge processes into unified maps | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Real-time presence indicators | ✓ Live cursors | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Team workspaces & roles | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Improvement tracking (Kanban) | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Process change tracking | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ~ Comments |
| Templates & Integration | |||||
| Template library | ✓ 1,000+ across 33 industries | ✓ ~50 | ✓ ~20 | ✓ Generic | ✓ Generic |
| Integration marketplace | ✓ 23 connectors | ✕ | ✓ Some | ✓ Many | ✓ Many |
| REST API | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Platform | |||||
| Browser-based (no install) | ✓ | ✕ Requires Visio | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-device live sync | ✓ Web + mobile + Watch + desktop | ✕ | ~ Web only | ~ Web only | ~ Web only |
| Offline recording | ✓ Mobile + desktop + Watch | ✓ Desktop | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Multi-language support | ✓ 5 languages | ~ English only | ~ English + German | ✓ Many | ✓ Many |
| Pricing All prices in USD | |||||
| Free tier | Yes — 2 maps | ✕ | ✓ Basic | ✓ Limited | ✓ Limited |
| Pro plan (all features) | $29/mo ($290/yr) | $1,950/yr + Visio | ~$550/mo Ultimate | $9/mo (no VSM features) | $8/mo (no VSM features) |
| Team (5 users, annual) | $245/mo ($2,940/yr) | $1,950/yr (5 PCs) | ~$165/mo | $45/mo | $40/mo |
The only VSM platform with DES simulation, Apple Watch recording, and What-If ROI analysis
Purpose-built for value stream mapping with animated simulation playback, NFC/GPS-triggered recording, 1,000+ templates across 33 industries, and financial impact modelling that no competitor offers at any price.
Prices in USD. No credit card required for the free plan.