DB Designer vs DrawSQL
DB Designer
dbdesigner.netDrawSQL
drawsql.appSide by side
| Figure | DB Designer | DrawSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9/mo | $14.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 8 |
| Spec score · Database Design Tools | 8.3 (#9) | 8.4 (#8) |
| Collaboration | Teams can work on a model together, use live comments or chat, and assign Owner, Editor, or Viewer access. | Paid plans include real-time multiplayer editing, and diagrams can include discussion threads. |
| Exports | Users can export schema diagrams as PNG or PDF and create a public view link. | The product exports database DDL, Laravel migrations, and JSON. |
| Founded | 2006 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | The site lists its address as 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701. | Sydney, Australia |
| Support | The plans page says support is available seven days a week by email, while premium users can get live chat and phone support. | Enterprise includes priority support, and the help documentation invites users to contact support by chat or email. |
Plans
DB Designer
- AcademicFree
- Non-ProfitFree
- Open SourceFree
- StarterFree
- Basic$9 a month
- Unlimited$17 a month
DrawSQL
- Starter$171 a year
- Growth$531 a year
- Large$1,790 a year
- FreeFree
- Starter$19 a month
- Growth$59 a month
- Large$179 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
DB Designer
DB Designer is a web tool for visually designing database schemas without writing SQL. It generates scripts for MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQLite, and imports existing MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle scripts for reverse engineering. Teams can work on models together, use live comments or chat, and assign Owner, Editor, or Viewer access. Diagram tools include a minimap, keyboard shortcuts, instant saving with history, undo and redo, table cloning, automatic layout, notes, and comments. Users can export diagrams as PNG or PDF, or make a public view link. The free Starter plan costs nothing and allows two database models with 10 tables per model. Other free plans with unlimited models and tables are restricted to non-profits, current students and educators, or open-source project contributors. Basic costs $9 a month and Unlimited costs $17 a month. DB Designer says it encrypts communications through SSL and stores data securely with regular backups; support is available by email seven days a week, with live chat and phone support for premium users.