D2

Web · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API

Visit site Alternatives

Freedom report

Two barsScore 5.6

Free tierNo free tier on record
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely4 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

D2 is ranked #20 of 45 in diagramming software on Freedom251. It runs on API, Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web, Windows.

Compared on diagramming software

Free plan: Yes
Diagram types: software architecture diagrams; UML class diagrams; sequence diagrams
Offline editing: Yes
Import/export formats: D2 (.d2); SVG; PNG; PDF; PPTX; GIF; ASCII

Best D2 alternatives

See all 20

Three bars draw.io Free tierOpen source No. 1Free8.1 Two bars EdrawMax Free tier No. 2$5.90/mo6.7 Two bars Creately Free tier No. 3Free6.6 Two bars Ilograph Free tier No. 4Free6.6 Two bars Camunda Free tier No. 5Free6.5 Two bars Lucidchart Free tier No. 6Free6.5

The record

What it does: D2 is a declarative diagramming language that turns text into diagrams.
Diagram features: D2 supports themes, sketch mode, animations, LaTeX, code snippets, Markdown, and tables.
Layouts: D2 offers three layout engines and also handles specialized layouts such as sequence diagrams and grids.
Exports: D2 supports exports to SVG, PNG, PDF, PPTX, GIF, and ASCII.
Offline use: The homepage describes the local CLI as an offline workflow; the FAQ says D2 does not use an internet connection after installation except to check for version updates from GitHub periodically.
Online playground: The hosted Playground is an online runner for playing, learning, and creating with D2.
Programming API: D2 can be used as a library to produce diagrams from Go programs.
Editor integrations: The homepage lists official VSCode and Vim editor support, and the repository lists official VSCode, Vim, and Obsidian plugins.
Other integrations: The repository lists community plugins and integrations including Emacs, Telegram, Postgres import, Confluence, and MkDocs.
Platforms: The homepage lists macOS, Linux, and Windows support and says D2 is included in package managers such as Homebrew and Winget.
License: The repository says D2 is open sourced under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
Privacy: The repository FAQ says D2 does not use an internet connection after installation except to check periodically for version updates from GitHub.
Help and support: The repository recommends Discord for help, GitHub Issues for feature requests, proposals, or bug reports, and email for private inquiries.
Project sponsorship: D2 is an independent open-source project fiscally sponsored by Hack Club.

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Diagramming Software in 2026#20 of 45

Is D2 yours?

Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.

Claim it free Promote D2

Sources

d2lang.com· checked 4 Oct 2026
github.com/d2lang/d2· checked 4 Oct 2026
play.d2lang.com· checked 4 Oct 2026
d2lang.com/tour/intro/· checked 5 Oct 2026
d2lang.com/sponsor/· checked 5 Oct 2026
d2lang.com/tour/exports/· checked 5 Oct 2026
d2lang.com/tour/faq/· checked 5 Oct 2026
d2lang.com/tour/extensions/· checked 5 Oct 2026
d2lang.com/tour/vscode· checked 5 Oct 2026
d2lang.com/tour/community/· checked 5 Oct 2026
d2lang.com/blog/d2-non-profit/· checked 5 Oct 2026