Name: Visual Paradigm
Brand: Visual Paradigm
Rating: 4.1 (27 reviews)

Petr Klučka

Business & Enterprise Architect at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees

Aug 8, 2017

Download

Provides the features for Enterprise Architecture, Project Management, and Software Development

Pros and Cons

"One tool for everything which provides all the features you need for an Enterprise Architecture and Solution Architecture."

"The speed of redrawing elements and links in complex models - when you need to move part or all of the diagram across the diagram, the tool has a slow response when redrawing objects."

What is most valuable?

One tool for everything which provides all the features you need for an Enterprise Architecture and Solution Architecture.

Wide language coverage for architecture modeling, system design, and software development, e.g., ArchiMate, UML, BPMN, SysML, SoaML, CMMN, ERD, and ORM.

Methodology incorporated in the tool through guides: Zachman, TOGAF ADM with Documentation Cabinet (new from version 14), and Business Motivation Model.

Support for model requirements management, a tool for textual analysis, business concept diagram, and glossary grid.

Intuitive tool control for model creation:

Simple dragging of elements and links from the menu to the model.
Context menu whose functions are specific to the element type or bindings in the model.
Resource Navigator that supports the syntax of a given modeling language.
Element/relation reference: any file/folder, URL, shape, reference to another element.
Set of transit To/From (any diagrams), best to facilitate navigation in a complex model.
Custom TAGs (Element Labels with Values, many Attributes Types).
Stereotypes (metadata, TAGs, +graphic visualization).
Specific repository views: Navigator chart, Model explorer, Class repository, Logical view.

ORM: Reverse/code generation (Java classes, Hibernate, database (SQL including DDL, test data generation, 19 vendors DB) - application and data migration is a easy when you know how to do it.

Repository:

Local: File system (multiple workspaces)
Server:

On-premise Team Work Server (TWS purchased separately) with access from the Internet.
Cloud VPository (1GB free, thin editor for some types of models).

Robust: No problem with a large number of elements and links in the model (verified on large projects with hundreds of diagrams and tens of thousands of elements and links)

OpenAPI: Very well documented, the ability to create custom plugins or applications for integration into a comprehensive solution.

Document Generator: PDF, HTML, DOC that you can customize to your needs (easy use of DOT templates in Word), order and topicality of documentation is the basis of the work of an architect

Interoperability: Export/import (16 formats) such as Excel, XML, XMI, OGAMEFF...this is very important: openness, not closing yourself off.

Tiny, but important details: Language localization, matrix/chart for analysis, overview diagrams, mind maps, brainstorming tool, visual layers in the model, teamwork comments, rights and permissions within the project - important for specific requirements, never work yourself.

How has it helped my organization?

Understanding the current state of enterprise architecture, incentives for: changes, backgrounds for strategy, cost savings, and process optimization.

What needs improvement?

The speed of redrawing elements and links in complex models - When you need to move part or all of the diagram across the diagram, the tool has a slow response when redrawing objects.

Analytic functions/graphs, like BizzDesign - powerful analyses and visualizations for different stakeholders, use heat maps, charts and graphs to highlight business-relevant data in architecture

8/8/2017 EDIT: Export in OGAMEFF format has bugs.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution for five years.

Buyer's Guide

Visual Paradigm

May 2026

Free Report: Visual Paradigm Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about Visual Paradigm. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

896,942 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

No.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

There were no stability issues. Just the little things that were patched.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There were no scalability issues. The client tool does not have extremely high-performance requirements, but a solid workstation/notebook is needed. In other words, SSD, with at least 2GB of RAM. Mainly, it wants a big monitor or two.

The server repository runs smoothly (>two core), with the appropriate disk space to store models (tens to hundreds of MB).

How are customer service and support?

Customer Service:

Standard level: User's Guide, Forum, Know-how, and FAQ.

Technical Support:

The technical support level is good. Their response time is excellent (hours). They can do a patch in a few days and bigger changes in the release update which can take weeks or months.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I did not use a different solution before. I had no reason to switch to another tool due to lack of functionality.

How was the initial setup?

It was a usual installation. The initial setup of the tool can be difficult for the novice. It requires an orientation in a number of options and concepts that are not trivial

What about the implementation team?

No.

What was our ROI?

Depending on how it is used, it is generally possible to speak about months.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Obtain a floating license for a client tool, because not everyone is working with the tool all the time

In case of team use, consider sharing a shared repository: Teamwork Server (bigger investment). Think about what edition of the tool you need. These involve greater price differences

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Evaluated Sparx EA, PowerDesigner, and Visio.

What other advice do I have?

Experience - Go for a trial version.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Product reseller for Czech Republic

it_user387606

System Administrator at a computer software company with 11-50 employees

Jul 23, 2017

The program or suite felt complex at first, but once you dive in, you feel there’s a lot of things you can achieve for your UML documents.

Pros and Cons

"As integration goes, the Suite works wonders when you bounce from coding to document redaction (producing the sets needed of UML), because you just need to translate from one to another, given your programs of coding allows it, like Eclipse ( /products/eclipse-luna ) does."

"I would suggest the shortening and/or hiding some of the information when working on Visual Paradigm, especially when translating from code to UML."

I’ve used Visual Paradigm 8.0, and if I remember correctly, the Suite 4.0 from Object Management Group (OMG). The program or suite felt complex at first, but once you dive in, you feel there’s a lot of things you can achieve for your UML documents.

In addition, the integration with Java helped us to produce UML from coding, and the reverse as well, so one part of the team could work as Architect of the solution, while the other part could work as Developers.

Among our different projects, we had to model the processes of the warehouse and stockrooms for a retailer store – like Target. The BP Visual Architect and the DFD were used to that end. The program allows us to save our work in many available formats, like *.jpg our *.ping.

I would recommend using Visual Paradigm for the following reasons:
· Supporting many types of diagrams
· Support of the Business Process Modeling
· Ease of translating between UML and programming language
· Ease of work in teams.

I would suggest the shortening and/or hiding some of the information when working on Visual Paradigm, especially when translating from code to UML. Some of the classes we create in Java may contain a lot of methods and variables. I feel we do not need to see all the available methods on the image itself, but should be made accessible when drawing a link between said class to another one (for example the class Car calling the class Wheel with a specific UML relationship). Paradigm, especially when translating from code to UML. Some of the classes we create in Java may contain a lot of methods and variables. I feel we do not need to see all the available methods on the image itself, but should be made accessible when drawing a link between said class to another one (for example, the class Car calling the class Wheel with a specific UML relationship).

I don't quite remember if could change the color of the class in the UML, because although blue is among my favorite colors, I would maybe change it for something lighter or different color altogether.

As integration goes, the Suite works wonders when you bounce from coding to document redaction (producing the sets needed of UML), because you just need to translate from one to another, given your programs of coding allows it, like Eclipse does.

If I were to work with another product that still offer great UML capabilities, it might be time consuming when working in both worlds.

Also, I feel there's a greater cooperation in the team when everyone can work with the same set of tools.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Buyer's Guide

Visual Paradigm

May 2026

Free Report: Visual Paradigm Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about Visual Paradigm. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

896,942 professionals have used our research since 2012.

it_user96945

Systems Architect at a aerospace/defense firm with 51-200 employees

Sep 30, 2014

Download

Easy images from diagrams for reports and docs are valuable features, but I'd like to see sharing come built-in.

Pros and Cons

"Reduces time and provides better products than PowerPoint engineering."

"Online support is very lacking and appears to be an entre' for paid support."

What is most valuable?

Easy images from current diagrams for use in reports and architecture documents.

How has it helped my organization?

Like any reasonable Architecture Tool, it produces standard views and allows passing a file with work in it to others.

What needs improvement?

Many missing diagram formats, incomplete support for DoDAF, ToGAF and similar, sharing should come built in to the product and not be like so many other architecture tools where any time you need some it is at additional cost.