Alternatives to Eraser
Diagram-as-code and docs tool for engineering teams
Eraser ranks #7 of 8 in Diagramming tools, with an Alt Score of 72. It is proprietary, freemium from $15/member/month (billed annually; $20/month billed monthly) and available on the web. 13 of 13 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Eraser is a docs-and-diagrams tool for engineering teams, featuring diagram-as-code, AI diagram generation, and architecture/sequence/ERD diagrams.
Software engineers, DevOps, architects, and technical consultants who need to create and maintain architecture, sequence, ERD, and flow diagrams alongside technical design docs, without hand-dragging boxes and arrows.
A web-based canvas that combines diagram-as-code (a proprietary DSL for flowcharts, ERDs, cloud architecture, sequence, and BPMN diagrams), AI diagram generation (DiagramGPT) that can also pull from a connected Git repository, a markdown note editor, templates, 1000+ tech/cloud icons, and real-time collaboration. Free plan available; paid Starter/Business/Enterprise tiers add more AI credits, private files, SSO, and API access.
You describe what you want in a prompt (or paste existing Mermaid/PlantUML code, an image, or point at a Git repo) and Eraser AI generates an editable diagram; you can then refine it via follow-up AI prompts, by editing the underlying diagram-as-code syntax directly, or by click-dragging elements. Files live in the Eraser web app and can sync to GitHub, embed in Notion/Confluence, or be edited via a VS Code extension; Eraserbot can keep codebase diagrams updated automatically in CI.
Why people leave Eraser
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
draw.io (diagrams.net) is a free, open-source diagramming tool for flowcharts, UML, network and ERD diagrams, with desktop apps and Confluence/Jira integrations.
Lucidchart is a web-based diagramming application for flowcharts, UML, ERDs, network diagrams, and org charts, with real-time collaboration and data-linked shapes.
Gliffy is a diagramming tool for flowcharts, UML, network diagrams, and org charts, best known for its native Confluence and Jira integrations.
Cacoo, by Nulab, is an online diagramming tool for flowcharts, wireframes, network diagrams, and org charts with real-time team collaboration.
SmartDraw is a diagramming application for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, UML, and ERDs, with automation, templates, and enterprise integrations.
Creately is a visual collaboration and diagramming platform for flowcharts, UML, ERD, and org charts, with data-linked shapes and real-time collaboration.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Diagramming tools checklist (17 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Diagramming tools checklist | Eraser | draw.io | Lucidchart | Gliffy | Cacoo | SmartDraw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Flowcharts & org charts | ||||||
| UML diagrams | ||||||
| ERD / database diagrams | ||||||
| Shape libraries / stencils | ||||||
| Templates | ||||||
| Real-time collaboration | ||||||
| Diagram-as-code (Mermaid/PlantUML) | ||||||
| AI diagram generation | ||||||
| Data-linked diagrams | ||||||
| Import Visio (.vsdx) | ||||||
| Export (SVG/PNG/PDF) | ||||||
| Open source | ||||||
| Free tier |
Every fact and feature listed for Eraser is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-17
Free plan plus paid Starter/Business/Enterprise tiers.
Free $0 per member / month Try Eraser 3 files 3 AI diagrams 7-day version history Unlimited guests Diagram-as-code Markdown notes
https://www.eraser.io/pricing -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-17
Closed-source commercial SaaS operated by Eraser Labs, Inc.; no open-source license found on eraser.io or docs.eraser.io.
© 2025 Eraser Labs, Inc.
https://www.eraser.io/pricing -
Starts at $15/member/month (billed annually; $20/month billed monthly) verified 2026-07-17
Starter $15 per member / month billed annually OR $20 MONTHLY
https://www.eraser.io/pricing -
Platforms Web verified 2026-07-17
Core product is the browser-based Eraser web app; also offers a VS Code extension and GitHub/Notion/Confluence integrations for embedding, but no native desktop or mobile app.
Docs and diagrams can be saved on the Eraser web app as well as in your GitHub repository.
https://docs.eraser.io/docs/what-is-eraser -
Status active verified 2026-07-17
Recent launches (MCP Server, Codebase Diagrams, Eraserbot) and 2026-dated guides (e.g. best-agentic-diagramming-platforms-in-2026) indicate ongoing active development.
🎉 Launching Eraser MCP Server Install MCP Server
https://www.eraser.io/product/ai-diagrams -
Flowcharts & org charts Yes verified 2026-07-17
Org charts are also offered as a dedicated template (eraser.io/templates/org-chart).
Visualize your process flows, user flows, and logic flows represented as nodes, groups, and relationships.
https://docs.eraser.io/docs/flow-charts -
UML diagrams Partial verified 2026-07-17
Sequence diagrams are natively supported, but there is no dedicated UML class/state/use-case diagram type; the AI approximates class, state, and use-case diagrams using the 5 native diagram types rath
5 types are currently available – flow charts, entity relationship diagrams, cloud architecture diagrams, sequence diagrams, and BPMN diagrams.
https://www.eraser.io/ai/uml-diagram-generator -
ERD / database diagrams Yes verified 2026-07-17
Visualize data models represented as entities, attributes, and relationships. Diagrams are created using simple syntax.
https://docs.eraser.io/docs/entity-relationship-diagrams -
Shape libraries / stencils Partial verified 2026-07-17
Eraser ships a large library of tech/cloud icons (AWS, GCP, Azure, etc.) usable in diagram-as-code and AI diagrams, but this is an icon set rather than a classic flowchart/network shape stencil palett
1000+ tech logos and cloud icons included
https://docs.eraser.io/docs/what-is-eraser -
Templates Yes verified 2026-07-17
Templates are starting structures that the AI fills out. A template is a real Eraser file – it can contain a diagram (a template diagram), a document (such as an SOP), or both.
https://docs.eraser.io/docs/templates -
Real-time collaboration Yes verified 2026-07-17
Once signed in, you can simply share the link to a file or diagram with a collaborator to work together on a diagram in real-time.
https://www.eraser.io/ai/mermaid-diagram-editor -
Diagram-as-code (Mermaid/PlantUML) Partial verified 2026-07-17
Eraser's own diagram-as-code DSL ("Eraser syntax") is proprietary, not literal Mermaid/PlantUML syntax. Mermaid and PlantUML code can be pasted in and AI-converted into an editable Eraser diagram (sam
Paste your Mermaid code into the prompt field... Your Mermaid code should be converted into an Eraser diagram in a few seconds.
https://www.eraser.io/ai/mermaid-diagram-editor -
AI diagram generation Yes verified 2026-07-17
AI-powered diagrams built for technical teams Leverage AI to generate and manage diagrams effortlessly.
https://www.eraser.io/product/ai-diagrams -
Data-linked diagrams Partial verified 2026-07-17
Diagrams can be generated from, and kept in sync with, a connected Git repository via Eraserbot CI; there is no evidence of live spreadsheet/database data-source linking (e.g. Lucidchart-style data-li
Codebase diagrams are AI diagrams generated from a Git repository. By providing a prompt, Eraser scans relevant files to create the requested diagram... Eraserbot is a CI integration that keeps diagra
https://docs.eraser.io/docs/codebase-diagrams -
Import Visio (.vsdx) No verified 2026-07-17
The Import documentation lists images, draw.io files, and Eraser content as importable; .vsdx is not listed. Visio (.vsdx) is only available as an export format, and only for Cloud Architecture, Flowc
Images — PNG, JPEG, GIF, SVG... draw.io (.drawio) — converted to an editable diagram. Eraser content — diagrams or elements copied from another Eraser file, inserted directly.
https://docs.eraser.io/docs/import -
Export (SVG/PNG/PDF) Yes verified 2026-07-17
Diagrams export to PNG, SVG, PDF, and diagram formats (BPMN, Visio, draw.io); documents export to Markdown or PDF.
https://docs.eraser.io/docs/export -
Open source No verified 2026-07-17
Eraser is a closed-source, paid multi-tier commercial SaaS product; no public source repository or OSS license was found.
Free $0 per member / month ... Starter $15 per member / month billed annually ... Business $45 per member / month billed annually ... Enterprise Call us for pricing details
https://www.eraser.io/pricing -
Free tier Yes verified 2026-07-17
Free $0 per member / month Try Eraser 3 files 3 AI diagrams 7-day version history Unlimited guests Diagram-as-code Markdown notes GitHub, Notion, Confluence, VS Code integration
https://www.eraser.io/pricing
FAQ
Yes. draw.io, Lucidchart and Gliffy have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
draw.io — every license claim links its source.