Mermaid vs Microsoft Visio
Mermaid
mermaid.js.orgMicrosoft Visio
microsoft.comSide by side
| Figure | Mermaid | Microsoft Visio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10/mo | $5/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 5 |
| Spec score · Diagramming tools | 8.4 (#19) | 8.8 (#10) |
| Spec score · Diagram Software | 8.2 (#17) | 8.3 (#14) |
| Spec score · Flowchart Software | 8.2 (#9) | 8.2 (#10) |
| Spec score · Diagramming Software | 8.2 (#25) | 8.3 (#20) |
| Diagram types | The documentation lists diagram types including flowcharts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, state diagrams, ER diagrams, Gantt charts, mind maps, timelines, Sankey diagrams, and architecture diagrams. | Visio supports diagrams including flowcharts, network diagrams, mind maps, organization charts, UML diagrams, floor plans, and engineering diagrams, with availability varying by plan. |
| Integrations | Listed integrations include VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Confluence, Jira, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint. | The product page lists integrations with Teams, Power BI, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneDrive for Business, and Azure. |
| Purpose | Mermaid is a JavaScript diagramming and charting tool that renders Markdown-inspired text definitions into diagrams and visualizations. | Visio helps users draw diagrams that communicate complex information at a glance. |
Plans
Microsoft Visio
- Visio Plan 1$5 a month
- Visio Plan 2$15 a month
- Visio in Microsoft 365Free
- Visio Plan 1$5 a month
- Visio Plan 2$15 a month
In their own words
Mermaid
Mermaid is an open-source JavaScript tool that turns Markdown-inspired text definitions into diagrams and visualizations. Its diagram types include flowcharts, sequence and class diagrams, state diagrams, Gantt charts, timelines, mindmaps, Git graphs, use case diagrams, and event modeling diagrams. Users can also describe an idea, upload a document, or paste a transcript to generate a diagram, then refine it in a context-aware conversation. The platform supports real-time co-editing, click-based adjustments, and shareable live links that recipients can open without logging in. Mermaid can be used in its Live Editor, installed as an npm dependency, loaded from a CDN, or deployed through its API. Listed integrations span IDEs, office tools, and community projects. It imports.mmd files and exports PNG, SVG, and Markdown; version history is available. The free Basic tier allows up to six diagrams, a size limit of 60, 15 AI credits, and one team and project creation. Plus costs $10 a month billed annually; Premium costs $20 a month billed annually.
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio helps users communicate complex information through diagrams. Its supported formats include flowcharts, process and cross-functional diagrams, organization charts, UML and ERD models, network and cloud diagrams, floor plans, timelines, Gantt and PERT charts, and business diagrams such as matrices and value-stream maps. The web and Microsoft Teams apps support real-time collaboration, comments, and sharing. Listed integrations include Teams, Power BI, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneDrive for Business, and Azure. Visio Plan 2 can link diagram shapes to Excel, SharePoint lists, and SQL Server data. The compared plans support Microsoft Information Rights Management and GDPR compliance; IRM permissions must be set in the desktop app, though they are honored for online files opened in the web app. Accessibility support includes Narrator, an Accessibility Checker, and high-contrast display. Visio is available on Windows and the web, but Microsoft does not offer a macOS desktop app. Plan 1 costs $5 a month billed yearly; Plan 2 costs $15 a month billed yearly. First-time trial users with a work or school account can try either plan free for 30 days.