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PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator

Build PRISMA 2020 flow diagrams for your systematic review in minutes, free. Live preview, all 4 official templates, and downloads in PNG, SVG, PDF, TIFF, EPS and Word. The Export Pass removes the watermark and makes the Word file editable.

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The diagram is free and yours to keep. If your numbers are not reconciling, you are unsure how to justify an exclusion reason, or you want a second opinion before submission, ask a PhD methodologist and get an answer in minutes. No account needed. We can also run the whole review for you, from search and screening to a publication-ready manuscript.

Load sample data, import your counts from a CSV file, or download a blank template to fill in. Use Clear to start fresh.

Standard single-arm PRISMA 2020 template for searches of databases and registers.

Shown above the diagram and in every export. Change it for a scoping review (for example, “PRISMA-ScR flow diagram”) or a custom caption.

Standard color-coded boxes for each PRISMA phase.

Identification

Records from websites, organisations or citation searching go in the separate other-methods column of the PRISMA 2020 template; turn it on below to report them.

List each database or register with its own count and the identification box shows every source separately, the breakdown most journals ask for. The totals then derive automatically from the listed sources.

Removed Before Screening

Records screened: 0 (auto-calculated)

Screening

Reports sought for retrieval: 0

Reports assessed for eligibility: 0

Exclusion Reasons (Eligibility)

Included

Hyperlinks for interactive HTML (optional)

Add a web address to any box to make it clickable in the interactive HTML export. Leave blank to skip. Links can point to your protocol, search strategy, dataset, or supplementary files.

Free: the diagram as a watermarked picture in Word. The Export Pass makes it an editable Word table.

PNG for slides; SVG, PDF, and EPS are vector formats that stay sharp at any size; TIFF is a high-resolution raster (300 dpi); HTML is an interactive, self-contained file with hover labels and clickable boxes. SVG, PDF, EPS, and TIFF are all accepted by most journals.

Live Preview

PRISMA 2020 Flow Diagram
PRISMA 2020 Flow DiagramIDENTIFICATIONSCREENINGINCLUDEDIdentification of studies via databases and registersRecords identified from*: Databases (n = 0) Registers (n = 0)Records identified from*:Databases (n = 0)Registers (n = 0)Records removed before screening: Duplicate records removed (n = 0) Records marked as ineligible by automation tools (n = 0) Records removed for other reasons (n = 0)Records removed before screening:Duplicate records removed (n = 0)Records marked as ineligible by automation tools (n =0)Records removed for other reasons (n = 0)Records screened (n = 0)Records screened (n = 0)Records excluded** (n = 0)Records excluded** (n = 0)Reports sought for retrieval (n = 0)Reports sought for retrieval (n = 0)Reports not retrieved (n = 0)Reports not retrieved (n = 0)Reports assessed for eligibility (n = 0)Reports assessed for eligibility (n = 0)Reports excluded (n = 0):Reports excluded (n = 0):Studies included in review (n = 0) Reports of included studies (n = 0)Studies included in review (n = 0)Reports of included studies (n = 0)*Consider, if feasible to do so, reporting the number of records identified from each database or register searched (rather than the total number across alldatabases/registers).**If automation tools were used, indicate how many records were excluded by a human and how many were excluded by automation tools.Generated with PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator (prismaflowdiagramgenerator.com). Based on Page MJ et al. (2021) BMJ 372:n71
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How to cite this tool

If this tool produced the flow diagram in your manuscript, thesis, or protocol, please cite it. PRISMA 2020 asks you to report how the selection process was documented, and a named tool with a version is the cleanest way to answer that.

Methods sentence

The study selection process was recorded and the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram was produced using PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator (https://prismaflowdiagramgenerator.com).

APA

PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator. (2026). PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator (Version 2026.1) [Web application]. https://prismaflowdiagramgenerator.com

Vancouver

PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator. PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator [Internet]. Version 2026.1. 2026 [cited 2026]. Available from: https://prismaflowdiagramgenerator.com

BibTeX

@misc{prismaflowdiagramgenerator_2026, author = {{PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator}}, title = {{PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator}}, version = {2026.1}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://prismaflowdiagramgenerator.com}} }

Version 2026.1. Diagrams follow the PRISMA 2020 statement (Page MJ et al., BMJ 2021;372:n71) and all four official flow-diagram templates.

What Is a PRISMA 2020 Flow Diagram?

A PRISMA 2020 flow diagram is a standardized visual representation that documents the study selection process in a systematic review. Published by Page et al. in 2021, the PRISMA 2020 statement replaced the original 2009 PRISMA guidelines with updated reporting standards designed to improve the transparency and reproducibility of systematic reviews.

The PRISMA flow diagram traces records through four key phases: Identification (records found through database searching and other sources), Screening (title and abstract review), Eligibility (full-text assessment), and Inclusion (final studies included in the review). Each phase documents the number of records processed and the reasons for exclusion, providing a complete audit trail of the review process.

Our free PRISMA 2020 flow diagram generator supports all four official template types, including templates for new and updated systematic reviews with or without other sources beyond databases and registers. Learn more about the key differences between PRISMA 2020 and the original PRISMA statement.

How to Create a PRISMA Flow Diagram Using This Free Tool

Creating a publication-ready PRISMA 2020 flow diagram takes just a few steps with our free online generator:

  1. Select your template type: Choose from the 4 official PRISMA 2020 templates based on whether your review is new or updated, and whether you searched databases only or also used other sources.
  2. Enter your data: Fill in the numbers for each phase of your systematic review, from records identified through database searching to final included studies. Add exclusion reasons for the eligibility phase.
  3. Preview in real time: Watch your PRISMA flow diagram build as you type. The live preview updates instantly with every change.
  4. Download your diagram: Export as a high-resolution PNG image ready for your manuscript, thesis, or journal submission.

Need to see an example first? Click the “Load Example” button to populate the form with realistic data from a published systematic review. Read our detailed guide on how to create a PRISMA flow diagram step by step. If you are still working out your identification numbers, the deduplication rate calculator turns your raw database counts into the figures this diagram needs. To check your whole manuscript against the reporting standard, the interactive PRISMA 2020 checklist tracks all 27 items as you address them.

Why Researchers Choose Our PRISMA Diagram Generator

Built for academics and researchers who need professional, PRISMA 2020 compliant flow diagrams without the complexity.

Real-Time Live Preview

See your PRISMA flow diagram update instantly as you enter data. No page reloads or waiting.

4 Official Templates

All 4 PRISMA 2020 flow diagram templates: new or updated reviews, with or without other sources.

AI-Powered Examples

Load realistic example data from published systematic reviews to see how the diagram works.

Publication-Ready Exports

Free Word (.docx), PNG, SVG, PDF, TIFF, and EPS downloads with no sign-up. The Export Pass removes the watermark and makes the Word file editable.

Instant Live Preview

See your PRISMA flow diagram update in real time as you enter your data. No waiting, no refreshing.

PRISMA 2020 Compliant

Diagrams follow the official PRISMA 2020 statement structure published by Page et al. (2021).

The 4 PRISMA 2020 Flow Diagram Templates

The PRISMA 2020 statement provides four distinct flow diagram templates to accommodate different types of systematic reviews. Selecting the correct template ensures your PRISMA flow diagram accurately represents your review methodology:

  • New review, databases only: For original systematic reviews that searched databases and registers exclusively.
  • New review, databases + other sources: For original reviews that also used citation searching, websites, organisations, or other methods beyond database searching.
  • Updated review, databases only: For updates to previously published systematic reviews using databases and registers only.
  • Updated review, databases + other sources: For review updates that also included other sources beyond databases.

Not sure which template to use? Read our comprehensive guide on understanding the 4 PRISMA 2020 flow diagram templates or check the complete PRISMA 2020 checklist with all 27 reporting items.

Frequently Asked Questions About PRISMA Flow Diagrams

What is a PRISMA 2020 flow diagram?

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A PRISMA 2020 flow diagram is a standardized visual representation of the study selection process in a systematic review. It documents the number of records identified, screened, assessed for eligibility, and included in the final review, following the PRISMA 2020 reporting guidelines published by Page et al. (2021).

Is this PRISMA flow diagram generator free to use?

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Yes, the generator is free to use. You can pick a template, enter your counts, see the diagram render live, and download it as a Word (.docx) file or as PNG, SVG, PDF, TIFF, or EPS at no cost and with no sign-up; free downloads carry a site watermark. A one-time Export Pass removes the watermark and makes the Word file an editable table.

What are the 4 PRISMA 2020 flow diagram templates?

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The PRISMA 2020 statement provides 4 official flow diagram templates: (1) New systematic reviews using databases/registers only, (2) New systematic reviews using databases plus other sources, (3) Updated systematic reviews using databases/registers only, and (4) Updated systematic reviews using databases plus other sources.

How do I fill in the numbers for my PRISMA flow diagram?

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Enter your study selection data phase by phase: start with records identified from databases and registers, then records removed before screening (duplicates, automation), records screened and excluded, reports sought and not retrieved, reports assessed for eligibility with exclusion reasons, and finally studies included in your review.

Can I download the PRISMA flow diagram as an editable Word template?

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Yes, with the Export Pass. The "Word (.docx)" button then produces a real Microsoft Word document in which the diagram is a Word table, not a pasted image, so every count and exclusion reason stays editable text you can change directly in Word and drop into a thesis or manuscript. The free Word download contains the diagram as a watermarked picture; the Export Pass gives the editable Word table with no watermark.

What is the difference between PRISMA 2020 and the original PRISMA?

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PRISMA 2020 updated the original 2009 PRISMA statement with a revised 27-item checklist, new flow diagram templates that distinguish between databases/registers and other sources, and improved guidance for reporting systematic review methods and results. PRISMA 2020 also introduced separate templates for new and updated reviews.

Does this tool support updated systematic review diagrams?

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Yes. Our PRISMA flow diagram generator supports all 4 official PRISMA 2020 templates, including both "updated review" variants. Updated review templates include additional fields for studies and reports from the previous version of the review.

What is the Load Example feature?

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The Load Example button populates all form fields with realistic sample data from published systematic review scenarios. This helps you understand the expected data format and see how a completed PRISMA flow diagram looks before entering your own data.

Need More Than the Flow Diagram?

The generator handles the figure. When the searching, screening, risk of bias assessment, or meta-analysis itself is the problem, a PhD methodologist can take over any stage of your systematic review and deliver publication-ready work.

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