drawDB vs DrawSQL
An open-source alternative with a genuinely usable free tier.
DrawSQL and drawDB are both visual, browser-based schema design tools with a similar drag-and-drop feel. The difference is cost and openness. DrawSQL requires an account, limits its free tier to public diagrams of up to 15 tables, and starts at $19 per month for private work. drawDB is open source under AGPL-3.0, free with no account and no table limit, and keeps diagrams private in your browser by default. drawDB also generates SQL DDL for seven dialects and can reverse-engineer a diagram from an existing DDL script.
drawDB vs DrawSQL at a glance
| Feature | drawDB | DrawSQL |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 (open source) | Proprietary |
| Free tier | Unlimited diagrams, no account required | Public diagrams only, up to 15 tables |
| 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 | Not a primary format |
| Self-hosting | Yes | No |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes, official MCP server | Not offered |
| Paid plans from | $14 / month | $19 / month |
Figures taken from each vendor's public pricing page. Last checked 2026-09-09.
Which should you pick?
Choose DrawSQL if
- You want a polished hosted product and are happy to pay from $19 per month.
- Your team is already standardised on DrawSQL.
Choose drawDB if
- You want private diagrams without paying, and without a 15-table cap.
- You want to start drawing immediately with no sign-up.
- You want an open-source tool you can self-host under AGPL-3.0.
- You want SQL DDL export for seven dialects plus DBML import and export.
drawDB vs DrawSQL
drawDB is a free, open-source alternative to DrawSQL. It runs in the browser with no account, has no table limit on the free tier, keeps diagrams private and local, and generates SQL for seven database dialects.
DrawSQL has a free tier limited to public diagrams of up to 15 tables. Private diagrams require a paid plan starting at $19 per month.
Yes. Export your schema as a SQL DDL script and import it into drawDB, which reverse-engineers the diagram automatically.
Yes. The full editor is free and open source under AGPL-3.0. drawDB Pro, from $14 per month, adds cloud storage, real-time collaboration, AI schema chat and GitHub sync.