ClearWork vs Mermaid Chart
ClearWork
clearwork.ioMermaid Chart
mermaid.aiSide by side
| Figure | ClearWork | Mermaid Chart |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $200/mo | $12/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 4 |
| Spec score · AI Diagram Generators | 8.0 (#12) | 7.9 (#17) |
| Exports | Diagrams export to Visio and draw.io, documents to Word and PDF, and ClearWork also supports Mermaid syntax. | Mermaid AI can export diagrams as PNG or SVG files. |
| Security | ClearWork says client data is contractually excluded from AI model training and engagements have project-level isolation and role-based access. | Mermaid states that it provides secure access controls, encryption, SOC 2 compliance, and SSO. |
| Support | Founder-led support is included on every plan. | Enterprise is described as including custom contracts, support, and additional services. |
Plans
ClearWork
- Included read-onlyFree
- Solo$200 a month
- Workgroup read-only$400 a month
- Boutique$600 a month
- Department read-only$1,000 a month
- Team$1,200 a month
- Practice$2,000 a month
- Division read-only$3,125 a month
- Enterprise-wide read-only$8,000 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
Mermaid Chart
- BasicFree
- Plus$12 a month
- Premium$24 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
ClearWork
ClearWork creates editable process maps, flowcharts and swimlane diagrams from documents, recordings, transcripts and other unstructured material. Its discovery agent interviews people who carry out the work, helping identify gaps between documented processes and actual practice. A person reviews and confirms findings before they enter the record; conflicts, variations and unknowns are surfaced separately. Diagrams can be revised with plain-language AI prompts or edited manually, and each generated line links to its source, such as an interview moment, document page or recording timestamp. A validated record can also produce requirements, business requirements documents, traceability matrices, user stories, SOPs, work instructions, summaries and roadmaps. Diagrams export to Visio and draw.io; documents export to Word and PDF, and Mermaid syntax is supported. ClearWork runs on the web. Paid plans start at $200 a month, and a 14-day trial offers full platform access with unlimited use and no credit card required. The maker says client data is contractually excluded from AI model training and engagements have project-level isolation and role-based access.
Mermaid Chart
Mermaid Chart turns plain-text Mermaid syntax into diagrams and refreshes the visual when the text changes. Mermaid AI can also create diagrams from natural-language prompts or uploaded PDF, Word and plain-text files. Supported types include flowcharts, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts, ER diagrams, timelines, mind maps, org charts, state and class diagrams, pie charts and quadrant charts. Teams can co-edit in real time, comment and share live links. Official plugins and add-ons connect it with development environments, AI assistants, documentation tools and office products, including VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Confluence, Jira, Google Docs, Word and PowerPoint. Mermaid AI exports PNG and SVG files. Mermaid MCP can validate and render diagrams without authentication; authenticated users can use it to manage diagrams and projects. Basic costs nothing and includes three diagrams and 15 AI credits. Plus costs $12 a month billed annually; Premium costs $24 a month billed annually. Trial and paid-tier content is not used to train Mermaid AI models; Basic-tier content may be used to improve services.