Side by side
draw.io vs PlantUML
Both stand on diagramming tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source WebWindowsMac+3
draw.io offers a broad set of diagram types, collaboration, and flexible storage choices at no cost. Teams that require Enterprise SSO should note that no such tier is listed.
Visit draw.io Free plan APIExtensionLinux+4
PlantUML offers a text-based route to many diagram types, with browser editing, integrations, and local hosting options. It is a drawing generator rather than a modeling tool, so it does not enforce consistency between diagrams.
Visit PlantUMLThe facts
| draw.io | PlantUML | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Not published |
| Runs on | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android | API, Extension, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | draw.io | PlantUML |
| Website | drawio.com | plantuml.com |
| On diagramming tools | #1 of 46 | #3 of 46 |
draw.io: what it does well
- Free and open source
- No sign-up or credit card required to start
- Supports real-time collaboration
- Desktop app allows local saving
- Imports and exports multiple diagram formats
What to know first
- No Enterprise tier for SSO
- Support channels listed are GitHub Discussions and Stack Overflow
PlantUML: what it does well
- Supports a broad range of UML and non-UML diagrams
- Browser editor updates diagrams as code changes
- Offers PNG, SVG, LaTeX, EPS, and other exports
- Can run as a local server
What to know first
- Local installation requires Java
- Graphviz is needed for some diagrams
- Does not prevent inconsistent diagrams
- Diagram dimensions default to a 4096-pixel limit
Alternatives to draw.io Alternatives to PlantUML The whole list