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Structurizr

structurizr.com

From £25/mo Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 9.0 #7 of 46 in Diagramming tools

What it is

Structurizr is a models-as-code tool for creating software architecture diagrams from one C4 model written in Structurizr DSL. A model can produce system landscape, system context, container, component, code, dynamic, deployment, custom, filtered and image views. Its C4 diagrams are interactive and animatable, can be embedded, and include an automatically generated key or legend. Users can work in a browser playground, use a local diagram viewer and layout editor, or run a self-hosted server. The CLI exports workspace views to PlantUML, Mermaid or a static HTML site; supported imports include Structurizr DSL and Structurizr JSON. Version history is available. The product has API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web and Windows availability. Structurizr offers a free plan and a 14-day trial. Paid server licenses start at £300/mo (annual) for 1–20 unique users per installation; higher user bands cost more. The self-hosted open core is free when built from source, but has no authentication and public workspaces. Structurizr is headquartered in Jersey, Channel Islands. Its cloud service runs in AWS US-East-1 and describes AES encryption and optional client-side encryption for paid workspaces.

Spec sheet

What it does
Structurizr is a models-as-code tool for creating multiple C4 software-architecture diagrams from one model.Read 15 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Purpose
Structurizr is a models-as-code tool for creating multiple software architecture diagrams from one C4 model using Structurizr DSL.Read 8 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Support
Support for server licenses is available through the GitHub issue tracker.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
License
The public Structurizr repository is released under the Apache-2.0 license.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Headquarters
Jersey, Channel IslandsRead 28 Sep 2026 · structurizr.com
AI tooling
A standalone free and open-source MCP server can parse and validate DSL, export diagrams to PlantUML and Mermaid, and manage server-hosted workspaces.Read 8 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
C4 reference implementation
The product was created by C4 model author Simon Brown and presents itself as the C4 reference implementation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Cloud hosting
The cloud service runs in AWS US-East-1, stores data in RDS and S3 there, and uses HTTPS for browser and API interactions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Cloud security
The cloud service says workspace data is encrypted with AES using a 128-bit key, random salt, and server-side passphrase, and offers client-side encryption for paid workspaces.Read 8 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Cloud shutdown
Anchor Terminal records the hosted cloud API and service as shut down on 30 September 2026, leaving storage and rendering to customer-managed servers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · anchorterminal.com
Company legal identity
The maker identifies itself as Structurizr Limited, a private company registered in Jersey, Channel Islands.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Compliance limitation
Structurizr says it cannot sign Section 889 compliance forms because it cannot verify its entire supply chain.Read 8 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Current binaries
The 2026.09.19 binaries use Java 21 Docker/WAR distributions, with optional Playwright builds for PNG/SVG export.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Developer integrations
The CLI documentation describes GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Homebrew, Scoop, and Gradle plugin options.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Diagram capabilities
Its C4 diagrams are interactive, animatable, embeddable, and include an automatically generated key or legend.Read 8 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Diagram generation
A single workspace can produce system-landscape, context, container, component, code, dynamic, deployment, custom, filtered and image views.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Diagram types
system landscape,system context,container,component,code,dynamic,deployment,custom,filtered,imageRead 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Documentation rendering
The UI renders Markdown or AsciiDoc documentation and architecture decision records alongside diagrams.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Export formats
The CLI can export workspace views to PlantUML, Mermaid, or a static HTML site.Read 8 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Independent API criticism
Anchor Terminal reported that MCP tool descriptions are one-line, errors return raw exception text, enums are absent and default annotations mark hosted tools destructive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · anchorterminal.com
Installation requirements
The Lite WAR requires Java 17 or newer, with Graphviz optional for automatic layout; Docker is the recommended installation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Interactive diagrams
Diagrams support browser viewing, zooming, manual layout editing, animation, embedding and automatically generated keys.Read 15 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Limit: maintainability complaint
A Reddit commenter said the approach became difficult to maintain and illegible for microservice architectures, while the creator disputed that characterization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Limit: pricing complaint
Archyl says £300 monthly for twenty viewers can compare poorly with per-editor SaaS pricing and requires operating a server.Read 15 Oct 2026 · archyl.com
Limit: self-hosting burden
Archyl argues self-hosting preserves models but does not keep them current automatically, and says teams must rerun DSL generation when code changes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · archyl.com
Limit: visual editing
A Reddit commenter preferred a drag-and-drop tool because Structurizr's DSL and Java extension path required substantial ramp-up for non-Java users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Lite limitation
Structurizr Lite is intended for one person and has no built-in collaboration; concurrent access can corrupt workspace content or layout.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
MCP server
Structurizr provides a standalone free open-source MCP server for DSL parsing and validation, PlantUML/Mermaid export and management of server-hosted workspaces.Read 15 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
OpenAPI definition
A public OpenAPI 3.0 definition documents the workspace and workspace API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Payment security
Credit-card capture is delegated to Braintree, described as a Level 1 PCI DSS provider, so Structurizr does not store card details.Read 15 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Praise: architecture-as-code
A Reddit user called Structurizr DSL their best experience and said keeping diagrams as code is critical when generation is automated in CI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Praise: large-scale modeling
A Reddit discussion reports organizations using Structurizr for very large architectures with hundreds of containers, shared models and workspace extensions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Rating on Anchor Terminal
59.9 out of 100 from 2 desk reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · anchorterminal.com
Security encryption
Cloud workspace data is AES-encrypted by default, with client-side encryption available for paid workspaces.Read 15 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Security transport
Cloud browser and API traffic uses HTTPS with a Cloudflare dedicated SSL certificate; infrastructure runs in AWS US-East-1.Read 15 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Self-hosting
The server can be built from source for free or run from licensed prebuilt Docker and WAR binaries.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Server access controls
Prebuilt server binaries add authentication options including SAML and LDAP on request, role-based access, sharing links, and an admin API over the free open core.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Server enterprise features
Licensed binaries add SAML or LDAP authentication, role-based access, private sharing tokens, S3 or Azure storage, Elasticsearch, Redis sessions and an admin API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Server licensing limit
Server licenses are priced per installation according to unique users in a one-year period, and the vendor says it does not currently enforce the user limit.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Slack integration
The paid Slack integration exposes slash-command full-text search for one workspace and returns up to ten results.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Support channel
The pricing documentation directs license support to the GitHub issue tracker rather than a dedicated support portal.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Themes and notation
Themes include prebuilt AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform icons, with customizable shapes and notation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Tooling
The available tooling includes a browser playground, local diagram viewer and layout editor, self-hosted server, and CLI export tool.Read 8 Oct 2026 · structurizr.com
Workspace API
The server workspace API provides JSON/HTTP endpoints for getting, replacing, branching, locking, unlocking and uploading workspace images.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com

Plans and prices

1–20 unique users £300 a month billed annually; license applies to each server installation 1–20 unique users Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
21–50 unique users £600 a month billed annually; license applies to each server installation 21–50 unique users Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
51–100 unique users £900 a month billed annually; license applies to each server installation 51–100 unique users Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
101–250 unique users £1,200 a month billed annually; license applies to each server installation 101–250 unique users Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
251–500 unique users £1,500 a month billed annually; license applies to each server installation 251–500 unique users Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
501–1000 unique users £1,800 a month billed annually; license applies to each server installation 501–1000 unique users Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
1001+ unique users £2,400 a month billed annually; license applies to each server installation 1001+ unique users Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Open core/build from source Free Self-hosted server · public workspaces · filesystem storage · no authentication Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Self-hosted server open core Free free when built from source · no authentication · public workspaces Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Self-hosted server, 1–20 unique users £300 a year £300 per month; billed annually, non-renewing per server installation · 1–20 unique users per year · prebuilt binaries Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Server 1-20 unique users £300 a year £300 per month, billed annually; non-renewing 1-20 unique users · per server installation Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Self-hosted server, 21–50 unique users £600 a year £600 per month; billed annually, non-renewing per server installation · 21–50 unique users per year · prebuilt binaries Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com

Every Structurizr plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • One C4 model supports many diagram views.
  • Diagrams are interactive, animatable and embeddable.
  • CLI exports views to PlantUML, Mermaid or static HTML.
  • Version history is available.

Limits

  • Paid server licenses start at £300/mo (annual).
  • Free self-hosted open core has no authentication.
  • Free open-core workspaces are public.
  • Cloud data is hosted in AWS US-East-1.

Who it suits

Structurizr suits software architects and development teams that want to maintain multiple diagrams from a shared model. It also offers a self-hosted option for teams that need to run their own server.

Structurizr in depth

Read the full write-up

Structurizr is a models-as-code tool for building software architecture diagrams from a shared C4 model. It is best suited to development teams that want architecture views to stay aligned and fit into local or automated workflows. The main trade-off is that private, access-controlled self-hosting requires a paid license for each server installation.

Overview

Write a system model in Structurizr DSL, then create landscape, context, container, component, code, dynamic, deployment, custom, filtered, and image views from it. That shared foundation is useful when teams need several diagrams to describe the same evolving system; it is less compelling as a general-purpose canvas for unrelated diagramming.

Workspaces can be imported as Structurizr DSL or Structurizr JSON, and version history is supported. Work can move between a browser playground, a local diagram viewer and layout editor, a self-hosted server, and a CLI export tool. The separate free, open-source MCP server can parse and validate DSL, export to PlantUML and Mermaid, and manage server-hosted workspaces.

Key features

C4 views are interactive, animatable, and embeddable, and Structurizr generates a key or legend automatically. This makes the diagrams more useful for walkthroughs and sharing while avoiding a separately maintained legend. The CLI exports workspace views to PlantUML, Mermaid, or a static HTML site, giving teams options to reuse the model beyond Structurizr.

Developer workflows can incorporate documented GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Homebrew, Scoop, and Gradle plugin options. Paid cloud Slack integration searches one workspace by slash command and returns up to 10 results, a focused convenience rather than a broad cross-workspace search.

The cloud service runs in AWS US-East-1, stores data in RDS and S3 there, and uses HTTPS for browser and API traffic. It says workspace data is encrypted with AES using a 128-bit key, random salt, and server-side passphrase; paid workspaces can also use client-side encryption. Structurizr cannot sign Section 889 compliance forms because it cannot verify its entire supply chain, which rules it out for organizations that require that assurance.

Pricing

The free self-hosted open core costs nothing when built from source, but has no authentication and only public workspaces. It is suitable for experimentation or public work; teams needing private workspaces or access controls must move to prebuilt server binaries and a license.

Server licenses are priced per installation by unique users in a one-year period. The vendor says it does not currently enforce the user limit, but the band still matters when choosing a license. The 1–20 tier is £300 a month, billed annually; the 21–50 tier is £600 a month, billed annually; the 51–100 tier is £900 a month, billed annually; the 101–250 tier is £1,200 a month, billed annually; the 251–500 tier is £1,500 a month, billed annually; the 501–1,000 tier is £1,800 a month, billed annually; and the 1,001+ tier is £2,400 a month, billed annually. Each license applies to one server installation, so multiple installations multiply the cost.

The separate self-hosted server plans are also quoted as £300 a year for 1–20 unique users, £600 a year for 21–50, £900 a year for 51–100, and £1,200 a year for 101–250. Each is billed annually at the corresponding monthly rate, is non-renewing, applies per server installation, and provides prebuilt binaries. Server-license support is through the GitHub issue tracker. A 14-day trial is available.

Platforms

Structurizr supports web, macOS, Windows, Linux, API, and self-hosted use. That breadth gives teams a choice between browser access, local tooling, and running a server themselves.

Who it's for

Structurizr is a strong fit for software teams that maintain multiple views of an architecture, want those views derived from a shared C4 model, and value exports or developer-oriented workflows. It is a poorer fit for casual diagramming, for teams seeking private self-hosting without a per-installation license, or for organizations that require a Section 889 compliance signature.

Pros and cons

Pros: One DSL model can generate a wide range of architecture views, helping keep diagrams consistent.

Pros: Interactive, animatable diagrams, automatic legends, and exports to PlantUML, Mermaid, and static HTML support presentation and reuse.

Pros: Browser, local, CLI, and self-hosted options accommodate different working patterns.

Cons: The free self-hosted build has no authentication and exposes only public workspaces, making it unsuitable for private team work.

Cons: Paid server pricing is per installation and rises with unique-user bands, creating a significant commitment for controlled self-hosting.

Cons: The vendor cannot sign Section 889 compliance forms.

Alternatives

For broad diagramming across mobile and desktop as well as web, consider EdrawMax, which has a free plan and free trial. Teams seeking a UML modeling environment with multi-user projects and code engineering can consider Sparx Enterprise Architect; its Professional Standard License has custom pricing. Creately offers a free plan with unlimited canvases and collaborators, but caps each canvas at 45 items, making it a better fit for collaborative general-purpose diagrams than model-derived architecture views.

Choose draw.io for a free, open-source diagramming option with no sign-up requirement. Mermaid is another free option for users who want diagrams through its platform and extension ecosystem. For teams seeking Microsoft's diagramming software on macOS, web, or Windows, Microsoft Visio starts at $5 a month on an annual subscription that auto-renews. Cacoo has a free tier with unlimited users, six sheets, PNG exports, real-time editing, and in-app video chat; ProcessOn is a free option for web and mobile users, with its free version limited to nine personal files and three collaborators.

Browse Diagram Software and Diagramming Software for more options.

Verdict

Choose Structurizr if your team needs multiple, consistent software architecture views derived from a model and wants practical local, export, or hosted workflows. Its central strength is model-based C4 documentation; look elsewhere if you need an inexpensive private server, a general-purpose diagram canvas, or Section 889 compliance assurance.

Verdict

Structurizr connects model-based diagramming with browser, local and self-hosted workflows. Review the server licensing bands and open-core access limits when deciding how to host workspaces.

Where Specifiction places it

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