dbdiagram.io vs Structurizr (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Structurizr grades higher than dbdiagram.io: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
dbdiagram.io grades higher on ease of use. Structurizr grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and platforms.
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
Structurizr
Open-source models-as-code tool for C4 architecture diagrams
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 Structurizr if
- Fits if you're a developer who keeps diagrams as code in version control
- Works for organisations that must host architecture diagrams themselves
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to drag shapes around, as it's code first
- Not for you if you don't want to learn its text language and command line
- Pricey if you want the prebuilt server: £300 a month for up to 20 users, £600 for up to 50
- Watch out: licenses are bought by contacting the vendor and are non-refundable, with prices in pounds
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAdbdiagram.ioFair | 2.6GPAStructurizrGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | AThe playground, local viewer and command-line export are free to download and use. Only the prebuilt server costs, at £300 a month for up to 20 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. | BOpen-source tools with no cap, but the prebuilt server needs a paid license, and building the open-core server yourself is up to you. A 14-day trial license is on request. |
| 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. | CModels as code, interactive diagrams, export to other formats and AI support. It does the C4 job completely, but it's a smaller job than a general whiteboard. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It is a web app where you have to learn DBML before you get a diagram. | DYou write a text language, use a command line and, for the server, host it yourself with Docker. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with dbdocs, a CLI and CI/CD hooks, plus Holistics. No desktop or phone app. | BWeb playground plus a local viewer, command-line exporter and server, with PlantUML, Mermaid, S3 and Azure storage connections. |
| Best for | database diagrams written as code | C4 architecture diagrams written as code |
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 Structurizr. 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. Structurizr starts at about $401.97 a month and scores 2.0.
dbdiagram.io scores higher and starts $393.97 a month lower. Of the other whiteboard and mind map tools on the chart, 14 score higher than dbdiagram.io for less, and 65 score higher than Structurizr 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
- Structurizr is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
At a glance
| dbdiagram.io | Structurizr | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $8 per month, billed monthly (annual billing saves up to 42%) | £300 per month for up to 20 unique users, per server installation |
| Free plan | Up to 10 diagrams and doc projects, a single editor, SQL import and export, and PDF, PNG and SVG export. | Open-source tools: the browser playground, local viewer, CLI export and a self-built open-core server. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial of the Team plan | 14-day trial license on request that unlocks all features |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Holistics Software | Structurizr Limited |
| Price read from | dbdiagram.io | docs.structurizr.com |
| 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.
Structurizr
- Using the server through the vendor's prebuilt binaries needs a paid license; building it yourself is open core.
- Prices are published in pounds sterling and are charged by unique users per server installation.
- Licenses are bought by contacting the vendor, with payment by bank transfer or PayPal invoice, and are non-refundable.
- It is a code-driven diagramming tool, not a freeform whiteboard.
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.
Structurizr
- Models as code
- Write the Structurizr DSL once and generate system context, container, component, dynamic and deployment diagrams from it.
- Interactive diagrams
- Diagrams can be zoomed, animated and embedded, and include an automatically generated key.
- Several ways to run it
- Use the browser playground, view diagrams locally, or run the self-hosted server as a Docker image or Java .war file.
- Export to other formats
- A CLI tool exports views to PlantUML, Mermaid or a static HTML site.
- AI and MCP support
- A free, open-source MCP server parses and validates DSL, exports diagrams and manages workspaces on a Structurizr server.
- Manual layout
- Diagrams use manual layout that can be adjusted in the local viewer, rather than auto-layout only.
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.
Structurizr
Open source$0
Playground, local, export CLI and the open-core server you build yourself; you host it.
Server license, 1-20 users£300
per month, per server installation
Prebuilt server binaries with enterprise features, priced by unique users in a year; sold by quote.
Server license, 21-50 users£600
per month, per server installation
The same prebuilt server; 51-100 users is £900 and 101-250 is £1,200 a month.
Server license, 1001+ users£2,400
per month, per server installation
Largest published tier; 251-500 users is £1,500 and 501-1000 is £1,800 a month.
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.
Structurizr
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, dbdiagram.io or Structurizr?
As of Nov 13, 2026, dbdiagram.io is cheaper to start with: $8 a month, against about $401.97 a month for Structurizr. dbdiagram.io starts at $8 per month, billed monthly (annual billing saves up to 42%), and Structurizr starts at £300 per month for up to 20 unique users, per server installation.
Which has a free plan, dbdiagram.io or Structurizr?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both dbdiagram.io and Structurizr 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.