We tried best Smaply alternatives for journey mapping and collaboration

    We reviewed the best customer journey mapping tools on the market

    This guide showcases the three best alternatives to Smaply for journey mapping. Each platform offers unique capabilities around data insights, team collaboration, and workflow optimization—helping teams deliver better customer experiences with less friction.

    Looking for a journey mapping solution?

    Smaply is one of the most popular journey mapping tools, but teams often need different capabilities as their CX programs evolve. 

    Whether you're looking for stronger data integration, different collaboration features, or more flexible pricing, this TheyDo guide examines leading alternatives that can enhance your journey mapping practice.

    Why look for Smaply alternatives?

    Smaply is a trusted journey mapping platform with a strong track record - but some teams find its limitations impact their workflow. 

    Here are a few of the most common complaints we hear:

    • The interface can feel outdated and complex, particularly for journey mapping tasks

    • Data management lacks flexibility, with limited options for reusable content and external integrations

    • Working with visual content like graphics and personas can be time-consuming

    If any of these sound like deal-breakers, read on for alternatives that address these weaknesses.

    Top Smaply alternatives for journey mapping

    1. TheyDo

    2. UXPressia

    3. Lucidchart

    1. TheyDo

    TheyDo is an enterprise journey management platform that unifies customer experience work across large organizations. It serves as a single source of truth where teams can map, manage, and act on customer journeys collaboratively.

    TheyDo

    We give teams the ability to connect strategic planning with customer-facing execution. You can use TheyDo to link business goals directly to journey steps, track solution impact across touchpoints, and identify opportunities through automated research analysis. 

    This systematic approach helps you standardize journey management, drive measurable customer experience improvements, and align your company around a shared understanding of your customers.

    Key features

    • Journey AI: Automatically converts customer research and interviews into structured journey maps with categorized insights and opportunities.

    • Real-time collaboration: Enables seamless team coordination with simultaneous editing and no version control issues.

    • Insight management: Systematically organizes customer research by categorizing findings into needs, pains, gains, and observations.

    • Cross-journey visibility: Reveals how specific opportunities and solutions affect multiple touchpoints throughout different journeys.

    • Integration hub: Seamlessly connects with Qualtrics, Jira, Notion, Airtable and other tools to embed journey mapping in existing workflows.

    • Impact tracking: Quantifies and visualizes how initiatives influence customer experience metrics.

    Pricing

    TheyDo offers three tiers: 

    TheyDo pricing

    • Mapping (free)

    • Management (from $35,000 per year)

    • Strategic (custom)

    Mapping includes 10 journeys, unlimited users and viewers, and basic collaboration tools. Management adds AI capabilities, advanced integrations, and dedicated support. Finally, Strategic tier provides enterprise features like data warehouse integrations, SSO, and custom roadmaps.

    Pros

    • Comprehensive enterprise journey management capabilities

    • Strong AI-powered research analysis and mapping

    • Real-time cross-team collaboration features

    Cons

    • Best suited for larger organizations

    2. UXPressia

    UXPressia is a robust customer experience and journey mapping platform designed to help organizations visualize and manage customer journeys, personas, and impact maps in a centralized digital environment. 

    TheyDo

    The tool allows cross-functional teams to work collaboratively in real-time, supporting the mapping of complex journeys with customizable features and templates, making it ideal for companies focused on comprehensive CX projects.

    Key features

    • Multi-section customization: Offers over 20 customizable sections (text, charts, sliders, images, etc.) that let users create detailed journey maps tailored to specific organizational needs.

    • Template library: Provides a wide selection of templates for customer journeys, impact maps, and personas.

    • Real-time collaboration: Enables synchronous and asynchronous collaboration, allowing teams and stakeholders to work together seamlessly across locations.

    • Data integration: Supports embedding of analytics, media, and other content types to bring maps to life with real-time data.

    Pricing

    UXPressia offers four tiers:

    UXPressia Pricing

    • Free 

    • Starter ($160 per user/year)

    • Pro ($360 per user/year)

    • Enterprise (custom)

    Free tier includes 1 journey map with basic features like commenting and PNG export. Starter adds support for 3 concurrent journey projects, unlimited template access, and password protection. Pro unlocks unlimited maps and AI features like persona generation. 

    Enterprise adds SSO, custom domains, and advanced security controls.

    Pros

    • Extensive customization options

    • Supports rich data integration for detailed journey insights

    Cons

    • Learning curve for new users

    • Higher pricing for larger teams

    3. Lucidchart

    Lucidchart is a versatile diagramming tool that happens to be great for basic customer journey mapping.

    TheyDo

    Lucidchart’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface lets teams build journey maps that include complex processes, systems, and customer touchpoints. And while interactivity and advanced functionality are both very limited, the platform's strength lies in its simplicity and compatibility with other tools. 

    If you’re looking for simple journey visualization without complex CX features, Lucidchart is an accessible and cost-effective option.

    Key features

    • Journey map templates: Lucidchart offers pre-designed templates to help users quickly create structured journey maps, complete with personas, stages, and touchpoints.

    • Real-time collaboration: Multiple users can work on maps simultaneously, with in-app chat and commenting.

    • Data integrations: Integrates with tools like Google Workspace, Atlassian, and Slack, making it easy to incorporate journey maps within broader workflows.

    • Visualization and filtering options: Features like shape libraries and visualization filters let users highlight specific aspects of the journey and create views for different stakeholders.

    Pricing

     Lucidchart offers four tiers:

    • Free (free) includes 3 editable documents, 100 templates, and basic collaboration features

    • Individual ($7.95/month) supports unlimited documents and 1,000+ templates

    • Team ($9/user/month - minimum 3 users) comes with with advanced collaboration and admin controls

    • Enterprise (custom) features extra tools like SSO and advanced data automation features

    Pros

    • Supports extensive integrations

    • Strong collaborative features for team editing

    Cons

    • Limited functionality for very large diagrams

    • Learning curve for advanced diagramming features

    Finding the right journey mapping tool for your team

    Whether you’re visualizing complex customer journeys or refining team workflows, these Smaply alternatives offer valuable features to meet diverse journey mapping needs. Each tool provides unique functionalities, from collaborative features to data integration, but TheyDo stands out with its advanced journey management capabilities tailored for enterprise teams.

    TheyDo supports complex, cross-functional journey mapping with structured taxonomy management, real-time collaboration, and AI-powered insights that make it ideal for organizations focused on seamless customer experience.

    Ready to elevate your journey mapping process? Try TheyDo today!