The Org vs. Pingboard: Which is Better for Org Charts?

Having an organizational chart should be central to any company’s growth strategy. When used properly, an org chart will help you:

• Hire top talent
• Build stronger teams
• Boost productivity through your organization

But what software should you use to create an org chart? There’s a wide variety of tools to choose from, from free platforms to costly, feature-rich options. In this guide, we’re looking at two of the most popular options: The Org and Pingboard.

Let’s dive in!

The Org

The Org is a free platform that lets companies create public org charts and share them with the world. Employees can fill out their own profiles with thorough details about themselves, such as their:

• Headshot
• Job title
• Bio
• Team
• Direct reports
• Indirect reports
• Work history
• Education
• Contact information
• Social media links

…and more. This transforms a simple org chart into a staff directory that you can use to strengthen your teams and attract investors. Other features of The Org include a public job board and valuable insights from The Org’s Iterate blog.

The Org pros

• Ease of use: The Org is known for its user-friendly interface. This makes it easier than ever for companies to reap the benefits of a public org chart.
• Simplicity: The Org shuns many of the unnecessary and redundant features included in other org chart tools, focusing instead on simple, clear org charts.
• Insights: Because all org charts on The Org are public, users can get a behind-the-scenes look at the structure of thousands of other companies. This lets companies see what their competitors are doing differently. Users can also study the structure of global brands like Amazon, Apple and Uber for inspiration.
• Streamlined hiring: Companies can use The Org’s public job board to list open positions within their company. Then, job seekers can examine the company’s org chart to see how the company is structured and who they would be working with. If interested, candidates can apply directly through The Org.
• Detailed profiles: The rich details employees can include in their profiles improves efficiency within teams and helps colleagues connect on a deeper level.
• Quick search: The Org’s quick search function makes it easy for employees to find exactly who they’re looking for in the company. Users can search by name or job title.
• Education: The Org’s Iterate section offers valuable tips for companies in every stage of growth. This includes numerous resources on how to build and optimize an org chart.
• No cost: The Org is completely free — with no paid plans or hidden fees. Users won’t have to spend a cent to unlock the full features of the platform.

The Org cons

• Limited customization: Compared with some org chart tools, The Org offers fewer options for customizing an org chart. This is a trade-off for The Org’s simple, user-friendly approach.
• No apps: The Org doesn’t currently offer a mobile or desktop application. The platform can only be used through a web browser.

The Org pricing

The org is completely free. There are no plans, upgrades, or additional features that require payment.

Visit The Org’s website.

Pingboard

Pingboard bills itself as “an org chart with superpowers." It isn’t hard to see why, either. With a library of 32,000 org chart templates to choose from, Pingboard can help companies of every size and shape. (However, Pingboard is especially popular for larger organizations.)

Like The Org, Pingboard emphasizes its value as a staff directory. Employees can fill out detailed profiles with personal and professional information. Pingboard also offers automatic updates for org charts based on changes made to a company’s HR or IT database.

Pingboard pros

• Customization: A library of thousands of org chart templates allows companies to find their perfect design.
• Detailed profiles: As with The Org, Pingboard profiles can feature a wide range of information.
• Automatic updates: Pingboard can use existing HR or IT systems to automatically update live org charts over time.
• Scope: Pingboard is well-suited to large companies that require complex org charts and must manage frequent changes in personnel or structure.
• Integrations: Pingboard integrates well with a variety of tools, such as Google Workspace, ADP and Slack.
• Calendar: Pingboard syncs milestones from employee profiles with Google Calendar. This helps everyone keep track of important dates like employee birthdays and work anniversaries.
• Apps: While Pingboard does not have a desktop app, mobile apps are available for both iOS and Android.

Pingboard cons:

• Cost: Unlike The Org, Pingboard is not free. Pingboard’s costs can add up quickly, especially for large companies.
• Clunky UI: Some users find Pingboard’s interface to be clunky and difficult to navigate.
• Limited mobile features: Pingboard’s mobile apps lack key features that are available in the desktop version.
• Delayed updates: Users note that the automatic update feature can be delayed. An org chart may not reflect changes in the company for days or even weeks after they are entered into an HR or IT system.

Pingboard pricing:

• Team: $119 per month
• Company: $249 per month (for up to 100 users, then there’s an additional $1.50 per user above that limit)

Visit the Pingboard website.

Which is better for making org charts: The Org or Pingboard?

Choosing between The Org and Pingboard will depend on each company’s unique needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for which is better.

If you’re looking for a customizable org chart maker with plenty of integrations — and you don’t mind paying for it — Pingboard may be right for you. If you’d rather use a free platform that gives you the added benefits of a public org chart, then The Org is probably the better choice.

Ultimately, that’s a call only you and your team can make. Hopefully, this guide will help you make an informed decision. We’re rooting for you!

To learn more about how a public org chart can enhance your company, see our guide: Why Companies Should Have a Public Org Chart.