⚡️ TL;DR
- IcePanel and Structurizr both support the C4 model.
- IcePanel is primarily drag-and-drop based with a simple UI designed for collaboration.
- Structurizr is a diagrams-as-code tool with a steeper learning curve and lengthier setup.
- It’s easier to get started with IcePanel with its accessible design and cloud-based solution. Structurizr is open-source and self-hosted only, since its cloud service reached end of life in 2026. The open-source core is free, but the packaged server needs a paid licence.
🆚 Comparing IcePanel with Structurizr
Both IcePanel and Structurizr support the C4 model for visualizing software architecture. IcePanel is designed for teams that want the power of modelling, combined with an interactive, collaborative, and intuitive UI. Structurizr is built for more technical audiences that want to document diagrams as code using the C4 model.
Depending on what you’re looking for, IcePanel or Structurizr might be the right fit. In short, if you want an easier-to-use tool for both technical and non-technical audiences, IcePanel is the better option. If diagrams as code is more important and you’re willing to spend more time and effort educating teams on a DSL, Structurizr is the better fit.
| IcePanel | Structurizr | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Architects and developers, plus non-technical viewers | Mainly for software architects and developers. |
| Primary use case | Software architecture diagramming and modelling using the C4 model. | Software architecture modelling using the C4 model. |
| Ease of use | Drag-and-drop and interactive. Easy to use. | Diagrams-as-code with DSL. Higher learning curve and setup required. |
Let’s break down how both of these tools compare.
📝 Key features
IcePanel is a drag-and-drop-based modelling tool, which makes it easy to get started if you’re technical or non-technical. It includes all the core C4 model levels and abstractions, except for Level 4. Instead, IcePanel allows you to add links to objects (e.g. your source code or documentation).
Structurizr on the other hand, is based on diagrams-as-code with a Structurizr DSL. Everyone who contributes has to learn the DSL syntax first. This makes Structurizr a less ideal tool for teams that want to collaborate across different audiences, technical and non-technical.
| Feature | IcePanel | Structurizr |
|---|---|---|
| Diagram types | 3 zoomable C4 levels, plus deployment views via Groups | All C4 views plus dynamic, deployment, and custom views |
| Model-based | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Manual layout | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes, but more limited. |
| Ability to add icons | ✅ 3000+ icons on all plans, plus custom icons | ✅ No library, but theme icons and custom icons |
| Shapes | Fixed C4 shapes (actor, system, app, store, component) | Around 19 shape styles (box, cylinder, person, hexagon, etc.), applied through tags. |
| Custom objects | ✅ Yes, with Groups | ✅ Yes, with custom elements |
| Connection types | Single-direction, bi-direction | Single-direction only |
| Custom tags for objects | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Interactive user journeys | ✅ Yes, with Flows | 🔴 No |
| Dependencies view | ✅ Yes | 🔴 No |
| Domains | ✅ Yes | 🔴 No |
| Auto-layout | 🔴 No | ✅ Yes |
| Diagrams-as-code | 🟡 Model as code (JSON/YAML, REST API, SDKs) | ✅ Yes |
👥 Team collaboration
Architecture design is a team sport that’s rarely done in isolation. The more people involved, the more accurate the designs and technical fluency across the organization. With IcePanel being a cloud-based tool, collaborating is much easier than with Structurizr, which requires an on-prem setup. IcePanel also has a powerful drafting feature, allowing teams to ideate, collaborate, merge, and track changes over time.
| Feature | IcePanel | Structurizr |
|---|---|---|
| Commenting | ✅ 3 comment types with mentions. Free viewers can comment | 🔴 No |
| Share links | ✅ Read-only links with password protection or SSO-restricted access on Growth plans. | ✅ Read-only public links, or token-based sharing links on the licensed server. |
| Revision history and versioning | ✅ Manual or scheduled versions, with revert | ✅ Versions of workspaces. Ability to revert to a previous version. |
| Drafts | ✅ Model-based (multi-diagram) drafts that can be merged in a Git-like flow. | 🔴 No |
| Embeds | ✅ Embed interactive diagrams using iFrames. | ✅ Embed interactive diagrams using iFrames. |
| Viewers | ✅ Viewers are free and unlimited on all plans. | ✅ Read-only roles on the licensed server (not in the open-source core). |
| ADRs | ✅ Yes, with Decision records | ✅ Yes |
🔁 Importing and exporting
IcePanel supports model imports from JSON, YAML, and other tools, while Structurizr can import ADRs and discover components from Java code. Both tools allow you to export data in different file formats, with Structurizr supporting code-based exports.
Importing
| IcePanel | Structurizr |
|---|---|
| JSON/YAML (model as code), Structurizr, Backstage, REST API | ADRs, DSL/JSON workspaces, Java components. PlantUML/Mermaid as images only |
Exporting
| Export | IcePanel | Structurizr |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | ✅ | ✅ |
| ✅ | 🔴 | |
| SVG | ✅ | ✅ |
| JPEG | 🔴 | 🔴 |
| JSON | ✅ | ✅ |
| CSV | ✅ | 🔴 |
| REST API | ✅ | ✅ |
| PlantUML | 🟡 (only Flows) | ✅ |
| Mermaid | 🟡 (only Flows) | ✅ |
🔒 Security
IcePanel is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant, with robust security and controls. Structurizr is an open-source, self-hosted tool, so security is dependent on the end-user’s setup.
| Feature | IcePanel | Structurizr |
|---|---|---|
| SSO | ✅ (available on Growth plans) | 🟡 SAML SSO on the licensed server |
| SOC 2 Type II | ✅ | 🔴 |
| GDPR | ✅ | 🔴 |
| ISO 27001 | ✅ | 🔴 |
| Pen tests | ✅ | 🔴 |
💰 Pricing
IcePanel is a subscription-based service, where you pay per editor on either a monthly or annual plan. Structurizr’s open-source core is free, but it has no authentication, role-based access, or sharing links. The packaged server with those features is licensed per installation, from £300 for up to 20 users. Either way, you host and maintain it yourself.
Team pricing
| Term | IcePanel (Growth) | Structurizr |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $50/editor | N/A |
| Annual | $40/editor (20% discount) | Licensed server from £300 (1–20 users) |
Scale and Enterprise pricing
| Term | IcePanel (Scale) | Structurizr |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | $80/editor (20+ editors) | N/A |
| Enterprise | Custom (50+ editors), with single-tenant option | N/A |
🏁 To wrap up
IcePanel and Structurizr both support the C4 model. IcePanel is a better fit if you’re mainly looking for an easy-to-use tool with minimal setup that everyone can use. Structurizr may suit teams that specifically want diagrams-as-code. It requires more setup and encourages less collaboration with non-technical audiences.
