Confluence diagram tools compared: Mermaid vs Excalidraw vs Graphviz
Choosing the right diagram tool for Confluence depends on what you need to draw and how you prefer to work. This guide compares three NGPILOT apps — Mermaid Plus, Excalidraw Plus, and Graphviz Charts — so you can pick the best fit.
Quick overview
| Feature | Mermaid Plus | Excalidraw Plus | Graphviz Charts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input method | Text / code editor | Visual canvas (drag & drop) | Text / DOT language |
| Diagram types | 26+ types (flowcharts, sequence, class, Gantt, etc.) | Freeform drawing, wireframes, sketches | Directed/undirected graphs, network diagrams |
| Live preview | Yes | Yes (real-time canvas) | Yes |
| Templates | Built-in template library | 220+ shape packs | DOT snippets |
| Best for | Structured diagrams, documentation | Brainstorming, wireframes, whiteboarding | Technical network and dependency diagrams |
Mermaid Plus for Confluence — structured diagrams from text
Mermaid Plus lets you write diagram code and renders it instantly. It supports 26+ diagram types including flowcharts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, Gantt charts, pie charts, mindmaps, timelines, and more.
When to choose Mermaid Plus:
- You want to version and diff diagrams alongside documentation
- You need many standardized diagram types (flowcharts, sequence, ER, Gantt)
- Your team prefers text-based editing over drag-and-drop
Read the step-by-step guide: Create Mermaid diagrams in Confluence.
Excalidraw Plus for Confluence — freeform whiteboarding
Excalidraw Plus provides a visual canvas where you draw freely with shapes, lines, and text. It ships with 220+ shape libraries covering flowcharts, UML, wireframes, network diagrams, and more.
When to choose Excalidraw Plus:
- You need freeform drawing and brainstorming
- You want to sketch wireframes or mockups
- Your team prefers a drag-and-drop visual editor
- You also need whiteboards in Jira — try Excalidraw Diagrams plus Whiteboards for Jira
Graphviz Charts for Confluence — technical graph diagrams
Graphviz Charts uses the DOT language to generate directed and undirected graphs. It excels at rendering complex dependency trees, network topologies, and state machines.
When to choose Graphviz Charts:
- You need automatic layout of complex node-and-edge graphs
- You are documenting network topologies, dependency trees, or state machines
- You prefer specifying relationships in text and letting the engine handle layout
Want both Excalidraw AND Mermaid?
The Excalidraw & Mermaid Visual Editor combines both tools in a single macro — freeform drawing on one tab, structured Mermaid diagrams on the other.
Which should you install?
- Documentation-heavy teams: Mermaid Plus — structured diagrams that are easy to maintain
- Design and product teams: Excalidraw Plus — visual brainstorming and wireframes
- DevOps and engineering: Graphviz Charts — automated layout of technical graphs
- Need everything: Install all three — each serves a different purpose
All three apps are available on the Atlassian Marketplace with free trials.
Related resources
- Mermaid Plus for Confluence — documentation
- Excalidraw Plus for Confluence — documentation
- Graphviz Charts for Confluence — documentation
- Excalidraw & Mermaid Visual Editor — documentation
- Create Mermaid diagrams in Confluence — how-to guide with examples
- Excalidraw best practices FAQ
- Mermaid troubleshooting FAQ