BOUML
BOUML: A broad, engineering-focused UML desktop tool with generation, reverse engineering, and team features. Ranked #8 of 26 in UML Modeling Software by our editors (8.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free engineering-focused UML teams.
At a glance
- Editor score8.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree engineering-focused UML teams
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- UML diagram typesuse case, sequence, communication, class, composite class, activity, state, object, composite object, component, deployment
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Covers a broad set of UML 2 diagram types
- Generates source code for seven listed languages and MySQL
- Includes Project Control and Project Synchro for multi-person work
Where it doesn't
- Desktop deployment limits the product to Windows, Linux, and macOS
- Round-trip engineering is limited to C++, Java, and PHP
- Reverse engineering covers fewer languages than code generation
Our verdict on BOUML
BOUML is a free desktop UML 2 modeling tool for engineering teams that need more than diagram creation. It supports use case, sequence, communication, class, composite class, activity, state, object, composite object, component, and deployment diagrams. Its project-based approach also suits teams documenting software architecture, generating source code, or maintaining models alongside existing code. BOUML runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and version 7.0 onward is distributed free of use.
Its strongest differentiator is the connection between modeling and implementation. Source-code generation covers C++, C, Java, PHP, Python, IDL, and MySQL. Reverse engineering is available for C++, Java, PHP, and MySQL, while round-trip engineering covers C++, Java, and PHP. That makes BOUML a particularly relevant choice for teams whose development workflows align with those languages. XMI 1.2 and 2.1 generation, XMI 2.1 import, and HTML documentation with PNG or SVG diagrams extend its usefulness for model exchange and project documentation.
For collaborative projects, Project Control and Project Synchro provide multi-person project features, and plug-outs can be written in C++ or Java for extension. The main boundary is language coverage: round-trip engineering does not extend across every language supported for generation, and reverse engineering has its own narrower set. Teams focused on C++, Java, or PHP workflows should find the engineering features especially relevant; teams needing round-trip support for Python, C, IDL, or broader language coverage should consider an alternative built around those requirements.
Your product? Our editors can test BOUML in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
BOUML pricing
All 1 BOUML plans and prices →
BOUML fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| UML diagram types | use case, sequence, communication, class, composite class, activity, state, object, composite object, component, deployment |
| Code generation | Yes |
| Reverse engineering | Yes |
| Team collaboration | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Supported platforms | Windows, Linux, macOS |
| Model repository | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | bouml.fr |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to BOUML
- IBM Engineering RhapsodyA broad engineering suite for teams connecting models, code, requirements, and verification.9.3
- Sparx Enterprise ArchitectA broad enterprise modeling suite with deep repositories, engineering and versioning features.8.9
- IBM Rational Software Architect DesignerA broad enterprise modeling platform for teams that need traceability and transformation workflows.8.9
BOUML vs the competition
- BOUML vs IBM Engineering Rhapsody
- BOUML vs Sparx Enterprise Architect
- BOUML vs IBM Rational Software Architect Designer
- BOUML vs Visual Paradigm
- BOUML vs Eclipse Papyrus
- BOUML vs Altova UModel
Compare BOUML with any tool side by side →
Used BOUML? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used BOUML for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
BOUML is listed in our UML Modeling Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/bouml/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/bouml.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update