PlantUML vs Structurizr (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, PlantUML grades higher than Structurizr: 3.0 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
PlantUML grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Structurizr
Open-source models-as-code tool for C4 architecture diagrams
Which one is for you
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
Pick Structurizr if
- Fits if you're a developer who keeps diagrams as code in version control
- Works for organisations that must host architecture diagrams themselves
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to drag shapes around, as it's code first
- Not for you if you don't want to learn its text language and command line
- Pricey if you want the prebuilt server: £300 a month for up to 20 users, £600 for up to 50
- Watch out: licenses are bought by contacting the vendor and are non-refundable, with prices in pounds
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAPlantUMLVery good | 2.6GPAStructurizrGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | AThe playground, local viewer and command-line export are free to download and use. Only the prebuilt server costs, at £300 a month for up to 20 users. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole tool is free, under GPL, LGPL, Apache, BSD, EPL or MIT licenses, so there's no cap to hit. | BOpen-source tools with no cap, but the prebuilt server needs a paid license, and building the open-core server yourself is up to you. A 14-day trial license is on request. |
| Features | 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. | CModels as code, interactive diagrams, export to other formats and AI support. It does the C4 job completely, but it's a smaller job than a general whiteboard. |
| Ease of use | 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. | DYou write a text language, use a command line and, for the server, host it yourself with Docker. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | BWeb playground plus a local viewer, command-line exporter and server, with PlantUML, Mermaid, S3 and Azure storage connections. |
| Best for | text-described UML and other diagrams | C4 architecture diagrams written as code |
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: PlantUML and Structurizr. How we grade
Price against what you get
PlantUML has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Structurizr starts at about $401.97 a month and scores 2.0.
PlantUML scores higher and starts $401.97 a month lower. Of the other whiteboard and mind map tools on the chart, none scores higher than PlantUML for less, and 65 score higher than Structurizr 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
- Structurizr is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- PlantUML also covers Gantt & timelines and mind mapping.
At a glance
| PlantUML | Structurizr | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | £300 per month for up to 20 unique users, per server installation |
| Free plan | Free of charge and open source, under several license options including GPL, LGPL, Apache, BSD, EPL and MIT. | Open-source tools: the browser playground, local viewer, CLI export and a self-built open-core server. |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day trial license on request that unlocks all features |
| Web | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | PlantUML | Structurizr Limited |
| Price read from | plantuml.com | docs.structurizr.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Structurizr
- Using the server through the vendor's prebuilt binaries needs a paid license; building it yourself is open core.
- Prices are published in pounds sterling and are charged by unique users per server installation.
- Licenses are bought by contacting the vendor, with payment by bank transfer or PayPal invoice, and are non-refundable.
- It is a code-driven diagramming tool, not a freeform whiteboard.
Key features
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.
Structurizr
- Models as code
- Write the Structurizr DSL once and generate system context, container, component, dynamic and deployment diagrams from it.
- Interactive diagrams
- Diagrams can be zoomed, animated and embedded, and include an automatically generated key.
- Several ways to run it
- Use the browser playground, view diagrams locally, or run the self-hosted server as a Docker image or Java .war file.
- Export to other formats
- A CLI tool exports views to PlantUML, Mermaid or a static HTML site.
- AI and MCP support
- A free, open-source MCP server parses and validates DSL, exports diagrams and manages workspaces on a Structurizr server.
- Manual layout
- Diagrams use manual layout that can be adjusted in the local viewer, rather than auto-layout only.
Plans
PlantUML
Open source$0
Free jar and source code under your choice of license; you run it yourself or use the online editor.
Structurizr
Open source$0
Playground, local, export CLI and the open-core server you build yourself; you host it.
Server license, 1-20 users£300
per month, per server installation
Prebuilt server binaries with enterprise features, priced by unique users in a year; sold by quote.
Server license, 21-50 users£600
per month, per server installation
The same prebuilt server; 51-100 users is £900 and 101-250 is £1,200 a month.
Server license, 1001+ users£2,400
per month, per server installation
Largest published tier; 251-500 users is £1,500 and 501-1000 is £1,800 a month.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, PlantUML or Structurizr?
As of Nov 13, 2026, PlantUML is cheaper to start with: it is free, against about $401.97 a month for Structurizr. PlantUML is free, and Structurizr starts at £300 per month for up to 20 unique users, per server installation.
Which has a free plan, PlantUML or Structurizr?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both PlantUML and Structurizr have a free plan.
Which platforms do PlantUML and Structurizr run on?
As of Nov 13, 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.