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Hackolade Studio

hackolade.com

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Spec score 9.1 #1 of 27 in Data Modeling Software

What it is

Hackolade Studio is a data modeling and schema design tool for relational and NoSQL databases, APIs, and data exchange formats. It supports conceptual, logical, and physical models using ER diagrams and hierarchical schema views, with the maker describing more than 45 physical targets. Studio can reverse-engineer supported sources and generate DDLs, schemas, validators, and documentation. It supports forward engineering and SQL export, with a broad list of supported databases including BigQuery, Cassandra, MongoDB, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, and SQL Server. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. The free Community edition limits each model to 50 objects and omits advanced forward and reverse engineering, Git, and Collibra integrations. Its 14-day evaluation includes unrestricted Professional and Workgroup features and requires no credit card. Workgroup adds Git-based collaboration and support. Its monthly subscription is €175 a month; annual billing is €1,750 a year.

Spec sheet

What it does
Hackolade Studio visually models schemas for relational and NoSQL databases, APIs, and storage or exchange formats using ER diagrams and hierarchical schema views.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Purpose
Hackolade Studio is a data modeling and schema design tool for relational and NoSQL databases, APIs, and data exchange formats.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Intended users
The maker describes the product for analysts, data architects, designers, developers, and DBAs, and calls the Personal edition suitable for startups and individual developers.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Platforms
The desktop download page provides Windows, Mac, and Linux installers, and the Community edition runs in a browser.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Trial
The 14-day evaluation offers Professional and Workgroup features without restrictions and does not require a credit card.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Integrations
The edition comparison lists GitHub, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, and GitLab workflow integrations; Collibra integration requires an optional upgrade.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Support
The pricing page says the Workgroup subscription includes support and directs customers with questions to [email protected].Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
AI and data handling
The maker says AI is off by default, customers choose the model or provider, and data models stay local or in Git repositories rather than on Hackolade servers.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
API generation
An ER model can generate CRUD-oriented OpenAPI or Swagger schemas and documentation using configurable templates.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Browser deployment
The browser edition runs client-side, stores models locally or in the user's Git repositories, and does not use a Hackolade application server.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
CLI
The command-line interface supports reverse engineering, forward engineering, model comparison, API generation, documentation, Excel, data dictionaries, obfuscation and polyglot conversions in CI or scheduled jobs.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Collibra integration
An optional add-on uses Collibra Core and Import APIs to publish and synchronize Hackolade model assets, including nested and polymorphic structures.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Community limits
The free Community edition limits each model to 50 objects and omits advanced forward and reverse engineering and Git and Collibra integrations.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Company facts
LinkedIn lists Hackolade as a privately held Brussels IT-services company founded in 2015 with 11–50 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · be.linkedin.com
Current release
The download page lists Hackolade Studio version 8.13.4.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Custom properties
Organizations can add custom properties and validation controls through JSON configuration files, including fields for governance such as PII or GDPR tracking.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Database objects
Stored procedures, functions, triggers and sequences are represented as physical properties and can be reverse- or forward-engineered when supported by a target.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Documentation output
The application generates human-readable HTML, Markdown and PDF reports plus machine-readable schema formats.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Engineering
Studio can reverse-engineer supported sources and generate DDLs, schemas, validators, and documentation.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Excel round trip
Users can export selected model objects and properties to Excel, edit them in a spreadsheet, and import the changes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Forward engineering
Models can produce DDL, JSON Schema, YAML, Avro, Parquet, Protobuf, OpenAPI, Excel, dbt and documentation artifacts.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Founder
Hackolade identifies Pascal Desmarets as its founder and CEO.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Git collaboration
The Workgroup edition adds Git repository integration for versioning, branching, change tracking, collaboration, and peer review.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Git integrations
Workgroup provides native Git repository workflows with versioning, branching, change tracking, collaboration and peer review, supporting GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Installation
Desktop installation does not require administrator rights but does require write access to the chosen installation directory.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Legal maker
The EULA identifies IntegrIT SA/NV, doing business as Hackolade, registered in Beersel, Belgium.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Licence
Studio is commercially licensed proprietary software; the EULA grants use rights but not redistribution rights.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Limit: collaboration hosting
The CTO Club notes that Studio is not a traditional SaaS service with built-in hosted real-time collaboration.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thectoclub.com
Limit: community edition
The 7wData review identifies the 50-object Community limit and absence of full governance capabilities such as lineage and metadata search.Read 14 Oct 2026 · 7wdata.be
Limit: pricing complexity
Independent reviews flag per-seat pricing and multiple dedicated or floating license choices as difficult for some buyers to evaluate.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thectoclub.com
Limit: relational depth
The CTO Club says relational support is less feature-rich than specialist traditional relational modeling tools.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thectoclub.com
Modeling
It supports conceptual, logical, and physical modeling with ER diagrams and hierarchical schema views.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Modeling levels
The product supports connected conceptual, logical, and physical data models.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Notable news
Hackolade says it received an Oracle Global Leaders Champion award for Model Hub in October 2025.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
OpenAPI validation
The OpenAPI target writes JSON or YAML conforming to the OpenAPI specification and includes syntax validation and an API testing pane.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Plugin extensibility
Target plugins can combine configuration and custom JavaScript for new database, file-format, IDL or API targets.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Praise: interface
FeaturedCustomers testimonials describe the interface as attractive, easy to use and enjoyable to work with.Read 14 Oct 2026 · featuredcustomers.com
Praise: polyglot modeling
The CTO Club review praises broad SQL, NoSQL, API and format modeling, Git collaboration and handling of complex nested JSON.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thectoclub.com
Praise: vendor support
Testimonials repeatedly praise responsive support, quick answers, clear solutions and willingness to improve the product.Read 14 Oct 2026 · featuredcustomers.com
Rating on FeaturedCustomers
4.8 out of 5 from 969 reference ratingsRead 14 Oct 2026 · featuredcustomers.com
Rating on G2
0.0 out of 5 from 0 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
0 out of 5 from 0 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Relational features
Relational modeling includes tables, views, columns, primary and foreign keys, cardinality, indexes and constraints.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Reverse engineering
It can reverse-engineer live databases, DDL, JSON, JSON Schema, Excel, PowerDesigner, erwin, ER/Studio exports, and Mermaid output.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Security and telemetry
Hackolade states that Studio collects no usage telemetry, does not process customer models, and exchanges only information needed for licensing or updates.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Security checks
The download page offers SHA-256 checksum files for the current Windows and Linux applications.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Self-hosting limit
Hackolade states that an internally self-hosted version of the Studio browser deployment is not offered.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
System requirements
Recommended systems are Windows 10 with at least 4GB RAM, macOS 13 Ventura or newer, or 64-bit Ubuntu 20+ or RHEL 8+ Linux.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Targets
The maker describes Studio as supporting more than 45 physical targets.Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com

Plans and prices

Workgroup Edition Trial Priced on request 14 days Read 20 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Workgroup Edition Monthly Subscription €175 a month Charged automatically monthly unless cancelled Polyglot data modeling · Support included Read 20 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Workgroup Edition Annual Subscription €1,750 a year Charged automatically annually unless cancelled Polyglot data modeling · Support included Read 20 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Workgroup Edition Floating Seats Subscription Priced on request Unlimited PCs Read 20 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
14-day trial Free 14 days All Professional and Workgroup features · no credit card Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Community Edition Free Free · 50 model objects per model · browser based · no registration or download Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Community Edition Free 50 model objects · browser-based · no forward/reverse engineering · no HTML documentation Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Workgroup dedicated monthly €175 a month Automatically each month until cancelled Per dedicated seat · includes support Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Workgroup Edition monthly subscription $175 a month per dedicated seat and per month Polyglot Data Modeling · support included · automatic monthly renewal unless canceled Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Workgroup dedicated annual €1,750 a year Automatically each year until cancelled Per dedicated seat · includes support · two months free versus monthly Read 14 Oct 2026 · hackolade.com
Workgroup Edition annual subscription $1,750 a year per dedicated seat and per year Polyglot Data Modeling · support included · automatic annual renewal unless canceled Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com
Floating Seats Subscription Priced on request Install on unlimited PCs · simultaneous users limited to subscribed floating seats Read 29 Sep 2026 · hackolade.com

Every Hackolade Studio plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Models relational, NoSQL, API, and exchange-format schemas.
  • Reverse engineering, forward engineering, and SQL export.
  • Runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and web.
  • 14-day evaluation requires no credit card.
  • Workgroup includes support and Git collaboration.

Limits

  • Community models are limited to 50 objects.
  • Community omits advanced engineering and Git integration.
  • Workgroup costs €175 a month.

Who it suits

It suits analysts, data architects, designers, developers, and DBAs who need to model schemas across supported sources. The free Community edition may suit users working within its 50-object model limit.

Hackolade Studio in depth

Read the full write-up

Hackolade Studio is a modeling and schema-design environment for teams working across relational and NoSQL databases, APIs, and data exchange formats. It is best suited to data professionals who need models to connect to engineering workflows across varied targets. The Community edition is a useful entry point, but its per-model cap and missing engineering features make the paid plans the practical choice for substantial projects.

Overview

Studio spans conceptual, logical, and physical modeling, with ER diagrams for relational structures and hierarchical views for other schema shapes. The maker says it supports more than 45 physical targets, a breadth that can help organizations standardize modeling across different data systems rather than rely on separate tools.

It also bridges design and implementation: supported sources can be reverse-engineered, and models can produce DDLs, schemas, validators, and documentation. That combination is more useful than diagramming alone for teams maintaining existing systems or carrying designs toward implementation. The main qualification is that the free Community edition is limited to 50 objects per model and excludes advanced forward and reverse engineering.

Key features

Modeling and engineering

Working at conceptual, logical, and physical levels lets users move from broad data concepts to target-specific structures. ER and hierarchical views accommodate different kinds of models, while forward engineering, reverse engineering, and SQL export connect the design to database work. These capabilities are a stronger fit for active development and schema maintenance than for users who only need a quick visual sketch.

The supported database targets include MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, Snowflake, DynamoDB, BigQuery, and many others. The range is a clear advantage for polyglot environments, though the maker's count of more than 45 targets should not be taken to mean that every target has identical capabilities.

Team workflow and data handling

Workgroup adds Git integration for versioning, branching, change tracking, collaboration, and peer review. Its listed workflow integrations include GitHub, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, and GitLab; Collibra requires an optional upgrade. This makes the team edition more compelling for groups that already manage model changes through Git, while solo users may not need its collaboration layer.

AI is off by default, and customers choose the model or provider. The maker says models remain local or in Git repositories rather than on Hackolade servers, a useful data-handling position for teams cautious about sending schema assets to a vendor service. The download page also provides SHA-256 checksums for current Windows and Linux applications.

Pricing

Hackolade uses a freemium model, with a free Community edition and a 14-day evaluation of Professional and Workgroup features without restrictions or a credit card. The evaluation is a low-friction way to assess paid capabilities, but its short duration is not a substitute for a permanent free tier when engineering needs exceed Community's limits.

Community Edition: Free, with a 50-object limit per model. It omits advanced forward and reverse engineering and Git and Collibra integrations, so it suits learning, small models, or early evaluation more than production-scale modeling.

Workgroup Edition Trial: Free for 14 days, with Professional and Workgroup features unrestricted and no credit card required.

Workgroup Edition Monthly Subscription: €175 a month, billed automatically monthly unless cancelled. Polyglot data modeling and support are included; this suits teams that prefer a monthly commitment.

Workgroup Edition Annual Subscription: €1,750 a year, billed automatically annually unless cancelled. It includes polyglot data modeling and support, but requires an annual commitment and renewal management.

Workgroup Edition Floating Seats Subscription: Custom pricing. Floating-seat terms permit installation on unlimited PCs, with simultaneous users limited to the subscribed floating seats.

Floating Seats Subscription: Custom pricing, with installation on unlimited PCs and concurrent use limited to the number of subscribed seats.

The published individual Workgroup subscriptions specify no seat count, so buyers should confirm licensing fit for their team before committing. The pricing page says Workgroup includes support and directs questions to [email protected].

Platforms

Studio is available on Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as the web. That spread accommodates mixed desktop environments and browser access, although the checksum files cited for application downloads cover Windows and Linux.

Who it's for

Hackolade names analysts, data architects, designers, developers, and DBAs as intended users. Its broad target support and engineering functions make it particularly relevant to data architecture and development teams working across multiple database families. The Personal edition is described as suitable for startups and individual developers, while Community is a sensible starting point for users whose models stay within its 50-object cap and who do not need advanced engineering or integrations.

It is less suitable for someone seeking only lightweight, browser-based diagramming, or for a team that needs a free edition with substantial model sizes and full engineering workflows.

Pros and cons

Pro: Modeling across conceptual, logical, and physical levels, plus ER and hierarchical views, serves different data structures in one environment.

Pro: Reverse engineering and generation of DDLs, schemas, validators, and documentation tie design to implementation work.

Pro: Workgroup's Git collaboration and listed integrations support reviewable, versioned team workflows.

Pro: AI is opt-in and the maker says models stay local or in Git repositories, an appealing approach for sensitive schema assets.

Con: Community is capped at 50 objects per model and omits advanced forward and reverse engineering, limiting its usefulness as projects grow.

Con: Workgroup's 175.00 EUR monthly or 1750.00 EUR annual price is a substantial recurring commitment for individuals or small teams that only need occasional modeling.

Con: Collibra integration requires an optional upgrade, adding a qualification for teams that depend on that workflow.

Alternatives

Choose MySQL instead when the priority is a GPL-licensed SQL and NoSQL application with replication and high-availability components, rather than a dedicated modeling environment. For browser-based schema design with link sharing, Schemity offers a free Lite plan; it is a narrower fit when modeling workflow needs are simpler.

DbSchema is another freemium modeling option, with Pro adding saved design files and schema synchronization. Consider it when those capabilities are the deciding requirements. pgModeler, Database Workbench, ERBuilder Data Modeler, dbdiagram.io, and drawDB are also alternatives to compare.

Browse more options in Database Design Tools.

Verdict

Hackolade Studio is a strong choice for data professionals who need modeling across diverse targets and want to carry models into engineering and Git-based collaboration. Its main reason to choose it is the breadth from multiple modeling levels through reverse engineering and generated outputs. Look elsewhere if your needs fit a lightweight diagramming tool, or if the Community edition's 50-object ceiling and missing advanced engineering leave too little room to grow.

Verdict

Hackolade Studio covers multiple modeling stages and a wide range of database targets. Check the Community edition limits against your engineering and collaboration needs before choosing a plan.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Hackolade StudioAll alternatives →