Archboard

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Archboard vs draw.io

Archboard is a hosted architecture workspace with Google or GitHub sign-in, organizations, seats, autosave, revision snapshots, and domain packs. draw.io (diagrams.net) is a generic drawing file in the browser or on the desktop. For a cloud product that looks like Kubernetes and C4, not only a drawing file, choose Archboard.

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draw.io

Archboard’s advantage You want OAuth, team orgs, and architecture-specific nodes in the cloud, not only a generic drawing file.

Where Archboard wins

Archboard is a hosted architecture workspace, not a drawing file. You sign in with Google or GitHub. You get an organization, a workspace, autosave, revision snapshots, branded public share on Free, and embed on Pro. The canvas ships Kubernetes, C4, cloud, network, and the rest of the built-in packs as first-class nodes with ports, not a generic rectangle from a shape library. The document is structured JSON you can import and export. Snapshot export matches the canvas. That is a different contract than a drawing that lives on disk or in a random browser tab.

draw.io (the editor at app.diagrams.net, also branded diagrams.net) is a generic drawing file. The web app and the desktop app are $0. A large shape library is not an architecture catalog. Archboard does not compete on “open a stencil, draw a box, save a file.” It competes on whether the diagram looks like the cluster and lives in a team workspace.

Price, independently checked in 2026: app.diagrams.net and the desktop app stay free. The draw.io Confluence Cloud app is a separate commercial product; Atlassian Marketplace pricing applies above ten users on a Confluence Cloud instance, while smaller Free Confluence Cloud instances can use the app at no extra seat cost. Archboard Free is $0 with every built-in pack, three diagrams, and 15 diagram nodes plus 150 notes, text, stickers, and mind map topics per diagram. Archboard Pro is $10 per seat per month or $96 per year (one to five seats). A $0 drawing file is cheaper than a hosted workspace. Architecture packs, JSON, orgs, and autosave are the comparison that matters here.

Subscribe to Archboard when the diagram has to look like Kubernetes and C4, survive in a cloud organization, and export as both a snapshot and JSON. A drawing file on disk is a different job. This page is the hosted architecture workspace.

Why Archboard over draw.io

Archboard wins when you need OAuth, team orgs, and architecture-specific nodes in the cloud, not only a generic drawing file. Kubernetes, C4, cloud, and network packs are first-class. The document is JSON. Autosave and revisions live on the hosted workspace. Share and embed are product features, not a file you attach.

draw.io is a $0 drawing file. Archboard is a hosted architecture workspace. If the diagram has to look like the cluster next month, subscribe here.

Price, side by side

2026 public list: app.diagrams.net and desktop are $0; the Confluence Cloud app is paid above 10 users. Archboard Pro is $10/seat/month. Sources: drawio.com and getarchboard.app/pricing.

  • Free

    Archboard
    $0, 1 seat, 3 diagrams, 15 diagram nodes + 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram, all built-in packs
    draw.io
    $0 on app.diagrams.net and the desktop app

  • Published paid seat

    Archboard
    Pro $10/seat/mo or $96/seat/year (1–5 seats); Enterprise $24/seat/mo or $230/seat/year (6+ seats)
    draw.io
    Web and desktop stay $0; Confluence Cloud app is paid above 10 users

  • Source (2026 list)

Competitor list prices independently verified in 2026 from each vendor’s public pricing page. Vendors change prices; confirm on their site before you buy.

Architecture snapshot

  • Primary job

    Archboard
    Hosted architecture workspace with domain packs
    draw.io
    Generic drawing file in the browser or desktop

  • Cost to start

    Archboard
    $0 Free with every built-in pack; 15 diagram nodes + 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram
    draw.io
    $0 web app and desktop

  • Domain node packs

    Archboard
    Kubernetes, C4, cloud, network, and the rest of the catalog
    draw.io
    Large generic shape libraries

  • Team workspace

    Archboard
    Organizations, seats, Google or GitHub sign-in
    draw.io
    Files; Confluence app is a separate product

  • Autosave and revisions

    Archboard
    Hosted autosave and snapshots
    draw.io
    Depends on where the file is stored

  • Published price (2026)

    Archboard
    Pro $10/seat/mo (1–5 seats)
    draw.io
    Web/desktop $0; Confluence Cloud paid above 10 users

  • JSON document

    Archboard
    First-class import/export
    draw.io
    File formats, not a hosted architecture document

  • What you subscribe to

    Archboard
    Architecture canvas, packs, JSON, hosted org
    draw.io
    A drawing file and a shape library

Free is one seat with every built-in pack, 3 diagrams, 15 diagram nodes + 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram, branded public share that updates live, and MCP for your AI agents. Pro is $10/seat/month or $96/seat/year (1–5 seats) and adds live editing with teammates, unlimited diagrams and nodes, embed, watermark-free export, and PDF/JPEG. Enterprise is $24/seat/month or $230/seat/year for 6+ seats, with SLA and dedicated support.

Every row lists every product. Archboard is highlighted.

  • Architecture-first canvas

    Structured canvas for systems maps, flows, and mind maps, not workshop facilitation.

    • ArchboardRecommended Yes
    • Lucidchart Partial
    • Miro No
    • draw.io Partial
    • Eraser Yes
    • IcePanel Yes

  • Domain node packs

    Kubernetes, cloud, C4, network, flowchart: ready-made, not generic shapes.

    • ArchboardRecommended Yes
    • Lucidchart No
    • Miro No
    • draw.io No
    • Eraser Partial
    • IcePanel Partial

  • SVG, PNG, JPEG, PDF + JSON

    Snapshot exports plus a structured document you can import and revise.

    • ArchboardRecommended Yes
    • Lucidchart Yes
    • Miro Partial
    • draw.io Yes
    • Eraser Partial
    • IcePanel Partial

  • Organizations & workspaces

    Cloud organizations, seats, and roles.

    • ArchboardRecommended Yes
    • Lucidchart Yes
    • Miro Yes
    • draw.io No
    • Eraser Partial
    • IcePanel Yes

  • Autosave & revision snapshots

    Keep working; snapshot when the architecture changes.

    • ArchboardRecommended Yes
    • Lucidchart Yes
    • Miro Yes
    • draw.io Partial
    • Eraser Yes
    • IcePanel Yes

  • Start in the cloud with OAuth

    Google or GitHub sign-in; no credit card needed to try.

    • ArchboardRecommended Yes
    • Lucidchart Yes
    • Miro Yes
    • draw.io No
    • Eraser Yes
    • IcePanel Yes

  • Self-serve Pro & Enterprise

    Published Free / Pro / Enterprise seats, with an SLA on Enterprise.

    • ArchboardRecommended Yes
    • Lucidchart Partial
    • Miro Partial
    • draw.io Yes
    • Eraser Partial
    • IcePanel Partial

  • Workshop facilitation (timers, voting)

    Timers, voting, and facilitator tools for live workshops (not Archboard’s product).

    • ArchboardRecommended No
    • Lucidchart Partial
    • Miro Yes
    • draw.io No
    • Eraser No
    • IcePanel No

  • Office suite plugins

    Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace add-ins (not Archboard’s product).

    • ArchboardRecommended No
    • Lucidchart Yes
    • Miro Partial
    • draw.io No
    • Eraser No
    • IcePanel No

Open a canvas in a minute

Sign in with Google or GitHub. Free for a single seat. Upgrade when the team joins.

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