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Mermaid
What it is
Mermaid is an open-source JavaScript diagramming and charting tool that turns Markdown-inspired text definitions into diagrams and visualizations. It supports flowcharts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, state diagrams, Gantt charts, timelines, mindmaps, Git graphs, use case diagrams, and event modeling diagrams. Users can describe an idea, upload a document, or paste a transcript to generate a diagram, then refine it in a context-aware conversation. Real-time co-editing, click-based adjustments, version history, and shareable live links are available. Links can be opened without recipient login. Mermaid can run through its Live Editor, an npm dependency, a CDN, or an API, with integrations for development tools, office applications, and community platforms. It imports .mmd files and exports PNG, SVG, or Markdown. The free Basic tier allows six diagrams, a size limit of 60, 15 AI credits, and one team and project creation. Plus is $10 a month billed annually; Premium is $20 a month billed annually.
For and against
For
- Open-source diagramming and charting
- Ten listed diagram types
- Real-time co-editing and live links
- PNG, SVG, and Markdown exports
- Integrations across IDEs and office tools
Against
- Basic tier allows up to six diagrams
- Basic diagrams have a size limit of 60
- Basic tier includes only 15 AI credits
- Plus and Premium billed annually
The verdict
Mermaid offers text-based diagram creation alongside conversational generation, collaborative editing, and broad integrations. The free tier is limited, while paid plans expand diagrams, size, and AI credits.
Who it suits
Mermaid fits developers, data engineers, analysts, educators, consultants, technical writers, project managers, teams, and other visual thinkers. It suits workflows needing text-defined diagrams, collaboration, or integrations.
Plans and prices
Basic
Up to 6 diagrams · Limited diagram size (60) · 15 AI credits · 1 team and project creation
Read 11 Oct 2026 · mermaid.ai
Plus
Unlimited diagrams · Limitless diagram size · 300 AI credits per year
Read 11 Oct 2026 · mermaid.ai
Premium
Unlimited diagrams · Limitless diagram size · 2,000 AI credits per year · Unlimited viewer seats
Read 11 Oct 2026 · mermaid.ai
Enterprise
Custom pricing · Unlimited diagrams · Limitless diagram size · Unlimited AI credits
Read 11 Oct 2026 · mermaid.ai
On the record
- AI creation
- Mermaid says users can describe an idea, upload a document, or paste a transcript to generate a diagram and continue refining it through a context-aware conversation.mermaid.ai · read 11 Oct 2026
- Browser and runtime requirement
- Mermaid v12 bundles target ES2024, the documentation aims to support Safari 17.4 or later, and installing the npm package requires Node.js 22.12.0 or later.mermaid.js.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Community support
- The Mermaid.js integrations page lists community integrations such as GitHub, GitLab, Notion, Obsidian, Joplin, and Azure DevOps.mermaid.js.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Mermaid can be used through the Live Editor, installed as an npm dependency, loaded from a CDN, or deployed using its API.mermaid.js.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- 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.mermaid.js.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Editing and sharing
- The platform offers real-time co-editing, click-based diagram adjustments, and live links that can be shared without requiring the recipient to log in.mermaid.ai · read 11 Oct 2026
- Enterprise security
- Mermaid Chart's enterprise page lists SSO/SAML authentication, SOC 2 compliance, encryption at rest, centralized seat management, and domain lockdown.mermaid.ai · read 11 Oct 2026
- Free tier limits
- The Basic tier includes up to six diagrams, a diagram size limit of 60, and 15 AI credits; the pricing page also describes limited AI and one team and project creation.mermaid.ai · read 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations include VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Confluence, Jira, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint.mermaid.ai · read 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Mermaid is a JavaScript diagramming and charting tool that renders Markdown-inspired text definitions into diagrams and visualizations.mermaid.js.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Security controls
- Mermaid's rendering security setting defaults to strict, which encodes HTML tags in text and disables click functionality; sandbox mode renders in a sandboxed iframe.mermaid.js.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The project asks users to report vulnerabilities by email and says it aims to reply within three working days.mermaid.js.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Who it serves
- Mermaid describes the platform as intended for teams and visual thinkers, and names developers, data engineers, analysts, educators, consultants, technical writers, and project managers among its audiences.mermaid.ai · read 11 Oct 2026
