The 10 Best UML Diagram Tool 2018

Last year I started using Visual Paradigm in two of my projects and found it very helpful. As a UML modeling software, Visual Paradigm support not only UML 2 diagram editing but the ability to reuse model elements in different diagrams, which is a feature our team need badly but yet not many UML tools in the market support. Visual Paradigm also features other standards like SysML, BPMN, ERD and DFD. Besides the modeling aspects, they also support some other nice features like wireframing, user story mapping, customer journey mapping, code engineering, TOGAF and PMBOK. I was so surprised by the number of features they supports. And while I haven't tried it, I hear they have an online version that primarily supports drawing UML diagrams (not modeling).

Good stuff:

• UML 2.x diagrams support
• Easy to use - Their diagramming features allows me to draw diagrams intuitively
• Collaborative features - Their team feature is possibly the best in the market. I love their conflict resolution features that allow resolving conflicting work easily.
• Integration with Eclipse - Allow me to model in Eclipse (While I haven't tried it, I know they also support NetBeans, Visual Studio and IntelliJ IDEA)

Weakness:

• Localization is not complete. Take Spanish as example, only part of their GUI has been translated.

One of the open source UML modeling tools. ArgoUML is a UML modeling tool that can run on any Java-enabled platforms. It supports standard UML 1.4 diagrams.

I've been using ArgoUML in some of my small projects. ArgoUML support basic UML modeling activities. The diagramming features is not hard to use, allowing me to easily create, format and align shapes. As I remember there is a design evaluation and checklists feature which helps ensures my models are well formed. Like many other UML tools, ArgoUML has value-added features like code engineering.

UModel is a UML product from Altova, the creator of XMLSpy. UModel supports all 14 UML 2 diagram types and some SysML diagrams. It also supports BPMN. Besides the modeling aspects, UModel includes code engineering support for languages such as Java, C#, VB, etc.

MagicDraw support business process, architecture, software and system modeling tool. It facilitates analysis and design of Object Oriented (OO) systems and databases. It also support code engineering features for languages like Java, C++, C#, etc.

Like ArgoUML, StarUML is also an open source UML tool. StarUML supports most of the UML 2.0 diagram types (timing and interaction overview diagrams missing). StarUML was written in Delphi.

Enterprise Architect offers strong support for basic Model-Driven Development, including automated documentation generation and basic Round-Trip Engineering (RTE) of structural code. They support UML elements, relationships and diagrams specified in UML 2.5.

Gliffy is a UML tool that supports fourteen officially recognized types of UML diagrams. Besides UML it also supports floor plans, Venn diagrams, flowcharts tools online.

UMLetino is a simple and free online UML tool, allowing you to draw diagrams online. Diagrams can also be exported as images / XML. Although it's not as powerful as other paid options, if you’re looking for a free UML online tool, you may consider UMLetino.

Cacoo is a web based drawing tool that supports many kinds of diagram types, including UML. It supports storing multiple versions of your diagram, changes tracking and and the ability to give comments directly on the diagrams.

Modelio is an Open Source UML tool. It supports the UML 2 and BPMN. In terms of features, it supports UML2 Profiles for XSD, WSDL and BPEL, SoaML for service modelling in distributed environments, and BPMN for business process modelling.