Alternatives · Whiteboards
dbdiagram.io alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded dbdiagram.io alternative is PlantUML (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.
dbdiagram.io compared with 5 alternatives: DrawSQL, PlantUML, Eraser, Mermaid and Structurizr.
dbdiagram.io has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8 per month, billed monthly (annual billing saves up to 42%). All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a dbdiagram.io sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| dbdiagram.ioThis tool | Free plan · from $8/mo | Yes | Web |
| DrawSQL | Free plan · from $19/mo | Yes | Web |
| PlantUML | Free | Free | Web, Browser extension |
| Eraser | Free plan · from $45/mo | Yes | Web |
| Mermaid | Free plan · from $10/mo | Yes | Web |
| Structurizr | Free plan · from £300/mo | Yes | Web |
Price against what you get
dbdiagram.io starts at $8 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Eraser and Mermaid score higher without starting lower. PlantUML starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from dbdiagram.io
DrawSQL
Browser-based database schema diagrams for dev teams
- DrawSQL starts at $19 per month for 1 user, billed monthly ($171 billed yearly).
- DrawSQL also covers templates.
Suits: Dev teams reviewing schema changes on a shared live diagram
PlantUML
Draw UML and other diagrams from plain-text descriptions
- PlantUML is free.
- PlantUML also lists a browser extension.
- PlantUML is open source, according to its own site.
- PlantUML also covers Gantt & timelines and mind mapping.
Suits: Developers who want diagrams stored as text in version control
Eraser
AI diagramming and docs canvas for engineering teams
- Eraser starts at $45 per member / month, billed annually ($60 billed monthly).
- Eraser also covers Markdown and documents.
Suits: Engineering teams documenting system architecture
Mermaid
Text-based diagramming platform with AI and a visual editor
- Mermaid starts at $10 per user / month, billed annually ($120 a year).
- Mermaid also covers presentations.
Suits: Developers who already write Mermaid syntax in docs or Markdown
Structurizr
Open-source models-as-code tool for C4 architecture diagrams
- Structurizr starts at £300 per month for up to 20 unique users, per server installation.
- Structurizr is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
Suits: Developers who prefer diagrams as code kept in version control
Limits worth knowing in dbdiagram.io
- This is a database diagramming tool, not a general whiteboard with sticky notes or freehand drawing.
- The free plan allows a single editor and 10 diagrams; version history needs a paid plan.
- The Team plan includes 3 editors, and each extra editor costs $5 a month.
- Annual prices were not shown in the page text; the figures here are the monthly-billing ones.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to dbdiagram.io?
The alternatives to dbdiagram.io in this directory are DrawSQL, PlantUML, Eraser, Mermaid and Structurizr. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with dbdiagram.io.
Is there a free alternative to dbdiagram.io?
Yes. PlantUML is free to use. DrawSQL, Eraser, Mermaid and Structurizr have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to dbdiagram.io?
PlantUML and Structurizr are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 6, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.