Hexplain.it

A diagram tool with one shape

Explain anything
to anyone.

One shape. As many layers as you need. Draw a layer for each audience, and keep the board's summary and the engineers' detail in one diagram.

Start a diagramFree. No account needed.
Online shop, an example
Shopper. The person buying something.Shopper

Every diagram starts from one hexagon.

  • Free to startOne diagram, with layers.
  • No accountOpen it and draw.
  • Saved in your browserOr as a file you keep.
  • Five export formatsPNG, PDF, SVG, HTML and JSON.

One real example

One diagram. Every audience.

How people join, move through and leave a company, in one diagram. Each layer was drawn by hand for a different reader, and each is complete on its own.

4

Board

Someone joins, changes role, leaves, and access is reviewed.

19

HR and managers

Each hexagon traces back to one of the board's four.

55

Identity engineers

The red ones are the steps most often missed.

How it works

One shape. Multiple layers.

There is nothing to learn before you start, and very little to get wrong.

  • One shape

    Hexagons only. No lines, no arrows. Things that are related touch, and a hexagon has six sides, so you have to decide what matters.

  • Layer 1
    Layer 2
    Layer 3

    Layers

    When a layer gets crowded, the detail moves down a layer. Each layer is a complete diagram for one audience.

  • One start, read to the right

    Every diagram begins at one hexagon. The next step goes in the slot on its right, so anyone can follow it without a key.

With an AI assistant

Ask your own assistant to draw it.

Connect your own AI assistant to a free account and ask it to draw or change a diagram. It builds the layers and tells you what the colours mean. You move things until it is right.

Explain our returns process at three levels: customer, shop staff, warehouse.

Free with an account, within a fair-use limit. Tested with Claude.

How to connect

Examples

Start from something real.

Open an example, look around, then make your own copy.

Someone joinsSomeonejoinsSomeone changes roleSomeonechangesroleSomeone leavesSomeoneleavesAccess is reviewed. Runs all year. Catches what the other three miss.Access isreviewed
Joiners, movers, leavers4 layers, from the board to identity engineers
SunlightSunlightAirAirWaterWaterPlant. Plants make their own food from light, air and water.PlantFoodFoodOxygenOxygen
Photosynthesis3 layers, from age 5 to undergraduate
Goods arriveGoodsarriveGoods storedGoodsstoredOrder pickedOrderpickedOrder sentOrder sent
Warehouse inventory3 layers, with a returns loop
Breach foundBreachfoundTold what happenedTold whathappenedSupport lineSupportlinePassword resetPasswordresetFollow-up letterFollow-upletter
Data breach response4 views: customer, security, legal, board
Three pigsThree pigsWolfWolfBrick house winsBrickhouse wins
The Three Little Pigs2 layers, age 4 and age 9
TakerTakerRaised arm signalRaised armsignalNear post groupNear postgroupFar post groupFar postgroupEdge-of-box coverEdge-of-box cover
Corner kick3 moments: set up, delivery, finish

Who it is for

For anyone who has to explain the same thing twice.

  • Teachers

    One topic, with a layer for every age you teach.

  • Scientists

    The public story and the full mechanism in the same place.

  • Engineers

    One system for users, product, security and the board.

  • Operations

    A process end to end, with who owns each step.

What is free

Free today, with no account.

What is planned is listed below.

Start a diagram
  • One diagram, with layers
  • No account and no sign-up form
  • Saved in your browser, or as a file you keep
  • Export as PNG, PDF, SVG, HTML or JSON
  • A read-only link to share, which you can switch off
  • Nine worked examples to open and copy

With a free account

  • Three diagrams
  • Saved to your account
  • Open them on any device
  • Connect your own AI assistant

Share links work for the no-account diagram today.

Planned

What's coming.

Want one of these sooner?

  • planned

    More diagrams

    A paid plan will hold as many diagrams as you need.

  • planned

    Share links for account diagrams

    You will be able to share a diagram saved in your account with a read-only or editable link.

  • planned

    Explain a code repository

    Your AI assistant will read a repository and draw it as layers for different readers, from a one-line summary down to the modules. You will be able to refresh it as the code changes.

Pick something you know well and draw it.

Start a diagramFree. Opens in your browser.