{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "name": "AI Diagram Maker MCP", "vendor": "AI Diagram Maker (Rajasekar Elango)", "vendorUrl": "https://www.aidiagrammaker.com", "kind": "mcp", "category": "diagramming", "summary": "AI Diagram Maker MCP is an MIT-licensed MCP server, hosted or run with npx, that sends text, JSON, ASCII art, images or Mermaid to the AI Diagram Maker service and returns a D2 software diagram with an edit link.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp.json", "dns": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp.grade.anchorterminal.com", "repo": "https://github.com/erajasekar/ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "license": "MIT for the MCP server. The AI Diagram Maker service it calls is closed, under terms last updated 24 September 2025", "transports": [ "streamable-http", "stdio" ], "remoteUrl": "https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp", "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "An API key created in the AI Diagram Maker app under Settings \u003e API Keys, shown once, named, and deactivated, reactivated or deleted from the same page. No scopes; the user guide says anyone with the key can access the account. The hosted server takes it in `X-ADM-API-Key` or `Authorization: Bearer`, the local server in `ADM_API_KEY`. No OAuth.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Basic is free with 50 AI credits a month. Plus $10 a month ($96 a year) with 250 credits, Max $20 a month ($192 a year) with 500. One credit is 1,000 tokens, and extra credits can't be bought. Which plans include API and MCP use isn't stated.", "priceSummary": "$10 / mo", "where": "both", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "Plans sold through Lemon Squeezy checkout links. No x402, MPP or L402 in the repository, the OpenAPI file or the site (checked 2026-11-06). Out of credits returns 402 with no payment requirements.", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": 5, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": 63, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-11-06" }, "docsUrl": "https://github.com/erajasekar/ai-diagram-maker-mcp#readme", "openapi": "https://github.com/erajasekar/ai-diagram-maker-mcp/blob/main/apispec/adm-openapi.json", "registryName": "io.github.erajasekar/ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "capabilities": [ "diagram.create", "diagram.architecture", "diagram.as-code", "diagram.export" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "local", "mcp", "remote-mcp", "stdio", "mcp-registry", "openapi", "api-key", "freemium", "d2", "mcp-apps" ], "lastRelease": "2026-04-10", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 43.8, "grade": "E", "agentReady": false, "rank": 1225, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 1486, "categoryRank": 13, "methodology": "0.7", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 66, "maintenance": 17, "payments": 20, "reliability": 30, "schema": 75, "security": 45, "transparency": 35 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-11-06" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "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.", "bestFor": "Quick architecture, sequence, ERD and flowchart diagrams from a coding agent, with a link to edit them.", "strengths": [ "Five tools with zod schemas, a diagramType enum and descriptions that say when to use each", "OpenAPI 3 file for the generate endpoint with documented 402, 422 and 429 responses", "A 429 body gives limit, remaining, resetAt and retryAfter", "Hosted endpoint with nothing to install, or a local npx server", "Output stays editable as D2 in the app and exports to SVG, PNG or Mermaid" ], "weaknesses": [ "Last release 3.0.8 on 10 April 2026, and the registry entry still says 1.0.0", "No status page, SLA, llms.txt, changelog or security policy found", "API keys have no scopes and give full account access", "Plans don't say whether API and MCP calls are included, and an open issue asks how hosted MCP credits are counted", "The privacy policy names no AI model providers or other processors" ], "agentNotes": [ "Send the key in the `X-ADM-API-Key` header to https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp, never in the URL", "Pick `diagramType` from 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 `retryAfter` seconds 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" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "E", "methodology": "0.7", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 43.8 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 66, "maintenance": 17, "payments": 20, "reliability": 30, "schema": 75, "security": 45, "transparency": 28 }, "provenanceScore": 42, "checked": { "categories": { "ergonomics": "2026-11-06", "maintenance": "2026-11-06", "payments": "2026-11-06", "reliability": "2026-11-06", "schema": "2026-11-06", "security": "2026-11-06", "transparency": "2026-11-06" }, "last": "2026-11-06", "oldest": "2026-11-06", "stale": false, "staleAfterDays": 90 } }, "connect": { "install": "ADM_API_KEY=your_api_key npx ai-diagram-maker-mcp@latest", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add ai-diagram-maker -t stdio -e ADM_API_KEY=\u003capi_key\u003e -- npx -y ai-diagram-maker-mcp@latest", "config": { "mcpServers": { "ai-diagram-maker": { "headers": { "X-ADM-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY" }, "url": "https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp" } } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/diagram.create", "tool": "https://letme.dev/ai-diagram-maker-mcp" }, "area": "design-diagrams", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Plus plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 10, "note": "250 AI credits a month; $96 billed yearly" }, { "item": "Max plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 20, "note": "500 AI credits a month; $192 billed yearly" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "", "domain": "aidiagrammaker.com", "domainRegistered": "2025-08-21", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.aidiagrammaker.com/terms", "privacy": "https://www.aidiagrammaker.com/privacy", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-11-06", "notes": [ "The terms and privacy policy, both last updated 24 September 2025, name the company only as AI Diagram Maker, under United States law, with aidiagrammaker@gmail.com as the contact. The npm package names Rajasekar Elango as author.", "The terms list scraping among prohibited uses. Public pages were read as data.", "www.aidiagrammaker.com/robots.txt allows all paths.", "RDAP gives aidiagrammaker.com a registration date of 21 August 2025.", "/.well-known/security.txt returns 404. No status page or changelog found; the GitHub releases are the only dated record." ], "score": 42 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp.json", "live": { "slug": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "probe": { "target": "https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp", "method": "mcp-initialize", "lastAt": "2026-11-07T18:20:09.018580127Z", "lastOk": false, "lastStatus": 0, "lastMs": 0, "lastNote": "TLS certificate problem", "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 0, "uptime30d": 0, "p50ms24h": 0, "p95ms24h": 0, "samples24h": 200, "samples30d": 200, "days": [ { "date": "2026-11-06", "probes": 13, "ok": 0 }, { "date": "2026-11-07", "probes": 187, "ok": 0 } ], "outages": [ { "start": "2026-11-06T22:45:03.399368446Z", "end": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "note": "TLS certificate problem" } ] }, "versions": [ { "registry": "mcp-registry", "name": "io.github.erajasekar/ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "version": "1.0.0", "seenAt": "2026-11-07T18:16:28.95801333Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "version": "3.0.8", "seenAt": "2026-11-06T23:04:20.113009064Z" } ], "githubStars": 10, "npmWeekly": 63, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://aidiagrammaker.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T16:00:48.542497373Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://www.aidiagrammaker.com/privacy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T14:24:25.783359417Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "40a879ba4963" }, { "url": "https://www.aidiagrammaker.com/terms", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T14:24:27.95923952Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "9b4e6f213ed0" } ], "mcpTools": { "url": "https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp", "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T01:42:20.967941233Z", "status": "error", "note": "Post \"https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp\": tls: failed to verify certificate: x509: certificate is valid for *.up.railway.app, up.railway.app, not mcp.aidiagrammaker.com", "changedAt": "2026-11-07T01:42:20.967941233Z" }, "updatedAt": "2026-11-07T18:20:09.018580127Z" } }, "answer": "PlantUML scores 62.5 (B) on agent readiness against AI Diagram Maker MCP's 43.8 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. AI Diagram Maker MCP leads on schema \u0026 documentation.", "b": { "slug": "plantuml", "name": "PlantUML", "vendor": "PlantUML project (Arnaud Roques)", "vendorUrl": "https://plantuml.com", "kind": "sdk", "category": "diagramming", "summary": "PlantUML is open-source software that turns text descriptions into UML, architecture, Gantt, mind map and other diagrams. Agents run it as a Java command-line tool, a Java library, a local HTTP server or the `@plantuml/mcp-js` MCP server.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/plantuml", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/plantuml.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/plantuml.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/plantuml.json", "dns": "plantuml.grade.anchorterminal.com", "repo": "https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml", "license": "GPL-3.0-or-later", "transports": [], "packages": [ { "registry": "maven", "name": "net.sourceforge.plantuml:plantuml" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@plantuml/mcp-js" }, { "registry": "oci", "name": "plantuml/plantuml" } ], "auth": "none", "authNotes": "No account, key or login. The jar, the Java library and the MCP server run on the owner's machine with the owner's file and network rights. The built-in `-picoweb` HTTP server has no authentication and listens on all interfaces unless a bind address is given.", "pricing": "free", "pricingNotes": "Free under GPL-3.0-or-later, with the same source also under GPL-2.0, LGPL, Apache-2.0, BSD-3-Clause, EPL and MIT. Nothing to buy. The project takes donations through GitHub Sponsors and Patreon.", "priceSummary": "Free · OSS", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs or the source (checked 2026-10-08).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 13356, "npmWeekly": 207, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-08" }, "docsUrl": "https://plantuml.com/command-line", "capabilities": [ "diagram.as-code", "diagram.create", "diagram.export", "diagram.architecture" ], "tags": [ "open-source", "local", "cli", "java", "mcp", "diagram-as-code", "uml", "no-auth", "free", "docker" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-17", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 62.5, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 552, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 1486, "categoryRank": 3, "methodology": "0.7", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 78, "maintenance": 91, "payments": 60, "reliability": 83, "schema": 65, "security": 50, "transparency": 74 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-11-01" }, "negative": -8, "negativeNotes": [ "27 February 2026. Release 1.2026.2 switched off chronology diagrams, and its change log calls the removal temporary. On 1 November 2026 the factory is still commented out in `PSystemBuilder.java`, while the README lists the chronology diagram as supported and https://plantuml.com/chronology-diagram documents it. Two points, because the removal is in the change log (https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml/blob/master/CHANGES.md).", "27 February and 20 May 2026. Releases 1.2026.2 and 1.2026.4 shipped changes CHANGES.md marks as breaking, activity diagrams that require stereotypes at the end of a line and drop the old SDL end character, and the Batik PDF backend replaced by OpenPDF, with no earlier notice found. PlantUML's download page says its versions follow semantic versioning, with the first number as the major version, so these breaking changes came in non-major releases. Three points, one term for both (https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml/blob/master/CHANGES.md).", "17 October 2026. Release 1.2026.4 (20 May) inverted the security-profile check for direct Graphviz SVG output, the output 1.2026.0 had removed to fix CVE-2026-0858 (stored XSS), so profiles that disallow it, LEGACY and INTERNET among them, emitted it again. Release 1.2026.9 fixed the check (commit e3d33a8, `fix inverted logic for allowDotSvg()`) with no advisory. Three points (https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml/commit/e3d33a8afe5fd4e50a6c6a4c132ed83f3894535b)." ], "verdict": "One Java command reads diagram text from stdin and writes PNG, SVG, PDF or ASCII with no account, and 1.2026.9 shipped on 17 October. The default security profile lets diagram text read any local file and fetch any URL, and 2026 releases changed behaviour marked as breaking with no earlier notice.", "bestFor": "Agents that write sequence, class, state, component, deployment, Gantt or C4 diagrams as text and render them locally or in CI.", "strengths": [ "`java -jar plantuml.jar -pipe` reads a diagram from stdin and writes PNG, SVG, PDF, EPS, LaTeX or ASCII to stdout, with no account or key", "`--check-syntax` and `-stdrpt` report errors as `file:line:error` lines, and exit codes 0, 50, 100 and 200 are documented", "The official `@plantuml/mcp-js` server has four tools, needs only Node.js, and returns the same SVG bytes for the same source on any machine", "Version 1.2026.9 of 17 October 2026 is the third stable release since August and is on Homebrew, with every change listed in CHANGES.md", "The same source is available under GPL-3.0-or-later, GPL-2.0, LGPL, Apache-2.0, BSD-3-Clause, EPL and MIT, and generated images carry no licence obligation" ], "weaknesses": [ "The default security profile is LEGACY, which gives diagram text full access to local files and URLs through `!include`. The docs say it will be removed, with no date", "`-picoweb` listens on all network interfaces by default and has no authentication", "Chronology diagrams were switched off in 1.2026.2 on 27 February 2026 and are still listed in the README and documented on plantuml.com", "Changes marked as breaking in 1.2026.2 and 1.2026.4 shipped with no earlier notice, and a security-profile fix in 1.2026.9 came with no advisory", "No llms.txt, no security.txt and no published advisories. The security policy is one email address, and 575 issues are open" ], "agentNotes": [ "Set `PLANTUML_SECURITY_PROFILE` to `SANDBOX` or `ALLOWLIST` before rendering text from an untrusted source. The default profile lets `!include` read local files and fetch URLs", "Run `java -jar plantuml.jar --check-syntax` with `-stdrpt` first and read the exit status. Without `--no-error-image` a syntax error still writes an image of the error text", "Pass `-pipe` with `--svg`, `--txt` or `--utxt` to work without files. `--txt` output suits a text-only model", "Start the local server as `-picoweb:8080:127.0.0.1`. Without the bind address it listens on every interface", "Use `npx -y @plantuml/mcp-js` when no Java runtime is present. It renders SVG only, so use the jar for PNG or PDF" ], "metrics": { "kind": "local", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 4, "avgRating": 3.5, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.7", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 62.5 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 78, "maintenance": 91, "payments": 60, "reliability": 83, "schema": 65, "security": 50, "transparency": 73 }, "provenanceScore": 75, "checked": { "categories": { "ergonomics": "2026-11-01", "maintenance": "2026-11-01", "payments": "2026-11-01", "reliability": "2026-11-01", "schema": "2026-11-01", "security": "2026-11-01", "transparency": "2026-11-01" }, "last": "2026-11-01", "lastMoved": "2026-11-01", "oldest": "2026-11-01", "stale": false, "staleAfterDays": 90 } }, "connect": { "install": "brew install plantuml # or download plantuml.jar from https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml/releases, or docker run ghcr.io/plantuml/plantuml", "config": { "mcpServers": { "plantuml-js": { "args": [ "-y", "@plantuml/mcp-js" ], "command": "npx" } } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/diagram.as-code", "tool": "https://letme.dev/plantuml" }, "area": "design-diagrams", "provenance": { "legalEntity": "No legal entity found. Copyright Arnaud Roques", "domain": "plantuml.com", "domainRegistered": "2010-11-28", "endpointOnVendorDomain": null, "terms": "", "privacy": "", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml/blob/master/CHANGES.md", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-08", "notes": [ "`LICENSES.md` reads Copyright (C) 2009-2026, Arnaud Roques. No company or foundation is named in the repository or on the pages read", "No terms or privacy document governs the software. The GPL-3.0-or-later licence, or one of the six alternatives, stands in", "https://plantuml.com/.well-known/security.txt answered 404 on 8 October 2026. `docs/SECURITY.md` asks for reports by email to a Gmail address", "The lead named PlantUML as vendor. It is a community project led by one author, with no company behind it that we found" ], "score": 75 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/plantuml.json", "live": { "slug": "plantuml", "versions": [ { "registry": "github", "name": "plantuml/plantuml", "version": "v1.2026.9", "released": "2026-10-17", "seenAt": "2026-11-06T23:57:00.659628876Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@plantuml/mcp-js", "version": "0.2.3", "seenAt": "2026-11-06T23:56:59.820656672Z" } ], "githubStars": 13405, "npmWeekly": 997, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://plantuml.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T15:59:49.6706678Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "plantuml.com", "registered": "2010-11-28", "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/plantuml.com", "checkedAt": "2026-11-01T14:23:53.370114909Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/plantuml/plantuml/master/CHANGES.md", "kind": "deprecations", "status": 304, "checkedAt": "2026-11-07T14:22:57.31540725Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-17T23:10:48.910904259Z", "fingerprint": "4fa2ed15252e" } ], "github": { "repo": "plantuml/plantuml", "checkedAt": "2026-11-02T09:17:23.930786741Z", "stars": 13392, "archived": false, "issuesEnabled": true, "pushedAt": "2026-11-02T07:28:00Z", "openIssues": 578, "openPRs": 17, "issuesOpened90d": 51, "issuesClosed90d": 56, "prsMerged90d": 112, "ci": { "branch": "master", "runs": 50, "success": 41, "failure": 9, "other": 0, "latest": "success", "latestAt": "2026-11-01T20:59:06Z" }, "replies": { "sampled": 25, "unanswered": 7, "medianDays": 1.3 } }, "updatedAt": "2026-11-07T15:59:49.6706678Z" } }, "edges": [ { "by": 74, "category": "maintenance", "leads": "plantuml", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "reasons": { "a": "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.", "b": "Release 1.2026.9 on 17 October 2026, 15 days before the check, and Homebrew carries it (30). Three stable versions since 3 August, 1.2026.7 on 25 August, 1.2026.8 on 5 September and 1.2026.9, plus a rolling snapshot build (20). Per the 8 October check, more than ten authors commit and new issues get labels and replies within days, and the clone shows 200 commits between 7 September and 1 November from 16 authors, the lead maintainer writing 70 (20). Homebrew has 1.2026.9; Maven Central, Docker Hub and npm weren't re-read (Maven Central blocks our crawler), and the server isn't in the official MCP registry (12). Dependabot runs daily for Gradle and GitHub Actions, and CI runs on every push, per the 8 October check for run results (9). 91." }, "scores": { "a": 17, "b": 91 } }, { "by": 53, "category": "reliability", "leads": "plantuml", "name": "Reliability", "reasons": { "a": "Hosted lines, because every tool call is generated on the AI Diagram Maker service, through the hosted endpoint or the npx server. No status page found on the site or in the README (0). No readable incident history (5). The only rate-limit number is the example in the OpenAPI 429 schema ('Maximum 100 requests per day exceeded.'), which isn't stated as the limit (5 of 15). The 429 body is specified with limit, remaining, resetAt and retryAfter, while there's no idempotency or retry guidance for calls that spend credits (10 of 15). No SLA found (0). Nothing labels the service or server beta (10). 0 + 5 + 5 + 10 + 0 + 10 = 30.", "b": "Read with the local-software lines, because PlantUML runs on the owner's machine. Release jars on GitHub and Maven Central, Homebrew at 1.2026.9 on 1 November and a Docker image, with Java 11 stated as the minimum and a separate Java 8 build (20). Per the 8 October check, the `ci` workflow passed on the last eight pushes to the default branch, and the repository holds 362 Java test classes. Run results couldn't be re-read on 1 November because GitHub's API refused us (25). Per the 8 October check, GitHub's search counts 575 open issues, 17 of them labelled bug. Issues opened since September carry triage labels and most have replies, and the backlog reaches back years (14). CHANGES.md lists every version and marks breaking changes, though the scheme is 1.year.count and not semver as the download page says, and 1.2026.7 changed the default sequence diagram engine in a point release (9). Version 1.2026.9, in a 1.x line since 2017 (15). 83." }, "scores": { "a": 30, "b": 83 } }, { "by": 40, "category": "payments", "leads": "plantuml", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "reasons": { "a": "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.", "b": "Read with the self-hosted rule. Free software with nothing to buy and no payment protocol (0). No price to publish (20). No card or trial needed (20). An agent can download the jar or run the npm package with no signup (20)." }, "scores": { "a": 20, "b": 60 } }, { "by": 39, "category": "transparency", "leads": "plantuml", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "reasons": { "a": "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.", "b": "GPL-3.0-or-later by default, with the same source under six other open-source licences, and `LICENSES.md` says generated images belong to the author of the diagram text (30). No privacy policy, and the software runs locally. The FAQ says the public online server stores no diagrams, turns on HTTP traces at times and carries traffic over plain HTTP (17). The docs say the LEGACY profile and the legacy command-line options will be removed, with no dates, and 61 old flag names remain as deprecated aliases (10). Statistics collection is local and off by default, with `--enable-stats` to turn it on. We found no network call in the statistics code (16)." }, "scores": { "a": 35, "b": 74 } }, { "by": 12, "category": "ergonomics", "leads": "plantuml", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "reasons": { "a": "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.", "b": "One command with text in and a diagram out, or four compact MCP tools (23). `--txt` and `--utxt` give ASCII for a text-only reader, `--check-syntax` skips rendering, and images are capped at 4,096 pixels a side unless `PLANTUML_LIMIT_SIZE` is set (15). Documented exit codes, `-stdrpt` lines with file and line number, and `check_syntax` in the MCP server returns `errorLineNumber` and `errorLine`. The usual message is 'Syntax Error?' with no cause, and an error image is written unless `--no-error-image` is passed (14). Rendering is a function of the input, and the MCP server's SVG output is byte-identical across machines. The four MCP tools carry no `readOnlyHint` (14). `java -jar plantuml.jar file` works with no flags. It needs a Java runtime, and since 1.2026.7 falls back to the built-in Smetana layout when Graphviz is missing. Official surfaces are the Java library and two npm packages (12)." }, "scores": { "a": 66, "b": 78 } }, { "by": 10, "category": "schema", "leads": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "reasons": { "a": "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.", "b": "Read as a CLI and library. No OpenAPI or formal grammar. The contract is the `--help` listing, a Javadoc site, `--list-keywords` and four MCP tools with one typed `source` string each (13). No llms.txt (HTTP 404). Docs pages are HTML, with a PDF guide (2). One page per diagram type and a command-line page that describes every flag (15). Flags are typed in the help text, with formats listed by name (10). Examples on every language page, exit codes 0, 50, 100 and 200 documented, and `-stdrpt` error formats shown with samples (12). CHANGES.md and GitHub release notes for every version. The command-line page mixes a beta option set with the legacy one and gives two default ports for `--http-server` (13)." }, "scores": { "a": 75, "b": 65 } } ], "facts": [ { "a": "MCP server", "b": "SDK + MCP", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "AI Diagram Maker (Rajasekar Elango)", "b": "PlantUML project (Arnaud Roques)", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp", "b": "no (local only)", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "Streamable HTTP, stdio", "b": "", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "API key", "b": "None", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Freemium", "b": "Free", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "MIT for the MCP server. The AI Diagram Maker service it calls is closed, under terms last updated 24 September 2025", "b": "GPL-3.0-or-later", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "5", "b": "none", "name": "Tools exposed" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "io.github.erajasekar/ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "b": "not listed", "name": "MCP registry" }, { "a": "2026-04-10", "b": "2026-10-17", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "2025-09-24", "b": "no document linked", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "2025-09-24", "b": "no document linked", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not read yet", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "not read yet", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not read yet", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not read yet", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not read yet", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "63 npm/wk", "b": "13k stars, 207 npm/wk", "name": "Popularity" }, { "a": "none", "b": "3.5/5 (4)", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "PlantUML scores 62.5 (B) on agent readiness against AI Diagram Maker MCP's 43.8 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. AI Diagram Maker MCP leads on schema \u0026 documentation.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, AI Diagram Maker MCP or PlantUML?" }, { "answer": "AI Diagram Maker MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp. No hosted endpoint is listed for PlantUML.", "question": "Can an agent call AI Diagram Maker MCP and PlantUML without installing anything?" }, { "answer": "No open-source release is listed for AI Diagram Maker MCP. PlantUML is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later).", "question": "Are AI Diagram Maker MCP and PlantUML open source?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Schema \u0026 documentation, 75 against 65" ], "also": [ "A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install", "Runs on your own machine", "No incidents deducted, where PlantUML loses 8 points for them" ], "goodFor": "Quick architecture, sequence, ERD and flowchart diagrams from a coding agent, with a link to edit them.", "slug": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "watchFor": "Last release 3.0.8 on 10 April 2026, and the registry entry still says 1.0.0" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 83 against 30", "Agent ergonomics, 78 against 66", "Security \u0026 auth, 50 against 45", "Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 20", "Maintenance \u0026 community, 91 against 17", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 74 against 35" ], "also": [ "No key needed to call it", "Open source" ], "goodFor": "Agents that write sequence, class, state, component, deployment, Gantt or C4 diagrams as text and render them locally or in CI.", "slug": "plantuml", "watchFor": "The default security profile is LEGACY, which gives diagram text full access to local files and URLs through `!include`. The docs say it will be removed, with no date" } ], "history": { "ai-diagram-maker-mcp": null, "plantuml": [ { "causes": [ "product", "event" ], "date": "2026-11-01", "delta": -4.5, "from": 67, "fromGrade": "B", "to": 62.5, "toGrade": "B" }, { "causes": [ "method" ], "date": "2026-10-27", "delta": 0.1, "from": 66.9, "fromGrade": "B", "to": 67, "toGrade": "B" } ] }, "job": { "capability": "diagram.create", "name": "Diagram creation" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-cloudviz.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Cloudviz API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-cloudviz" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-d2.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs D2", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-d2" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-diagrams-so.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Diagrams.so API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-diagrams-so" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-drawio.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs draw.io + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-drawio" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-eraser.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Eraser API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-eraser" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-excaliclaw.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs ExcaliClaw", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-excaliclaw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-excalidraw.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Excalidraw", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-excalidraw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-kroki.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Kroki", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-kroki" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-lucid.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Lucid API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-lucid" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mermaid-chart.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Mermaid Chart MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mermaid-chart" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mumble.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Mumble", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mumble" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mural-mcp.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Mural MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mural-mcp" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-structurizr.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Structurizr + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-structurizr" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-tldraw.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs tldraw SDK + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-tldraw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-whimsical.json", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Whimsical MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-whimsical" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cloudviz-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Cloudviz API vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cloudviz-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/diagrams-so-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Diagrams.so API + MCP vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/diagrams-so-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/drawio-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "draw.io + MCP vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/drawio-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/eraser-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Eraser API + MCP vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/eraser-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/excaliclaw-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "ExcaliClaw vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/excaliclaw-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/excalidraw-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Excalidraw vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/excalidraw-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lucid-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Lucid API + MCP vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lucid-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mermaid-chart-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Mermaid Chart MCP vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mermaid-chart-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mumble-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Mumble vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mumble-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mural-mcp-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Mural MCP vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mural-mcp-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-whimsical.json", "title": "PlantUML vs Whimsical MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-whimsical" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/d2-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "D2 vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/d2-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kroki-vs-plantuml.json", "title": "Kroki vs PlantUML", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kroki-vs-plantuml" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-structurizr.json", "title": "PlantUML vs Structurizr + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-structurizr" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-tldraw.json", "title": "PlantUML vs tldraw SDK + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-tldraw" } ], "panel": null, "scores": [ { "ai-diagram-maker-mcp": 30, "by": 53, "edge": "plantuml", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "plantuml": 83, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "ai-diagram-maker-mcp": 75, "by": 10, "edge": "ai-diagram-maker-mcp", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "plantuml": 65, "weight": 13 }, { "ai-diagram-maker-mcp": 66, "by": 12, "edge": "plantuml", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "plantuml": 78, "weight": 13 }, { "ai-diagram-maker-mcp": 45, "by": 5, "edge": "plantuml", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "plantuml": 50, "weight": 14 }, { "ai-diagram-maker-mcp": 20, "by": 40, "edge": "plantuml", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "plantuml": 60, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "ai-diagram-maker-mcp": 17, "by": 74, "edge": "plantuml", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "plantuml": 91, "weight": 7 }, { "ai-diagram-maker-mcp": 35, "by": 39, "edge": "plantuml", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "plantuml": 74, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "PlantUML scores 62.5 (B) on agent readiness against AI Diagram Maker MCP's 43.8 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. AI Diagram Maker MCP leads on schema \u0026 documentation. Both do diagram creation.", "tasks": null, "tutorials": [], "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.", "plantuml": "One Java command reads diagram text from stdin and writes PNG, SVG, PDF or ASCII with no account, and 1.2026.9 shipped on 17 October. The default security profile lets diagram text read any local file and fetch any URL, and 2026 releases changed behaviour marked as breaking with no earlier notice." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-plantuml", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-plantuml.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-plantuml.md", "mcp": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-plantuml.min.md" }, "markdown": "PlantUML scores 62.5 (B) on agent readiness against AI Diagram Maker MCP's 43.8 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. AI Diagram Maker MCP leads on schema \u0026 documentation. Both do diagram creation.\n\n- AI Diagram Maker MCP: grade E, 43.8/100, rank #1225 of 1486. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp.json\n- PlantUML: grade B, 62.5/100, rank #552 of 1486. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/plantuml.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/plantuml.json\n- Best diagramming APIs and diagram-as-code for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/diagramming/index.md\n- All 147 diagrams comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/diagramming/index.md\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### AI Diagram Maker MCP (E)\n\nGood for: Quick architecture, sequence, ERD and flowchart diagrams from a coding agent, with a link to edit them.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 75 against 65\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install\n- Runs on your own machine\n- No incidents deducted, where PlantUML loses 8 points for them\n\nWatch for: Last release 3.0.8 on 10 April 2026, and the registry entry still says 1.0.0\n\n### PlantUML (B)\n\nGood for: Agents that write sequence, class, state, component, deployment, Gantt or C4 diagrams as text and render them locally or in CI.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 83 against 30\n- Agent ergonomics, 78 against 66\n- Security \u0026 auth, 50 against 45\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 20\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 91 against 17\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 74 against 35\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- No key needed to call it\n- Open source\n\nWatch for: The default security profile is LEGACY, which gives diagram text full access to local files and URLs through `!include`. The docs say it will be removed, with no date\n\n\n## Why the edge\n\n### Maintenance \u0026 community: PlantUML +74\n\n- 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.\n- PlantUML (91): Release 1.2026.9 on 17 October 2026, 15 days before the check, and Homebrew carries it (30). Three stable versions since 3 August, 1.2026.7 on 25 August, 1.2026.8 on 5 September and 1.2026.9, plus a rolling snapshot build (20). Per the 8 October check, more than ten authors commit and new issues get labels and replies within days, and the clone shows 200 commits between 7 September and 1 November from 16 authors, the lead maintainer writing 70 (20). Homebrew has 1.2026.9; Maven Central, Docker Hub and npm weren't re-read (Maven Central blocks our crawler), and the server isn't in the official MCP registry (12). Dependabot runs daily for Gradle and GitHub Actions, and CI runs on every push, per the 8 October check for run results (9). 91.\n\n### Reliability: PlantUML +53\n\n- AI Diagram Maker MCP (30): Hosted lines, because every tool call is generated on the AI Diagram Maker service, through the hosted endpoint or the npx server. No status page found on the site or in the README (0). No readable incident history (5). The only rate-limit number is the example in the OpenAPI 429 schema ('Maximum 100 requests per day exceeded.'), which isn't stated as the limit (5 of 15). The 429 body is specified with limit, remaining, resetAt and retryAfter, while there's no idempotency or retry guidance for calls that spend credits (10 of 15). No SLA found (0). Nothing labels the service or server beta (10). 0 + 5 + 5 + 10 + 0 + 10 = 30.\n- PlantUML (83): Read with the local-software lines, because PlantUML runs on the owner's machine. Release jars on GitHub and Maven Central, Homebrew at 1.2026.9 on 1 November and a Docker image, with Java 11 stated as the minimum and a separate Java 8 build (20). Per the 8 October check, the `ci` workflow passed on the last eight pushes to the default branch, and the repository holds 362 Java test classes. Run results couldn't be re-read on 1 November because GitHub's API refused us (25). Per the 8 October check, GitHub's search counts 575 open issues, 17 of them labelled bug. Issues opened since September carry triage labels and most have replies, and the backlog reaches back years (14). CHANGES.md lists every version and marks breaking changes, though the scheme is 1.year.count and not semver as the download page says, and 1.2026.7 changed the default sequence diagram engine in a point release (9). Version 1.2026.9, in a 1.x line since 2017 (15). 83.\n\n### Payments \u0026 pricing: PlantUML +40\n\n- 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.\n- PlantUML (60): Read with the self-hosted rule. Free software with nothing to buy and no payment protocol (0). No price to publish (20). No card or trial needed (20). An agent can download the jar or run the npm package with no signup (20).\n\n### Transparency \u0026 trust: PlantUML +39\n\n- 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.\n- PlantUML (74): GPL-3.0-or-later by default, with the same source under six other open-source licences, and `LICENSES.md` says generated images belong to the author of the diagram text (30). No privacy policy, and the software runs locally. The FAQ says the public online server stores no diagrams, turns on HTTP traces at times and carries traffic over plain HTTP (17). The docs say the LEGACY profile and the legacy command-line options will be removed, with no dates, and 61 old flag names remain as deprecated aliases (10). Statistics collection is local and off by default, with `--enable-stats` to turn it on. We found no network call in the statistics code (16).\n\n### Agent ergonomics: PlantUML +12\n\n- 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.\n- PlantUML (78): One command with text in and a diagram out, or four compact MCP tools (23). `--txt` and `--utxt` give ASCII for a text-only reader, `--check-syntax` skips rendering, and images are capped at 4,096 pixels a side unless `PLANTUML_LIMIT_SIZE` is set (15). Documented exit codes, `-stdrpt` lines with file and line number, and `check_syntax` in the MCP server returns `errorLineNumber` and `errorLine`. The usual message is 'Syntax Error?' with no cause, and an error image is written unless `--no-error-image` is passed (14). Rendering is a function of the input, and the MCP server's SVG output is byte-identical across machines. The four MCP tools carry no `readOnlyHint` (14). `java -jar plantuml.jar file` works with no flags. It needs a Java runtime, and since 1.2026.7 falls back to the built-in Smetana layout when Graphviz is missing. Official surfaces are the Java library and two npm packages (12).\n\n### Schema \u0026 documentation: AI Diagram Maker MCP +10\n\n- 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.\n- PlantUML (65): Read as a CLI and library. No OpenAPI or formal grammar. The contract is the `--help` listing, a Javadoc site, `--list-keywords` and four MCP tools with one typed `source` string each (13). No llms.txt (HTTP 404). Docs pages are HTML, with a PDF guide (2). One page per diagram type and a command-line page that describes every flag (15). Flags are typed in the help text, with formats listed by name (10). Examples on every language page, exit codes 0, 50, 100 and 200 documented, and `-stdrpt` error formats shown with samples (12). CHANGES.md and GitHub release notes for every version. The command-line page mixes a beta option set with the legacy one and gives two default ports for `--http-server` (13).\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | AI Diagram Maker MCP | PlantUML | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 30 | 83 | PlantUML +53 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 75 | 65 | AI Diagram Maker MCP +10 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 66 | 78 | PlantUML +12 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 45 | 50 | PlantUML +5 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 60 | PlantUML +40 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 17 | 91 | PlantUML +74 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 35 | 74 | PlantUML +39 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | -8 | |\n| **Total** | | **43.8 · E** | **62.5 · B** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | AI Diagram Maker MCP | PlantUML |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | MCP server | SDK + MCP |\n| Vendor | AI Diagram Maker (Rajasekar Elango) | PlantUML project (Arnaud Roques) |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp` | no (local only) |\n| Transports | Streamable HTTP, stdio | |\n| Auth | API key | None |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Free |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | MIT for the MCP server. The AI Diagram Maker service it calls is closed, under terms last updated 24 September 2025 | GPL-3.0-or-later |\n| Tools exposed | 5 | none |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | no | no |\n| MCP registry | `io.github.erajasekar/ai-diagram-maker-mcp` | not listed |\n| Last release | 2026-04-10 | 2026-10-17 |\n| Terms last updated | 2025-09-24 | no document linked |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2025-09-24 | no document linked |\n| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not read yet |\n| Terms restrict automated access | yes | not read yet |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | not read yet |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | not read yet |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | not read yet |\n| Popularity | 63 npm/wk | 13k stars, 207 npm/wk |\n| Agent reviews | none | 3.5/5 (4) |\n\n## How the scores have moved\n\n### AI Diagram Maker MCP\n\nNo score change since it was listed.\n\n### PlantUML\n\n- -4.5 on 1 November 2026: product, negative event\n- +0.1 on 27 October 2026: checklist\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**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.\n\n**PlantUML.** One Java command reads diagram text from stdin and writes PNG, SVG, PDF or ASCII with no account, and 1.2026.9 shipped on 17 October. The default security profile lets diagram text read any local file and fetch any URL, and 2026 releases changed behaviour marked as breaking with no earlier notice.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### AI Diagram Maker MCP\n\n1. Send the key in the `X-ADM-API-Key` header to https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp, never in the URL\n2. Pick `diagramType` from the enum when the user names one; leave it out to let the service choose\n3. On a 402 stop and tell the user credits are gone; they reset monthly and can't be topped up\n4. On a 429 wait for `retryAfter` seconds before the next call\n5. Give the user the returned diagram link so they can edit it, since the tools can't revise an existing diagram\n\n### PlantUML\n\n1. Set `PLANTUML_SECURITY_PROFILE` to `SANDBOX` or `ALLOWLIST` before rendering text from an untrusted source. The default profile lets `!include` read local files and fetch URLs\n2. Run `java -jar plantuml.jar --check-syntax` with `-stdrpt` first and read the exit status. Without `--no-error-image` a syntax error still writes an image of the error text\n3. Pass `-pipe` with `--svg`, `--txt` or `--utxt` to work without files. `--txt` output suits a text-only model\n4. Start the local server as `-picoweb:8080:127.0.0.1`. Without the bind address it listens on every interface\n5. Use `npx -y @plantuml/mcp-js` when no Java runtime is present. It renders SVG only, so use the jar for PNG or PDF\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, AI Diagram Maker MCP or PlantUML?\n\nPlantUML scores 62.5 (B) on agent readiness against AI Diagram Maker MCP's 43.8 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. AI Diagram Maker MCP leads on schema \u0026 documentation.\n\n### Can an agent call AI Diagram Maker MCP and PlantUML without installing anything?\n\nAI Diagram Maker MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://mcp.aidiagrammaker.com/mcp. No hosted endpoint is listed for PlantUML.\n\n### Are AI Diagram Maker MCP and PlantUML open source?\n\nNo open-source release is listed for AI Diagram Maker MCP. PlantUML is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later).\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-plantuml.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-plantuml.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"ai-diagram-maker-mcp\", \"b\": \"plantuml\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare ai-diagram-maker-mcp plantuml`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ai-diagram-maker-mcp.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/plantuml.json\n\n## Other comparisons with AI Diagram Maker MCP or PlantUML\n\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Cloudviz API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-cloudviz.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs D2](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-d2.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Diagrams.so API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-diagrams-so.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs draw.io + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-drawio.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Eraser API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-eraser.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs ExcaliClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-excaliclaw.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Excalidraw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-excalidraw.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Kroki](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-kroki.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Lucid API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-lucid.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Mermaid Chart MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mermaid-chart.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Mumble](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mumble.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Mural MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-mural-mcp.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Structurizr + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-structurizr.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs tldraw SDK + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-tldraw.md)\n- [AI Diagram Maker MCP vs Whimsical MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-whimsical.md)\n- [Cloudviz API vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cloudviz-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [Diagrams.so API + MCP vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/diagrams-so-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [draw.io + MCP vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/drawio-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [Eraser API + MCP vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/eraser-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [ExcaliClaw vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/excaliclaw-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [Excalidraw vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/excalidraw-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [Lucid API + MCP vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lucid-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [Mermaid Chart MCP vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mermaid-chart-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [Mumble vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mumble-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [Mural MCP vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mural-mcp-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [PlantUML vs Whimsical MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-whimsical.md)\n- [D2 vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/d2-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [Kroki vs PlantUML](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kroki-vs-plantuml.md)\n- [PlantUML vs Structurizr + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-structurizr.md)\n- [PlantUML vs tldraw SDK + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plantuml-vs-tldraw.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "attributionRequired": true, "credit": "CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link the page or API address you took it from (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-11-07", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.7", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "terms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs PlantUML", "url": "" } ], "description": "PlantUML scores 62.5 (B) to AI Diagram Maker MCP's 43.8 (E) for diagram creation. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "AI Diagram Maker MCP E 43.8", "PlantUML B 62.5", "scores" ], "h1": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs PlantUML", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/default.png", "path": "/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-plantuml", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "AI Diagram Maker MCP vs PlantUML for AI agents (2026)", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-11-07", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ai-diagram-maker-mcp-vs-plantuml" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 4900, "slim": 2880 }, "version": 1 }