Cloud Discovery Tools
AutoCloud
Cloud Discovery is an open-source multi-cloud resource discovery and diagramming tool. Instead of parsing code, it connects to live cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure, Alibaba, IBM clouds) to map out resources and their connections. It can output an interactive graph of resources, which helps you understand your deployed infrastructure across multiple providers. Initially, Cloud Discovery focused on AWS (where it fully identified relationships), but support for other clouds was in progress.
These tools are helpful for visualizing infrastructure drift or combined architectures that Infrastructure as Code (IaC) may not encompass in a single template (for instance, if you have multiple IaC deployments). Essentially, it resembles an open-source version of what Hava or Cloudviz offer, operating locally or in your own cloud.
⚠️ These tools will save you tons of time on your cloud proposals ⚠️
Comparison of Tools
Below is a comparison table summarizing the major features of these 20 tools:
| Tool | IaC Input Support | Cloud Providers | Export Formats | Collaboration Features | Pricing Model |
| Holori | Manual design + import from IaC/cloud. Can deploy via Terraform output. | AWS, Azure, GCP, Alibaba, etc. (Multi-cloud) | PNG, PDF images; Terraform code export | Team projects, share diagrams online (web app) | Free tier (limited) |
| Brainboard | Terraform HCL import & exportmedium.com; also import from Azure account | AWS, Azure, GCP, Scaleway | PNG image; Terraform code | Real-time collaborative editor in browser, version control integration | 21-day free trial |
| Hava | Terraform state & live cloud import (via API/Provider) | AWS, Azure, GCP (multi-cloud) | PNG, PDF, JSON export | Web app with sharing, auto-updated diagrams, version history | Free tier (1 data source) |
| Lucidscale | CloudFormation/CDK/Terraform (indirect via cloud import) | AWS, Azure, GCP | PNG, PDF, Lucidchart docs | Yes – part of Lucidchart (multi-user editing, commenting)medium.commedium.com | 14-day trial; Enterprise pricing (no free beyond Lucidchart basic) |
| Cloudcraft | No direct code parse (imports deployed env or user draws) | AWS only | PNG, CSV (cost), JSON (via API) | Yes – share link, team editing (in paid tiers) | Free tier (small diagrams) |
| Cloudviz | No code parse (connect AWS account to scan infra) | AWS only | PNG, SVG, PDF, Word, JSON, draw.io | Web-based editor, team accounts (Base vs Team plans) | 10-day free trial |
| Cloudockit | No code parse (connect account for infra) + Visio plugin | AWS, Azure, GCP (multi-cloud) | PDF, Word docs; Visio, draw.io diagrams | Collaboration via generated docs; no live multi-user editing | Free trial (watermarked) |
| AWS Perspective | No code parse (live AWS inventory scan via CFN stack deploy) | AWS only | PNG, PDF (screenshot from UI) | Web UI for interactive use (can share within org) | Free/open-source (you pay AWS resource costs) |
| ARMViz | ARM Template JSON | Azure only | SVG/PNG (via browser screenshot) | None (standalone browser tool) | Free (open source) |
| Eraser (AI) | Terraform .tf or .tfstate; also natural language | AWS, Azure (plus generic diagrams) | PNG (download from editor) | Yes – cloud editor with multi-user editing on saved diagrams | Free web usage (Pro plans for enhanced AI usage) |
| Eagle Eye | Terraform HCL (AWS-focused) | AWS (Terraform AWS provider) | PNG image output | None (CLI tool; share output image manually) | Free (open-source CLI) |
| Blast Radius | Terraform plan/state (dependency graph) | Any (provider-agnostic) | HTML (interactive graph on localhost) | None (local UI only) | Free (open-source) |
| Terraform Visual | Terraform plan JSON | Any (depends on plan content) | Web SVG (in-browser) | None (browser usage) | Free (open-source) |
| Inframap | Terraform HCL or .tfstate | AWS, Azure, GCP (filters by provider) | DOT, SVG (GraphViz) | None (CLI tool) | Free (open-source) |
| Rover | Terraform plan (generates its own plan) | Any (provider-agnostic) | SVG export; local web UI | None (runs locally; share SVG for collaboration) | Free (open-source) |
| TerraVision | Terraform HCL (AWS, with GCP/Azure support evolving) | AWS (multi-cloud planned) | PNG, draw.io (expected) | None (CLI tool; output for documentation) | Free (open-source) |
| CFN Diagrams | AWS CloudFormation/SAM/CDK templates | AWS only | PNG, draw.io diagram, HTML interactive | None (CLI generates files; share those) | Free (open-source) |
| Diagrams (Mingrammer) | Custom code (Python) – not direct IaC parse | AWS, Azure, GCP, K8s, etc. | PNG (or any image via libraries) | Collaboration via code (Git) | Free (open-source) |
| Structurizr | Custom model code (Structurizr DSL or API) | All (abstract, cloud-agnostic with libraries) | PNG, SVG; online viewer | Yes (if using Structurizr SaaS – share workspaces) | Free trial; limited free plan or paid per workspace |
| Cloud Discovery | No code parse (live environment scan) | AWS (multi-cloud goal: GCP, Azure) | JSON graph, HTML report, images | None (tool outputs data; can integrate into reports) | Free (open-source) |
Summary
The best choice depends on your use case: If you want a polished diagram directly from Terraform code, tools like Brainboard, Eagle Eye, TerraVision, or Inframap are useful. For AWS CloudFormation/CDK, CFN Diagrams is excellent.
For live cloud environments and multi-cloud scenarios, Hava, Holori, or Cloudviz provide automated visualizations. If you prefer treating diagrams as part of your codebase, Mingrammer’s Diagrams or Structurizr might appeal.
And if you’re curious about AI-assisted diagramming, Eraser offers a cutting-edge approach to go from IaC to a diagram with minimal effort. All these tools, especially the free tiers and open-source options, make it easier to keep your architecture diagrams in sync with your infrastructure code—improving documentation and team understanding of complex cloud deployments.
