Brandwave

Excalidraw vs Mermaid:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Excalidraw had more branded searches than Mermaid among diagramming software worldwide. Excalidraw had about 823,000 branded searches, while Mermaid had 55,300. Excalidraw made up 13.5% of all diagramming software searches we track, and Mermaid accounted for 0.91%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about diagramming software, Excalidraw and Mermaid each appeared in three of the five answers. Mermaid was mentioned before Excalidraw in three out of four answers that named either.

Among diagramming software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Excalidraw, about 15 searches for every 1 for Mermaid

Excalidraw 823K searchesMermaid 55.3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Excalidraw in 3 of 5Mermaid in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Mermaid, named ahead of Excalidraw in 3 of 4 answers

Mermaid first in 3Excalidraw first in 1

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Top diagramming software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Excalidraw was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Mermaid was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Mermaid was listed before Excalidraw in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. draw.io1st
  2. Lucidchart2nd
  3. Miro3rd
  4. Mermaid4th
  5. Whimsical5th
  6. Excalidraw6th
  7. Microsoft Visio7th
  8. SmartDraw8th
  9. Creately–
  10. Gliffy–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • draw.io5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Miro5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lucidchart5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Excalidraw3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mermaid3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Whimsical3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Visio2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SmartDraw1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Creately0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Gliffy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about diagramming software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Excalidraw or Mermaid more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Excalidraw and Mermaid by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten diagramming software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Excalidraw and Mermaid among diagramming software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Excalidraw, Mermaid. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
Monthdraw.ioMiroExcalidrawLucidchartMicrosoft VisioSmartDrawMermaidCreatelyGliffyWhimsical
Oct 202534.1%33.3%8.2%12.4%8%1.7%1.6%0.61%0.17%0.01%
Nov 202537.3%29.8%9%11.2%8.2%1.8%1.9%0.67%0.15%0.01%
Dec 202537.3%30.1%11%9.2%8.3%1.5%1.9%0.55%0.16%0.01%
Jan 202636.5%29.3%10.7%9%9.9%1.8%2.2%0.44%0.19%0.01%
Feb 202635.6%28.5%10.5%10.7%9.7%2.1%2.1%0.53%0.18%0.02%
Mar 202636.7%29.3%10.8%11.1%8.1%1.8%1.4%0.54%0.16%0.01%
Apr 202636.9%29.5%10.8%11.1%8.1%1.5%1.5%0.44%0.13%0.01%
May 202640.5%26.6%12%10.2%7.3%1.3%1.5%0.4%0.12%0.01%
Jun 202636.6%29.5%13.2%9.4%8.1%1.2%1.6%0.3%0.11%0.02%
Jul 202635.3%28.2%15.6%9.4%8.3%1.4%1.4%0.28%0.13%0.02%
Aug 202635.5%28.2%15.6%9.5%7.9%1.8%1.3%0.28%0.13%0.01%
Sep 202637.6%30%13.5%9.3%6.8%1.5%0.91%0.3%0.09%<0.01%

How has the Excalidraw and Mermaid comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Excalidraw was ahead of Mermaid in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Excalidraw’s share of searches among diagramming software worldwide moved from 8.2% to 13.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 823K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mermaid’s share of searches among diagramming software worldwide moved from 1.6% to 0.91%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 107K to 55.3K.

How did search popularity change for diagramming software worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Excalidraw lost share of searches among diagramming software worldwide, from 15.6% to 13.5%.

  2. Mermaid’s share of searches among diagramming software worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.6% to 0.91% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Excalidraw’s and Mermaid’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Excalidraw

1 branded search term

  • excalidraw

Mermaid

2 branded search terms

  • mermaid chart
  • mermaid js

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among diagramming software

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