PlantUML project
PlantUML
Open-source text-to-diagram tool from the PlantUML project: you write diagrams in its own syntax and render them locally, on a server or in its web editor.
- How you draw
- Code
- Free for work
- Yes
- Open source
- Paid from
- Free
- Open source
- Exports
- SVG, PNG, PDF
- Runs on
- Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
- Works offline
- Made by
- PlantUML project
- Not stated
Good to know
- The free version can be used for work
- Works fully offline
- Open source (GPL-3.0 (also LGPL, Apache-2.0, EPL, MIT and BSD builds))
- Diagrams as code: PlantUML, Graphviz
Where it stands among 24
Each fact with every app's answer. PlantUML is outlined.
Main way to draw
Write code
Sketch by hand 5
Drag shapes 13
Write code 4
Describe in words 2
Free for work use
Free version allows work use
Free version allows work use 10
Exports SVG
On every plan
On every plan 15
On paid plans 5
Draws from a text prompt
No AI drawing
On every plan 14
On paid plans 3
No AI drawing 1
Not stated 6
Diagram code
PlantUML, Graphviz
Works offline
Fully offline
Open source
Open source
Plans and prices
In USD, per month, as listed by PlantUML project. Checked 17 October 2026.
| Plan | Billed yearly | Billed monthly | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free and open sourceNo limits; images up to 4096 px by default, configurable | Work use: allowed | ||
| Paid plans | No paid plan stated | |||
- Free for work use
- YesYes
- One-time licence
- Not stated
- Enterprise
- No enterprise plan
How you make a diagram
- Ways to draw
- Code
- AI from a text prompt
- NoNo No prompt-to-diagram feature; the official MCP server renders and checks supplied PlantUML
- AI limits
- Not applicable No AI generation
- Diagram code
- PlantUML, Graphviz Own syntax; Graphviz DOT between @startdot and @enddot; the web editor updates as you type
- Diagram types
- UML, Sequence, ER / database, Network, Wireframes, Mind maps, Cloud architecture AWS and Azure icons in the standard library; activity diagrams for flows
What you get out
- SVG
- YesYes
- PNG
- YesYes
- YesYes Needs extra libraries
- Visio (VSDX)
- NoNo VDX (older Visio XML), not VSDX
- Watermark on free exports
- NoNo Sponsored messages appear on welcome or error images, 'never on functional diagrams'
- Imports
- None Reads PlantUML text from .puml, .txt, source and document files; no diagram file import
Where it runs and where files live
- Apps
- Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
- Works offline
- YesYes Renders locally once PlantUML and its prerequisites are installed
- Open source
- YesYes
- Self-hosting
- YesYes The PlantUML server is open source and self-hostable
- Where diagrams are stored
- Files on your device The public server stores nothing; source travels in the URL
- Works inside
- GitHub The GitHub browser extension is official; Confluence, VS Code, Slack, Google Docs and Word plugins listed are third-party
- Live co-editing
- Not statedNot stated Not stated
- API
- YesYes Java API and HTTP server
Who you're trusting
- Company
- PlantUML project No company named
- Owned by
- Independent
- Based in
- Not stated Not stated
- Launched
- 2009 The maker refers to integrations 'since 2009'; the GitHub repository dates from 2010
- Security reports
- Not applicable Software, not a hosted service
- Single sign-on
- Not applicable No accounts
- Data residency
- Not applicable No hosted storage
Where we recommend it
Best diagram-as-code tools
Open source (GPL-3.0, with more permissive builds) and free with no limits. It runs offline on Windows, Mac and Linux and outputs SVG, PNG and PDF. Strong for UML: sequence, class and component diagrams.
Best diagram apps that work offline
Runs locally on Windows, Mac and Linux, so diagrams render from text files on your machine with no service involved. Free and open source.
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