Archway

Archway is a diagramming platform for software and system architecture, available on the web, through an API, or on customer infrastructure. It can scan a GitHub repository to create a multi-system C4 container diagram, and parse Prisma, Drizzle, or SQL DDL schemas into ERDs without an AI call or quota use. Diagram options include cloud architecture, sequence, ERD, data flow, flowchart, C4, and network topology. Exports include Mermaid, PlantUML, D2, Draw.io XML, SVG, PNG, PDF, and Terraform HCL. Multiple users can edit together with synchronized changes and attach markdown notes to diagrams. Archway supports OAuth 2.0 through GitHub and Google, and its icon library covers AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Kubernetes. The free plan is billed forever and includes five AI generations per month and three diagrams. Pro costs $12 a month, billed monthly; Team costs $35 per user per month, and Team Pro costs $40 per user per month. AI diagram prompts are sent to Anthropic Claude and are not stored beyond the generation session. Archway runs on SOC 2 Type II certified infrastructure, but is not itself SOC 2 certified.

Archway combines repository and schema diagramming with collaboration and broad export options. The free plan is limited to three diagrams, while paid plans add capacity and team features.

Archway suits developers and teams creating software architecture diagrams from repositories or schemas. It also fits teams that need collaborative editing, multiple export formats, or a self-hosted deployment option.

Archway is a web diagramming platform that connects architecture and data diagrams to code repositories and schemas. It is best suited to developers and teams that need source-aware diagrams, flexible exports, or self-hosting. Its breadth is a strong draw, but the three-diagram free cap and per-user team pricing shape who will find it practical.

Overview

Archway covers cloud architecture, sequence, ERD, data flow, flowchart, C4, and network topology diagrams. Scanning a GitHub repository produces a multi-system C4 container diagram, while Prisma, Drizzle, and SQL DDL schemas can become ERDs in under a second without an AI call or quota cost. That code-oriented workflow is its clearest distinction; schema conversion also preserves AI allowance for other tasks.

Exports span Mermaid, PlantUML, D2, Draw.io XML, SVG, PNG, PDF, and Terraform HCL. Simultaneous editing uses CRDT-powered sync, with markdown notes attached to diagrams. Users retain ownership of diagrams, DSL source code, and content created with Archway.

Key features

Developer workflows and integrations

The REST API at /api/v1 accepts session-cookie or Bearer API-key authentication, and OAuth 2.0 sign-in works through GitHub and Google. Per-minute API limits range from 5 requests on Free to 40 on Pro, 100 on Team, 150 on Team Pro, and 500 on Enterprise. Free is a tight fit for integrations that make frequent calls; the higher tiers provide more room.

The icon library includes more than 1,900 icons covering AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Kubernetes. Archway can also be deployed on customer infrastructure using Docker Compose, a useful option for organizations that need deployment control. Connections use TLS 1.3, and MongoDB Atlas data is encrypted at rest with AES-256. The service runs on SOC 2 Type II certified infrastructure, but Archway itself is not SOC 2 certified—a meaningful distinction for organizations with certification requirements. AI-generated diagram prompts go to Anthropic Claude and are not stored beyond the generation session.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing, billed forever. It includes 5 AI generations per month, 3 diagrams, all seven diagram types, and PNG and SVG export. It is a sensible way to explore the range, but the diagram cap and narrower export selection limit sustained use.

Pro costs $12 a month, billed monthly. It raises the allowance to 50 AI generations per month and removes the diagram cap, while adding markdown notes, embed codes, all export formats, version history, a template library, and priority support. For an individual, this is the clearest step up from Free when export flexibility and room to keep more diagrams matter.

Team costs $35 a month, billed per user, with 200 AI generations per user. It adds real-time collaboration, team workspaces, and admin controls on top of Pro. The per-user charge makes it more compelling for groups that will actually use shared workspaces and controls than for solo users.

Team Pro costs $40 a month, billed per user, and includes 300 AI generations per user, audit logs, advanced permissions, dedicated onboarding, and a priority support SLA, along with everything in Team. It suits teams that need stronger governance and a defined support commitment; those additions are harder to justify for a small group that does not need them.

Enterprise has custom pricing, unlimited AI generations, SAML SSO, a self-hosted deployment option, consolidated ACH, wire, or PO invoicing, a custom SLA, and dedicated support. It is the tier for organizations needing those deployment, identity, or support arrangements. The Enterprise feature set does not publish a seat or usage price.

Platforms

Archway is available on the web, through an API, and as a self-hosted deployment. The API and self-hosting options broaden its use beyond a standalone web diagram editor, while the API request limits vary by plan.

Who it's for

Choose Archway if your work benefits from turning repositories and database schemas into diagrams, or if your team needs broad export formats and collaborative editing. It is less suitable if you need more than three diagrams without paying, expect high API traffic on Free, or require Archway itself—not merely its infrastructure—to hold SOC 2 certification.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Repository scanning and fast schema-to-ERD conversion connect diagrams to implementation; schema parsing does not consume AI quota.
• Pro: Eight export formats, including Terraform HCL and Draw.io XML, make it easier to carry diagrams into different workflows.
• Pro: Real-time collaboration, team workspaces, and self-hosting support shared and infrastructure-conscious workflows.
• Con: Free allows only three diagrams and five AI generations per month, so it is better for evaluation than ongoing, expanding use.
• Con: Team and Team Pro are billed per user, and their costs grow with the size of the group.
• Con: Archway is not itself SOC 2 certified, despite running on certified infrastructure.

Alternatives

For a wider set of AI diagram options, browse AI Diagram Generators.

Nimbalyst is worth considering if MIT-licensed desktop and iOS apps with source code on GitHub are a higher priority than Archway's repository and schema diagramming.

ArchitectureDiagram.ai offers a free plan capped at two diagrams per month with watermarked exports, so it may suit a lighter-use starting point; Archway's free plan allows three diagrams and includes PNG and SVG exports.

Creately has a free plan with unlimited canvases and collaborators but caps each canvas at 45 items, making it a possible fit when collaboration and canvas count matter more than Archway's code-based inputs.

Diagrams.so starts with five credits, requires your own LLM key on Free, and watermarks exports; its Pro plan is $10 a year when billed annually or $15/mo billed monthly. Consider it if that credit-based setup better fits your budget and workflow.

Eraser may fit users who value unlimited guests on Free, which otherwise allows three files, three AI diagrams, and seven-day version history.

flow-chart.io offers a free plan with monthly AI credits, up to three saved projects, and all 17 domains and export formats; it is an option when that domain and export coverage is the priority.

Mermaid Chart has a free tier with three diagrams, limited AI, and one team and project, while its Plus plan is $12 a month billed annually and includes unlimited diagrams and 300 AI credits per month. It may suit users centered on Mermaid who want that published annual plan.

OpenCharts is another freemium diagramming alternative.

Verdict

Archway is a strong choice for developers and teams who want diagrams generated from repositories and schemas, with collaboration, broad exports, and a self-hosting path. Its main reason to choose is that source-aware workflow; look elsewhere if the free three-diagram cap is too restrictive, per-user team costs do not fit, or your organization requires product-level SOC 2 certification.