draw.io vs Sparx Enterprise Architect
draw.io
drawio.com
Sparx Enterprise Architect
sparxsystems.comSide by side
| Figure | draw.io | Sparx Enterprise Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 18 |
| Spec score · Diagramming tools | 9.0 (#5) | 9.4 (#1) |
| Spec score · Diagram Software | 8.7 (#5) | 8.8 (#4) |
| Spec score · Diagramming Software | 8.7 (#10) | 8.8 (#8) |
| Diagram types | flow charts,mind maps,org charts,Venn diagrams,infographics,network diagrams,architecture diagrams,floor plans,electrical diagrams,rack diagrams,UML diagrams,BPMN diagrams,Kanban boards,ER diagrams,Mermaid diagrams,Gitflow diagrams,C4 models,threat models | UML Use Case,Activity,State,Interaction Overview,Sequence,Communication,Package,Class,Object,Composite,Component,Deployment; BPMN; SysML |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Northampton, United Kingdom | Creswick, Victoria, Australia |
| Native Integrations | Integrations include Google, Microsoft, Atlassian, GitHub, VS Code, Notion, and Chrome. | External-data integration covers Jira, Confluence, Polarion, Azure DevOps/TFS, Wrike, ServiceNow, Autodesk, Bugzilla, Salesforce, SharePoint and Dropbox. |
| Real-Time Collaboration | Teams can work together with shared cursors. | Yes |
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
draw.io
draw.io is a free, open-source diagramming tool for creating visual layouts, from flow charts and mind maps to network, architecture, UML, BPMN and floor-plan diagrams. It supports real-time collaboration, and files can be opened and edited across platforms. Users can choose their own storage or save locally with the desktop app; draw.io says it cannot access users' data. No sign-up or credit card is required to start diagramming, and the desktop app is free forever. Diagrams can remain editable or be exported to SVG, PNG or PDF. Supported imports include draw.io, XML, Gliffy, VSDX, Lucidchart, PNG, SVG and JPEG. Integrations include Google, Microsoft, Atlassian, GitHub, VS Code, Notion and Chrome. Interactive diagrams can be embedded in documents, wikis or applications. The listed platforms are web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Support is available through GitHub Discussions and Stack Overflow. The site says there is no Enterprise tier for SSO.
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.