Gleek vs PlantUML (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, PlantUML grades higher than Gleek: 3.0 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
PlantUML grades higher on value for money, the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Gleek
Text-to-diagram tool that draws from a keyboard-only syntax
Which one is for you
Pick Gleek if
- Fits if you write diagrams as text and want them saved next to your code in Git
- Works for developers who draw ER and sequence diagrams often
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay free: 5 files, 40 objects and ads is the cap
- Skip it if you want drag-and-drop drawing, since diagrams are built from a typed syntax
- Watch out: the free plan keeps diagrams only in the browser's local database
- Watch out: the FAQ says there is no free trial
- Watch out: prices are in euros, and students and teachers must contact Gleek for their 50% discount
Pick PlantUML if
- Fits if you want diagrams stored as text next to your code
- Works for teams documenting systems in wikis or Markdown
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to drag shapes around a canvas
- Not for you if you sketch freehand, because it has no whiteboard
- Watch out: layout is decided by the engine, so fine control over placement is limited
- Watch out: only the GPL build has every feature, and other license builds lack some such as ditaa
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAGleekFair | 3.0GPAPlantUMLVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C6.95 euros a month, or 58.40 euros a year, lands about at the category's cheaper quarter of $5 and a little above it. A pay-by-use plan is 10.99 euros. | AFree and open source, with a jar anyone can download or an online editor. Nothing to pay, whatever the category's $5 to $10 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree is 5 diagram files, 40 objects per file, PNG export only, with ads, and the files sit in your browser's local storage. No trial is offered. | AThe whole tool is free, under GPL, LGPL, Apache, BSD, EPL or MIT licenses, so there's no cap to hit. |
| Features | CText-based flowcharts, ER, UML, Gantt and journey diagrams, AI chat and Git. A narrower job than a whiteboard, with AI, SVG and PDF export held back for paid plans. | CUML plus Gantt, mind maps and wireframes from text. But the FAQ admits you get less say over layout, there's no visual canvas, and non-GPL builds lose some features like ditaa. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You have to learn Gleek's own syntax. | CYou have to learn its text language before you get a diagram, and no store rating is on record. The in-browser editor takes some of the sting out. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only. Git is the one listed connection. | BRuns in a browser and through a jar, with links into Confluence, MediaWiki, IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse and GitHub. No phone app or desktop app of its own is listed. |
| Best for | diagrams typed with the keyboard, with a Git link | text-described UML and other diagrams |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Gleek and PlantUML. How we grade
Price against what you get
Gleek starts at about $7.76 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. PlantUML has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
PlantUML scores higher and starts $7.76 a month lower. Of the other whiteboard and mind map tools on the chart, 24 score higher than Gleek for less, and none scores higher than PlantUML for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
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
Where they differ
- PlantUML is open source, according to its own site.
- PlantUML also covers Gantt & timelines and mind mapping.
At a glance
| Gleek | PlantUML | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | €6.95 per month, billed monthly (€58.40 billed yearly) | Free |
| Free plan | 5 diagram files and 40 objects per diagram, PNG export only, stored in the browser, with ads. | Free of charge and open source, under several license options including GPL, LGPL, Apache, BSD, EPL and MIT. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Blocshop | PlantUML |
| Price read from | gleek.io | plantuml.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Gleek
- Prices on the pricing page are in euros.
- The Free plan stores diagrams only in the browser's local database, shows ads and has no styling options.
- The FAQ says Gleek offers no free trial.
- Students and teachers get a 50% discount, requested by contacting Gleek.
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.
Key features
Gleek
- Text-based diagramming
- Diagrams are written as text in Gleek's own syntax, so they can be built from the keyboard without a mouse.
- Many diagram types
- Flowcharts, ER diagrams in Chen or crow's foot notation, UML class, sequence, state and object diagrams, Gantt charts and user journeys.
- AI chat
- On paid plans, a chat creates ER, sequence, class or flowchart diagrams from a description.
- Git connection
- Paid plans connect to a Git repository, so diagrams are saved with the code and get version control.
- Export and sharing
- Paid plans export high-resolution PNG, SVG and PDF. Free exports PNG only. Diagrams are shared by link.
PlantUML
- Text-to-diagram language
- Diagrams are written as short text and drawn from it, so changing the text updates the picture.
- UML and non-UML diagrams
- Supports sequence, use case, class, object, activity, component, deployment, state and timing diagrams, plus Gantt, MindMap, WBS, wireframe and others.
- In-browser editor
- The home page has an editor that runs in the browser with a JavaScript rendering engine and redraws as the code changes.
- Many integrations
- The Running page lists connections to wikis and forums, editors and IDEs, including Confluence, MediaWiki, IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse.
- Several license options
- The download page offers jars under GPL, LGPL, Apache, BSD, EPL and MIT; the GPL build is the one with every feature, such as ditaa.
Plans
Gleek
Free$0
5 diagram files, 40 objects per file, PNG export only, no AI chat, no styling changes, ads, diagrams stored in the browser.
Premium Monthly€6.95
per month, billed monthly
Unlimited files and objects, PNG, SVG and PDF export, AI chat, Git connection, custom themes and priority support.
Premium Yearly€58.40
per year
The same features as Premium Monthly, billed once a year.
Premium per Activity€10.99
per month, charged by use in the previous month
For infrequent use: the payment pauses in a month you do not use the tool. Same features as Premium.
Premium for Teams€6.95
per month, for teams of 2 or more
Premium features with licenses managed by a team owner and single invoicing.
PlantUML
Open source$0
Free jar and source code under your choice of license; you run it yourself or use the online editor.
Ways to pay less
Gleek
- Education
50% off for students and teachers
The pricing page lists a Student plan with a 50% discount for students and teachers, arranged by contacting Gleek.
PlantUML
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Gleek or PlantUML?
As of Nov 12, 2026, PlantUML is cheaper to start with: it is free, against about $7.76 a month for Gleek. Gleek starts at €6.95 per month, billed monthly (€58.40 billed yearly), and PlantUML is free.
Which has a free plan, Gleek or PlantUML?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Gleek and PlantUML have a free plan.
Which platforms do Gleek and PlantUML run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only PlantUML lists a browser extension. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.