New in H2R Gear v2.12
A rewritten cable engine that routes around your gear, plus cable shortcuts and a long list of fixes.
Read more →AV people draw signal flow in everything from free diagram apps to full CAD packages. The right tool depends on the work: a volunteer streaming a Sunday service, a freelancer running a three-day conference and an integrator fitting out a building each need something different.
H2R Gear is built for live production. You draw with real gear and real ports, and the plan builds its own packlist and patch list. It is not built for rack elevations, floor plans or proposals. These pages set out the differences plainly, so you can pick what suits your work.
Best AV diagram software 2026
Five tools compared with a clear "best for" verdict on each, from free options to integrator CAD.
Read comparison →
Visio and Lucidchart vs H2R Gear
Why general diagram tools struggle with AV signal flow, and when they are still the right call.
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draw.io vs H2R Gear
Where free draw.io works for AV diagrams, and where an AV-specific tool saves time.
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Quick guide: which AV diagram tool fits?
- Live events, streaming, churches, touring: H2R Gear (free Starter plan, Pro $15/month, $12 one-time event pass).
- Installation integrators with racks and proposals: D-Tools or Vectorworks ConnectCAD.
- General diagrams and quick sketches: draw.io, Lucidchart or Visio.
For the full breakdown, start with our best AV diagram software roundup.