dbdiagram.io vs DrawSQL (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, dbdiagram.io grades higher than DrawSQL: 2.4 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
dbdiagram.io grades higher on value for money, the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
dbdiagram.io
Draw database ER diagrams by writing DBML code
DrawSQL
Browser-based database schema diagrams for dev teams
Which one is for you
Pick dbdiagram.io if
- Fits if you keep your database schema as text in version control
- Works for developers who want ER diagrams from SQL they already have
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a whiteboard with sticky notes or freehand drawing
- Tight if you stay free: 10 diagrams, one editor and no version history
- Pricey if you work in a team: $75 a month for 3 editors, then $5 for each extra one
- Watch out: the Team trial is 7 days, and annual prices were not shown on the page we read
Pick DrawSQL if
- Fits if you design a MySQL or PostgreSQL schema and want it drawn visually
- Works for a Laravel developer who wants diagrams made from their migrations
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if the schema is private and you won't pay: free diagrams are public
- Tight if you stay free: 15 tables a diagram
- Pricey if you are one person: $19 a month for 10 private diagrams and 50 tables each
- Not for you if you work on a team of more than one, because real-time editing starts at Growth, $59 a month for up to 5 users
- Watch out: only four databases are listed as supported
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAdbdiagram.ioFair | 1.8GPADrawSQLWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CPersonal Pro is $8 a month billed monthly, close to the $8.25 middle for whiteboard tools. Team is $75 a month for 3 editors, and extra editors are $5 each. | DPrivate diagrams start at $19 a month for 1 user, or $171 a year, against $8.25 in the middle for whiteboard tools. Growth is $59 for up to 5 users. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree covers 10 diagrams and doc projects, SQL import and export, and PDF, PNG and SVG export. One editor only, though, and version history is paid. | CFree gives unlimited diagrams of up to 15 tables with SQL import and the full editor, but every free diagram is public. There is no trial on record. |
| Features | CDoes the one job of database diagrams fully: DBML, SQL in and out, published docs, a CLI. It is a smaller job than a whiteboard, and the listing says it has no sticky notes or freehand drawing. | CSQL import, export, notes, groups, version history and an AI review with a diff. The listing names the gaps: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server and MariaDB only, and nothing beyond database diagrams. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It is a web app where you have to learn DBML before you get a diagram. | CNo store rating on record. A web app where the work is building the schema itself. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with dbdocs, a CLI and CI/CD hooks, plus Holistics. No desktop or phone app. | CWeb only, with a Laravel integration and API access on paid plans. No desktop or phone app. |
| Best for | database diagrams written as code | database schema diagrams for developers |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: dbdiagram.io and DrawSQL. How we grade
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. DrawSQL starts at $19 a month and scores 2.0.
dbdiagram.io scores higher and starts $11 a month lower. Of the other whiteboard and mind map tools on the chart, 14 score higher than dbdiagram.io for less, and 59 score higher than DrawSQL for less.
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
Where they differ
- DrawSQL also covers templates.
At a glance
| dbdiagram.io | DrawSQL | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $8 per month, billed monthly (annual billing saves up to 42%) | $19 per month for 1 user, billed monthly ($171 billed yearly) |
| Free plan | Up to 10 diagrams and doc projects, a single editor, SQL import and export, and PDF, PNG and SVG export. | Unlimited public diagrams of up to 15 tables, with SQL import and the full visual editor. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial of the Team plan | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Holistics Software | DrawSQL |
| Price read from | dbdiagram.io | drawsql.app |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
DrawSQL
- This is a database diagramming tool, not a general whiteboard.
- Free diagrams are public and capped at 15 tables; private diagrams need a paid plan.
- The Starter plan is for one user; real-time collaboration starts at Growth with up to 5 users.
- The pricing FAQ lists MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server and MariaDB as supported databases.
Key features
dbdiagram.io
- Diagrams from DBML
- Typing DBML produces an ER diagram as you write, so a schema is kept as text that can live in version control.
- SQL import and export
- A schema can be imported from a database or SQL script and exported as SQL, PDF, PNG or SVG.
- Published documentation
- dbdocs publishes a schema as a browsable web reference, with a schema changelog of 14 days on the free plan.
- Data lineage
- Pipelines can be declared in DBML to show how one table is built from another, at table or column level.
- AI assistant (beta)
- Prompts generate and edit diagrams; usage is capped on Personal Pro and Team, and the plan table shows it as unlimited on Custom.
- CLI and CI/CD
- A command-line tool lets a diagram or doc project be updated from a CI/CD pipeline.
DrawSQL
- Import from SQL
- Pasting CREATE TABLE statements renders a diagram with tables, columns and foreign keys.
- Export
- Diagrams export as SQL for MySQL, PostgreSQL or SQL Server, as Laravel migrations, as JSON and as images.
- Real-time multiplayer
- Several people can edit one live diagram together; this starts on the Growth plan.
- Groups and notes
- Tables can be grouped by domain and annotated with sticky notes to keep large schemas readable.
- AI review with a diff
- DrawSQL AI reviews, generates and renames parts of a schema; paid plans include 500 credits a month.
- Templates and version history
- Over 200 schema templates are provided, and paid plans keep earlier versions of a diagram.
Plans
dbdiagram.io
Free$0
Up to 10 diagrams and doc projects, unlimited viewers, one editor, public sharing and embeds.
Personal Pro$8
per month for 1 editor, billed monthly
Unlimited diagrams, version history, private and password-protected sharing, limited collaboration.
Team$75
per month for 3 editors, billed monthly
Everything in Personal Pro plus a collaborative workspace and unified billing; extra editors are $5 a month.
Custom PlanCustom
10 editors, SAML SSO, procurement review and custom payment terms; sold through sales.
DrawSQL
Free$0
Unlimited public diagrams, up to 15 tables each; no private diagrams.
Starter$19
per month for 1 user, billed monthly ($171 billed yearly)
10 private diagrams, 50 tables per diagram, API access and 500 DrawSQL AI credits a month.
Growth$59
per month for up to 5 users, billed monthly ($531 billed yearly)
Unlimited private diagrams, 100 tables per diagram and real-time multiplayer editing.
Large$179
per month for up to 25 users, billed monthly ($1,790 billed yearly)
Everything in Growth with unlimited tables per diagram.
EnterpriseCustom
Unlimited users, SSO and SAML, audit trail and priority support; sold through sales.
Ways to pay less
dbdiagram.io
- Annual discount
Save up to 42% with annual billing
The pricing page has an annual billing toggle labelled as saving up to 42% compared with monthly billing.
- Education
Free Personal Pro for education
Students, teachers and researchers get Personal Pro free for 12 months, renewable while they are still at an institution.
DrawSQL
- Annual discount
Yearly billing saves 2 to 3 months
Starter and Growth are $171 and $531 a year (3 months free), and Large is $1,790 a year (2 months free).
- Education
Discounts for students and educators
The pricing FAQ says discounted plans exist for students and educators, and free access for established open-source projects.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, dbdiagram.io or DrawSQL?
As of Nov 13, 2026, dbdiagram.io is cheaper to start with: $8 a month, against $19 a month for DrawSQL. dbdiagram.io starts at $8 per month, billed monthly (annual billing saves up to 42%), and DrawSQL starts at $19 per month for 1 user, billed monthly ($171 billed yearly).
Which has a free plan, dbdiagram.io or DrawSQL?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both dbdiagram.io and DrawSQL have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.