Best UML Modeling Software in 2026
Updated
In short: BESSER is ranked #1 of 24 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of ArgoUML and BOUML. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ArgoUML. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Visual Paradigm at $4/mo.
UML modeling software helps you create and work with diagrams and models as part of development. Compared on UML diagram types, code generation and reverse engineering, these entries also differ in model repository and team collaboration features. Deployment and supported platforms can help you judge whether an option fits your working setup; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost considerations. BESSER, ArgoUML and BOUML are among the named options to compare. Consider which kinds of UML models you need to build or maintain, and whether you need them connected to code or shared across a team.
24 UML modeling software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
9 of the 24 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BESSERWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | ArgoUMLWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | BOUMLWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | BridgePointWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | Eclipse PapyrusWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | GaphorWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | HorusecWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 8 | Violet UML EditorWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 9 | Visual ParadigmWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $4/mo | 6.4 | |
| 10 | UmpleWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
| 11 | kUMLWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 12 | PragmaDev StudioWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 13 | Sparx Enterprise ArchitectNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 14 | UMLetWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 15 | JetUMLWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 16 | Rodin PlatformWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 17 | Astah ProfessionalWindows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | UML LabNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | AgileUMLNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | ModelioWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | UMLGenWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | Altova UModelWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 23 | StarUMLWindows · Mac · Linux · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $129/mo | 5.0 |
| 24 | objectiF RPMWeb · Windows | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Compare all 24 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | UML diagram types | Code generation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BESSER | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | class, object, state machine | Yes |
| 2 | ArgoUML | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | class, statechart, activity, use case, collaboration, deployment, sequence | Yes |
| 3 | BOUML | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | use case, sequence, communication, class, composite class, activity, state, object, composite object, component, deployment | Yes |
| 4 | BridgePoint | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Class, component, state machine, interaction, activity, use case, sequence, communication/collaboration | Yes |
| 5 | Eclipse Papyrus | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | Gaphor | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Class, Component, Action, Sequence, Interaction, State Machine, Use Case, Deployment, Information Flow | Yes |
| 7 | Horusec | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | Violet UML Editor | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Class, activity, object, sequence, state, use case | — |
| 9 | Visual Paradigm | 6.4 | Free plan | $4/mo | Yes | 4 /user/mo | — | — |
| 10 | Umple | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | class, state, composite structure, feature, entity-relationship, instance | Yes |
| 11 | kUML | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | Class, Object, Package, Component, Composite Structure, Deployment, Profile, Use Case, Activity, State Machine, Sequence, Communication, Timing, Interaction Overview | Yes |
| 12 | PragmaDev Studio | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Class, structural, use case, sequence, state chart | Yes |
| 13 | Sparx Enterprise Architect | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | UMLet | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | JetUML | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | class, sequence, state, object, use case | — |
| 16 | Rodin Platform | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | UML-B class diagrams; UML-B state-machine diagrams | Yes |
| 17 | Astah Professional | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Class, Use Case, State Machine, Activity, Sequence, Timing, Communication, Component, Deployment, Composite Structure | Yes |
| 18 | UML Lab | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | Class diagrams; component diagrams | Yes |
| 19 | AgileUML | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | class diagrams; use cases; state machines; activities; interaction diagrams; SysML requirements models | Yes |
| 20 | Modelio | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | UMLGen | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Use Case, Class, Sequence, Activity, Deployment, ER, EER | — |
| 22 | Altova UModel | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | Class, activity, component, communication, composite structure, deployment, interaction overview, object, package, profile, sequence, state machine, timing, use case | Yes |
| 23 | StarUML | 5.0 | No | $129/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | objectiF RPM | 4.8 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which UML modeling software is ranked first on Freedom251?
BESSER is ranked #1 of 24 with a score of 6.6. ArgoUML is second and BOUML third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 24 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Visual Paradigm has the lowest first paid tier we found: $4/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.