What a PRISMA flow diagram shows
A PRISMA flow diagram is the picture of how you got from a pile of search results to the studies you actually included. It records how many records you found, how many you threw out at each stage, and why. Readers use it to judge whether your review missed anything, and most journals in health research expect one.
The 2020 version replaced the older 2009 diagram. The main practical differences: registers are counted separately from databases, records removed before screening are broken out (duplicates, automation tools, other reasons), and studies found by other means such as citation chasing get their own column.
Which of the four templates you need
PRISMA 2020 publishes four variants. Two questions decide which one you want, and this tool switches between them with a dropdown and a checkbox.
- New or updated review. An updated review adds a column for studies already included in the previous version, and a final box with the combined totals.
- Databases only, or other methods too. If you also searched websites, contacted organisations, or chased citations, you need the second column that tracks those separately.
How to fill it in
- Choose the template that matches your review.
- Enter what each database and register returned. Add a row per source if you want them itemised, or keep the two totals.
- Enter records removed before screening, then the screening counts, then the counts for reports sought and assessed.
- List each reason reports were excluded at full text, with a count. Reporting these reasons is a PRISMA 2020 requirement.
- Resolve any warnings, then export.
Full walkthrough: how to create a PRISMA flow diagram step by step.
Why the numbers get checked
Flow diagrams often reach peer review with counts that cannot be right — records screened that do not match records found minus duplicates, or exclusion reasons that do not add up to the reports excluded. This tool does that arithmetic while you type and tells you which figure disagrees with which. It warns rather than blocks, because there are legitimate reasons for some gaps, and you may want to save a half-finished diagram.
Exporting for a journal
Use PDF or SVG when a journal asks for vector artwork; both keep the text sharp at any size and remain selectable. Use PNG at 4x when a submission system insists on a raster image at high resolution. Word export is there for manuscripts that embed the figure directly.
You can also export your numbers as CSV in the same format the official PRISMA2020 R package uses, so you can move between tools, and import that CSV back here later.
Frequently asked questions
Is this PRISMA flow diagram generator free?
Yes. It is free, there is no account to create, and exports carry no watermark. There is no paid tier.
Is my review data uploaded anywhere?
No. The diagram is built entirely inside your browser and nothing is sent to a server. Your work is saved locally on your own device so it is still there when you come back. If you share a link, the numbers travel inside the link itself, after the # symbol, which browsers never send to a server.
Which file format should I give my journal?
PDF or SVG if the journal accepts vector artwork, because the text stays sharp at any size. PNG at 4x if it requires a high-resolution image file. Word export is available for manuscripts that embed the figure directly.
Does it follow the official PRISMA 2020 statement?
The diagram follows the structure published with the PRISMA 2020 statement (Page et al., BMJ 2021;372:n71) and supports all four template variants: new and updated reviews, each with or without studies identified by other methods. This is an independent tool and is not endorsed by the PRISMA initiative.
Can I import numbers I already have in the PRISMA2020 R package format?
Yes. Import CSV reads the same template the PRISMA2020 R package and its Shiny app use, and Export CSV writes it back out, so you can move between the tools.
What is the difference between PRISMA 2020 and the 2009 diagram?
PRISMA 2020 counts registers separately from databases, breaks out records removed before screening into duplicates, records rejected by automation tools and other reasons, and gives studies found by other methods such as citation searching their own column. It also asks you to report the reasons reports were excluded at full text.
Why is the tool warning me that my numbers do not add up?
Some figures in a PRISMA diagram are determined by others. Records screened should equal records identified minus records removed before screening, for example. When a figure disagrees with the ones it depends on, the tool names both so you can see which to correct. Warnings never block you.
Do I need to report exclusion reasons?
Yes, for reports excluded after full-text assessment. PRISMA 2020 asks reviews to state how many reports were excluded at that stage and why, so add one row per reason with its count.
Can I edit the diagram after I download it?
Yes. The SVG opens in Illustrator, Inkscape or Affinity Designer and every box and label stays editable. The PDF keeps live text rather than outlines. You can also return to the tool later: your numbers are saved in your browser.