Eraser vs Mermaid

Eraser

• Engineering teams documenting system architecture
• Developers who prefer to write diagrams as code
• Keeping diagrams in step with a Git repository
• Embedding live-updating diagrams in Notion or Confluence

Mermaid

• Developers who already write Mermaid syntax in docs or Markdown
• Teams that want diagrams versioned and reviewed as text
• People who want AI to draft a diagram from a document or transcript
• Showing diagrams as slides without exporting them

Eraser

• The Free plan stops at 3 files and 3 AI diagrams, keeps 7 days of version history and has no private files.
• AI use beyond a plan's monthly credits costs $60 per 100 credits, and only on paid plans with usage-based pricing switched on.
• API calls are billed by usage on top of a paid plan: $80 per 100 prompt-to-diagram calls and $20 per 100 code-to-diagram calls.
• The vendor's site lists no desktop or mobile app; Eraser runs in a browser, and SAML SSO needs the Business plan.

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.

Eraser

AI diagram generation

A prompt, an image or a file such as Terraform or a database schema is turned into an editable diagram, which can then be refined through AI chat or by hand in the visual editor.

Diagram-as-code

Architecture, sequence, flowchart, ERD and BPMN diagrams each have a text syntax, so a diagram can be read, compared and edited as code. It is included on every plan.

Canvas with Markdown notes

A file holds one infinite canvas and a note editor with Markdown support. Figures from the canvas can be embedded in the document, and files export to PDF, PNG, SVG or Markdown.

Codebase diagrams and Eraserbot

Diagrams can be generated from a connected Git repository. Eraserbot watches chosen files and comments on pull requests with updated diagrams when they change.

REST API and MCP server

The API renders a diagram from a prompt or from Eraser's diagram code. The MCP server lets Claude, Cursor or ChatGPT create, search, update and export diagrams.

Real-time collaboration and guests

Members edit together in real time and leave comments and mentions. Guests are free on every plan and can edit or comment only on files they are invited to.

Mermaid

Diagrams from Mermaid code

Diagrams are written in Mermaid syntax and laid out automatically. Clicking a node jumps to its code and clicking the code finds its shape, so the two stay in step.

Mermaid AI

A description, an uploaded document or a pasted transcript becomes a first-draft diagram, and the AI suggests a fitting diagram type. Use is metered in credits below Enterprise.

Visual Editor

Nodes, edges, labels, colors and shapes can be changed by clicking and dragging while the code rewrites itself, with node alignment and movable edges for tidying a layout.

Live co-editing and share links

Teammates can co-edit a diagram at the same time, and a share link lets other people view it without logging in. Free viewer seats are part of Premium and Enterprise.

Plugins and MCP server

Plugins cover VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Cursor, Windsurf, Confluence, Jira, Google Docs, Word and PowerPoint. An MCP server lets Claude, VS Code and Cursor generate diagrams.

Presentations

Existing diagrams become slides written in Markdown. A deck updates when its diagrams change and can be shared through a public link for viewing and comments.

Eraser

• Free$0

  3 files, 3 AI diagrams and 7-day version history, with unlimited guests, diagram-as-code and Markdown notes.

• Starter$15

  per member / month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly)

  Unlimited files, 40 AI credits a month, 90-day version history, private files, 20 custom icons and usage-based API calls.

• Business$45

  per member / month, billed annually ($60 billed monthly)

  Everything in Starter, plus 250 AI credits a month, unlimited version history, SAML SSO, 100 custom icons and reference diagrams.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Unlimited AI diagrams, flexible deployment including single-tenant and self-hosted, usage reporting, a customer success manager and payment by ACH or wire.

Mermaid

• Basic$0

  3 diagrams with a limited diagram size, 15 AI credits, and one team and project. Co-editing and external sharing are included.

• Plus$10

  per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year)

  Unlimited diagrams with no size limit and 300 AI credits per year, for individuals who diagram often.

• Premium$20

  per user / month, billed annually ($240 a year)

  Everything in Plus, plus 2,000 AI credits per year, unlimited free viewer seats, and unlimited teams and projects.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Everything in Premium, plus SSO, custom contracts and invoicing, IP management, user consolidation and a dedicated customer success manager.

Eraser

• Annual discount

  25% less with annual billing

  Starter is $15 per member a month billed annually against $20 billed monthly, and Business is $45 against $60, which works out 25% cheaper on both plans.

• Education

  Education discount on request

  Eraser's docs say discounts are available to education users, who request one by filling out a form. The size of the discount is not published.

• Nonprofit

  Nonprofit discount on request

  Non-profit users can request a discount through the same form linked from the pricing page FAQ and the docs. The size of the discount is not published.

Mermaid

No public discounts listed.