Best Database Design Tools in 2026
Updated
Schema work can involve building a model, deriving one from an existing database, or preparing SQL for implementation. Compared on supported databases and deployment, these tools also cover forward and reverse engineering, SQL export, team collaboration, and version history. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help frame cost. MySQL, DrawSQL, and ChartDB are among the options shown, alongside DB Designer and DbSchema. Start with the database types and deployment approach that fit your work; then consider whether shared editing, model history, or exporting SQL matters to your process.
Database Design Tools, one module each.A lit port is something its maker publishes; 3 of 3 with a known API signal have a public API.
- 01 MySQL API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.4Free
- 02 DrawSQL API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.3$14.25/mo
- 03 dbdiagram.io API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.2$20/mo
- 04 ChartDB FREE yesDOCS 5.9$25/mo
- 05 Database Workbench FREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 06 DB Designer FREE yesDOCS 5.9$9/mo
- 07 DbSchema FREE yesDOCS 5.9$9/mo
- 08 ERBuilder Data Modeler FREE yesDOCS 5.9$11.58/mo
- 09 Hackolade Studio FREE yesDOCS 5.9€145.83/mo
- 10 pgModeler FREE yesDOCS 5.9$59.90/mo
- 11 QuickDBD FREE yesDOCS 5.9$7.92/mo
- 12 drawDB FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 13 ER Designer FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 14 Schemity FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 15 SQL Power Architect FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 16 WorksCove ERD FREE yesDOCS 5.8$10/mo
- 17 DBModeler FREE yesDOCS 5.7Free
- 18 ERD Designer FREE yesDOCS 5.7Free
- 19 Model Xtractor FREE yesDOCS 5.7Free
- 20 OpenDBD FREE yesDOCS 5.7Free
- 21 Records Database FREE yesDOCS 5.7Free
- 22 YourERD FREE yesDOCS 5.7Free
- 23 Oracle Database DOCS 5.4
- 24 DeZign for Databases FREE noDOCS 5.3$1.92/mo
- 25 Navicat Data Modeler DOCS 5.3
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Reverse engineering | Forward engineering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MySQL | 7.4 | Free plan | Yes | ||||
| 2 | DrawSQL | 7.3 | Free plan | $14.25/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 3 | dbdiagram.io | 7.2 | Free plan | $20/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 4 | ChartDB | 5.9 | Free plan | $25/mo | Yes | 25 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Database Workbench | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 6 | DB Designer | 5.9 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 7 | DbSchema | 5.9 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 8 | ERBuilder Data Modeler | 5.9 | Free plan | $11.58/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 9 | Hackolade Studio | 5.9 | Free plan | €145.83/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 10 | pgModeler | 5.9 | Free plan | $59.90/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 11 | QuickDBD | 5.9 | Free plan | $7.92/mo | Yes | Yes | ||
| 12 | drawDB | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 13 | ER Designer | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | No | No | |
| 14 | Schemity | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 15 | SQL Power Architect | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 16 | WorksCove ERD | 5.8 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 17 | DBModeler | 5.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 18 | ERD Designer | 5.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 19 | Model Xtractor | 5.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 20 | OpenDBD | 5.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 21 | Records Database | 5.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 22 | YourERD | 5.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 23 | Oracle Database | 5.4 | Yes | |||||
| 24 | DeZign for Databases | 5.3 | No | $1.92/mo | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 25 | Navicat Data Modeler | 5.3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.