At a glance
| Supported databases | DBML; SQL output for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server and Oracle; SQL import also from Snowflake |
| ER diagrams and notation | Diagrams generated from DBML; table groups, colours and detail levels on paid plans |
| Reverse engineering | From SQL files, or from a live database via the db2dbml CLI (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, BigQuery, Oracle) |
| Forward engineering (DDL) | SQL CREATE statements from DBML |
| Collaboration | Link sharing and embeds on all plans; team workspace with several editors on Team and Custom |
| Deployment | Hosted web application |
| Licensing | Free plan; Personal Pro $8/month, Team $75/month (3 editors); Custom by quote; DBML is Apache-2.0 |
dbdiagram.io is a quick way to design or document a schema as text and share the diagram, and the free plan covers most personal use. It produces diagrams and DDL from DBML rather than keeping a live connection to your database, so use the DBML CLI to regenerate the model when the database changes.
Overview
dbdiagram.io is a web application from Holistics, a Singapore-based business intelligence company. You type tables and relationships in DBML (Database Markup Language) and the ER diagram updates as you write. Diagrams can be shared by link, embedded in tools such as Notion or Confluence, exported to PDF, PNG or SVG, and turned into SQL CREATE statements.
DBML itself is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. The DBML CLI (npm install -g @dbml/cli) converts DBML to SQL for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server and Oracle, parses SQL from those engines and Snowflake into DBML, and can generate DBML from a live PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, BigQuery or Oracle database. Holistics also offers dbdocs.io for publishing documentation from the same DBML.
Key features
- Diagram-as-code editing in DBML with a live-updating diagram
- SQL import and export, available on the Free plan
- Open source DBML CLI for DBML to SQL, SQL to DBML and generating DBML from a live database
- PDF, PNG and SVG export, link sharing and embedded views
- Schema changelog and version history (14 days on Free, unlimited on paid plans)
- Team workspaces with multiple editors and unlimited viewers on the Team plan
- AI assistant on paid plans, with usage caps below the Custom plan
Pros and cons
Pros
- Usable free plan with SQL import and export and image export
- Text-based schema that is easy to review and keep in Git
- Open source DBML tooling that works outside the hosted app
- Low entry price for individuals
Cons
- Diagrams are not kept in sync with a live database; you regenerate DBML yourself
- Free plan is limited to 10 projects and a 14-day changelog
- Not a full logical and physical modelling tool with separate model layers
Pricing
The pricing page lists a Free plan (1 editor, up to 10 diagram and doc projects, 14-day schema changelog), Personal Pro at $8 per month (1 editor, unlimited projects), Team at $75 per month (3 editors included, extra editors $5 per month) and a Custom plan through sales. Annual billing is advertised as saving up to 42 percent; the page does not make clear whether the listed figures are monthly or annual-equivalent rates. Team has a 7-day free trial, and all plans allow unlimited viewers.
Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Who it is best for
Developers who want to sketch, share and document a schema as text, and keep the source in version control.
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that need separate logical and physical models with governance: see erwin Data Modeler or SqlDBM.
- People who want a diagram generated straight from a live database inside the GUI: database clients such as DBeaver do that.
Verdict
dbdiagram.io is a fast, low-cost way to design and share schemas as code, helped by the open source DBML tooling around it. It is a design and documentation tool rather than a live model of your database, so pair it with the DBML CLI or a database client when the schema changes often.
Frequently asked questions
Is dbdiagram.io free?
It has a free plan with one editor, up to 10 diagram and doc projects, SQL import and export, and PDF, PNG and SVG export. Paid plans start at $8 per month for Personal Pro.
What is DBML?
DBML (Database Markup Language) is an open source, database-agnostic language for defining schemas, created by Holistics and published under the Apache-2.0 licence. dbdiagram.io and dbdocs.io both use it.
Can dbdiagram.io import from an existing database?
You can import SQL files in the app. To read a live database, the db2dbml command in the DBML CLI generates DBML from PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, BigQuery or Oracle, which you then open in dbdiagram.io.
Sources
- dbdiagram.io home
- dbdiagram.io pricing
- DBML CLI documentation
- DBML repository (Apache-2.0)
- Generate DBML from a SQL database (docs)
Checked November 2026.
How we research reviews and what star ratings mean: our editorial method.