textusm.com

TextUSM can export your diagrams as PNG, SVG, or PDF. The site lists "Export to images" as a core feature, so the export is a rendered picture of your diagram rather than an editable file you can reopen in another diagramming tool. That makes it suitable for pasting into docs, slides, or tickets, and for sharing a fixed snapshot of a story map.

The three formats and when each makes sense

TextUSM's own description only states that images "can be exported as png, svg or pdf" — it doesn't publish resolution, page-size, or scaling controls, so treat those as things to check in the export dialog itself rather than assumptions.

What gets exported

The export captures the diagram you built from indented text. TextUSM's 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

So the same PNG/SVG/PDF export applies across these diagram types, not just story maps.

How to export

1. Write or paste your indented text so the diagram renders in the workspace.
2. Use the export option and choose PNG, SVG, or PDF.
3. Save the resulting file and place it where you need it (document, slide, ticket, print).

The exact button location isn't documented in the available page content, so look for an export or download control near the diagram view.

Practical notes

• Because the output is an image, plan to keep your source indented text if you'll want to edit the diagram later — the exported file won't be re-editable as a diagram.
• If you need to scale up for a poster or large display, SVG is the safer choice; if you just need to drop it into a chat or doc, PNG is fastest.
• TextUSM's pricing page mentions a Basic plan at $0 with 30 private boards, unlimited local boards, and unlimited public boards. The available page content doesn't state whether export formats are limited by plan, so verify in the app if that matters to you.

TextUSM generates diagrams from indented text. According to its site, you can create a User Story Map, Business Model Canvas, Opportunity Canvas, User Persona, 4Ls Retrospective, Start, Stop, Continue, KPT Retrospective, Mind Map, and ER Diagram, among others. It is a fit if you prefer typing an indented outline and getting a visual diagram, rather than drawing boxes manually.

Diagram types listed by TextUSM

The site's own summary also says "ER Diagram and more," so this list may not be exhaustive.

How the input works

TextUSM's core mechanic is indentation. You write an outline where nesting represents structure, and the tool renders it as the selected diagram type. The site describes the benefit as drawing diagrams "without leaving the keyboard" and instantly visualizing ideas.

For example, for a User Story Map you would indent stories under the activities they belong to; for a Mind Map you would indent child branches under a parent topic. The exact indentation rules per diagram type are not detailed in the available page evidence, so check the editor itself when you start.

Output and export

Per the site, images can be exported as PNG, SVG, or PDF. That makes the result usable in slides, docs, or tickets without needing a separate screenshot step.

Pricing and access

The page lists a Basic plan at $0 with:

• 30 Private Boards, free for life
• Unlimited Local Boards
• Unlimited Public Boards

No payment platforms or paid tiers are mentioned in the available evidence, so treat the above as the only pricing information confirmed by the site.

When TextUSM is a good fit

• You already think in outlines and want the diagram to follow.
• You need one of the listed formats, especially User Story Map or a retrospective layout.
• You want a quick export to PNG, SVG, or PDF.

When it may not fit

• You need a diagram type not listed here (the site says "and more," but the full set is not confirmed).
• You need real-time multi-user editing or advanced styling; the available evidence does not describe those features.
• You need private boards beyond 30 without a paid option, since no paid tier is shown.

To decide, pick the diagram you actually need from the table above, confirm it matches your use case, then start with the free Basic plan and test the indentation rules in the editor.

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

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.

TextUSM turns indented plain text into a User Story Map diagram, so you can build and rearrange the map without leaving the keyboard. It fits the case where you already think in outline form: you type the hierarchy once, and the tool renders it as a visual map you can export as PNG, SVG, or PDF. You need a browser and a TextUSM board; the site lists a Basic plan at $0 with 30 private boards, unlimited local boards, and unlimited public boards.

What TextUSM does

TextUSM generates diagrams from indented text. Its homepage names User Story Map first, and also lists Business Model Canvas, Opportunity Canvas, User Persona, 4Ls Retrospective, Start/Stop/Continue, KPT Retrospective, Mind Map, and ER Diagram. The core promise is speed: draw diagrams without leaving the keyboard, and instantly visualize ideas.

For a User Story Map specifically, the indentation is what carries the structure — the tool reads your outline and lays it out as the map.

Steps to build the map

1. Open TextUSM and start a board (the site's call to action is "Get Started").
2. Type your map as indented text. Use indentation to express the hierarchy and order of the story map.
3. Watch the diagram render as you type — the tool visualizes the text instantly.
4. Adjust by editing the text: re-indent a line to move it, or add lines to extend the map.
5. Export the result as PNG, SVG, or PDF when the map looks right.

The exact menu labels and editor shortcuts aren't documented in the available page content, so treat the above as the workflow the tool describes rather than a click-by-click script.

How to structure the indented text

The page doesn't publish a syntax reference, so the reliable approach is to let indentation mirror the map's levels. A concrete task: if your map has a top-level activity, stories under it, and details under those, write them as three indent levels.

Activity
  Story
    Detail
  Story
    Detail

Keep one idea per line and use indentation — not blank lines or symbols — to signal nesting. If the rendered map doesn't match what you expect, the fastest fix is usually to re-check the indent depth of the line that landed in the wrong place.

Exporting and sharing

TextUSM exports images as PNG, SVG, or PDF. Use PNG for quick sharing in chat or slides, SVG when the map will be scaled or edited further, and PDF for a fixed handout. The Basic plan includes 30 private boards, unlimited local boards, and unlimited public boards, so you can keep work private or publish it depending on the board type.

Common snags

• Map looks flat or misaligned. Almost always an indentation problem — verify each line's indent level matches its intended parent.
• You can't find a specific diagram type. The homepage lists the supported set; if your diagram isn't there, it isn't generated by this tool.
• Pricing questions. The page shows a Basic tier at $0 with the limits above. It doesn't list paid tiers or payment methods, so don't assume features beyond what's stated.

For contact or account questions, the site lists [email protected].

TextUSM is a browser-based diagramming tool that turns indented plain text into visual diagrams. You type a hierarchy using indentation, and the tool renders it as a diagram you can export. It is aimed at people who would rather stay on the keyboard than drag boxes around a canvas — product managers, agile teams, and anyone mapping out ideas quickly. The site's own tagline is "Generate a User Story Map from indented text," and the core promise is speed: draw diagrams without leaving the keyboard.

What diagrams can you create?

According to the site, TextUSM supports these diagram types:

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

The exact list on the page is described as "User Story Map, Business Model Canvas, ER Diagram and more," so treat the set above as the documented examples rather than a guaranteed complete catalog.

How does the text-to-diagram approach work?

The mechanism is indentation-based structure. Instead of positioning shapes, you express hierarchy through nesting:

• A top-level line becomes a top-level element (for example, a backbone step in a user story map).
• Indented lines beneath it become children (for example, the stories under that step).
• Deeper indentation creates deeper levels.

The tool then lays the structure out as a diagram. This is the same mental model as writing an outline, which is why the site emphasizes "work quickly" and "save time — instantly visualize your ideas."

A concrete example: for a user story map, you might write the high-level activities as top-level lines, then indent the user tasks under each, then indent the details under those. TextUSM renders that outline as the familiar story-map grid rather than a flat list.

Key features

Pricing

The site lists a Basic plan at $0, described as "Free for Life," and includes:

• 30 Private Boards
• Unlimited Local Boards
• Unlimited Public Boards

No payment platforms or paid tiers are shown in the available page information, so there is no documented paid plan to compare against. If you need more than 30 private boards, that limit is the constraint to check before committing.

Who is it for?

TextUSM fits you if:

• You think in outlines and want that outline to become a diagram without manual layout.
• You run agile ceremonies (story mapping, retrospectives) and want to capture them fast.
• You need to export a diagram as an image for a doc, slide, or ticket.

It may not fit you if you need fine-grained visual control over shape placement, or if you need a large number of private boards beyond the Basic limit.

How to get started

1. Go to textusm.com and choose Get Started.
2. Pick the diagram type you want (for example, User Story Map).
3. Type your content as an indented outline — top level for main elements, deeper indentation for details.
4. Check the rendered diagram and adjust the indentation until the structure matches your intent.
5. Export as PNG, SVG, or PDF when it looks right.

The main thing to watch: the diagram is only as good as your indentation. If a line lands at the wrong level, the diagram will reflect that, so fix the nesting rather than the layout.