dbdiagram.io vs dbdiagramr
Both tools turn database schemas into ER diagrams, but they work in fundamentally different ways. dbdiagram.io is a code-first editor where you design schemas in DBML. dbdiagramr visualizes a PostgreSQL database that already exists - paste a connection string and see your real schema in under 10 seconds.
Last updated: 2026-08-04
| Feature | dbdiagramr | dbdiagram.io |
|---|---|---|
| How you create a diagram | Paste a live PostgreSQL connection string | Write DBML schema code by hand |
| Time to first diagram | Under 10 seconds | Minutes - write and debug DBML first |
| Shows your actual database | Yes - reads live tables, columns, and foreign keys | No - diagram reflects the DBML you wrote |
| Signup required | No | No account needed for the ERD generator; sign in to save |
| Free plan | Unlimited diagrams | Up to 10 diagrams; free PDF/PNG/SVG export; public sharing, Private mode, and embedding |
| Private diagrams | Yes - nothing is stored or published | Yes - Private mode included on Free; password-protected sharing paid |
| Interactive hover-to-trace relationships | Yes | Yes - drag, pan, and zoom |
| Export options | PNG and SVG | PNG, PDF, SVG |
| Paid plan | Pro in development, no billing yet | Paid plans available - see dbdiagram.io pricing |
| Best for | Understanding a database that already exists | Designing a new schema from scratch |
Last verified: 2026-10-23. Sources: dbdiagram.io pricing. Prices and limits change; check the vendor page before buying.
When to choose dbdiagramr
- You have a live PostgreSQL database (Supabase, Neon, Railway) and want to understand its schema quickly.
- You want the diagram to reflect your actual database - not a hand-written model that can drift out of date.
- You want to trace foreign key relationships by hovering, with no signup and nothing published publicly.
When to choose dbdiagram.io
- You are designing a brand-new schema from scratch and want to write it as DBML code.
- You need to generate SQL DDL from your model rather than introspect an existing database.
- You want team collaboration and password-protected sharing on a paid plan. Embedding is available on Free.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Diagram creation
dbdiagram.io: You write DBML code describing tables and relationships. The tool renders a diagram from your code. You need to learn DBML syntax first.
dbdiagramr: Paste SQL or a PostgreSQL connection string. The tool parses your schema and renders a diagram automatically. No new syntax to learn.
Keeping diagrams current
dbdiagram.io: Your diagram is a DBML file you maintain. When your database changes, you must update the DBML manually or the diagram drifts out of date.
dbdiagramr: The diagram reads your live database. Change a migration, paste the same connection string again, up-to-date in seconds. No drift.
Pricing
dbdiagram.io: Free tier includes 10 diagrams, PDF/PNG/SVG export, public sharing, Private mode, and embedding. Paid plans add unlimited diagrams, password-protected sharing, and more collaboration.
dbdiagramr: Free with no diagram limit, all private. Pro (saved diagrams, version history, sharing, multiple schemas) is in development - no price and no billing yet.
Privacy
dbdiagram.io: Free includes public sharing and Private mode. Password-protected sharing is paid.
dbdiagramr: Nothing is stored or published. Paste-SQL is parsed in your browser; a live connection string is sent to our backend for one request and discarded.
Verdict
Use dbdiagram.io if you're designing a new schema from scratch and prefer writing code (DBML) to define your tables. It's excellent for planning and prototyping.
Use dbdiagramr if you need to understand or document a PostgreSQL database that already exists. Paste a connection string, get an interactive diagram in seconds. No signup, no diagram limit, no drift.
For most developers working with existing databases, dbdiagramr is faster and more practical. For schema design from scratch, dbdiagram.io has the edge.
Frequently asked questions
Visualize your own database
Paste your PostgreSQL connection string and get an interactive ER diagram of your own schema in under 10 seconds. No signup required.
Try it free →