# 12 best D2 alternatives (2026)

> 12 D2 alternatives on the same Dev Tools shelf (2026). D2 is open source on CLI VS Code CI.

Canonical: https://www.isthereanytool.app/alternatives/d2

D2 is filed as open source Dev Tools software, best for Modern text-to-diagram infra docs. Contemporary diagrams-as-code with beautiful layouts. We grouped picks by shared shelf tags and our own comparisons. This page lists 12 tools shoppers compare against D2 in our catalog — not vendor rankings.

## Alternatives

1. [Mermaid Live Editor](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/mermaid-live-editor) — Default docs-as-code diagram path.
2. [draw.io](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/draw-io) — Deepest free shape library for formal diagrams.
3. [PlantUML](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/plantuml) — Veteran diagrams-as-code for UML-heavy teams.
4. [Graphviz](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/graphviz) — Foundational layout engine many tools wrap.
5. [Diagrams Python](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/diagrams-python) — Infra diagrams from Python in CI.
6. [Kroki](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/kroki) — One renderer gateway for polyglot diagrams-as-code.
7. [Markmap](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/markmap) — Mindmaps from nested Markdown lists.
8. [AsciiFlow](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/asciiflow) — Retro ASCII architecture sketches.
9. [Eraser](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/eraser) — AI + tech-doc diagrams for architecture flows.
10. [Whimsical](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/whimsical) — Fast pretty flows without Miro ceremony.
11. [Miro](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/miro) — Default facilitation whiteboard for product teams.
12. [dbdiagram.io](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/dbdiagram-io) — Best lightweight ERD-as-code.

[Full D2 record](https://www.isthereanytool.app/tool/d2)