Archway vs Lucid Train

Archway9.2Visit Lucid Train8.8Visit

Higher score Archway #3 in AI Diagram Generators 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Archway

vs

Lucid Train #6 in AI Diagram Generators 8.8/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Lucid Train

• Archway fits best

  Developers and architecture teams

• Lucid Train fits best

  Offline developer architecture work

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Side by side

Feature	Archway 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Lucid Train 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.8
Ranking	#3 in AI Diagram Generators	#6 in AI Diagram Generators
Best for	Developers and architecture teams	Offline developer architecture work
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$12/mo	$30/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	7 days
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Desktop
Platforms	Web	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Email, Docs	Email, Docs
Integrations	10 integrations	12 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Archway 2/3 · Lucid Train 2/3
Mermaid support	✓	✓
Real-time collaboration	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Diagram import	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
AI diagram limit	50 /mo	Not checked yet
Platform	Web	Desktop
Export formats	Mermaid, PlantUML, D2, Draw.io XML, SVG, PNG, PDF, Terraform HCL	SVG, PNG, Markdown, Excalidraw
Our review
Pros	Generates seven diagram types from text, repositories, and schemas Supports collaboration, version history, notes, embeds, and broad exports Offers REST API access and a self-hosted Docker Compose option	Free Rust CLI supports local models and needs no account Generates architecture, system design, ER, UML, cloud, and sequence diagrams Exports SVG, PNG, Markdown, and Excalidraw scenes
Cons	Free is limited to 5 AI generations per month and 3 diagrams Free exports are limited to PNG and SVG Team and Team Pro use per-user monthly pricing	Visual diagram canvas requires a paid desktop plan Model-provider charges are separate The desktop plan supports up to three devices
Our verdict	Archway is a web-based architecture diagramming platform for engineers, architects, and engineering teams. It generates cloud architecture, sequence, ERD, data-flow, flowchart, C4, and network diagrams from natural-language descriptions,… Read the review →	Lucid Train is a local-first coding and diagramming tool for developers and software teams. It analyzes code repositories or design inputs, then generates architecture, system design, sequence, ER, cloud, UML, flowchart, and related… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Archway — where it wins

  • Generates seven diagram types from text, repositories, and schemas
  • Supports collaboration, version history, notes, embeds, and broad exports
  • Offers REST API access and a self-hosted Docker Compose option

  Where it doesn't

  • Free is limited to 5 AI generations per month and 3 diagrams
  • Free exports are limited to PNG and SVG
  • Team and Team Pro use per-user monthly pricing

• Lucid Train — where it wins

  • Free Rust CLI supports local models and needs no account
  • Generates architecture, system design, ER, UML, cloud, and sequence diagrams
  • Exports SVG, PNG, Markdown, and Excalidraw scenes

  Where it doesn't

  • Visual diagram canvas requires a paid desktop plan
  • Model-provider charges are separate
  • The desktop plan supports up to three devices

• Archway9.2/10 · Free plan

  A broad architecture diagram generator with AI input, collaboration, APIs, and self-hosting.

  Visit ArchwayFull verdict →
• Lucid Train8.8/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  A local-first diagramming tool for developers who work offline.

  Visit Lucid TrainFull verdict →