drawDB vs dbdiagram.io
Drag-and-drop and open source, versus a code-first DSL.
dbdiagram.io is a code-first tool: you write its DSL and it renders the diagram. drawDB is a visual editor: you drag tables onto a canvas and it generates the SQL. dbdiagram.io's free tier allows 10 diagrams and they are public by default; drawDB's free editor is unlimited, keeps diagrams in your own browser, and requires no account. drawDB is also open source under AGPL-3.0, while dbdiagram.io is proprietary. Choose dbdiagram.io if you prefer typing a schema as code; choose drawDB if you prefer drawing it, or if you need private diagrams for free.
drawDB vs dbdiagram.io at a glance
| Feature | drawDB | dbdiagram.io |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 (open source) | Proprietary |
| Free tier | Unlimited diagrams, no account required | 10 diagrams, public by default |
| Account required to start | No | Yes |
| SQL (DDL) export | 7 dialects | Yes |
| SQL import / reverse engineering | Yes (paste DDL, get a diagram) | Yes |
| DBML | Import and export | Native DSL |
| Self-hosting | Yes | No |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes, official MCP server | Not offered |
| Paid plans from | $14 / month | $8 / month |
Figures taken from each vendor's public pricing page. Last checked 2026-09-09.
Which should you pick?
Choose dbdiagram.io if
- You prefer defining schemas as code in a text DSL rather than on a canvas.
- You already have a DBML workflow built around dbdiagram.io.
- You want the lowest paid tier price and do not need private diagrams for free.
Choose drawDB if
- You want a visual drag-and-drop canvas instead of writing DSL syntax.
- You want unlimited private diagrams at no cost, stored in your own browser.
- You want an open-source tool you can self-host and audit.
- You want to paste an existing CREATE TABLE script and get a diagram back.
drawDB vs dbdiagram.io
Yes. drawDB is free and open source under AGPL-3.0. The full editor runs in your browser with no account and no diagram limit, and diagrams stay local rather than being public by default.
dbdiagram.io's free tier allows 10 diagrams and they are public by default. drawDB's free diagrams are stored locally in your browser and are not published anywhere.
Yes. drawDB imports and exports DBML, so you can move existing DBML schemas in and out.
No. drawDB is drag-and-drop. You can optionally import DBML or SQL, but the primary workflow is visual.