SmartDraw vs PlantUML

Struggling to choose between SmartDraw and PlantUML? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

SmartDraw is a Office & Productivity solution with tags like flowcharts, org-charts, floor-plans, diagrams.

It boasts features such as Drag-and-drop interface for easily creating diagrams, Large library of templates and symbols for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, etc, Collaboration tools allow teams to work together on diagrams in real-time, Automatic formatting and layout tools keep diagrams organized, Works on desktop, web, and mobile devices and pros including Intuitive and easy to learn, Powerful editing and formatting tools, Great for creating a variety of diagram types quickly, Collaboration capabilities, Accessible across devices.

On the other hand, PlantUML is a Development product tagged with uml, diagrams, modeling.

Its standout features include Generate UML diagrams from plain text, Supports all standard UML diagram types, Integrates with popular IDEs and tools, Open architecture and extensible via plugins, Render diagrams as PNG, SVG, LaTeX images, Command line interface and GUI available, Diagram description language easy to learn, Large library of ready-made components, Active open source community, and it shines with pros like Easy to learn and use, Very flexible and customizable, Great for prototyping and documentation, Integrates into developer workflows, Large number of ready-made templates, Cross-platform and works anywhere, Free and open source.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

SmartDraw

SmartDraw

SmartDraw is a powerful and easy-to-use diagramming software that helps create over 70 types of diagrams like flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, and more. It has built-in templates and formatting tools that allow users to create professional-looking diagrams quickly.

Categories:
flowcharts org-charts floor-plans diagrams

SmartDraw Features

  1. Drag-and-drop interface for easily creating diagrams
  2. Large library of templates and symbols for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, etc
  3. Collaboration tools allow teams to work together on diagrams in real-time
  4. Automatic formatting and layout tools keep diagrams organized
  5. Works on desktop, web, and mobile devices

Pricing

  • Freemium
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Intuitive and easy to learn

Powerful editing and formatting tools

Great for creating a variety of diagram types quickly

Collaboration capabilities

Accessible across devices

Cons

Can be pricey for some individuals or small teams

Limited free version

Not as full-featured as some competing products


PlantUML

PlantUML

PlantUML is an open-source tool for creating UML diagrams from plain text. It supports all standard UML diagrams like use case diagrams, class diagrams, sequence diagrams, etc. PlantUML allows users to write simple textual descriptions which are then transformed into UML diagrams.

Categories:
uml diagrams modeling

PlantUML Features

  1. Generate UML diagrams from plain text
  2. Supports all standard UML diagram types
  3. Integrates with popular IDEs and tools
  4. Open architecture and extensible via plugins
  5. Render diagrams as PNG, SVG, LaTeX images
  6. Command line interface and GUI available
  7. Diagram description language easy to learn
  8. Large library of ready-made components
  9. Active open source community

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Easy to learn and use

Very flexible and customizable

Great for prototyping and documentation

Integrates into developer workflows

Large number of ready-made templates

Cross-platform and works anywhere

Free and open source

Cons

Steep learning curve for advanced features

Limited WYSIWYG editing capabilities

Not as feature rich as commercial tools

Formatting options can be limited

Not ideal for non-technical users