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Structurizr
Structurizr · Jersey, Channel Islands
What it is
Structurizr is a models-as-code tool for creating software architecture diagrams from a C4 model written in Structurizr DSL. One model can produce views such as system landscape, system context, container, component, code, dynamic, deployment, custom, filtered, and image diagrams. C4 diagrams are interactive and animatable, can be embedded, and receive an automatically generated key or legend. Work can begin in a browser playground, a local diagram viewer and layout editor, or a self-hosted server. The CLI exports workspace views to PlantUML, Mermaid, or static HTML, and the tool can import Structurizr DSL and Structurizr JSON. Version history is available. A standalone, free, open-source MCP server can parse and validate DSL, export diagrams, and manage server-hosted workspaces. Structurizr offers a free plan and a 14-day trial. Paid server licenses start at £300 per month, billed annually, for 1–20 unique users per installation. The cloud service uses HTTPS and describes encrypted workspace storage; paid workspaces can use client-side encryption.
For and against
For
- Creates multiple diagram views from one C4 model.
- Diagrams can be interactive, animatable, and embedded.
- CLI exports workspace views to PlantUML, Mermaid, or HTML.
- Offers a free plan and 14-day trial.
Against
- Paid server licenses start at £300 per month, billed annually.
- Licenses apply to each server installation.
- Cloud service runs in AWS US-East-1.
The verdict
Structurizr connects model-based architecture diagrams with local, browser, and self-hosted tooling. Review the per-installation license terms and user bands when considering a paid server license.
Who it suits
Structurizr may suit software teams that want to derive multiple architecture views from one C4 model. Its browser, local, and self-hosted tools offer different ways to work with diagrams.
Plans and prices
1–20 unique users
1–20 unique users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
21–50 unique users
21–50 unique users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
51–100 unique users
51–100 unique users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
101–250 unique users
101–250 unique users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
251–500 unique users
251–500 unique users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
501–1000 unique users
501–1000 unique users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
1001+ unique users
1001+ unique users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Open core/build from source
Self-hosted server · public workspaces · filesystem storage · no authentication
Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
Server 1-20 unique users
1-20 unique users · per server installation
Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.structurizr.com
On the record
- AI tooling
- A standalone free and open-source MCP server can parse and validate DSL, export diagrams to PlantUML and Mermaid, and manage server-hosted workspaces.structurizr.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- C4 reference implementation
- The product was created by C4 model author Simon Brown and presents itself as the C4 reference implementation.structurizr.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Cloud hosting
- The cloud service runs in AWS US-East-1, stores data in RDS and S3 there, and uses HTTPS for browser and API interactions.structurizr.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Cloud security
- The cloud service says workspace data is encrypted with AES using a 128-bit key, random salt, and server-side passphrase, and offers client-side encryption for paid workspaces.structurizr.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Cloud shutdown
- Anchor Terminal records the hosted cloud API and service as shut down on 30 September 2026, leaving storage and rendering to customer-managed servers.anchorterminal.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal identity
- The maker identifies itself as Structurizr Limited, a private company registered in Jersey, Channel Islands.docs.structurizr.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Compliance limitation
- Structurizr says it cannot sign Section 889 compliance forms because it cannot verify its entire supply chain.structurizr.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Current binaries
- The 2026.09.19 binaries use Java 21 Docker/WAR distributions, with optional Playwright builds for PNG/SVG export.docs.structurizr.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Developer integrations
- The CLI documentation describes GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Homebrew, Scoop, and Gradle plugin options.docs.structurizr.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Diagram capabilities
- Its C4 diagrams are interactive, animatable, embeddable, and include an automatically generated key or legend.structurizr.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Diagram generation
- A single workspace can produce system-landscape, context, container, component, code, dynamic, deployment, custom, filtered and image views.docs.structurizr.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Diagram types
- system landscape,system context,container,component,code,dynamic,deployment,custom,filtered,imagedocs.structurizr.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Documentation rendering
- The UI renders Markdown or AsciiDoc documentation and architecture decision records alongside diagrams.docs.structurizr.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- The CLI can export workspace views to PlantUML, Mermaid, or a static HTML site.structurizr.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Independent API criticism
- Anchor Terminal reported that MCP tool descriptions are one-line, errors return raw exception text, enums are absent and default annotations mark hosted tools destructive.anchorterminal.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Installation requirements
- The Lite WAR requires Java 17 or newer, with Graphviz optional for automatic layout; Docker is the recommended installation.docs.structurizr.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Interactive diagrams
- Diagrams support browser viewing, zooming, manual layout editing, animation, embedding and automatically generated keys.structurizr.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- License
- The public Structurizr repository is released under the Apache-2.0 license.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
