Alternatives · Whiteboards
Mermaid alternatives
Mermaid compared with 6 alternatives: Eraser, draw.io, Lucidchart, Whimsical, Excalidraw and 1 more.
Mermaid has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year). All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| MermaidThis tool | Free plan · from $10/mo | Yes | Web |
| Eraser | Free plan · from $15/mo | Yes | Web |
| draw.io | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Lucidchart | Free plan · from $9/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Whimsical | Free plan · from $10/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Excalidraw | Free plan · from $6/mo | Yes | Web |
| Napkin AI | Free plan · from $9/mo | Yes | Web |
How each one differs from Mermaid
- Free plan · from $15/mo
Eraser
AI diagramming and docs canvas for engineering teams
- Eraser starts at $15 per member / month, billed annually. Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year).
- Eraser also covers Markdown and documents.
- Mermaid also covers presentations.
Suits: Engineering teams documenting system architecture
- Free
draw.io
Free diagram editor that saves files to storage you choose
- draw.io is free. Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year).
- Only draw.io lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- draw.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- draw.io also covers templates.
- Mermaid also covers presentations.
Suits: UML, ERD, network and flowchart diagrams at no cost
- Free plan · from $9/mo
Lucidchart
Browser-based diagramming for flowcharts, org charts and systems
- Lucidchart starts at $9 per month, billed annually. Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year).
- Only Lucidchart lists iOS and Android apps.
- Lucidchart also covers templates and mind mapping.
- Mermaid also covers presentations.
Suits: Documenting processes as flowcharts and process maps
- Free plan · from $10/mo
Whimsical
Whiteboard for flowcharts, wireframes, mind maps and docs
- Whimsical starts at $10 per editor / month, billed annually ($120 a year). Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year).
- Only Whimsical lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Whimsical also covers whiteboard, templates, documents and mind mapping.
- Mermaid also covers presentations.
Suits: Product teams sketching flows, wireframes and specs in one place
- Free plan · from $6/mo
Excalidraw
Open-source whiteboard for hand-drawn style sketches and diagrams
- Excalidraw starts at $6 per user / month, billed annually. Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year).
- Excalidraw is open source, self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Excalidraw also covers whiteboard.
- Mermaid also covers presentations.
Suits: Quick architecture sketches, wireframes and diagrams
- Free plan · from $9/mo
Napkin AI
Turns written text into editable diagrams and infographics
- Napkin AI starts at $9 per person / month, billed yearly. Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year).
- Napkin AI also covers mind mapping.
Suits: Turning written documents into diagrams for slides and reports
Limits worth knowing in Mermaid
- The free Basic plan is listed as 3 diagrams on its plan card and up to 6 in the comparison table, with a limited diagram size and 15 AI credits.
- Paid plans are billed annually only; the vendor's FAQ says monthly plans are not available.
- AI credits are capped at 300 a year on Plus and 2,000 a year on Premium; only Enterprise is listed as unlimited.
- Free viewer seats start at Premium, and SSO, invoicing and a customer success manager are limited to Enterprise.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Mermaid?
The alternatives to Mermaid in this directory are Eraser, draw.io, Lucidchart, Whimsical, Excalidraw and Napkin AI. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Mermaid.
Is there a free alternative to Mermaid?
Yes. draw.io is free to use. Eraser, Lucidchart, Whimsical, Excalidraw and Napkin AI have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Mermaid alternatives work on Windows?
The Mermaid listing does not include a Windows app. draw.io and Whimsical list one.
Which Mermaid alternatives work on macOS?
The Mermaid listing does not include a macOS app. draw.io and Whimsical list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Mermaid?
draw.io and Excalidraw are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 6, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.