As we know, a database is a collection of where all data of a system are stored. Surely, you will find lots of information in a database which is why it can be a bit difficult for one to analyze the elements at a glance. This is where ER modeling comes in. Entity-relationship diagrams or ERDs provide a visual way to understand the relationship between entities, which in other words, a container of information. Thus, we’ve put together a list of free ER diagram tools that will help you construct a relational and logical structure of a database.
Vertabelo is an online database design and development tool that also allows collaboration among a team of users.Team members can be assigned different access levels, such as owner, editor. Best Database Application For Mac. This is one more free database software for Mac users. If you need to view MBD files on a rolling basis, this management tool is quite the thing. Users can open tables from absolutely different databases. It also allows you to generate SQL files that will be compatible with the systems of database management. Sequel Pro A free tool that runs on Mac OS and will manage MySQL databases, including those hosted remotely. PhpMyAdmin A free tool to manage MySQL and MariaDB databases for Windows and Linux. SQLyog A data management tool for MySQL databases on Windows that is useful for organizing replications and backups.
Best Free ER Diagram Tools
GitMind (Web)
Pricing: Free
First on the list is GitMind. This is an online mindmapping and ER diagram tool that you can use for free. What makes this tool so great, is the extensive amount of shapes and elements it provides in its library. These shapes are useful when making all kinds of diagrams like ER diagrams. Furthermore, this ER diagram tool can keep your diagrams private or share it with anyone and secure it with a password in case the diagram contains confidential content.
Key features:
- Completely online and free
- Huge library of figures and shapes
- Share projects via a share link
Gliffy (Web, Windows OS)
Pricing: Free trial; Professional- $7.99/month; Team $4.99/month
Another diagraming tool that can help you create ER diagrams is Gliffy. Using this software, it’s possible to work together with colleagues remotely. You can also track the changes of the diagram in conjunction with reverting back to your desired output. Besides collaboration and tracking changes, this ER diagram maker enables you to import images and as well as export diagrams.
Key features:
- Collaborative diagraming
- Access to previous versions
- Import and export diagrams
Visual Paradigm (Web, Windows, Mac OS, Linux)
Pricing: Freeonline; Standard- $19/month; Professional- $35/month
Visual Paradigm is also a good option for users who are looking for free ER modeling creator. With it, you can access hundreds of templates including ERDs allowing you to instantly create a structure of your database. In addition, you can create as many diagrams are required without even bothering about expiration. On top of that, exporting diagrams to images with no watermark could be done through this ER diagram maker.
Key features:
- Access diagram templates
- No limitation to the number of diagrams
- Export diagram without watermark
Draw.io (Web)
Pricing: Free
Next on the list is Draw.io. This is a web-based tool that allows you to create entity relationship diagrams without registration required. At first, the tool asks the user to specify the location where to save the diagrams. You may keep your files on Google Drive, Dropbox, or on your computer hard drive. Another key thing to remember about this free ER diagram tool is that you can choose your preferred language when using the tool. Over and above, you may continue editing diagrams to integrated productivity programs like Jira and Confluence.
Key features:
- Specify the location where to save diagrams
- Available in multiple languages
- Jira and Confluence integration
Lucidchart (Online, Windows, Mac)
Pricing: Free with limitation; Individual- $7.95/month
Visualize your database structure in a relational and logical way with the help of Lucidchart ER diagram maker. By using its drag-and-drop feature, working with diagrams is a lot easier. You can also create ER diagrams from scratch or generate ERD automatically from your DBMS to upload the database tables. And what makes this a recommended ER diagram creator is that it enables users to export your ERD to database services such as MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, and so on.
Key features:
- Drag and drop interface
- Generate ERD automatically
- Export diagrams to database service
SqlDBM (Web)
Pricing: Free with limitation; Basic- $25/month
Create professional ER diagrams with SqlDBM. This tool is an ER diagramming tool that works on popular web browsers allowing you to create diagrams anytime, anywhere. One of the highlights of this program is it provides version history allowing you to compare your revisions and identify discrepancies like nullability, data type, and defaults. Besides, this ER diagram tool grants access to dark and light themes as well as viewing modes that suit different purposes like presentation.
Key features:
- Compare revisions
- Customizable viewing modes
- Light and Dark theme
DBDiagram.io (Web)
Pricing: Free; Professional- $9.00/month
DBDiagram.io is yet another great tool to create ERDs. Unlike the above solutions, this tool produces diagrams by writing codes. In other words, this is favorable for users who enjoy editing using your keyboard. Furthermore, this free ER diagram tool allows you to export diagrams to Image or PDF file and share it in just a click for your convenience. Also, this ER diagram maker gives you the capability to upload your database schema like Django and other web frameworks when updating the database.
Key features:
- Generate ER diagrams by writing codes
- Save diagrams as Images and PDFs
- Upload database schema from Web frameworks
QuickDBD (Web, Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pricing: Free with limitation; Professional- $14/month
If you prefer to use a keyboard to laser-focus when making ER diagrams, then QuickDB is your go-to program. Not only that, but you can also share your diagrams online to work collaboratively and produce a quality database structure. This ER diagram tool also supports importing schema from MySQL, Oracle, and SQL Server allowing you to generate ERD fast and easy.
Key features:
- Save and share projects publicly
- Create ERD by typing the schema
- Supports MySQL, SQL Server, and Oracle
Conclusion
These are some of the best and free ER diagram tools to get the job sorted. The first six programs allow you to draw ERD through GUI. In other words, you can sketch ERD using the drag-and-drop interface. On that note, if you prefer to create ERD without leaving your keyboard, the latter solutions are the right fit.
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A database schema is the blueprints of your database, it represents the description of a database structure, data types, and the constraints on the database. And designing database schemas is one of the very first and important steps to start developing any software/website.
To help you determine the right tool for you to design database schema diagrams, we've curated a list of 5 of the best free online tools to do it.
Top 5 Free Database Diagram (ERD) Design Tools
dbdiagram.io
Pricing: Free for up to 10 diagrams. After that, it’s $9/month.
- dbdiagram.io is a quick and simple database designer to help you draw your database diagrams using their own Domain-specific language (DSL).
- Designed for developers, DBA and data analysts.
- They have a simple language to define, you can easily edit/copy without leaving the keyboard.
- They focus exclusively on drawing database relationship diagrams.
- Allow you to save and share your diagrams online.
- Their UI looks simple and neat, with pretty diagrams.
Diagrams.net (formerly Draw.io)
Pricing: Free for web-based usage, paid for Atlassian (Confluence/JIRA) apps.
- Diagrams.net (formerly Draw.io) is a free online diagram software for making flowcharts, process diagrams, etc.
- Allows different types of charts like flowcharts, org charts, UML, ER and network diagrams.
- Allows saving your diagrams to cloud storage services like GDrive, Dropbox and OneDrive, or to your own computer
- Visual interfaces are not as nice as Lucidchart.
Lucidchart
Pricing: Free with limited objects, $4.95-$9.00/user/month
- Lucidchart is cloud-based and collaborative diagram software. Lucidchart helps your team create not only database diagram but also flowcharts, process maps, UML models, org charts,.. on any device across the platform you already use.
- Free plan comes with a limit of 3 diagrams and 60 objects per diagram
- Good experience and collaborative
- Integrated with G Suite, Microsoft Office...
- Good if you are more of a designer and want drag-and-drop interface
Database Design Tool Mac Free Download
QuickDBD
Pricing: free for 1 public diagram and 10 tables, plans at $14/month for unlimited tables and private diagrams.
- QuickDBD helps you quickly draw a diagram using just text input.
- It quickly captures ideas, and you can draw schema diagrams using only the keyboard.
- Support exporting to SQL, PDF and Word
ERD Plus
Pricing: free
- ERD Plus is a basic database modeling tool for creating Entity Relationship Diagrams, Relational Schemas, Star Schemas, and SQL DDL statements.
- Automatically convert ER Diagrams into Relational Schemas
- Export SQL
- Export diagrams as a PNG
- Save diagrams safely on our server
Conclusion
Database Design Tool Mac Free Downloads
If you're a developer, DBA or data analyst that prefers to write code, go for dbdiagram.io or QuickDBD.
If you prefer GUI, go for Diagrams.net or Lucidchart.
What’s next?
After you've designed your database schemas, it's time to use a BI tool like Holistics.io to turn your data into insights automatically.
Holistics is a self-service BI platform that allows non-technical users to create their own charts without writing SQL or going to the data team. Data teams save time as they just have to define the data models once and they can use it everywhere, without writing the same SQL queries again and again.
Database Modeling Tool
And Holistics has an in-built relationship diagram that helps you map relationships between tables and models. Start a free 14-day with Holistics now! No credit card required.