# Best Diagram App for Jira — 2026 Comparison with Mermaid & Excalidraw April 18, 2026 · 7 min read [NGPilot](https://ngpilot.com) Every engineering team needs diagrams in Jira — architecture decisions on epics, bug reproduction flows on tickets, wireframes on stories. But Jira has no built-in diagramming. You either paste screenshots from external tools or install a marketplace app. We built two diagram apps for Jira: **Mermaid+ Diagrams for Jira** for text-based diagrams using Mermaid syntax (flowcharts, sequence diagrams, ER models, C4 architecture), and **Excalidraw Diagrams + Whiteboards for Jira** for freeform drawing with 229 built-in shape libraries. In this post we compare both against every alternative on the Atlassian Marketplace. ## Two Styles of Diagramming[​](#two-styles-of-diagramming "Direct link to Two Styles of Diagramming") **Text-based diagrams (Mermaid)** — You write code, the app renders a diagram. Fast for developers who think in code. Great for flowcharts, sequence diagrams, ER models, class diagrams, and architecture docs. The diagram is version-controllable text. **Freeform drawing (Excalidraw)** — You draw with a mouse or tablet. Great for whiteboarding sessions, wireframes, architecture sketches, and any diagram where you want creative freedom. Hand-drawn style keeps conversations focused on ideas instead of pixel perfection. Both have their place. Let's see what's available for each in Jira. *** ## What's Available on the Marketplace[​](#whats-available-on-the-marketplace "Direct link to What's Available on the Marketplace") The Jira diagram market is dominated by one player, with several smaller apps filling niches: | App | Vendor | Installs | Rating | Last Updated | Hosting | | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ------------ | ------------------- | | draw\.io Diagrams for Jira | Seibert Media | 9,602 | 3.8/5 (349 reviews) | Mar 2026 | Cloud + DC + Server | | Mermaid Charts & Diagrams for Jira | weweave | 544 | 4.0/5 (1 review) | Mar 2026 | Cloud | | Draw UI Wireframes/Mockup/Diagrams | DevSamurai | 426 | 3.8/5 (13 reviews) | Mar 2026 | Cloud | | Excalidraw Whiteboard for Jira Cloud | Fulstech | 111 | 3.5/5 (2 reviews) | Feb 2026 | Cloud | | Excalidraw Mermaid Diagrams for Jira | Simplify | 40 | — | Feb 2026 | Cloud | | **Mermaid+ Diagrams for Jira** | **NGPILOT** | **Coming soon** | — | **Apr 2026** | **Cloud** | | **Excalidraw Diagrams + Whiteboards for Jira** | **NGPILOT** | **Coming soon** | — | **Apr 2026** | **Cloud** | *Data from Atlassian Marketplace, April 2026.* **draw\.io** by Seibert Media is the clear market leader with 9,602 installs and a 3.8-star rating. It's been around for years, supports Cloud/DC/Server, and is Cloud Fortified. But it's a full-featured diagramming suite — heavier than what many teams need. **Mermaid Charts & Diagrams** by weweave is the only other Mermaid-based option. 544 installs, Cloud Fortified, with a 4.0-star rating from a single review. The Excalidraw space is small — Fulstech has 111 installs and Simplify has 40. Neither offers a comprehensive shape library or Mermaid integration alongside freeform drawing. *** ## Feature Comparison: Text-Based Diagram Apps[​](#feature-comparison-text-based-diagram-apps "Direct link to Feature Comparison: Text-Based Diagram Apps") For teams that prefer Mermaid-style text diagrams: | Feature | Mermaid+ (NGPILOT) | Mermaid Charts (weweave) | draw\.io (Seibert) | | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------ | | **Diagram engine** | Mermaid.js | Mermaid.js | Custom (draw\.io) | | **Diagram types** | 29 | 15+ | Full drawing | | **Live preview** | Yes | Yes | Yes | | **Quick templates** | 29 (one per type) | Limited | Templates | | **Syntax guide** | Built-in (29 examples) | No | No | | **Custom colors** | 5 (Node, Text, Border, Line, Bg) | Limited | Full | | **Font selection** | 5 families | Limited | Full | | **Theme support** | 4 themes (Default, Dark, Forest, Neutral) | Limited | Full | | **Dark mode** | Auto-adapts to Jira | No | Yes | | **Output size control** | 4 sizes | No | Yes | | **Cached rendering** | SVG cache, library loaded only during editing | No | No | | **Cloud Fortified** | No | Yes | Yes | ### Where Mermaid+ Stands Out[​](#where-mermaid-stands-out "Direct link to Where Mermaid+ Stands Out") **Most diagram types** — 29 Mermaid diagram types including flowchart, sequence, class, state, ER, C4 architecture, Gantt, mindmap, timeline, Git graph, pie chart, radar, Sankey, Kanban, and more. More than any other Mermaid-based Jira app. **Built-in syntax guide** — Click the **?** button to browse all 29 diagram types with descriptions and code examples. Insert any template directly into the editor. No need to look up Mermaid syntax externally. **Performance-first** — Diagrams render from cached SVG on issue load. The Mermaid.js library is only loaded during editing, not when viewing issues. Your Jira stays fast even with diagrams on every issue. **Dark mode that works** — Diagrams automatically adapt to Jira's dark/light theme. Text and background colors adjust for readability without manual configuration. **Full customization** — Five color pickers (node, text, border, line, background), five font families, four output sizes, and four Mermaid themes. ### Where We Could Improve[​](#where-we-could-improve "Direct link to Where We Could Improve") * **Not yet Cloud Fortified** — weweave's app and draw\.io have completed Atlassian's Cloud Fortified program. We're working toward this. * **New app** — Launching in 2026, no install base or review history yet. * **Text-only** — Mermaid is powerful but requires learning syntax. If your team prefers drawing visually, our Excalidraw app is the better fit. *** ## Feature Comparison: Freeform Drawing and Whiteboard Apps[​](#feature-comparison-freeform-drawing-and-whiteboard-apps "Direct link to Feature Comparison: Freeform Drawing and Whiteboard Apps") For teams that prefer visual drawing: | Feature | Excalidraw + Whiteboards (NGPILOT) | Excalidraw Whiteboard (Fulstech) | Excalidraw Mermaid (Simplify) | draw\.io (Seibert) | Draw UI (DevSamurai) | | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | | **Drawing engine** | Excalidraw | Excalidraw | Excalidraw | draw\.io | Custom | | **Built-in shape libraries** | 229 | Limited | Limited | Extensive | 300+ UI components | | **Mermaid support** | Yes — generate diagrams from text | No | Yes | No | No | | **Hand-drawn style** | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (clean/polished) | No | | **Freehand drawing** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | | **AWS/Azure/GCP shapes** | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | | **UML shapes** | Yes | No | No | Yes | Limited | | **Wireframe components** | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes (300+) | | **Diagram saved as** | Issue attachment | Issue attachment | Issue attachment | Issue attachment | Issue attachment | | **Preview in issue panel** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | **Hosting** | Cloud | Cloud | Cloud | Cloud + DC + Server | Cloud | ### Where Excalidraw Diagrams + Whiteboards Stands Out[​](#where-excalidraw-diagrams--whiteboards-stands-out "Direct link to Where Excalidraw Diagrams + Whiteboards Stands Out") **229 bundled shape libraries** — The largest shape library collection of any Excalidraw-based Jira app. AWS, Azure, GCP, UML, networking, database, and more — all bundled and available offline. No internet connection needed for shapes. **Mermaid + freeform in one app** — Type a Mermaid definition and get a visual diagram on the canvas. Then move, resize, and style it alongside your freehand drawings. No other Excalidraw app offers this combination. **Hand-drawn aesthetic** — The Excalidraw style keeps diagrams looking approachable and focused on ideas. Great for architecture reviews, brainstorming, and early-stage design where polish isn't the priority. **Zero setup** — All 229 libraries are bundled with the app. No downloads, no internet required. Open the editor and start drawing. ### Where We Could Improve[​](#where-we-could-improve-1 "Direct link to Where We Could Improve") * **New app** — Launching in 2026 with no marketplace history yet. * **No Cloud Fortified status** — Still working through Atlassian's compliance program. * **No DC/Server support** — Cloud-only for now. draw\.io is the best option if you need Data Center or Server hosting. * **Not a full diagramming suite** — If you need the polished, presentation-ready diagrams that draw\.io produces, the hand-drawn Excalidraw style may not match. This is a deliberate tradeoff — speed and simplicity over polish. *** ## Honest Comparison: NGPILOT vs draw\.io (Market Leader)[​](#honest-comparison-ngpilot-vs-drawio-market-leader "Direct link to Honest Comparison: NGPILOT vs draw.io (Market Leader)") draw\.io dominates with 9,602 installs. Here's how our approach differs: | | draw\.io (Seibert) | Mermaid+ + Excalidraw (NGPILOT) | | ------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | **Approach** | One full-featured diagramming suite | Two focused apps — text-based and freeform | | **Installs** | 9,602 | Coming soon | | **Rating** | 3.8/5 (349 reviews) | — | | **Hosting** | Cloud + DC + Server | Cloud | | **Cloud Fortified** | Yes | Not yet | | **Learning curve** | Medium — full editor to learn | Low — Mermaid syntax OR freeform drawing | | **Shape libraries** | Extensive built-in | 229 (Excalidraw) + 29 diagram templates (Mermaid) | | **Performance** | Full editor loads on each issue | Mermaid+: cached SVG, library only during editing | | **Best for** | Teams that want one app for everything | Teams that want fast, focused diagramming | The tradeoff is clear: draw\.io is the safe, established choice with the most features and broadest hosting support. Our apps are for teams that want something lighter and more focused — Mermaid for developers who think in code, Excalidraw for teams that want fast whiteboarding without the overhead of a full diagramming suite. *** ## Which App Do You Need?[​](#which-app-do-you-need "Direct link to Which App Do You Need?") | You need... | Use this | | ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | Text-based diagrams from Mermaid syntax | **Mermaid+ Diagrams for Jira** | | Freeform drawing and whiteboarding | **Excalidraw Diagrams + Whiteboards for Jira** | | Both — code diagrams AND visual drawing | **Both apps together** | | Full-featured diagramming suite with polish | draw\.io by Seibert Media | | Wireframes and mockups specifically | Draw UI by DevSamurai | *** ## Related Posts[​](#related-posts "Direct link to Related Posts") * [How to Create Mermaid Diagrams in Confluence — Flowcharts, Sequence Diagrams & More](/blog/create-mermaid-diagrams-in-confluence.md) * [How to Use Excalidraw in Confluence for Whiteboarding and Diagrams](/blog/use-excalidraw-in-confluence-whiteboard-diagrams.md) ## Get Started[​](#get-started "Direct link to Get Started") * **Mermaid+ Diagrams for Jira** — Coming soon to the Atlassian Marketplace. [Read the docs](/docs/Mermaid-plus-Diagrams-for-Jira/usage.md) * **Excalidraw Diagrams + Whiteboards for Jira** — Coming soon to the Atlassian Marketplace. [Read the docs](/docs/Excalidraw-Diagrams-plus-Whiteboards-for-Jira/usage.md) Have questions or want early access? Reach out to us at — we'd love to hear from you. ## Related guides * [How to Create Mermaid Diagrams in Jira](/blog/how-to-create-mermaid-diagrams-jira.md) * [Export Jira Issues to Excel or CSV](/blog/export-jira-issues-to-excel.md) * [Bulk Download Jira Attachments](/blog/bulk-download-jira-attachments.md) * [How to Migrate Confluence Content](/blog/how-to-migrate-confluence-content.md) Explore NGPILOT[Browse Solutions](/solutions.md)[All Apps](/apps.md)[Atlassian Marketplace →](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/vendors/1226848/?utm_source=ngpilot.com\&utm_medium=blog\&utm_campaign=hub-links) **Tags:** * [jira-diagrams](/blog/tags/jira-diagrams.md) * [mermaid](/blog/tags/mermaid.md) * [excalidraw](/blog/tags/excalidraw.md) * [whiteboard](/blog/tags/whiteboard.md) * [flowchart](/blog/tags/flowchart.md) * [architecture-diagram](/blog/tags/architecture-diagram.md) * [jira-plugin](/blog/tags/jira-plugin.md)