Fair comparison
Archyl vs Archi

ArchiMate desktop tool meets modern C4 architecture platformArchi is a free, open-source desktop tool for ArchiMate enterprise architecture modeling. While Archi excels at ArchiMate standard compliance, Archyl focuses on C4 model software architecture with AI discovery, drift detection, MCP integrations, and living documentation that stays in sync with code.

View pricing
archyl

14/15

of 15 compared capabilities fully covered

vs
Archi

1/15

of 15 compared capabilities fully covered

Counted from the comparison table on this page.

Feature by feature

How Archyl and Archi compare

Grouped by the jobs teams hire these tools for, so you can jump to what matters to you.

Capability

Architecture Modeling

Archyl 4/5 · Archi 1/5

C4 model support

Archi uses ArchiMate

Full support
Not available

ArchiMate support

Not available
Full support

Architecture as Code (DSL)

Full support
Not available

Web-based (no install)

Archi is desktop-only

Full support
Not available

Interactive diagram navigation

Full support
Partial

AI & Automation

Archyl 5/5 · Archi 0/5

AI-powered architecture discovery from code

Full support
Not available

MCP server (191 tools for AI assistants)

Full support
Not available

Architecture drift detection & conformance scoring

Full support
Not available

DORA metrics integration

Full support
Not available

Webhooks for architecture changes

Full support
Not available

Collaboration & Integration

Archyl 5/5 · Archi 0/5

Architecture Change Requests

Full support
Not available

Architecture Decision Records

Full support
Not available

Real-time collaboration

Archi is single-user

Full support
Not available

Release management

Full support
Not available

Technology radar

Full support
Not available
  • Full supportFull support
  • PartialPartial
  • Not availableNot available
The honest take

Where Archi shines

Archi has genuine strengths. If these matter most to you, it may be the better fit.

ArchiMate standard compliance

Archi is the reference implementation for ArchiMate, the open standard for enterprise architecture description. Full support for all ArchiMate layers and viewpoints.

Free and open-source

Archi is completely free with no licensing costs. The community maintains it actively and it runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Enterprise architecture depth

ArchiMate covers business, application, and technology layers. It models strategy, motivation, and governance alongside implementation architecture.

Where Archyl goes further

What you get on top of the C4 model itself.

AI-powered discovery

Discover architecture elements straight from your codebase. No manual diagramming to get started.

MCP server, 191 tools

Give Claude, Cursor and other assistants the architecture through 191 specialised MCP tools.

Drift detection

A conformance score and alerts when the code moves away from the documented architecture.

DORA metrics

Deployment frequency, lead time, change failure rate and recovery time, next to architecture health.

Webhooks

Real-time notifications to Slack, Teams or Discord when the architecture changes or drift degrades.

Nine languages

The whole platform in English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean and Italian.

Switching

Moving from Archi to Archyl

A typical migration path, from export to a living model.

1

Decide your modeling approach

Archyl uses C4 model while Archi uses ArchiMate. If your organization needs C4 for software architecture documentation, Archyl is the better fit.

2

Generate C4 model from code

Use AI discovery to create a C4 model from your actual codebase. This provides a more accurate starting point than manual modeling.

3

Map ArchiMate concepts to C4

ArchiMate application components map to C4 containers/components. System software maps to infrastructure. Relationships carry over conceptually.

4

Add governance and collaboration

Enable drift detection, conformance rules, change requests, and team collaboration features that Archi does not support.

Questions teams ask before switching

Should I use ArchiMate or C4 model?

ArchiMate is best for enterprise architecture spanning business, application, and technology layers. C4 model is best for software architecture documentation focused on systems, containers, components, and code. Many organizations use both for different purposes.

Is Archyl free like Archi?

Archyl has a free Developer plan for individual users. Archi is fully free and open-source. For teams needing collaboration, drift detection, and AI features, Archyl provides capabilities Archi cannot.

What does Archyl offer that Archi does not?

Web-based collaboration, AI architecture discovery from code, drift detection, conformance rules, MCP server (191 tools), DORA metrics, ADRs, change requests, Architecture as Code DSL, release management, technology radar, webhooks, and real-time team collaboration.

Free plan forever

See your own architecture in Archyl

Connect a repository or import your Archi model. The free plan is enough to judge for yourself.

  • No credit card
  • Set up in five minutes
  • Viewers are always free
Book a demoRead the quickstart

Archyl vs Archi: Architecture Documentation Comparison

Compare Archyl and Archi (ArchiMate) for architecture documentation. See how C4 modeling, AI discovery, and code-connected documentation differ from ArchiMate…

ArchiMate desktop tool meets modern C4 architecture platform

Archi is a free, open-source desktop tool for ArchiMate enterprise architecture modeling. While Archi excels at ArchiMate standard compliance, Archyl focuses on C4 model software architecture with AI discovery, drift detection, MCP integrations, and living documentation that stays in sync with code.

Archyl vs Archi: Architecture Documentation Comparison

Compare Archyl and Archi (ArchiMate) for architecture documentation. See how C4 modeling, AI discovery, and code-connected documentation differ from ArchiMate enterprise modeling.

archyl vs archi, archi alternative, archimate vs C4 model, architecture documentation tool, archimate alternative, enterprise architecture tool comparison

ArchiMate standard compliance

Archi is the reference implementation for ArchiMate, the open standard for enterprise architecture description. Full support for all ArchiMate layers and viewpoints.

Archi is completely free with no licensing costs. The community maintains it actively and it runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Enterprise architecture depth

ArchiMate covers business, application, and technology layers. It models strategy, motivation, and governance alongside implementation architecture.

Architecture Modeling

Architecture as Code (DSL)

Web-based (no install)

Archi is desktop-only

Interactive diagram navigation

AI-powered architecture discovery from code

MCP server (191 tools for AI assistants)

Architecture drift detection & conformance scoring

DORA metrics integration

Webhooks for architecture changes

Collaboration & Integration

Architecture Change Requests

Architecture Decision Records

Real-time collaboration

Decide your modeling approach

Archyl uses C4 model while Archi uses ArchiMate. If your organization needs C4 for software architecture documentation, Archyl is the better fit.

Generate C4 model from code

Use AI discovery to create a C4 model from your actual codebase. This provides a more accurate starting point than manual modeling.

Map ArchiMate concepts to C4

ArchiMate application components map to C4 containers/components. System software maps to infrastructure. Relationships carry over conceptually.

Add governance and collaboration

Enable drift detection, conformance rules, change requests, and team collaboration features that Archi does not support.

Should I use ArchiMate or C4 model?

ArchiMate is best for enterprise architecture spanning business, application, and technology layers. C4 model is best for software architecture documentation focused on systems, containers, components, and code. Many organizations use both for different purposes.

Is Archyl free like Archi?

Archyl has a free Developer plan for individual users. Archi is fully free and open-source. For teams needing collaboration, drift detection, and AI features, Archyl provides capabilities Archi cannot.

What does Archyl offer that Archi does not?

Web-based collaboration, AI architecture discovery from code, drift detection, conformance rules, MCP server (191 tools), DORA metrics, ADRs, change requests, Architecture as Code DSL, release management, technology radar, webhooks, and real-time team collaboration.