AppBreakup
Submit an app
PlantUML logo

PlantUML

Open-source tool that draws UML and other diagrams from plain-text descriptions.

Open sourceSelf-hostableDiagramming tools
Visit PlantUMLSee 5 alternatives
Verified facts
4 of 4
Alternatives ranked
5
Approved reviews
0
Visits sent from here
0

About PlantUML

PlantUML is one of the oldest diagrams-as-code tools. You write a description between @startuml and @enduml and it produces sequence, class, use case, activity, component, state and deployment diagrams, plus non-UML formats such as Gantt charts, mind maps, wireframes, network diagrams, JSON and YAML visualisations. It runs as a Java program, through a public online server, or via plugins for VS Code, IntelliJ, Confluence, Markdown tools and many documentation systems, and an in-browser JavaScript renderer is now available too. The project is open source and offered under several licences, with the GPL build the most complete. Its UML coverage is broader than Mermaid's and its long history means most questions have an answer somewhere, but the default look is plain, the syntax has many quirks, and running it locally means installing Java and sometimes Graphviz.

Best for: Engineers documenting software with UML diagrams kept as text in the repo.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Very broad UML coverage
  • Plugins for most IDEs and documentation tools
  • Can be self-hosted as a rendering server
  • Free and open source

Why people leave

  • Default visual style looks dated
  • Local use needs Java installed
  • Syntax has many inconsistencies between diagram types

Top PlantUML alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1Mermaid logo
    Mermaid

    Simpler syntax and native rendering on GitHub and GitLab without a server.

    66.5
  2. 2D2 logo
    D2

    Modern text-to-diagram language with nicer default layouts and themes.

    62.6
  3. 3Structurizr logo
    Structurizr

    Better for architecture: one model, many C4 diagrams kept in sync.

    59.6
  4. 4St
    StarUML

    A visual UML modeller if you'd rather draw than write text.

    57.2
  5. 5Gleek logo
    Gleek

    Keyboard-driven text-to-diagram tool in the browser with no setup.

    55.3

Why people left PlantUML

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from PlantUML, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of PlantUML
Your rating of PlantUML

Never shown publicly. A work email helps us verify you.

What did you use it for, and what was good or bad? At least 40 characters.

A GitHub username, your company domain, or say you can send a screenshot. Verified reviews count more.

By submitting, you confirm you're at least 16 and agree to our terms. Your name, rating, review and the date are published; your email isn't. See our privacy policy.

PlantUML: common questions

Is PlantUML free?

Yes. PlantUML is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is PlantUML open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at plantuml/plantuml. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does PlantUML run on?

PlantUML is available for Web, Windows, macOS, Linux and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to PlantUML?

The highest-ranked PlantUML alternatives right now are Mermaid, D2 and Structurizr. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 PlantUML alternatives