Best Free Professional Looking UML Tool?

Question

I like the look of the Visual Studio Class Designers, but it doesn't give me the flexibility of designing before I implement the code.

Also, I'd like to show interfaces, inheritance, and aggregation lines between classes and properties as well.

I am on the lookout for a free tool to help me diagram some of the projects that I do on the side. I'd like to provide professional looking diagrams to place on my blog.

Visio, SmartDraw, Poseidon aren't free and I don't like the way StarUML or Gliffy looks.

Any ideas? Remember... free is the key!

Answer 1

Already answered here;

Here is some:

• StarUML - http://staruml.sourceforge.net/en/ (Free)

• Enterprise Architect from Sparx Systems (Not free)

• Violet

• Umbrello UML

• ArgoUML

Here is a complete list of over 50 UML designer (free and not) Wikipedia list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UML_tools

Answer 2

I am a big fan of Umbrello as it integrates well with the Linux based tools that I already use and because it is managed by my OS installation automatically.

http://uml.sourceforge.net/

I used to use ArgoUML but switched as I prefer the interface and output from Umbrello. Both are completely free and work fine.

Answer 3

Nothing beats the looks of Sparx's EA. Even if not free. All free UML tools look ugly.

BTW, you can use Sparx for 60 days free so, if what you want is a nice looking drawing, it will do the trick.

Answer 4

+1 for StarUML which is really really good! ..Enterprise Architect is pretty good too.

Answer 5

I like Smartdraw myself.

Answer 6

Here's another SO post on the subject.

Answer 7

You should try Modelio Free Edition

Answer 8

titchugui - thanks... I just downloaded the free edition of Modelio and so far I'm quite impressed with the quality of the diagrams you can produce with it... Runs a little slow though.

Answer 9

You can try CodePlant UML designer, still in Beta, but we provide features and fixes every week. UI is WPF based and MEF is used for custom extensibility.

Answer 10

you should look at Software Ideas Modeler

Answer 11

I'd suggest Red Koda Community if you look for free, fast and easy UML tool.

Answer 12

My number one choice used to be the old Netbeans UML plugin, but it turned out into a bloated product under Visual Paradigm. There seems to be some community work around it but have not seen much advance.

So I stayed with Dia =(

Answer 13

Take a look at Topcased