How to Create Sequence Diagrams in Confluence (and Free Alternatives)

Confluence is where many engineering teams document their systems. Creating sequence diagrams directly in a Confluence page saves the "screenshot from another tool and paste" dance. Confluence offers three built-in paths: the Gliffy plugin (paid add-on), the Draw.io integration (free), and the Mermaid macro (in newer versions). Each has tradeoffs.

When none of those work well for your workflow, exporting from a browser-based tool and pasting an SVG into Confluence is a universal fallback.

The Mermaid Macro (Native, Fastest)

Atlassian added native Mermaid support to Confluence Cloud in 2023. For Data Center instances, a free Mermaid macro plugin provides the same capability.

To use it:

1. Create or edit a Confluence page
2. Type /mermaid or /code and select Mermaid from the macro menu
3. Paste your Mermaid sequence diagram code
4. Publish the page

The diagram renders inline when the page is viewed. This is by far the cleanest option because the diagram code lives in the page itself. Anyone who can edit the page can edit the diagram. No separate drawing file, no embedded image to replace.

Example Mermaid code to paste:

sequenceDiagram
    actor User
    participant App
    participant API
    participant DB

    User->>App: Submit form
    App->>API: POST /data
    API->>DB: INSERT
    DB-->>API: Record ID
    API-->>App: 201 Created
    App-->>User: Success

For Mermaid syntax reference, see our complete syntax guide. Every feature that works in our browser tool works in Confluence's Mermaid macro.

Draw.io (diagrams.net) Integration

Draw.io is free in Confluence (the Atlassian-provided integration). Use it when you need drag-and-drop editing or when you are creating mixed diagrams (sequence + architecture on one canvas).

To create a sequence diagram:

1. Type /drawio in a Confluence page
2. Select Draw.io Diagram from the macro menu
3. Click New to open the Draw.io editor
4. Enable the UML shape library from the sidebar
5. Drag lifeline boxes and connect them with message arrows
6. Save and close

The diagram becomes an attachment on the page. Viewers see the rendered diagram inline. Editors can re-open Draw.io to modify it.

Draw.io is powerful but slower for sequence diagrams specifically. Every lifeline and arrow is manually placed. A diagram that takes one minute in Mermaid takes ten minutes in Draw.io. If you find yourself creating many sequence diagrams in Confluence, switch to the Mermaid macro for speed.

Where Draw.io still wins in Confluence: complex diagrams combining sequence flows with infrastructure boxes, network elements, or custom shapes. These mixed diagrams are hard to represent in pure Mermaid.

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Gliffy: The Paid Legacy Option

Gliffy is the older Atlassian-certified diagramming tool, available as a paid Marketplace add-on. It predates the native Mermaid and Draw.io options and remains common in enterprise Confluence deployments that have had it for years.

Gliffy has UML sequence diagram shapes, drag-and-drop editing, and version history. The interface is polished. For organizations already paying for Gliffy, it works. For new deployments, Draw.io (free) and Mermaid (free, native) generally make more sense.

If you are maintaining old Gliffy sequence diagrams and want to migrate to Mermaid, there is no automated conversion. Re-create each diagram in Mermaid syntax. This is typically fast since sequence diagrams are structured content. Once migrated, the diagrams live in the page itself as text, and you can stop paying for Gliffy.

Browser Tool + SVG Paste (Universal Fallback)

When none of the above options work (no Gliffy license, Mermaid macro not yet available on your Data Center version, Draw.io disabled by IT), you can still get sequence diagrams into Confluence through SVG export.

The workflow:

1. Create your diagram in our browser-based sequence diagram tool
2. Export as SVG (scalable, stays sharp at any zoom)
3. In Confluence, type /image or drag the SVG file into the page
4. Confluence displays the SVG inline

Tradeoff: the SVG is an attachment, not editable from within Confluence. To update the diagram, you edit in the browser tool, re-export, and replace the attachment. This is more friction than the Mermaid macro, but it works anywhere.

For teams where only a few people create diagrams but many people view them, this tradeoff is acceptable. The creators use the browser tool with keyboard-driven editing (fast). Everyone else sees the diagram embedded in the page (same experience as native options).

Choosing the Right Option for Your Team

• Confluence Cloud or recent Data Center: Use the Mermaid macro. Fastest, free, diagrams live in the page as editable text.
• Already paying for Gliffy: Keep using it for existing diagrams. Consider migrating new diagrams to Mermaid to eventually drop the Gliffy license.
• Need drag-and-drop or complex layouts: Use Draw.io. Free, built into Confluence.
• No macro access or want maximum portability: Create in a browser tool, export SVG, embed.

For teams that want long-term flexibility, choose Mermaid (macro or browser tool). The same diagram code works in Confluence, GitHub, GitLab, Notion, Obsidian, and standalone rendering tools. If you ever leave Confluence for another wiki, your diagrams come with you in text form. Locked-in visual diagrams do not migrate easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a sequence diagram in Confluence?

Three paths: (1) Type /mermaid and paste Mermaid code for the fastest option, (2) Type /drawio for drag-and-drop editing, (3) Create in a browser tool and embed the exported SVG. The Mermaid macro is the simplest and available in Confluence Cloud and recent Data Center versions.

Is Mermaid supported in Confluence?

Yes. Atlassian added native Mermaid support to Confluence Cloud in 2023. For older Data Center instances, free Mermaid macro plugins provide the same capability. Paste Mermaid code directly and it renders inline.

Can I use Draw.io for sequence diagrams in Confluence?

Yes. Draw.io is free in Confluence. It supports UML sequence diagrams through the UML shape library. It offers drag-and-drop editing, which is slower than Mermaid for pure sequence diagrams but more flexible for mixed diagram types.

How do I embed an exported sequence diagram in Confluence?

Export your diagram as SVG from a browser tool. In Confluence, drag the SVG file into the page or use /image to insert it. The SVG renders inline and stays sharp at any zoom level. To update, re-export and replace the attachment.