D2 vs Sparx Enterprise Architect
D2
d2lang.com
Sparx Enterprise Architect
sparxsystems.comSide by side
| Figure | D2 | Sparx Enterprise Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 18 |
| Spec score · Diagramming Software | 7.9 (#31) | 8.8 (#8) |
| Spec score · Diagramming tools | 7.6 (#36) | 9.4 (#1) |
| Diagram types | software architecture diagrams; UML class diagrams; sequence diagrams | UML Use Case,Activity,State,Interaction Overview,Sequence,Communication,Package,Class,Object,Composite,Component,Deployment; BPMN; SysML |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Official integrations include extensions for VSCode, Vim, and Obsidian; the extensions page also lists community plugins and tools. | External-data integration covers Jira, Confluence, Polarion, Azure DevOps/TFS, Wrike, ServiceNow, Autodesk, Bugzilla, Salesforce, SharePoint and Dropbox. |
| Platforms | The CLI supports macOS, Linux, and Windows, and D2 can also run in a browser through WebAssembly. | The native application supports Windows; Sparx lists Linux through Wine and macOS through Wine or CrossOver, with compatibility depending on the runtime. |
| Purpose | D2 is a declarative diagramming language that turns text into diagrams. | Enterprise Architect is a multi-user visual modeling tool for business and IT systems, software and systems engineering, and real-time and embedded development. |
| Support | The project directs users to Discord for help and GitHub Issues and Discussions for bugs, proposals, and feature requests. | Sparx Systems lists a user forum, online manual, bug reporting, feature requests and email support. |
| What it does | D2 is a declarative diagramming language that turns text into diagrams. | Enterprise Architect is a collaborative platform for visualizing, analyzing, modeling, testing and maintaining business, software, systems and enterprise architectures. |
Plans
Sparx Enterprise Architect
- Enterprise Architect LiteFree
- Lite EditionFree
- Professional Standard$245, paid once
- Professional — Standard License$245, paid once
- Corporate Standard$320, paid once
- Corporate — Standard License$320, paid once
- Professional Floating$320, paid once
- Professional — Floating License$320, paid once
- Corporate Floating$425, paid once
- Corporate — Floating License$425, paid once
In their own words
Sparx Enterprise Architect
Sparx Enterprise Architect is a visual modeling tool for business and IT systems, software and systems engineering, and real-time and embedded development. It supports UML, SysML, BPMN, and other open standards, linking specifications with analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance models. Diagram coverage includes UML use case, activity, state, sequence, communication, package, class, object, component, and deployment types, plus BPMN and SysML. Requirements management supports hierarchical requirements, links to model elements, reporting, and impact analysis. Teams can simulate behavioral models using triggers, guards, and effects, including JavaScript, and generate or reverse engineer code for languages including C++, C#, Java, PHP, and Python. Built-in version control and deployable cloud-based servers support shared projects. The trial lasts 30 days and permits use of any edition, though printed documents carry a watermark. The product supports Windows, Linux, macOS, self-hosting, and API access.