Structurizr review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Open-source models-as-code tool for C4 architecture diagrams
Black Friday: is there a Structurizr sale?
Structurizr report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for C4 architecture diagrams written as code
Structurizr describes a software system in a text language and generates C4 diagrams from it, with a browser playground, a viewer and a command-line exporter free and open source. The prebuilt server needs a paid license from £300 a month, and it expects you to be comfortable with code.
Who Structurizr is for
- Fits if you're a developer who keeps diagrams as code in version control
- Works for organisations that must host architecture diagrams themselves
Who Structurizr is not for
- 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
Why Structurizr gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyThe 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.
- BFree plan and trialOpen-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.
- CFeaturesModels 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.
- DEase of useYou write a text language, use a command line and, for the server, host it yourself with Docker.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWeb playground plus a local viewer, command-line exporter and server, with PlantUML, Mermaid, S3 and Azure storage connections.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Structurizr Limited's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/structurizr#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/structurizr.svg" alt="Structurizr: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Structurizr stands among whiteboard and mind map tools
Structurizr's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 58 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 16.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 74 of 98) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at about $401.97 a month, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 69 of the 69 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 65 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 99 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Structurizr’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 74 of 98, level with 24
- BFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 98, level with 11
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 98, level with 76
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 98
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 35 of 98, level with 55
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 88 whiteboard and mind map tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Structurizr, or make your own?
Keep it
Nothing Structurizr does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
It costs $4,823.60 a year. Structurizr is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- A diagram editor.
- It plugs into other products, PlantUML, Mermaid and Docker among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Structurizr’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Structurizr?
Structurizr lets you describe a software system in a text-based DSL and generates several C4 model diagrams from that single model. It was created by the author of the C4 model. Tools include a browser playground, a local viewer, a command-line exporter and a self-hosted server.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
Structurizr pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Structurizr has a free plan, and paid plans start at £300 per month for up to 20 unique users, per server installation.
- Starts at
- £300 per month for up to 20 unique users, per server installation
- Free plan
- Open-source tools: the browser playground, local viewer, CLI export and a self-built open-core server.
- Free trial
- 14-day trial license on request that unlocks all features
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | $0 | Playground, local, export CLI and the open-core server you build yourself; you host it. |
| Server license, 1-20 users | £300per 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 | £600per 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 | £2,400per month, per server installation | Largest published tier; 251-500 users is £1,500 and 501-1000 is £1,800 a month. |
Read from docs.structurizr.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Structurizr before you buy.
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Common questions
Does Structurizr have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Structurizr is listed for Web.
Does Structurizr have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Structurizr is listed for Web.
Is Structurizr open source?
Yes. Structurizr is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.