DB Designer
DB Designer: Affordable web-based modeling with collaboration, version history, and SQL workflows. Ranked #6 of 34 in Database Design Tools by our editors (8.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for affordable collaborative web modeling.
At a glance
- Editor score8.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forAffordable collaborative web modeling
- Free planYes
- Reverse engineeringYes
- Founded2006 · 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701, United States
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free plan plus monthly tiers starting at $9
- Visual modeling with reverse and forward engineering
- Collaboration includes roles, comments, chat, and version restore
Where it doesn't
- Starter limits users to 2 models and 10 tables per model
- Reverse engineering is documented for only three databases
- Web-only deployment may not suit desktop-first teams
Our verdict on DB Designer
DB Designer is a browser-based tool for creating, importing, editing, sharing, and exporting database schemas. It is aimed at developers, database administrators, engineers, educators, freelancers, and organizations that need visual database modeling with SQL generation. The service supports MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQLite for SQL generation, while its documented reverse-engineering workflows cover MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle. Teams can assign owner, editor, and viewer access, add comments and chat, and share models publicly.
The pricing structure starts with a free Starter plan covering 2 database models and 10 tables per model. Basic costs $9 per month and raises the limits to 5 models and 25 tables per model. Unlimited costs $17 per month and includes unlimited models and tables. Academic, Non-Profit, and Open Source plans also include unlimited models and tables for current students and educators, non-profit organizations, and contributors to open source projects, respectively. The published plans show monthly pricing, making the paid options straightforward for teams that prefer predictable monthly access.
Its strongest fit is a collaborative web workflow that connects visual design with engineering tasks. Automatic layout, sorting, validation, navigation, PNG and PDF exports, version history, one-click restore, and public sharing support both ongoing design work and review. AI features add a schema advisor and natural-language schema editing. DB Designer suits teams that want shared browser access and a broad set of modeling functions without moving to a desktop application. Teams requiring desktop deployment, or reverse engineering beyond MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle, should consider whether its platform and database coverage match their workflow.
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DB Designer pricing
All 6 DB Designer plans and prices →
DB Designer fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Reverse engineering | Yes |
| Forward engineering | Yes |
| SQL export | Yes |
| Supported databases | MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite |
| Team collaboration | Yes |
| Version history | Yes |
| Deployment | Web |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | Email, Tickets, Live chat, Phone, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | dbdesigner.net |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to DB Designer
- DbSchemaA broad cross-platform modeler for database design, migration, documentation, and review.9.4
- SqlDBMA broad modeling workspace for teams aligning schemas, warehouses, lineage, and documentation.9.2
- Hackolade StudioA broad modeling workspace for teams managing complex, multi-model data architecture.9.1
See all DB Designer alternatives →
DB Designer vs the competition
- DB Designer vs DbSchema
- DB Designer vs SqlDBM
- DB Designer vs Hackolade Studio
- DB Designer vs drawDB
- DB Designer vs ERBuilder Data Modeler
- DB Designer vs WorksCove ERD
Compare DB Designer with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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