DrawSQL vs Lucidchart (2026): which should you pick?

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

Pick Lucidchart if

• Fits if you document processes as flowcharts or draw UML, ERD or cloud architecture
• Works for org charts built from a spreadsheet you already have

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you're staying free, because 3 documents and 75 shapes each run out quickly
• Watch out: the 7-day trial asks for payment details at sign-up, and monthly prices aren't published
• Skip it if you're on Free or Individual and want the iOS app, which needs Team or Enterprise
• Pricey if you need revision history or the Jira, Confluence and Microsoft 365 links, as those start at Team, $10 a user
• Not for you if you want sticky-note brainstorming, as Lucidspark is separate and only bundled on Enterprise

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.

Lucidchart

• The Free plan is limited to 3 editable documents and 75 shapes per document.
• The iOS app requires a Team or Enterprise subscription; Free and Individual accounts are pointed to the browser version instead.
• Revision history, the developer platform and the Microsoft 365, Confluence and Jira integrations start at Team; SAML is Enterprise only.
• The pricing page shows only annual-billing rates. Its FAQ says monthly billing is available but gives no monthly price.

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.

Lucidchart

Shape libraries for technical diagrams

Libraries cover flowcharts, process maps, org charts, UML, ER and network diagrams, plus AWS, Azure and GCP shapes. Premium libraries need a paid plan.

Lucid AI

Text prompts generate diagram content on the canvas, and AI can refine a prompt or summarize a document. Lucid AI is listed on every plan, including Free.

Data linking

Connect a diagram to Google Sheets, Excel or CSV data to build visuals from the source, then use conditional formatting to highlight patterns in it.

Diagram from markup

UML markup generates a sequence diagram from text, and ERD markup and diagram-as-code options let technical users edit the source instead of dragging shapes.

Collaboration and versioning

Several people can edit a diagram at once and leave comments. Revision history with versioning is added on the Team plan.

Visio import and export

Paid plans open and export Microsoft Visio files, and the Android app can import and view VDX, VSD, VSDM and VSDX formats.

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.

Lucidchart

• Free$0

  3 editable documents, 75 shapes per document, 100 templates, basic data linking, presentation mode and commenting.

• Individual$9

  per month, billed annually

  Unlimited editable documents and objects, 1 GB of storage, Visio import and export, and premium shape libraries and templates.

• Team$10

  per user / month, billed annually

  Adds revision history with versioning, password-protected publishing, the developer platform, and Microsoft 365, Confluence and Jira integrations.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Adds Lucidspark whiteboarding, team hubs, SAML authentication, enforceable sharing restrictions, advanced data and automation, and Salesforce integration.

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.

Lucidchart

• Annual discount

  Lower price with annual billing

  Lucid's pricing FAQ says paid plans can be paid monthly or, at a saving, annually. The listed rates are the annual ones and the page does not state the size of the saving.