DB Designer is an online ER diagram and database schema design tool. See its pricing, features, forward and reverse engineering support, and alternatives.
Category
Databases
Pricing
Freemium subscription with a free tier and paid monthly plans based on the number of database models and tables, from Free tier available; paid plans start at 9 US dollars per month for the Basic plan
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2006
Headquarters
Not publicly disclosed
How DB Designer Works
DB Designer centers on a visual, UML-style canvas where users build entity-relationship diagrams representing tables, columns, data types, and relationships, either from scratch, from a template, or by reverse engineering an existing MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Oracle database.
Once a model is finished, the tool forward-engineers it into a one-click SQL script targeted at MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or SQLite, letting teams design first and generate implementation-ready SQL rather than writing schema definitions by hand.
Collaboration and Version History
Designs are stored in the cloud and can be shared with teammates for either editing or view-only access, with live commenting available once collaborators are added by email, which supports asynchronous schema review.
Every change is auto-saved, and a full revision history lets teams roll back to any prior version with one click, reducing the risk of losing work during iterative schema design.
Pricing Tiers and Free Access Programs
The free Starter plan caps users at two models and ten tables per model, while the paid Basic plan (9 US dollars per month) raises that to five models and twenty-five tables, and the Unlimited plan (17 US dollars per month) removes those caps entirely.
Students, educators, qualifying non-profit organizations, and open-source contributors can apply for free plans that match the Unlimited tier's model and table limits, extending full functionality to those groups at no cost.
Key Features
Visual ER diagram builder — Design database schemas on a drag-and-drop canvas similar to building a UML diagram, without writing raw SQL.
Forward engineering to SQL — Generate a ready-to-run SQL script for MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or SQLite in one click from a finished model.
Reverse engineering — Import an existing MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Oracle database and automatically generate its diagram.
Team collaboration and sharing — Share cloud-stored models with teammates for editing or viewing, with live commenting on the diagram itself.
Templates and autocomplete — Start from ready-made templates and use data-type autocomplete and automatic sorting to speed up modeling.
Revision history and one-click restore — Every change is versioned, so teams can roll back to any earlier state of a model instantly.
Cloning and duplication — Duplicate an existing model or table structure to quickly start variations of a schema.
Image and PDF export — Export finished diagrams as images or PDFs for documentation, presentations, or stakeholder review.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Free tier is genuinely usable for small projects with two models and ten tables per model
Generates production-ready SQL for several major database engines in one click
Runs entirely in the browser with no software installation required
Free plans for students, educators, non-profits, and open-source contributors extend full functionality at no cost
Team collaboration and live commenting are included on every plan, not gated to higher tiers
Auto-save plus full revision history reduces the risk of losing design work
Cons
Reverse engineering is limited to MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle, excluding MS SQL and SQLite
Free and Basic plans have relatively low model and table caps compared to some competitors
Company details such as headquarters and team size are not publicly disclosed, which may concern enterprise buyers doing vendor due diligence
As a browser-based tool, it depends on a stable internet connection for editing and saving
Does not appear to offer an on-premises or self-hosted deployment option for teams with strict data residency requirements
Advanced database-specific features supported by dedicated desktop modeling tools may not all be available
Pricing
Starter Free N/A
Basic 9 US dollars per month
Unlimited 17 US dollars per month
Academic Free N/A
Non-Profit Free N/A
Open Source Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DB Designer free to use
Yes, DB Designer has a free Starter plan supporting up to two database models with ten tables per model, and free specialty plans for students, educators, non-profits, and open-source contributors.
How much does DB Designer cost
Paid plans start at 9 US dollars per month for the Basic plan (five models, twenty-five tables per model), with an Unlimited plan at 17 US dollars per month for unlimited models and tables.
Which databases does DB Designer support
It can forward-engineer SQL for MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQLite, and it supports reverse engineering from MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle.
Can I collaborate with a team in DB Designer
Yes, cloud-stored models can be shared with teammates by email for editing or viewing, and collaborators can leave live comments directly on the diagram.
Does DB Designer offer a free plan for students
Yes, current students and educators can apply for a free Academic plan with unlimited models and tables.
Can I export my database diagrams
Yes, models can be exported as images or PDFs for documentation or presentations.
Does DB Designer support version history
Yes, changes are auto-saved and a full revision history allows one-click restoration of any prior version.
Is there a contract or lock-in with paid plans
No, the company states plans can be cancelled, upgraded, or downgraded at any time with no hidden fees or long-term contracts.