SQL Server
Oracle
MySQL
PostgreSQL
Amazon Redshift
Azure SQL Database
DBT
Google Big Query
IBM DB2
MariaDB
SAP HANA
Snowflake
SQLite
Teradata
Vertica
Database design tools for Firebird
List of tools that allow for the design of a database.
Database design is a set of activities aimed at improving the development, implementation, and maintenance of an enterprise data management system. Its main goal is to reflect the outline of the database system into real models: physical and logical. Database designers determine what data is to be stored inside the database, and how objects are to be related to each other.
Dataedo
Dataedo is a metadata management tool with data description language (DDL) export. It reads your schema and lets you easily describe each data element (tables and columns) and other database objects (like triggers, stored procedures, etc.) visually as ER diagrams. Additionally, DDL export allows you to export your database to a set of statements like CREATE and ALTER.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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| ER Diagram: |
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DbSchema
DbSchema is a intuitive designer for complex databases, visual interaction and documentation.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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| ER Diagram: |
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ERBuilder Data Modeler
ERBuilder Data Modeler allows developers to graphically design databases by using entity relationship diagrams, and automatically generates the most popular SQL databases.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Free edition: |
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DB-Main (discontinued)
DB-Main is an easy-to-use data modelling and data architecture platform. It is a generic CASE tool dedicated to database applications engineering, and in particular to database design, reverse engineering, re-engineering, integration, maintenance, and evolution.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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| ER Diagram: |
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ER/Studio
ER/Studio Data Architect helps to easily reverse- and forward-engineer, compare and merge, and visually document data assets across multiple platforms and data sources. It enables data professionals to better manage data models and metadata in complex and dynamic enterprise environments.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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Model Xtractor
Model Xtractor is a software utility designed to inspect modeling for traditional or enhanced ER models, with support for most relational database platforms.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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Enterprise Architect
Enterprise Architect is a fully featured database modeling platform that enables the user to work with their Physical Data models at all stages, from design right through to the implementation of the live database, for a wide range of database management systems such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL and MySQL.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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DatabaseSpy
Altova DatabaseSpy is the unique multi-database query, design, and database comparison tool that even generates elegant charts directly from query results.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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ConceptDraw DIAGRAM
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software gives the ability to describe a database using the Entity-Relationship model. The Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution of ConceptDraw contains all libraries, templates, and samples you may need for professional ERD drawing.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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| ER Diagram: |
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SQuirreL SQL
SQuirreL SQL Client is a graphical Java program that will allow you to view the structure of a JDBC compliant database, browse the data in tables, issue SQL commands, etc.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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| ER Diagram: |
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Adminer
Adminer is a tool for managing contents of MySQL databases, formerly known as phpMinAdmin. It is a full-featured database management tool written in PHP.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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AnySQL Maestro
AnySQL Maestro is the premier multi-purpose admin tool for database management, control and development.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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RazorSQL
RazorSQL is an SQL query tool, database browser, SQL editor, and database administration tool. It provides visual tools to create, alter, describe, execute, and drop database objects such as tables, views, indexes, stored procedures, functions, triggers, and more.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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| ER Diagram: |
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DeZign for Databases
DeZign for Databases uses ERD and data models to graphically design databases and automatically generates the most popular databases.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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| Generate DDL scripts: |
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| Free edition: |
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| ER Diagram: |
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Database Workbench
Database Workbench is a complete database development tool that facilitates to design and develop from a single conceptual data model to the different DBMS specific physical models. It lets you create and modify database objects in graphical editors with no need to remember specific SQL syntax.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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The database design process can be very complicated. The more complex the system, the more sophisticated the tool is needed. Their functionality can vary greatly, however, core features include:
• creating and editing database objects,
• database architecture modeling,
• visualization of a database schema,
• tracking relationships between entities,
• grouping logically related objects into clusters,
• diagrams overview.
Database designer tools enable building graphical models and generating DDL scripts on their basis. The script describes data and relations between entities in the designed database. Furthermore, the tools enable reverse engineering (visualization of the model from the SQL script).
Key factors of creating a reliable and well-organized database are:
• a properly designed data structure,
• establishing what data should be stored in particular objects,
• how objects should be related to each other.
All of them can be improved by using the relevant Database design tool. Additionally, some of them allow the visual representation of data using ERD, makes it easier to visualize even more complex schemas.
Without proper software, development is based on raw code. This increases the risk of errors at the initial stage. The tools allow users to edit the visual layout using simple drag-and-drop functions. With a user-friendly interface, browsing the structure is possible even for non-IT people.
We have created a list of tools that support the process of creating database structure and its content. Our list includes free database design tools as well as advanced, more professional data management tools.