We stand with Ukraine to help keep people safe. Join us
All Apps
Best AppsReviewsComparisonsHow-To
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

Monodraw for Mac

Powerful ASCII art editor.

$9.99
In English
Version 1.6.1
4.2
Based on 6 user rates

Monodraw overview

Plain text has been around for decades and it's here to stay. Monodraw allows you to easily create text-based art (like diagrams, layouts, flow charts) and visually represent algorithms, data structures, binary formats and more. Because it's all just text, it can be easily embedded almost anywhere. Of course, exporting as images is also supported (PNG and SVG).

  • A picture is worth a thousand words. A diagram is probably worth twice as much. Enhance your technical documentation (code, specs) with easy to comprehend textual art. Visualisation of data structures, algorithms and data formats plays a crucial role in understanding. You will be reading the code more often than writing it, so why not make it much easier to grasp.
  • Easily create text banners with just a single click. FIGlet is built into Monodraw and we bundle 148 fonts as standard (custom ones are supported, too). You can interactively resize the text box, change the font and adjust the alignment - no need for a terminal.
  • Combine the simplicity of plain text with the power of mind mapping. Monodraw gives you the freedom to manage your textual data exactly the way you want. Move text around anywhere in the infinite canvas - no need to be constrained by the linear structure of a text file.
  • Do you deal with databases? Then you know how useful entity-relationship diagrams can be. Visually describe your data model with a simple ER diagram. Monodraw supports Crow's Foot notation in three different variants to suit your personal preference.
  • Monodraw is powered by a custom CoreText-based text engine giving you precise control over the layout. You can adjust the alignment, position, line sweep direction and line movement. Adding a border around your text is only a click away, too.
  • The line tool makes connecting shapes as easy as pie. Orthogonal and staircase lines are supported with the ability to set a line dash pattern. Attachment points allow you to dynamically attach your lines to other shapes so that you don't have to re-arrange them each time you move things around.
  • The rectangle tool can be used to create all kinds of boxes which are the most commonly used element in text art. Specify border or a background with just a few clicks. Oh, you can add shadows, too! Last but not least, custom attachment points will help you attach your lines at exactly the right place.
  • The basic drawing tools that you would expect make their usual appearance. The Pencil, the Eraser and the Bucket Fill are all indispensable when it comes to producing textual art.

What’s new in version 1.6.1

Bug Fixes
  • Fix custom shadow text field

Monodraw for Mac

$9.99
In English
Version 1.6.1
Write a detailed review about Monodraw

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
4.2

(3 Reviews of Monodraw)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

MacDefender
MacDefender
Jun 5 2019
1.4
0.5
Jun 5 2019
0.5
Version: 1.4
Was a fun application until they decided to force customers into 10.14 for no reason. Will never again consider any app from this developer as they don't value their customers.
evilinstone
evilinstone
Jun 13 2017
1.2.2
5.0
Jun 13 2017
5.0
Version: 1.2.2
One of the best and most useful tool on my Mac
Dylan-Mc
Dylan-Mc
Apr 23 2015
0.8.5.1
4.5
Apr 23 2015
4.5
Version: 0.8.5.1
Mondodraw is to JavE (a free Java-based ASCII-art program) as Illustrator is to Photoshop. What I mean by that is that Mondodraw keeps the notion of "objects" around, even after they're created - so you can change the font of text, the size of a rectangle, etc. While JavE (and Email effects before it) basically flatten things down to characters, and "forget" the structure. Mondodraw is very polished, and structure is a nice feature in an ASCII art program. I only ding them half a star because of the price. At 40% off, it's a bit more expensive than Email Effects was (sadly, no longer available). I couldn't justify the full price, though I decided to take advantage of the discount period. Nice program!
Aetnaria
Aetnaria
Sep 23 2022
1.6.1
5.0
Sep 23 2022
5.0
Version: 1.6.1
MacDefender
MacDefender
Jun 5 2019
0.5
Jun 5 2019
0.5
Version: null
evilinstone
evilinstone
Jun 13 2017
5.0
Jun 13 2017
5.0
Version: null
Mindplay
Mindplay
Jun 12 2017
5.0
Jun 12 2017
5.0
Version: null
fukurokujo
fukurokujo
Apr 29 2017
5.0
Apr 29 2017
5.0
Version: null
Dylan-Mc
Dylan-Mc
May 15 2015
4.5
May 15 2015
4.5
Version: null