Mermaid review
A flexible diagramming toolkit for teams that prefer code, with hosted collaboration options.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Mermaid is an open-source JavaScript diagramming and charting tool for developers, technical writers, engineers, and teams documenting software, systems, processes, and data. It converts Markdown-inspired text definitions into rendered diagrams through the Mermaid Live Editor, JavaScript API, package-based deployment, or Mermaid Chart’s hosted editor. Its supported diagram types include flowcharts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, Gantt charts, architecture diagrams, mind maps, timelines, Kanban boards, and several other specialized formats. This makes Mermaid a strong fit for technical teams that want diagrams to live alongside code and documentation.
The product’s main strength is the combination of text-based authoring and visual workflows. The Live Editor provides code preview, while the visual drag-and-drop editor supports users who want a graphical editing path. AI diagram generation, theme customization, presentation mode, version history, restoration, and real-time multi-user collaboration extend the workflow beyond basic rendering. Integrations include GitHub, GitLab, Confluence, Jira, Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs, Google Docs, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and ChatGPT. Exports include PNG, SVG, PDF, MMD, and Markdown, giving teams options for documentation and presentations.
Mermaid uses a freemium model with a free plan and a seven-day free trial. Basic includes three diagrams and limited AI usage. Plus adds unlimited diagrams, 300 AI credits per year, and view-and-comment collaboration. Premium adds 2,000 AI credits per year, unlimited free viewer seats, co-editing, and SSO. Enterprise includes custom contracts, support, and premium features. The hosted platform and open-source library serve different needs: Mermaid is a good choice for code-oriented diagramming, self-hosting, and developer workflows, while teams seeking primarily visual authoring or a simpler single-purpose editor may prefer an alternative.
Mermaid pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Text-to-diagram rendering with visual editing and code preview
- Broad diagram coverage, from flowcharts to architecture and timelines
- Open-source access with API, self-hosted, and developer integrations
- Where it doesn't
- Basic limits users to three diagrams and limited AI usage
- Import support is listed for MMD only
- Collaboration features are divided across paid plans
Mermaid fact sheet, pricing and score →
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