DB Designer vs pgModeler
DB Designer
dbdesigner.netpgModeler
pgmodeler.ioSide by side
| Figure | DB Designer | pgModeler |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9/mo | $59.90/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 7 |
| Spec score · Database Design Tools | 8.3 (#9) | 8.2 (#11) |
| Exports | Users can export schema diagrams as PNG or PDF and create a public view link. | Models can be exported as SQL, PNG, SVG, HTML data dictionaries, or directly to a PostgreSQL server. |
| Founded | 2006 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | The site lists its address as 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701. | Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil |
| Reverse engineering | It supports importing existing MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle scripts for reverse engineering. | pgModeler Plus can connect to a live PostgreSQL server and reconstruct a full schema model. |
| Security | The plans page says communication is encrypted through SSL and user data is stored securely and backed up regularly. | Connections support SSL modes, client certificates, Kerberos server settings, and GSSAPI authentication. |
| Support | The plans page says support is available seven days a week by email, while premium users can get live chat and phone support. | The project directs feature requests and bug reports to its GitHub issues page. |
Plans
DB Designer
- AcademicFree
- Non-ProfitFree
- Open SourceFree
- StarterFree
- Basic$9 a month
- Unlimited$17 a month
pgModeler
- Single user · 6 monthsPriced on request
- Single user · 12 monthsPriced on request
- Team lifetime · PerpetualPriced on request
- pgModeler CommunityFree
- pgModeler Plus · Single user · 6 months$59.90 a month
- pgModeler Plus · Single user · 12 monthsPrice not published
- pgModeler Plus · Team lifetimePrice not published
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.
pgModeler
pgModeler is a locally installed PostgreSQL schema engineering tool for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports visual design, reverse engineering, schema comparison and synchronization, and command-line deployment automation. Its relationship engine can propagate foreign-key columns, constraints, and indexes when tables are linked, and it supports more than 30 PostgreSQL object types. Models can be exported as SQL, PNG, SVG, HTML data dictionaries, or directly to a PostgreSQL server. The command-line interface can export DDL, run diffs, validate models, and automate CI/CD deployments. Models use human-readable XML; Plus adds a Git-powered versioning workflow. The software runs on the user's machine without an account, cloud dependency, or required internet connection. The community software is GPL v3 and free forever. Plus provides pre-built binaries and professional workflow features. Its listed single-user, six-month plan is $59.90 per month, billed from $59.90/6 months. Documentation warns that connection passwords are stored in plain text in the settings directory.