Is TextUSM free, and what does the Basic plan include?

Updated

Yes. TextUSM lists a Basic plan at $0, described as "Free for Life." That plan includes 30 private boards, unlimited local boards, and unlimited public boards. If your work fits within 30 private boards and you don't need paid-tier features, you can use TextUSM without paying.

What the Basic plan includes

Item Basic plan
Price $0
Private boards 30
Local boards Unlimited
Public boards Unlimited
Term Free for Life

The pricing section on the site shows only this one tier, so there is no published paid plan to compare against. Anything beyond these limits isn't documented in the available material.

What counts against the 30-board limit

The limit applies to private boards. Local boards and public boards are listed as unlimited, so the practical constraint is how many private boards you keep.

If you're deciding whether the free plan is enough, estimate your private board count first:

  • Personal use or a single project — a handful of private boards is usually plenty, so Basic fits.
  • Multiple teams or many concurrent products — if you expect to exceed 30 private boards, the free plan may become tight, and no upgrade path is published on the page.

What you get beyond pricing

TextUSM generates diagrams from indented text, so you build structure by typing rather than dragging shapes. Supported diagram types include:

  • User Story Map
  • Business Model Canvas
  • Opportunity Canvas
  • User Persona
  • 4Ls Retrospective
  • Start, Stop, Continue
  • KPT Retrospective
  • Mind Map
  • ER Diagram

Export options are PNG, SVG, and PDF, so diagrams can leave the tool as images or documents.

Who the free plan suits

The Basic plan is a reasonable fit if you:

  • Want to draft user story maps or other diagrams from indented text
  • Work solo or on a small number of private projects
  • Are fine with public or local boards for anything beyond your private limit
  • Need image or PDF export without paying

It's a weaker fit if you need many private boards, team-level controls, or a documented paid tier with additional capacity — none of which appear in the available pricing information.

To start, the site's "Get Started" entry point leads into the tool; the Basic plan is the only listed option, so you can begin on the free tier and track how many private boards you create.