PlantUML Alternatives

Text diagrams, especially UML. Compared with 8 alternatives by price, platform, and license. About PlantUML.

Price
Platform
License
Order
PlantUMLPriceOpen sourcePlatformsLocal, Web
MermaidPriceOpen sourcePlatformsWeb, Markdown
ExcalidrawPriceOpen sourcePlatformsWeb
diagrams.netPriceOpen sourcePlatformsWeb, Desktop
D2PriceOpen sourcePlatformsLocal
nomnomlPriceOpen sourcePlatformsWeb
GraphvizPriceOpen sourcePlatformsLocal
LucidchartPriceFreemiumPlatformsWeb
StructurizrPriceFreemiumPlatformsWeb

Details

Mermaid

Since 2014

Diagrams as text: flowcharts, sequences, ER.

Switch for Web, Markdown.

More about Mermaid · 8 alternatives · Medium to switch

D2

Since 2022

Modern text-to-diagram language.

Switch for Local.

More about D2 · 8 alternatives · Medium to switch

Lucidchart

Since 2010

Collaborative diagram suite for teams.

Switch for Freemium instead of Open source · Web · Proprietary.

More about Lucidchart · 8 alternatives · High to switch

Structurizr

Since 2014

C4 architecture diagrams as code.

Switch for Freemium instead of Open source · Web · Proprietary.

More about Structurizr · 8 alternatives · High to switch

Comparisons

Mermaid vs PlantUMLMore Diagrams

Catalogued 2026-11-09.