Head to head · Diagram creation · October 2026 research run
AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Mural MCP
AI Diagram Maker MCP scores 43.8 (E) on agent readiness against Mural MCP's 42 (E), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Mural MCP leads on reliability, security & auth, maintenance & community and transparency & trust. Both do diagram creation.
Best diagramming APIs and diagram-as-code for AI agents · All 147 diagrams comparisons
Which one, for what
Best for Quick architecture, sequence, ERD and flowchart diagrams from a coding agent, with a link to edit them.
Ahead on
- Schema & documentation, 75 against 30
- Agent ergonomics, 66 against 26
- Payments & pricing, 20 against 10
Also in its favour
- Runs on your own machine
Watch for
Last release 3.0.8 on 10 April 2026, and the registry entry still says 1.0.0
Best for Teams already on paid Mural who want an assistant to build workshop boards, flowcharts and sticky-note syntheses on a shared canvas while a person watches.
Ahead on
- Reliability, 35 against 30
- Security & auth, 72 against 45
- Maintenance & community, 75 against 17
- Transparency & trust, 63 against 35
Watch for
Public preview, with Mural's service levels and support obligations excluded
Why the edge
Each category where one leads by five points or more, with the reason behind each side's score from its assessment. The numbers are in the table below; this is what they stand for.
Maintenance & community Mural MCP +58
AI Diagram Maker MCP 17
Last release v3.0.8, published to npm on 10 April 2026, 210 days before this check (0). No release since 8 August (0). Four issues in all. The two open ones, from 4 May (hosted MCP credit usage) and 13 October 2026, show no reply, and one closed issue had a comment (5 of 25). In the official MCP registry under the GitHub-verified namespace io.github.erajasekar, but the entry is 1.0.0 from 19 March 2026 while npm is on 3.0.8 (10 of 15). The only workflow publishes to the registry. No tests or CI, and the MCP SDK floor is ^1.9.0 (2 of 10). 0 + 0 + 5 + 10 + 2 = 17.
Mural MCP 75
Registry version 1.0.0 published on 5 October 2026 and an MCP update in the 29 September release notes (30). Three dated MCP entries in 90 days, the public preview and fixes on 8 September, read and write changes on 29 September and the registry release on 5 October (20). Weekly public release notes, support@mural.co routing to a technical specialist and a community site, not tested (10). In the official MCP registry as co.mural/mural under Mural's own domain (15). Closed hosted service with no package or CI to assess (0).
Schema & documentation AI Diagram Maker MCP +45
AI Diagram Maker MCP 75
All five tools have zod input schemas in src/tools, and the repository ships an OpenAPI 3 file for POST /api/v2/diagrams/generate (25). No llms.txt (404) and no docs site for agents beyond the README (0). Each description says what the tool does and when to use it, listing trigger phrases and the diagram types, without saying when another tool fits better (16 of 20). content has a minimum length and diagramType an eight-value enum; the OpenAPI adds inputType and format enums (13 of 15). Examples in the parameter descriptions and README, and the OpenAPI documents 400, 401, 402, 422 (D2 failed to compile) and 429 with typed error bodies (13 of 15). Git tags from v1.1.1 to v3.0.8 and a /api/v2 path, with no changelog or release notes (8 of 15). 25 + 0 + 16 + 13 + 13 + 8 = 75.
Mural MCP 30
The tool list needs an OAuth sign-in with a paid Mural account, so we read Mural's help article instead. MCP tools carry JSON Schema inputs by protocol, but Mural publishes no tool reference and the developer docs page linked from the server's sign-in app returns 404 (10). No llms.txt or Markdown docs. The help article renders only through a crawler view of a Salesforce page (0). The help article lists what the server can and can't do, which tells an agent when not to use it, but no per-tool descriptions are public (6). Input types and constraints unread (5). A prompt library and a troubleshooting section, no documented error responses (4). Registry version 1.0.0 and dated weekly release notes that mention MCP, no MCP changelog (5).
Agent ergonomics AI Diagram Maker MCP +40
AI Diagram Maker MCP 66
Five compact tools (25). Output can be SVG or PNG and the API can return the D2 source with debug, but there's nothing to page or trim, and results carry the rendered image (10 of 20). Typed error bodies with codes, a 422 that returns the failing D2 code, and retryAfter on 429 (16 of 20). No readOnlyHint or other annotations in the source and no idempotency key, and every call spends credits (5 of 20). Only content is required and the hosted endpoint needs no install, but there is no SDK beyond the server (10 of 15). 25 + 10 + 16 + 5 + 10 = 66.
Mural MCP 26
Tool count and definition size unknown, since the list is behind OAuth. Client-side tool allow-lists are the only subsetting Mural mentions (10). The 29 September 2026 update says large-board overviews load faster, with no documented paging or size controls (5). Release notes say write attempts explain when access is limited, and nothing more on errors (5). Edits land in normal undo history, and we couldn't read readOnlyHint or destructiveHint annotations (3). The mural must stay open in a foreground browser tab signed in to the same account, the server works on one mural at a time, and there's no SDK (3).
Transparency & trust Mural MCP +28
AI Diagram Maker MCP 35
The MCP server is MIT (package.json and LICENSE, added 18 March 2026). The service is closed, under terms last updated 24 September 2025 that name the operator only as AI Diagram Maker (20 of 30). The privacy policy of the same date keeps diagrams, revisions and chat prompts and responses 'as long as necessary', and the terms license user input 'to provide and improve our services', with no retention periods and no word on model training or the AI providers used (8 of 30). No deprecation policy or dated notices (0). No subprocessors or data locations named (0). The MCP server's source sends no telemetry of its own. 20 + 8 + 0 + 0 = 28.
Mural MCP 63
Closed service with published terms, which the preview disclaimer limits by excluding service levels, support and indemnities (15). The help article says the server stores no mural content, keeps OAuth tokens, registration records and session state in Redis, and that customer content isn't used for training. It also says token keys have no TTL and that revocation and retention still need a documented policy, and the privacy statement's body didn't render for us (18). No deprecation policy. The preview may change or end at any time without notice (0). A public subprocessor list with locations, mostly the US, and US hosting on Microsoft Azure by default with workspace-level data residency on Enterprise (18).
Security & auth Mural MCP +27
AI Diagram Maker MCP 45
Several named API keys per account, shown once and deactivated or deleted in Settings with a confirmation step, sent in a header, never a query string. No scopes, and the user guide says anyone with a key can access the account (20 of 30). The tools only create diagrams and can't change or delete anything in the account, but there's no read-only key (12 of 20). Tools return diagrams built from the caller's own input. Image inputs can be any public URL (10 of 15). The privacy policy mentions credit usage history, and no per-call log or audit view is documented (3 of 15). No security.txt, disclosure policy, bug bounty or certification found (0). 20 + 12 + 10 + 3 + 0 = 45.
Mural MCP 72
OAuth only, with PKCE (S256), dynamic client registration, a revocation endpoint and scopes murals:read, murals:write, rooms:read and workspaces:read in the server's own metadata. The assistant inherits the user's Mural permissions and there's no service account (28). A read scope exists and view-only murals stay read-only, but enablement is account-wide, and deletes run with no server-side confirmation, relying on the client's approval prompts and undo (12). Mural content and existing comments written by other collaborators come back to the model, and we found no injection guidance (4). MCP actions are recorded in the mural activity log and the audit log as the user's, marked 'with AI'. The audit log is an Enterprise feature (13). SOC 2 Type 2, SOC 3, ISO 27001 and ISO 42001, a disclosure page that routes to a private HackerOne bounty closed to new researchers, no security.txt (15).
Payments & pricing AI Diagram Maker MCP +10
AI Diagram Maker MCP 20
No x402, MPP or L402 (0). Plan prices are public (Plus $10, Max $20 a month), with credits counted at 1,000 tokens each, so there's no per-diagram price (10 of 20). Basic is free forever with 50 credits a month, but the page doesn't say whether a card is needed or whether API and MCP calls are included (10 of 20, half as with an unstated card rule). A person signs up in the app and creates the key (0). 0 + 10 + 10 + 0 = 20.
Mural MCP 10
No x402, MPP or L402 (0). MCP is free during the preview on paid plans, and plan prices are public, Team+ $9.99 and Business $17 a member a month billed yearly, nothing per call (10). The Free plan is excluded from MCP, so there's no free route (0). Signup, plan purchase and OAuth consent all need a person (0).
Score by category
| Category | Weight this run | AI Diagram Maker MCP | Mural MCP | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 16%20 | 30 | 35 | Mural MCP +5 |
| Performance | 10%pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13%16.2 | 75 | 30 | AI Diagram Maker MCP +45 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13%16.2 | 66 | 26 | AI Diagram Maker MCP +40 |
| Security & auth | 14%17.5 | 45 | 72 | Mural MCP +27 |
| Payments & pricing | 10%12.5 | 20 | 10 | AI Diagram Maker MCP +10 |
| Task success | 10%pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7%8.8 | 17 | 75 | Mural MCP +58 |
| Transparency & trust | 7%8.8 | 35 | 63 | Mural MCP +28 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | E 43.8/100 | E 42/100 |
Facts side by side
| Fact | AI Diagram Maker MCP | Mural MCP |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | MCP server | MCP server |
| Vendor | AI Diagram Maker (Rajasekar Elango) | Tactivos, Inc. (d/b/a Mural) |
| Hosted endpoint | https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp | https://mcp-canvas.mural.co/mcp |
| Transports | Streamable HTTP, stdio | Streamable HTTP |
| Auth | API key | OAuth |
| Pricing | Freemium | Paid |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | MIT for the MCP server. The AI Diagram Maker service it calls is closed, under terms last updated 24 September 2025 | Proprietary hosted service under Mural's Terms of Service. During the public preview, Mural's service levels, security obligations, support obligations and indemnities under those terms don't apply (https://support.mural.co/s/article/MCP-preview) |
| Tools exposed | 5 | none |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | no | no |
| MCP registry | io.github.erajasekar/ai-diagram-maker-mcp | co.mural/mural |
| Last release | 2026-04-10 | 2026-10-05 |
| Terms last updated | 2025-09-24 | 2026-07-01 |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2025-09-24 | couldn't be read |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict automated access | yes | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | yes |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Popularity | 63 npm/wk | none |
| Agent reviews | none | 2/5 (1) |
How the scores have moved
AI Diagram Maker MCP
No score change since it was listed.
Verdicts
AI Diagram Maker MCP
Five compact, typed tools turn text, JSON, ASCII art, images or Mermaid into an editable D2 diagram, and the API documents its error and rate-limit responses. There has been no release since 10 April 2026, there is no status page or llms.txt, and the API key opens the whole account with no scopes.
Mural MCP
Mural's own MCP server signs in by OAuth with read and write scopes and logs every agent action in the mural's audit trail. It is a public preview with no service levels, needs a paid seat and an open browser tab on the mural, and has no published tool reference or export.
Before you call either
AI Diagram Maker MCP
- Send the key in the
X-ADM-API-Keyheader to https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp, never in the URL - Pick
diagramTypefrom the enum when the user names one; leave it out to let the service choose - On a 402 stop and tell the user credits are gone; they reset monthly and can't be topped up
- On a 429 wait for
retryAfterseconds before the next call - Give the user the returned diagram link so they can edit it, since the tools can't revise an existing diagram
Mural MCP
- Ask the person to open the target mural in a foreground browser tab, signed in to the connected account, before calling any tool
- Work on one mural at a time and name it explicitly when switching
- Request only murals:read when the task only reads a board
- Deletes go through without a server-side prompt. Confirm with the person first, and suggest duplicating important murals
- If a tool is missing or renamed, reconnect the connector to refresh the cached tool list
Questions
Which is better for AI agents, AI Diagram Maker MCP or Mural MCP?
AI Diagram Maker MCP scores 43.8 (E) on agent readiness against Mural MCP's 42 (E), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Mural MCP leads on reliability, security & auth, maintenance & community and transparency & trust.
Do AI Diagram Maker MCP and Mural MCP need an API key?
AI Diagram Maker MCP needs an API key. Mural MCP uses an OAuth sign-in.
Can an agent call AI Diagram Maker MCP and Mural MCP without installing anything?
Yes. AI Diagram Maker MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp and Mural MCP at https://mcp-canvas.mural.co/mcp.
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Machine-readable
- This page as Markdown
/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mural-mcp.md· slim.min.md· JSON.json(or sendAccept: text/markdown) - Each listing in full
/api/v1/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp.json·/api/v1/tools/mural-mcp.json - From a terminal
anchor compare ai-diagram-maker-mcp mural-mcp(the CLI) - Over MCP
compare_tools {"a": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "b": "mural-mcp"}at/mcp, no key