When AWS created the cloud computing market in 2007, cloud infrastructure was simple, there was only few services available. But over the years, more and more services were introduced by AWS, the amount of cloud providers exploded and cloud infrastructure became much more complicated. Diagramming tools have emerged as powerful allies in conveying complex ideas, processes, and concepts through visuals. Two notable contenders in this arena are Draw.io and Holori.

In this article, we will compare Draw.io to Holori, these two architecture diagramming tools to help you make an informed choice.

Draw.io: The generalist Veteran Player

Draw.io, now known as diagrams.net, is a widely recognized and established diagramming tool. It boasts a range of features and functionalities that have made it a popular choice among professionals and casual users alike.

Pros of Draw.io

1. Easy login: No credentials or account required to log in to draw.io

2. Versatility: Draw.io supports various diagram types, from flowcharts and organizational charts to technical diagrams and network diagrams.

3. Customization: Users can tailor their diagrams with a wide range of shapes, styles, and themes, giving them creative freedom in diagram design.

4. Offline Access: Draw.io offers both online and offline versions, ensuring accessibility even when an internet connection is unavailable.

5. Collaboration: Real-time collaboration is one of Draw.io’s strong suits. Multiple users can work on the same diagram simultaneously, making it ideal for team projects and remote work.

6. Price: Draw.io is very cheap, it’s free for personal use and paying options are for teams, confluence integration or on-premise hosting.

Cons of Draw.io

1. Lack of cloud provider icons: Large cloud providers are well covered on Draw.io but if you work with alternatives ones (Digital Ocean, Linode, Oracle…), good luck to find the icons library. Another frustration point is the fact that you need to look in Draw.io library, they are not preloaded.

2. Not specific to cloud architecture diagrams:
   There is no intelligence linked to making a cloud diagram. For example you can’t specify attributes/metadata to your elements, you can’t specify geographical zones or instance size/type, no cloud cost estimation….

3. Manual diagramming tool / time intensive :
   A friend of me recently told me she did an all nighter to create cloud documentation on draw.io. Indeed, to design your infra, you need to drag & drop elements onto the grid, there is no possibility to import from cloud provider console or from terraform to automatically generate the infrastructure diagram.

4. Few cloud infra template :
   To help you design infrastructure faster, templates can speed up your work. Unfortunately Draw.io’s template catalogue for cloud architecture is not very furnished.

5. UI is aging

Holori: The Newcomer made for cloud infrastructure

Holori is a relatively new player in the diagramming tool market, aiming to provide a fresh approach to visual communication.

Pros of Holori:

1. Specialized Cloud Diagrams:
   Holori focuses exclusively on cloud architecture, making it a top choice for professionals working on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud, Digital Ocean, Linode… All the architecture icons are preloaded in the app.

2. Automated diagram generation: One of Holori standout features is its ability to automatically discover and visualize your cloud infrastructure, saving time and effort in diagram creation. Users can connect their AWS account and import their real-world cloud setups to automatically generate diagrams, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in depicting.

3. Diagram from Code: Importing your Terraform files into Holori, you can automatically generate your Terraform diagram. Linking Holori to your CI/CD, Holori is generating a new infrastructure diagram in the comment of your Pull Request. Holori is now working on generating a diff diagram that highlight the future changes of your Pull requests.

4. Cost Estimation: An innovative feature of Holori is its ability to estimate costs associated with the depicted cloud architecture. This can be invaluable for planning and budgeting cloud projects. This cost estimation works with all the cloud provider and is powered by Holori cloud calculator comparing more than 200 000 cloud offers.

5. Metadata for cloud infra: Each elements in Holori diagram has metadata or Terraform attributes where you can give specifications such as the location or instance type. When your designing phase is over, you can export either a PDF documenting your design filled with those attributes or a terraform json file.

6. Strong versioning system: With Holori you can go back in time and see what has been modified, deleted or added and compare it to the current version with a color code that highlight the changes.

Cons of Holori:

1. Solely focused on cloud infra: Holori’s specialization in cloud architecture may limit its utility for those who require diagrams for a wider range of scenarios beyond cloud infrastructure.

2. Learning Curve: The tool’s cloud-centric approach, while beneficial for cloud professionals, may result in a learning curve for those unfamiliar with cloud terminology and concepts.

3. Pricing: Holori’s pricing structure, while competitive, may be less budget-friendly for smaller teams or individuals compared to more general diagramming tools. There is of course a free forever version with limited quotas, next plan starts at 49$ a month.

4. Some features are still in development

5. No offline: Currently, Holori offers only a cloud hosted version due to the need of collecting prices from cloud providers and interacting with cloud providers APIs or Terraform to generate diagrams.

Conclusion: Draw.io vs Holori, who wins?

The choice between Draw.io and Holori ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences.

Draw.io: If you require a versatile and user-friendly tool for a wide range of diagram types and casually design cloud architecture, Draw.io is an excellent choice. Not to mention it's free for personal use.

Start designing on draw.io : https://drawio-app.com/

Holori: On the other hand, if your primary focus is on cloud architecture, that you are cloud architect, DevOps or IT specialist and that you work very regularly on cloud architecture, Holori’s auto-generated diagram feature, terraform import capability, cost estimation and cloud-specific visualizations make it a compelling option that saves you a bunch of time. Of course consider your budget when making your decision.

Generate diagrams automatically here :
https://app.holori.com/