# Archboard

> Archboard is a hosted workspace for smart, structured diagrams, from cloud architecture, Kubernetes, and C4 to flowcharts, mind maps, and brainstorming boards. People and AI agents (via MCP) edit the same canvas in real time with live cursors. Purpose-built node packs, templates, live share links and embeds, and a public, versioned JSON format are built in.

Archboard is a closed-source cloud SaaS. Sign in with Google or GitHub. No password, no credit card to start.

## Product

- Infinite canvas with pan/zoom, straight/bezier/orthogonal edges, undo/redo.
- Real-time editing: people and AI agents work on the same diagram at once, with live cursors, selections, and changes. Undo takes back only a person’s own changes; the person an agent works for can undo the agent’s change in one step, and a field someone else changed afterward is kept.
- Share links and embeds update live, without an account: viewers see edits plus the names and cursors of people with edit access who have the diagram open in the editor and of AI agents working on it (labeled with who they work for). Viewers’ own names and cursors are not shown; they are only counted.
- Beyond architecture: flowcharts and BPMN processes, mind maps with live tree layout, sticky notes and stickers, SWOT and retro boards, org charts with live top-down layout, application landscape maps, and a template gallery (brainstorming, affinity maps, roadmaps, user flows) on the same canvas.
- 27 built-in packs (348 nodes, counting each palette item and variant): Kubernetes, cloud, C4, network, flowchart, UML, and more.
- Free tools that turn code into editable diagrams (no sign-up to try; the same formats import in the editor): https://getarchboard.app/tools
  - Containers: Kubernetes YAML (https://getarchboard.app/tools/kubernetes-yaml-to-diagram), Docker Compose (https://getarchboard.app/tools/docker-compose-to-diagram)
  - Infrastructure (architecture diagrams): Terraform (https://getarchboard.app/tools/terraform-to-diagram), CloudFormation (https://getarchboard.app/tools/cloudformation-to-diagram)
  - Databases (ER diagrams): SQL (https://getarchboard.app/tools/sql-to-er-diagram), PostgreSQL (https://getarchboard.app/tools/postgresql-to-er-diagram), MySQL and MariaDB (https://getarchboard.app/tools/mysql-to-er-diagram), SQL Server (https://getarchboard.app/tools/sql-server-to-er-diagram), SQLite (https://getarchboard.app/tools/sqlite-to-er-diagram), Prisma schema (https://getarchboard.app/tools/prisma-to-er-diagram), DBML (https://getarchboard.app/tools/dbml-to-er-diagram)
  - CI pipelines: GitHub Actions (https://getarchboard.app/tools/github-actions-to-diagram), GitLab CI (https://getarchboard.app/tools/gitlab-ci-to-diagram)
  - Diagram code: Mermaid flowchart (https://getarchboard.app/tools/mermaid-to-editable-diagram)
- Export SVG, PNG, JPEG, PDF, JSON, and animated GIF / WebM (JPEG, PDF, GIF, and WebM on Pro+). Autosave and revision snapshots.
- Organizations, workspaces, roles (owner / admin / editor / viewer). Branded public share on Free; iframe embed on Pro+.
- Public, versioned document format: JSON Schema at https://getarchboard.app/schemas/archboard-document-v2.json (document), https://getarchboard.app/schemas/archboard-clipboard-v1.json (clipboard), and https://getarchboard.app/schemas/archboard-ops-v1.json (edit operations). Versioning policy: https://getarchboard.app/developers/format.md

## For AI agents (MCP)

- MCP server: https://getarchboard.app/mcp (remote, Streamable HTTP). Server card: https://getarchboard.app/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json.
- Auth: OAuth 2.1 from Archboard’s own authorization server (https://getarchboard.app/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server): authorization code with PKCE (S256) and the resource indicator https://getarchboard.app/mcp (https://getarchboard.app, the site-wide resource in /.well-known/oauth-protected-resource, also works and yields the same token). Clients register with a Client ID Metadata Document (an https client_id URL) or with dynamic client registration (public clients). People approve access after signing in with Google or GitHub and can limit an app to chosen organizations or workspaces, and to reading, editing or deleting in each.
- Scopes: diagrams:read, diagrams:write. Refresh tokens rotate on every use, expire after 30 days without use, and stop working 90 days after the first authorization; then the client must authorize again.
- Tools: read_me, list_workspaces, list_diagrams, create_diagram, get_canvas (outline or full read; the share link and live image once the person shares the diagram), search_node_types (pack types by keyword; vendor services map to generic cloud types), get_node_type, apply_ops (with dry run), compose_diagram (from a Mermaid flowchart or an infographic spec), add_image (from a public https URL), upload_image (one-time upload link for a local file), render_snapshot (PNG of a diagram, one frame, a region or chosen nodes), export_diagram (PNG or SVG file through a short-lived download link), get_selection, set_status, revert_change, delete_diagram (moves it to the trash; the person can restore it), search_shapes (built-in, saved shapes and icons), show_diagram (in-chat view for MCP Apps clients; text elsewhere).
- Images: add_image imports a public https image and upload_image gives a one-time upload link for a local file. Archboard’s servers download the image from the address the app gives, on the person’s behalf (public https only), and keep only the processed image; the address is not stored; only the host name of an address Archboard refuses (for example a private or internal one) can appear in its server logs. Upload links place one image once, are tied to that app connection and diagram, and expire after 5 minutes; only a hash is stored. Image metadata (location, camera, comments) is always removed.
- Writes apply directly to the live canvas, and the agent’s cursor is labeled with the person it acts for. revert_change undoes one change the same app made, for up to 7 days (the person the agent acted for, or an organization owner or admin); changes people made by hand cannot be reverted with it, and fields someone else changed since then are kept. apply_ops warns when a person is editing the same node, and with baseSeq it lists the fields others changed since the agent last read.
- Works on every plan, with the same plan limits as the editor (Free: 3 diagrams, 15 diagram nodes + 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram) and a per-user rate limit on tool calls; limit errors return a message for the person that says which limit was reached.
- Overview and setup for people (8 languages): https://getarchboard.app/ai-agents
- Example prompts and the architecture diagrams they draw (Kubernetes, AWS, C4, microservices, events): https://getarchboard.app/ai-architecture-diagram-generator
- Setup guides for AI apps, one page per app (8 languages): https://getarchboard.app/integrations
- MCP server documentation: endpoint, OAuth, tools, limits, and errors (8 languages): https://getarchboard.app/docs/mcp
- Connection guide, tools, limits, and errors: https://getarchboard.app/developers/mcp.md
- How to draw well: https://getarchboard.app/.well-known/agent-skills/archboard-diagramming/SKILL.md

## Pricing (USD, per seat)

- Free: $0, 1 seat, 1 workspace, 3 diagrams, all built-in packs, 15 diagram nodes + 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram, branded public share, live editing with your AI agents (MCP), SVG/PNG/JSON export with watermark, 5 revisions. Embed is Pro+.
- Pro: $10/seat/month or $96/seat/year, 1–5 seats (teammates edit live), all packs, share/embed, PDF/JPEG and animated GIF / WebM export, roles, revision history.
- Enterprise: $24/seat/month or $230/seat/year, 6+ seats, SLA, dedicated support. Contact hello@getarchboard.app.

## Key pages

- [Home](https://getarchboard.app/): Smart diagrams your team and AI agents edit live: cloud architecture, Kubernetes and C4, flowcharts, mind maps, and brainstorming boards.
- [Product](https://getarchboard.app/product): Try the Archboard canvas before you sign in: live demos and the full node catalog, from Kubernetes and C4 to flowcharts and mind maps.
- [AI agents (MCP)](https://getarchboard.app/ai-agents): Connect your AI agent through MCP. It edits diagrams live next to your team, labeled with who it works for, and you can undo your agent’s change in one step.
- [AI architecture diagram generator](https://getarchboard.app/ai-architecture-diagram-generator): Describe your system to your AI agent and it draws an editable architecture diagram on your Archboard canvas over MCP: Kubernetes, AWS, C4 and more.
- [AI app setup guides (MCP)](https://getarchboard.app/integrations): Setup guides for connecting your AI app to the Archboard MCP server: add the server, sign in with OAuth and let your agent draw and edit diagrams live.
- [MCP server documentation](https://getarchboard.app/docs/mcp): Reference for the Archboard remote MCP server: endpoint, OAuth 2.1 sign-in, setup in AI apps, all tools, plan limits, errors and troubleshooting.
- [Pricing](https://getarchboard.app/pricing): Simple seat pricing. Free for solo use. Pro is $10/seat/month or $96/year (1–5 seats). Enterprise is $24/seat/month or $230/year for 6+ seats.
- [FAQ](https://getarchboard.app/faq): Answers on Archboard: Kubernetes and C4, mind maps, templates, pricing, live editing, MCP for AI agents, sharing, export, and Miro or draw.io.
- [Support](https://getarchboard.app/support): Get help with Archboard: email the team, read the MCP documentation and AI app setup guides, browse the FAQ and pricing, or report a security issue.
- [Comparisons](https://getarchboard.app/compare): Compare Archboard with Lucidchart, Miro, draw.io, Eraser, and IcePanel: Kubernetes, C4, cloud, and network packs in one hosted architecture workspace.
- [Templates](https://getarchboard.app/templates): Free diagram templates for brainstorming, mind maps, roadmaps, user flows, meeting notes, and Kubernetes. Open one in Archboard and make it your own.
- [Free tools](https://getarchboard.app/tools): Free tools that turn the code you already have into editable diagrams. Paste a file, see the diagram, then download it or keep editing in Archboard.
- [Examples](https://getarchboard.app/examples): Browse published example diagrams, from Kubernetes and multi-region cloud to C4, networks, and roadmaps. Open any of them read-only, no account required.
- [Blog](https://getarchboard.app/blog): Architecture notes, pack guides, and product updates from the Archboard team, with practical tips for diagrams that stay clear, current, and easy to share.
- [About](https://getarchboard.app/about): Archboard is a hosted workspace for smart, structured diagrams: architecture, flowcharts, mind maps, and brainstorming boards teams keep current.

## Comparisons

- [Archboard vs Lucidchart](https://getarchboard.app/compare/lucidchart): Kubernetes, C4, cloud, and network packs with structured JSON and canvas-faithful export. No office-suite plugin required.
- [Archboard vs Miro](https://getarchboard.app/compare/miro): structured diagrams (architecture packs, flowcharts, mind maps) that people and AI agents edit live, without timers or voting.
- [Archboard vs draw.io](https://getarchboard.app/compare/drawio): a hosted architecture workspace with Google/GitHub sign-in, team organizations, and domain node packs. More than a generic drawing file.
- [Archboard vs Eraser](https://getarchboard.app/compare/eraser): a shared visual canvas in the browser for platform and product teams, with Kubernetes, C4, cloud, and network packs and no repo needed.
- [Archboard vs IcePanel](https://getarchboard.app/compare/icepanel): C4 plus Kubernetes, cloud, and network packs on one canvas, with structured JSON, share, embed, and team workspaces included.

## Use cases

- [Kubernetes architecture diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/kubernetes): Draw Namespace, Deployment, Service, Ingress, and HPA on an infinite Kubernetes canvas, then share, embed, or export from a hosted Archboard workspace.
- [C4 architecture diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/c4): C4 Person, Software System, Container, and Component on the same Archboard canvas as Kubernetes, cloud, and network packs.
- [Cloud architecture diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/cloud): Map region, compute, managed database, queue, CDN, and API gateway as real nodes, not generic rectangles, in a hosted architecture workspace.
- [Network architecture diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/network): Internet, DNS, load balancer, firewall, VPC, and subnet paths you can point at: network topology on the Archboard canvas.
- [Value stream mapping diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/value-stream-mapping): Map process steps, wait times, and information flow as a value stream on a hosted canvas, then share a live link or export SVG, PNG, or PDF.
- [Payment flow diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/payment-flow-diagram): Draw checkout, gateway, processor, and bank as sequence and process diagrams: authorization, 3-D Secure, refunds, and webhooks on one hosted canvas.
- [GDPR data mapping diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/gdpr-data-mapping): Map where personal data is collected, stored, and shared (systems, processors, and transfers) on one hosted canvas that privacy and engineering both read.
- [Free mind map maker with automatic layout](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/mind-map): Free mind map maker with live layout: type an idea, press Tab and Enter, and the map arranges itself. Share a link or export SVG and PNG from Archboard.
- [Free online flowchart maker with swimlanes](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/flowchart): Free flowchart maker with process, decision, and swimlane shapes. Draw flows your team can follow, share a live link, or export SVG and PNG from Archboard.
- [Brainstorming boards](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/brainstorming): Online brainstorming board with sticky notes, stickers, and templates. Capture ideas, group them into themes, and share the result from a hosted canvas.
- [SWOT analysis](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/swot-analysis): Make a SWOT analysis on a structured board: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as sticky notes you can share or export. Free on Archboard.
- [Retrospective boards](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/retrospective): Run sprint retrospectives on a structured board: went well, to improve, and action items as sticky notes. Share a link or export SVG and PNG from Archboard.
- [Org chart maker](https://getarchboard.app/use-cases/org-chart): Make an org chart that lays itself out: add reports, peers, and managers in one click, color departments, and share or export it. Free on Archboard.

## Templates

- [Brainstorm board template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/brainstorming): Sticky notes for problem, ideas and next steps
- [Mind map template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/mind-map): A central idea with four branches to grow
- [Affinity map template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/affinity-map): Group research notes into themes
- [Vision board template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/vision-board): Goals for the year with notes and stickers
- [Now / Next / Later Roadmap template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/now-next-later-roadmap): Swimlane with Now, Next and Later columns, epics and milestones
- [Project plan mind map template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/project-plan-mind-map): Goals, scope, timeline, team and risks on one map
- [Meeting notes template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/meeting-notes): Agenda, action items and decisions in one place
- [Cross-functional flow template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/cross-functional-flowchart): Swimlanes that show who does each step of a process
- [User flow template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/user-flow): Screens and decisions from the first visit to the dashboard
- [AARRR funnel template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/aarrr-funnel): Pirate metrics: acquisition, activation, retention, referral, revenue
- [Concept map template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/concept-map): Concepts linked by labeled relationships, with a photosynthesis example
- [Kubernetes cluster architecture template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/kubernetes-architecture): Control plane, worker nodes, kubelet, kube-proxy, pods and Ingress
- [AWS three-tier architecture template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/aws-architecture-diagram): VPC with ALB, EC2 Auto Scaling, RDS, CloudFront and S3
- [AWS serverless architecture template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/aws-serverless-architecture): API Gateway, Lambda, DynamoDB, EventBridge, SQS and Cognito
- [C4 container diagram template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/c4-container-diagram): People, web and mobile apps, API, database and external systems
- [Microservices architecture template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/microservices-architecture): API gateway, four services, a database per service and an event bus
- [Event-driven architecture template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/event-driven-architecture): Producers, Kafka topics, consumers, a dead-letter queue and analytics
- [SWOT analysis template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/swot-analysis): Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats on one board
- [PESTLE analysis template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/pestle-analysis): Political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors
- [Porter’s five forces template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/porters-five-forces): Map the competitive forces around your industry
- [Retrospective template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/retrospective): What went well, what to improve and action items
- [Eisenhower matrix template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/eisenhower-matrix): Sort tasks by urgency and importance
- [Risk matrix template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/risk-matrix): Rate risks by likelihood and impact on a 5×5 grid
- [KWL chart template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/kwl-chart): What students know, want to know and learned
- [Org chart template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/org-chart): Team structure with reporting lines that rearrange as you edit
- [KPI one-pager template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/kpi-one-pager): Key numbers, trends and goals for one quarter on a single poster
- [How it works template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/process-infographic): A five-step process with feature cards and a closing tip
- [Launch timeline template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/timeline-infographic): Six milestones from kickoff to launch day, with the numbers behind the plan
- [Architecture summary poster template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/architecture-summary-poster): An architecture diagram, reliability targets and traffic on one poster
- [Survey results template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/survey-results-infographic): Survey highlights with charts, a respondent quote and the source
- [A/B comparison template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/comparison-infographic): Compare two options side by side with a scorecard and two key numbers
- [Market positioning template](https://getarchboard.app/templates/positioning-map): A quadrant map and a Venn diagram that show where you stand against rivals

## AI app setup guides

- [MCP setup guide: claude](https://getarchboard.app/integrations/claude): Setup steps, example prompts, plan limits and troubleshooting for adding the Archboard MCP server to one AI app.
- [MCP setup guide: claude-code](https://getarchboard.app/integrations/claude-code): Setup steps, example prompts, plan limits and troubleshooting for adding the Archboard MCP server to one AI app.
- [MCP setup guide: cursor](https://getarchboard.app/integrations/cursor): Setup steps, example prompts, plan limits and troubleshooting for adding the Archboard MCP server to one AI app.
- [MCP setup guide: vs-code](https://getarchboard.app/integrations/vs-code): Setup steps, example prompts, plan limits and troubleshooting for adding the Archboard MCP server to one AI app.
- [MCP setup guide: codex](https://getarchboard.app/integrations/codex): Setup steps, example prompts, plan limits and troubleshooting for adding the Archboard MCP server to one AI app.
- [MCP setup guide: gemini-cli](https://getarchboard.app/integrations/gemini-cli): Setup steps, example prompts, plan limits and troubleshooting for adding the Archboard MCP server to one AI app.

## Blog posts

- [AI Agent Architecture Diagram: Model, Tools, Memory and Guardrails](https://getarchboard.app/blog/ai-agent-architecture-diagram): An AI agent architecture diagram explained: the agent loop, the model, tools over MCP, working memory and retrieval, guardrails, approvals, limits and tracing.
- [GitOps Workflow Diagram: Pull-Based Delivery with Argo CD or Flux](https://getarchboard.app/blog/gitops-workflow-diagram): A GitOps workflow diagram explained: the OpenGitOps principles, app and config repos, pull-based sync with Argo CD or Flux, promotion by pull request and rollback.
- [Three-Tier Architecture Diagram: Presentation, Application and Data](https://getarchboard.app/blog/three-tier-architecture-diagram): A three-tier architecture diagram explained with an AWS example: presentation, application and data tiers, subnets, security groups, scaling and common mistakes.
- [Database Sharding Diagram: Shard Keys, Routing and Resharding](https://getarchboard.app/blog/database-sharding-diagram): Database sharding explained with a diagram: when to shard, choosing a shard key, range vs hash vs directory sharding, routing, logical shards and online resharding.
- [Hexagonal Architecture Diagram: Ports and Adapters with an Example](https://getarchboard.app/blog/hexagonal-architecture-diagram): Hexagonal architecture explained with a diagram: the core, inbound and outbound ports, driving and driven adapters, the dependency rule and a worked order example.
- [Kafka Architecture Diagram: Brokers, Partitions, Replicas and Consumer Groups](https://getarchboard.app/blog/kafka-architecture-diagram): A Kafka architecture diagram explained: brokers, partitions, leaders and replicas, producer keys, consumer groups, offsets, KRaft and the settings that matter.
- [Service Mesh Architecture Diagram: Data Plane, Control Plane and mTLS](https://getarchboard.app/blog/service-mesh-architecture-diagram): A service mesh architecture diagram explained: sidecar and ambient data planes, the control plane, automatic mTLS with workload identities, traffic policy and the costs.
- [Load Balancer Diagram: Layer 4 vs Layer 7, Health Checks and Algorithms](https://getarchboard.app/blog/load-balancer-diagram): How load balancing works, drawn: layer 4 vs layer 7, two-tier setups, balancing algorithms from round robin to least request, health checks, draining and stickiness.
- [Disaster Recovery Architecture Diagram: RPO, RTO and Four Strategies](https://getarchboard.app/blog/disaster-recovery-architecture-diagram): Disaster recovery architecture explained: RPO and RTO, backup and restore, pilot light, warm standby and active/active, with a diagram of a warm standby setup.
- [Deployment Strategies Diagram: Rolling, Blue-Green and Canary](https://getarchboard.app/blog/deployment-strategies-diagram): Rolling updates, blue-green and canary releases compared with diagrams: how traffic moves, how rollback works, what each costs, and how automated canary analysis decides.
- [Transactional Outbox Pattern: Diagram and Implementation Guide](https://getarchboard.app/blog/transactional-outbox-pattern): The transactional outbox pattern fixes the dual-write problem: write the event in the same transaction as the data, then relay it. Diagram, SQL, polling vs CDC.
- [CQRS and Event Sourcing Diagram: Commands, Events and Read Models](https://getarchboard.app/blog/cqrs-event-sourcing-diagram): CQRS and event sourcing explained with a diagram: the command side, an append-only event store, projectors, read models, replays, versioning and when to avoid it.
- [Saga Pattern Diagram: Orchestration vs Choreography](https://getarchboard.app/blog/saga-pattern-diagram): How the saga pattern keeps data consistent across services without distributed transactions: compensations, pivot steps, orchestration vs choreography and a diagram.
- [OAuth 2.0 Flow Diagram: Authorization Code with PKCE, Step by Step](https://getarchboard.app/blog/oauth-2-flow-diagram): The OAuth 2.0 authorization code flow with PKCE as a sequence diagram: every redirect, parameter and token, what each party checks, and which old flows to avoid.
- [Video Streaming Architecture Diagram: Upload, Transcode, Package, Deliver](https://getarchboard.app/blog/video-streaming-architecture-diagram): A video streaming architecture diagram from upload to playback: multipart uploads, transcoding queues, adaptive bitrate ladders, HLS and DASH packaging, DRM and CDNs.
- [News Feed System Design: Fan-out on Write vs Fan-out on Read](https://getarchboard.app/blog/news-feed-system-design): How to design a news feed: fan-out on write vs fan-out on read, the hybrid most large feeds use, feed caches, ranking, pagination and an architecture diagram.
- [Notification System Design: Architecture for Push, Email and SMS](https://getarchboard.app/blog/notification-system-design): Design a notification system for push, email and SMS: one API, preferences and quiet hours, deduplication, per-channel queues, retries and delivery tracking.
- [Chat App Architecture Diagram: WebSockets, Fan-out and Message Storage](https://getarchboard.app/blog/chat-app-architecture-diagram): A chat app architecture diagram explained: WebSocket gateways, message ordering, idempotent sends, fan-out to online and offline users, presence and storage.
- [Rate Limiter System Design: Algorithms and Architecture Diagram](https://getarchboard.app/blog/rate-limiter-system-design): Design a distributed rate limiter: token bucket vs sliding windows, where the limiter sits, Redis counters, 429 responses and what happens when Redis is down.
- [URL Shortener System Design: Architecture Diagram and Trade-offs](https://getarchboard.app/blog/url-shortener-system-design): Design a URL shortener step by step: capacity numbers, short code generation, 301 vs 302 redirects, caching, click analytics and an architecture diagram.
- [IoT Architecture Diagram: Devices, MQTT, Stream Processing and Storage](https://getarchboard.app/blog/iot-architecture-diagram): A worked IoT architecture diagram for cold storage monitoring: sensors, a site gateway, MQTT 5 with mutual TLS, Kafka, stream processing, storage and alerts.
- [API Gateway Architecture Diagram: Routing, Auth, Rate Limits and BFFs](https://getarchboard.app/blog/api-gateway-architecture-diagram): A worked API gateway architecture diagram: what the gateway should and should not do, token checks, rate limits with 429 and Retry-After, and backends for frontends.
- [Technology Roadmap Example: A Now, Next, Later Plan for a Platform Team](https://getarchboard.app/blog/technology-roadmap-example): A worked technology roadmap for a platform team in the Now, Next, Later format: outcomes instead of feature lists, owners, dependencies and real end-of-life deadlines.
- [Engineering Org Chart: How to Map Teams to the Systems They Own](https://getarchboard.app/blog/engineering-org-chart): An engineering org chart that answers who owns what: reporting lines, team types, owned services, on-call and how teams work together, with a worked example.
- [Incident Response Flowchart: From First Alert to Postmortem](https://getarchboard.app/blog/incident-response-flowchart): A worked incident response flowchart: triage, when to declare an incident, severity, roles, mitigation, and the blameless postmortem that closes the loop.
- [Data Pipeline Architecture Diagram: CDC, Streaming and a Data Warehouse](https://getarchboard.app/blog/data-pipeline-architecture-diagram): A worked data pipeline architecture diagram: change data capture from PostgreSQL, Kafka, bronze, silver and gold layers, the warehouse, and what to label on each hop.
- [MLOps Architecture Diagram: From Training Data to a Monitored Model](https://getarchboard.app/blog/mlops-architecture-diagram): An MLOps architecture diagram for a production model: feature store, training pipeline, model registry, online serving and the monitoring loop that triggers retraining.
- [Observability Architecture Diagram: Logs, Metrics and Traces with OpenTelemetry](https://getarchboard.app/blog/observability-architecture-diagram): How to diagram an observability pipeline: OpenTelemetry SDKs, agent and gateway Collectors, tail sampling, and where logs, metrics and traces end up.
- [State Diagram Example: A Subscription Lifecycle as a State Machine](https://getarchboard.app/blog/state-diagram-example): A worked UML state machine diagram for a SaaS subscription: states, events, guards, choice points, a composite state, and the bugs a state diagram catches early.
- [UML Class Diagram Example: Modeling an Online Course Platform](https://getarchboard.app/blog/uml-class-diagram-example): A worked UML class diagram for an online course platform: classes, visibility, multiplicity, and when to use association, composition, inheritance or an interface.
- [Visio Alternative for Software Architecture Diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/blog/visio-alternative): Visio is a capable diagramming tool inside Microsoft 365. When architecture diagrams need typed nodes, live editing and a home outside files, here is what changes.
- [GDPR Data Mapping Diagram: How to Map Personal Data Flows Across Your Systems](https://getarchboard.app/blog/gdpr-data-mapping-diagram): Engineers own the systems, privacy teams own the register. A data map diagram is where both meet: what to capture, a method, and a worked map for a SaaS product.
- [Network Topology Diagram: An Office LAN, Site-to-Site VPN and a Cloud VPC](https://getarchboard.app/blog/network-topology-diagram): A worked logical network topology diagram for a small company: office VLANs, Wi-Fi, a firewall, a site-to-site IPsec VPN to a cloud VPC, and the labels that matter.
- [RAG Architecture Diagram: How a Retrieval-Augmented Generation App Fits Together](https://getarchboard.app/blog/rag-architecture-diagram): Most RAG diagrams show a user, a vector database and an LLM. A real system has an ingestion path and a query path, and the decisions on both decide answer quality.
- [Database Replication and Failover Diagram: Primary, Replicas and Split-Brain Protection](https://getarchboard.app/blog/database-replication-diagram): A replication diagram should show where writes go, how stale reads can be, who decides a failover and what stops two primaries. A worked PostgreSQL example.
- [Caching Strategies Explained: Cache-Aside, Read-Through, Write-Through and Write-Back](https://getarchboard.app/blog/caching-strategies-diagram): Four caching strategies side by side: who fills the cache, who writes the database, what can go stale, and how to show each one on an architecture diagram.
- [Payment Gateway Integration Diagram: Authorization, 3-D Secure, Capture and Webhooks](https://getarchboard.app/blog/payment-gateway-integration-diagram): A merchant engineer's view of a card payment: what happens during checkout, what arrives later by webhook, and where money and order state actually change.
- [Sequence Diagram Example: The OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow with PKCE](https://getarchboard.app/blog/sequence-diagram-example): Learn sequence diagram notation on a flow most engineers meet: a browser app signing a user in with the OAuth 2.0 authorization code flow and PKCE, then calling an API.
- [Terraform Architecture Diagram: From .tf Files to a Picture People Can Read](https://getarchboard.app/blog/terraform-architecture-diagram): Terraform already describes your infrastructure, but neither the code nor terraform graph is an architecture diagram. What a readable one needs, and what to cut.
- [ER Diagram Example: Designing an Online Store Database, Step by Step](https://getarchboard.app/blog/er-diagram-example): An ER diagram example built from requirements: entities, keys, crow's foot cardinality, a many-to-many through order items, and the decisions worth writing down.
- [How to Create Architecture Diagrams with AI Agents (MCP)](https://getarchboard.app/blog/ai-agents-architecture-diagrams-mcp): Connect Claude, Cursor or VS Code to Archboard over MCP and let an agent draw, edit and explain architecture diagrams on a canvas your team shares.
- [How to Turn a Docker Compose File into an Architecture Diagram](https://getarchboard.app/blog/docker-compose-architecture-diagram): A compose.yaml already lists your services, networks and volumes. Here is how to read it into a diagram, find the calls it hides, and keep the picture current.
- [Microservices Architecture Diagram: An Example and Seven Rules That Keep It Readable](https://getarchboard.app/blog/microservices-architecture-diagram): Most microservices diagrams end up as a ball of arrows. One worked example and seven rules for a diagram that shows entry points, data ownership and how services talk.
- [Event-Driven Architecture Diagram: How to Draw Kafka Producers, Topics and Consumers](https://getarchboard.app/blog/event-driven-architecture-diagram): In an event-driven system the call graph disappears into topics. A notation for producers, topics, consumer groups and failure paths that keeps the flow readable.
- [AWS VPC Diagram: Subnets, Route Tables and NAT, Drawn Right](https://getarchboard.app/blog/aws-vpc-diagram): A VPC diagram should show what the internet can reach and how private resources get out. A two-AZ example with subnets, route tables, NAT gateways and endpoints.
- [Serverless Architecture Diagram on AWS: API Gateway, Lambda, DynamoDB and Events](https://getarchboard.app/blog/serverless-architecture-diagram): Serverless diagrams go wrong when they show functions and hide triggers. A worked AWS example with API Gateway, Lambda, DynamoDB, EventBridge and SQS.
- [CI/CD Pipeline Diagram: From Commit to Production, Step by Step](https://getarchboard.app/blog/ci-cd-pipeline-diagram): A pipeline diagram should show more than a row of stages. Artifacts, environments, gates and the way back from production, with a GitOps example on Kubernetes.
- [Data Flow Diagrams for Threat Modeling: A STRIDE Walkthrough](https://getarchboard.app/blog/threat-modeling-data-flow-diagram): A threat model starts with a data flow diagram. How to draw one with trust boundaries, then walk it with STRIDE, using a photo upload feature as the example.
- [BPMN Diagram Example: An Order Fulfillment Process, Step by Step](https://getarchboard.app/blog/bpmn-diagram-example): BPMN looks like a flowchart until it doesn't. One order fulfillment process built step by step: pools, lanes, events, gateways and message flows.
- [System Design Diagram Example: A URL Shortener from Requirements to Diagram](https://getarchboard.app/blog/system-design-diagram-example): A worked system design diagram for a URL shortener: requirements, back-of-the-envelope numbers, separate read and write paths, and a layout that shows the reasoning.
- [Excalidraw Alternative for Architecture Diagrams: When the Sketch Has to Last](https://getarchboard.app/blog/excalidraw-alternative): Excalidraw is a great sketchpad. When a sketch turns into the architecture diagram your team relies on, here is what changes and when a structured workspace fits better.
- [Mermaid vs a Diagram Canvas: When Diagrams as Code Work, and When They Don't](https://getarchboard.app/blog/mermaid-vs-diagram-canvas): Mermaid keeps diagrams next to the code; a canvas keeps them readable as they grow. A practical guide to choosing, with the same diagram drawn both ways.
- [How to Embed Live Architecture Diagrams in Docs, Notion, Confluence and GitHub](https://getarchboard.app/blog/embed-diagrams-in-docs): A pasted screenshot is wrong the day the system changes. How to put a live diagram into docs sites, Notion, Confluence and GitHub, and what to do where embeds fail.
- [Multi-Tenant SaaS Architecture Diagram: Silo, Pool and Bridge Models](https://getarchboard.app/blog/multi-tenant-saas-architecture-diagram): On most architecture diagrams, multi-tenancy is invisible, and that is where the risk hides. How to show tenant context, isolation models and the control plane.
- [FigJam Alternative for Architecture Diagrams: Why Engineering Teams Choose Archboard](https://getarchboard.app/blog/figjam-alternative): Looking for a FigJam alternative for architecture diagrams? Why typed nodes, ports and one always-current link beat a whiteboard once the meeting ends.
- [How to Draw a Kubernetes Architecture Diagram (with Free Template)](https://getarchboard.app/blog/kubernetes-architecture-diagram): A Kubernetes architecture diagram should show traffic, boundaries and state, not every Pod. What to include, mistakes to avoid, and a free template.
- [C4 Model Explained with a Real Example](https://getarchboard.app/blog/c4-model-diagram-example): A C4 model diagram example built level by level: context, containers and components for one realistic system, plus notation tips and a free template.
- [draw.io vs Archboard for Architecture Diagrams](https://getarchboard.app/blog/drawio-vs-archboard): Looking for a draw.io alternative for architecture diagrams? Why teams move from passing .drawio files around to one shared, always-current Archboard map.
- [AWS Multi-Region High Availability Architecture Diagram](https://getarchboard.app/blog/aws-multi-region-architecture-diagram): What an AWS multi-region architecture diagram must show: Route 53 failover, AZs, replication direction, and active-active vs active-passive.
- [Architecture Diagrams That Don't Rot: A Living Docs Workflow](https://getarchboard.app/blog/architecture-diagrams-that-dont-rot): Architecture documentation best practices for diagrams that stay current: one source of truth, named owners, update triggers and a living docs checklist.
- [Kubernetes Ingress Traffic Flow, Visualized](https://getarchboard.app/blog/kubernetes-ingress-diagram): A Kubernetes ingress diagram, hop by hop: DNS, load balancer, controller, Ingress rules, Service, EndpointSlices, Pods and TLS, with a free template.
- [Lucidchart Alternatives for Engineering Teams (2026)](https://getarchboard.app/blog/lucidchart-alternatives): Looking for a Lucidchart alternative? Eight diagramming tools engineering teams use, what each is best for, and the watch-outs.
- [Zero Trust Network Architecture Diagram Template](https://getarchboard.app/blog/zero-trust-architecture-diagram): How to draw a zero trust architecture diagram the NIST SP 800-207 way: PEP, PE, PA, signal sources and planes, plus a free template.
- [From Kubernetes YAML to an Architecture Diagram](https://getarchboard.app/blog/kubernetes-yaml-to-diagram): Kubernetes YAML to diagram, step by step: inventory objects, trace selectors and references, cut the noise, and keep the drawing current.
- [How to Draw a Software Architecture Diagram: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://getarchboard.app/blog/how-to-draw-software-architecture-diagram): How to draw an architecture diagram people can read: define the reader and question, pick the type, label every arrow, keep it current.

## Best fit

- Architecture diagrams, Kubernetes (k8s) canvases, and C4 models in the browser: Archboard ships them as node packs on one canvas.
- Cloud architecture diagrams and network topology maps that platform and product teams keep in a hosted workspace.
- Diagrams that must last beyond a workshop: domain node packs, ports, revisions, branded public share on Free, embed on Pro, and Enterprise for larger organizations on the hosted product.
- Flowcharts, mind maps, and brainstorming boards that should stay structured and shareable after the meeting: sticky notes, stickers, and templates in the same hosted workspace as the architecture.
- Teams that edit a structured diagram together in real time, with live cursors, and share a link where viewers watch changes as they happen.
- AI agents that draw or update a structured diagram people watch live and keep: the MCP server uses OAuth and writes straight to the canvas, and the person the agent works for can undo its change in one step.

## Not a fit

- Meeting facilitation (timers, voting, facilitator mode) and Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace add-ins are other products; Archboard does not offer them.

## Comparison facts

- Archboard is a structured-diagram canvas with Kubernetes, cloud, C4, network, flowchart, mind map, and sticky-note packs in a hosted cloud workspace, edited live by people and AI agents.
- Archboard vs Miro: Archboard fits a durable, structured diagram (architecture, flowchart, or mind map) that people and AI agents edit live; Miro is built for meeting facilitation with timers and voting.
- Archboard vs Lucidchart: Archboard fits work that needs domain node packs and JSON documents rather than office-suite plugins.
- Archboard vs draw.io: Archboard fits teams that want a cloud architecture workspace with Google or GitHub sign-in, team organizations, and architecture-specific nodes, not only a generic drawing file.
- Archboard vs IcePanel: Archboard fits work that needs C4 plus Kubernetes, cloud, and network packs on the same canvas.
- Archboard vs Eraser: Archboard fits platform and product teams that need a shared visual canvas in the browser, including people who never open a repo.
- Archboard is available to AI agents on every plan through its MCP server, with the same plan limits as the editor (Free: 3 diagrams and 15 diagram nodes + 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram).
- Archboard is built on a public, versioned JSON document format with published JSON Schemas, so other tools can read, validate, and generate Archboard documents.
- Every built-in pack (architecture, process, mind map, and sticker packs) is included on Archboard Free; Pro adds unlimited diagrams and nodes, seats for teammates to edit live, embed, and watermark-free export.

## Not Archboard

- Archboard is not open source.
- Archboard is not a self-hosted or on-prem product.
- Archboard is not a meeting-facilitation tool: it has live cursors and real-time editing, but no timers, voting, or facilitator mode.
- Archboard is not an office-suite plugin (Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace add-ins are not the product).
- Archboard does not include its own AI model; the AI agents you choose connect to it through MCP.
- Archboard at getarchboard.app is not the education-software Archboard that operates archboard.io.

## FAQ

### What is Archboard?

Archboard is a hosted workspace for smart, structured diagrams, from cloud architecture, Kubernetes, and C4 to flowcharts, mind maps, and brainstorming boards. People and AI agents (via MCP) edit the same canvas in real time with live cursors. Purpose-built node packs, templates, live share links and embeds, and a public, versioned JSON format are built in.

### Is Archboard open source or self-hosted?

No. Archboard is a closed-source cloud SaaS. There is no self-hosted or on-prem edition. The document format is public (JSON Schema), so other tools can read the Archboard files you export. Enterprise adds an SLA and dedicated support on the hosted product.

### How do I sign in?

Google or GitHub only. First sign-in creates your account and organization. No password and no credit card to start.

### What does the Free plan include?

One seat, one workspace, three diagrams, every built-in node pack, 15 diagram nodes plus 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram, branded public share that updates live, live editing with your AI agents through MCP, SVG/PNG/JSON export with a watermark, and five revisions. Embed is Pro+.

### What does Pro cost?

Pro is $10 per seat per month or $96 per seat per year, for 1–5 seats, so teammates can edit with you live. It unlocks unlimited diagrams and nodes, embed, PDF/JPEG and animated GIF / WebM export, watermark-free files, roles, and revision history.

### What does Enterprise include?

Enterprise is $24 per seat per month or $230 per seat per year, with a 6-seat minimum. It includes Pro plus SLA, security review, and dedicated support. Email hello@getarchboard.app.

### Which node packs ship with Archboard?

27 built-in packs and 348 nodes, grouped by job: architecture (Kubernetes, cloud, C4, network, Docker, data, DevOps, security), process (flowchart, BPMN, sequence, UML, ER), thinking and planning (mind maps, sticky notes, stickers, SWOT and retro boards, org charts), and product / UX (wireframes, user flows), plus application landscape maps with integration hubs. Free includes every built-in pack; Pro and Enterprise add unlimited diagrams and nodes.

### Can I share or embed a diagram?

Free includes branded public share links. Anyone with the link sees edits and live cursors as they happen, without an account, along with the names of people with edit access who have the diagram open in the editor and of AI agents working on it. Viewers’ own names and cursors are not shown. Embed / iframe is Pro and Enterprise and updates live too. Turning sharing off disconnects viewers right away.

### Can my team edit a diagram together in real time?

Yes. Everyone with edit access sees live cursors, selections, and changes as they happen, and can follow a teammate’s view. AI agents connected through MCP show up the same way, labeled with the person they work for. Undo takes back only your own changes, and a field someone changed afterward is kept. If your connection drops, keep working in the open tab; your changes sync when you reconnect. On Free you edit live with your AI agents; teammates need Pro seats (1–5) or Enterprise (6+).

### Can an AI agent edit my diagrams through MCP?

Yes. Archboard runs an MCP server at https://getarchboard.app/mcp. Add it to your AI app as a remote MCP server (some apps call it a custom connector), sign in with Google or GitHub, and approve access. You choose whether the agent can use all your organizations and workspaces or only the ones you pick, and whether it may read, edit, or also delete there. The agent can list and read your diagrams; with edit permission it can also create and edit them, and its changes appear live with its own cursor; with delete permission it can also move a diagram to the trash, where you can restore it. With edit permission it can also add images. With add_image, Archboard’s servers download the image from the address the app gives, on your behalf (public https only), and keep only the processed image. The address is not stored; only the host name of an address Archboard refuses (for example a private or internal one) can appear in its server logs. Image metadata (location, camera, comments) is always removed. With upload_image, the app gets a one-time upload link: it places one image, expires after 5 minutes, and only a hash of it is stored. The upload’s audit record keeps the IP address of the device that sent the file, which organization owners and admins can see; it is anonymized when you delete your account. You can undo your agent’s change in one step from the undo notice right after the change, or by asking the agent within 7 days; organization owners and admins can undo it too. A field someone changed afterward is kept. MCP works on every plan with the same plan limits as the editor: on Free, 3 diagrams and 15 diagram nodes + 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram. Agent tool calls also have a per-minute rate limit. Rename it, change what it can use and do, or remove access anytime under Settings → Connected apps.

### Is the Archboard document format public?

Yes. Every diagram is a versioned JSON document with a published JSON Schema (archboard-document-v2.json), and the clipboard and edit-operation formats have schemas too. A breaking change gets a new version number and older documents are migrated when they are read; optional fields can be added within a version, so tools should ignore fields they do not know. JSON import and export are on every plan.

### What can I export?

Free: SVG, PNG, and JSON (watermark on raster/SVG). Pro and Enterprise add JPEG, PDF, and looping animated GIF / WebM of diagrams with animated edges, without the Free watermark.

### How does Archboard compare to Miro, Lucidchart, or draw.io?

Archboard is built for durable, structured diagrams (Kubernetes, C4, cloud, and network architecture, flowcharts, and mind maps) in a hosted workspace where people and AI agents edit together in real time, with JSON documents and templates. Miro is a board for workshop facilitation with timers and voting. Lucidchart is a business-diagramming suite with office-suite plugins. draw.io is a generic drawing file. See the compare page for the full matrix.

### Can I draw Kubernetes architecture diagrams in Archboard?

Yes. Archboard is a Kubernetes (k8s) canvas with 33 resource types: Namespace frames, Node, Pod, Deployment, StatefulSet, DaemonSet, Job, CronJob, Service, Ingress, Gateway API routes, ConfigMap, Secret, persistent volumes, RBAC roles and bindings, autoscalers, and custom resources, plus cloud and network packs on the same board. Paste Kubernetes YAML or a Docker Compose file to get a first draft. Domain packs are on Free (15 diagram nodes + 150 notes, text, stickers & mind map topics per diagram). Sign in with Google or GitHub to start free.

### Is Archboard a C4 architecture tool?

Yes. Archboard ships a C4 Model pack (Person, Software System, Container, Component, Database, and boundaries) on the same infinite canvas as Kubernetes, cloud, and network. IcePanel is C4-focused; Archboard is C4 plus the rest of the architecture in one hosted workspace. The C4 pack is on Free.

### What kinds of diagrams can I make in Archboard?

Architecture diagrams (Kubernetes, cloud, C4, network), flowcharts and BPMN processes, sequence, UML, and ER diagrams, mind maps, brainstorming boards with sticky notes and stickers, SWOT, retro, and risk-matrix boards, org charts, application landscape maps, and wireframes with user flows. Each type is a purpose-built node pack on the same infinite canvas, so one diagram can mix them.

### Does Archboard have diagram templates?

Yes. The template gallery has ready-made starting points for brainstorming, affinity maps, mind maps and project plans, meeting notes, roadmaps, SWOT, PESTLE, retrospectives, risk matrices, user flows, cross-functional flows, concept maps, org charts, and Kubernetes. Open one in your workspace and make it your own; templates work on the Free plan. Browse them all on the Templates page.

### Which architecture diagram tool should I use instead of Miro or draw.io?

Archboard fits when the job is a durable, structured diagram (a Kubernetes canvas, C4, cloud or network topology, a flowchart, or a mind map) in a hosted cloud workspace, especially when teammates or AI agents edit it in real time. Workshop facilitation with timers and voting is a different product, and a one-off sketch fits a generic drawing file. Archboard is closed-source cloud SaaS; Pro starts at $10/seat/month.

### Can I brainstorm in Archboard, or is it a whiteboard?

You can brainstorm on the same structured canvas as your architecture: sticky notes, stickers, mind maps, and brainstorm board, affinity map, and meeting notes templates. Everyone editing sees live cursors and new notes as they land, and what you draw stays a diagram the team keeps after the meeting. There are no timers or voting; mark the picks with stickers.

### Where is my data stored?

In Archboard’s hosted cloud infrastructure. Diagrams belong to your organization. A public share link or embed shows the diagram you publish, plus the names and live cursors of people with edit access who have it open in the editor and of AI agents working on it. An AI app you connect can read the diagrams you can access; its provider’s terms cover what it does with them. See the privacy page for details.

## Optional

- [Privacy policy](https://getarchboard.app/privacy): How Archboard handles account, organization, and diagram data in its hosted cloud workspace: what we collect, processors, cookies, and contact.
- [Terms of use](https://getarchboard.app/terms): Terms of use for Archboard, the hosted workspace for smart, structured diagrams: accounts, plans and billing, acceptable use, and contact.
- Machine-readable copies: `/llms.txt` (this file), `/ai.txt` (same body), `/llms-full.txt` (this file plus English FAQ).
- Agent discovery: `/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server` and `/.well-known/openid-configuration` (OAuth 2.1), `/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource/mcp` (MCP resource metadata), `/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json` (MCP server card), `/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json`, `/.well-known/api-catalog` (RFC 9727), `/.well-known/ai-catalog.json` (ARD), `/auth.md`. There is no A2A agent card, no OpenAPI file, and no x402 or other agent payment endpoint.
- Developer docs (markdown): `/developers/mcp.md` (MCP server), `/developers/format.md` (document format).
- Markdown: marketing pages answer `Accept: text/markdown` with an English markdown version on their English URLs (no language prefix); localized URLs such as /tr/pricing return HTML in that language. Blog posts and CMS pages return markdown in the language of their URL when that translation is published.