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Alternatives · Whiteboards

PlantUML alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the best PlantUML alternative for most people is draw.io (3.2 GPA), third in our ranking of whiteboard and mind map tools. It's also the best free one.

PlantUML compared with 6 alternatives: Mermaid, draw.io, Eraser, Flowchart Fun, Visual Paradigm and 1 more.

PlantUML is free to use. All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.

Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
PlantUMLThis toolFreeFreeWeb, Browser extension
MermaidFree plan · from $10/moYesWeb
draw.ioFreeFreeWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
EraserFree plan · from $45/moYesWeb
Flowchart FunFree plan · from $2/moYesWeb
Visual ParadigmFree plan · from $6/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
GleekFree plan · from €6.95/moYesWeb

Price against what you get

PlantUML has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 6 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

Mermaid, draw.io, Eraser and Visual Paradigm score higher without starting lower.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$2$5$10$20$50More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessPlantUMLMermaiddraw.ioEraserFlowchart FunVisual ParadigmGleek

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of whiteboard and mind map tools, and the best at every price

How each one differs from PlantUML

  1. Mermaid

    Text-based diagramming platform with AI and a visual editor

    • Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year).
    • Mermaid lists no browser extension, which PlantUML has.
    • Mermaid also covers presentations.
    • Mermaid does not cover Gantt & timelines and mind mapping, which PlantUML does.

    Suits: Developers who already write Mermaid syntax in docs or Markdown

    Mermaid vs PlantUMLMermaid pricing and details

  2. draw.io

    Free diagram editor that saves files to storage you choose

    • draw.io is free.
    • draw.io also lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • draw.io lists no browser extension, which PlantUML has.
    • draw.io is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • draw.io also covers templates.

    Suits: UML, ERD, network and flowchart diagrams at no cost

    draw.io vs PlantUMLdraw.io pricing and details

  3. Eraser

    AI diagramming and docs canvas for engineering teams

    • Eraser starts at $45 per member / month, billed annually ($60 billed monthly).
    • Eraser lists no browser extension, which PlantUML has.
    • Eraser also covers Markdown and documents.
    • Eraser does not cover Gantt & timelines and mind mapping, which PlantUML does.

    Suits: Engineering teams documenting system architecture

    Eraser vs PlantUMLEraser pricing and details

  4. Flowchart Fun

    Text-based flowchart maker that draws diagrams as you type

    • Flowchart Fun starts at $2 per month (billing basis not stated).
    • Flowchart Fun lists no browser extension, which PlantUML has.
    • Flowchart Fun does not cover Gantt & timelines, which PlantUML does.

    Suits: People who prefer typing a flowchart to dragging shapes

    Flowchart Fun vs PlantUMLFlowchart Fun pricing and details

  5. Visual Paradigm

    Desktop and online modeling suite for UML, BPMN and architecture

    • Visual Paradigm starts at $6 per month (Modeler edition, subscription).
    • Visual Paradigm also lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • Visual Paradigm lists no browser extension, which PlantUML has.
    • Visual Paradigm can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • Visual Paradigm does not cover Gantt & timelines, which PlantUML does.

    Suits: Software and systems teams doing UML, SysML or database design

    Visual Paradigm vs PlantUMLVisual Paradigm pricing and details

  6. Gleek

    Text-to-diagram tool that draws from a keyboard-only syntax

    • Gleek starts at €6.95 per month, billed monthly (€58.40 billed yearly).
    • Gleek lists no browser extension, which PlantUML has.
    • Gleek does not cover Gantt & timelines and mind mapping, which PlantUML does.

    Suits: Developers who prefer writing diagrams as text

    Gleek vs PlantUMLGleek pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in PlantUML

  • Layout is controlled by the engine; the FAQ says it gives less control over placement than drag-and-drop tools.
  • Diagrams are written in code, so there is no visual canvas for freehand sketching.
  • Builds under licenses other than GPL lack some features, such as the ditaa integration.
PlantUML pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to PlantUML?

The alternatives to PlantUML in this directory are Mermaid, draw.io, Eraser, Flowchart Fun, Visual Paradigm and Gleek. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with PlantUML.

Is there a free alternative to PlantUML?

Yes. draw.io is free to use. Mermaid, Eraser, Flowchart Fun, Visual Paradigm and Gleek have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which PlantUML alternatives work on Windows?

The PlantUML listing does not include a Windows app. draw.io and Visual Paradigm list one.

Which PlantUML alternatives work on macOS?

The PlantUML listing does not include a macOS app. draw.io and Visual Paradigm list one.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.