PRISMA 2020 flow diagram generator
Enter your numbers, check that they add up and download the flow diagram for your systematic review, with the study-selection paragraph already written.
Almost every journal asks for the PRISMA flow diagram, and the numbers are the part reviewers check: records that don’t add up between boxes are among the most common comments on a systematic review.
Leave the derived boxes empty and they are calculated by subtraction; if you type a figure that doesn’t match, you are told which one. The diagram is drawn in your browser: your numbers are not sent anywhere.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing is sent or stored.
What the tool does
It reproduces the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for new systematic reviews (Page et al., BMJ 2021;372:n71): the column for databases and registers and, if you need it, the column for other methods. Boxes are drawn in black on white, as journals require.
The diagram language is chosen separately from the website language, so you can write in English for the journal while reading the page in your own language. The paragraph is drafted in the same language, with the same figures as the diagram.
Frequently asked questions
Is it the official PRISMA 2020 template?
It follows the structure and wording of the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for new systematic reviews that included searches of databases, registers and other sources. Cite PRISMA 2020 (Page et al., BMJ 2021) in your methods.
Are my numbers saved?
No. The diagram is drawn in your browser and nothing is sent to our server.
What if my numbers don’t add up?
Leave the derived boxes empty and they are calculated by subtraction. If you enter a value that doesn’t match, we tell you which box and what the subtraction gives, so you can find the mistake before a reviewer does.
Can I use it for scoping or rapid reviews?
Yes. PRISMA-ScR and most rapid and integrative reviews use the same flow diagram; leave the boxes that don’t apply at zero.
Can I edit the diagram after downloading it?
Yes. The SVG opens with editable text in Word, PowerPoint, Illustrator or Inkscape. The PNG is high resolution for direct submission.
Template: Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71. doi:10.1136/bmj.n71