Database design tools for MySQL

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.

dbDiffo

dbDiffo is a free online database schema designer and provides unlimited tables and projects creation services.

Desktop/Cloud: Cloud
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

DTM Data Modeler

DTM Data Modeler is an easy-to-use tool allowing you to work both with logical and physical data models in the form of an entity-relationship diagram. The program can create database schema objects directly in the database and can create SQL scripts corresponding to the model taking into account the specified settings.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

DB Designer Fork

DB Designer Fork is a fork of the fabFORCE DBDesigner 4 and a premium database design tool. It integrates entity relationship design, front-end, and SQL exporting.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

Jeddict

Jeddict is an open source development platform that simplifies development tasks of creating complex entity relationship models. It provides forward & reverse engineering capabilities, import models from existing database, generate complex SQL/DDL, and much more.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

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
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: No
ER Diagram: Yes

Database Deployment Manager

Database Deployment Manager (DDM) tool is a multi-platform tool that allows database administrators and users to create database structures (tables, queries, etc.) using an object-oriented methodology that can be used to populate multiple databases. It creates E-R diagrams between chosen tables, export these as graphics or SVG.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

Database Designer for MySQL

Database Designer for MySQL is a powerful solution for visual database development: creation, modification, and reverse engineering.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

Xcase

Xcase is a complete database design tool engineered to help you accomplish all your database-related tasks – from database design to modeling to daily modifications – with greater speed, higher quality, and better adherence to best practices.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

AnySQL Maestro

AnySQL Maestro is the premier multi-purpose admin tool for database management, control and development.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: No
ER Diagram: Yes

SQL Maestro for MySQL

SQL Maestro for MySQL is the premier tool for MySQL and MariaDB database management, control, and development. It provides a rich set of GUI tools for anyone who uses MySQL and/or MariaDB. Its key features include support for all the MySQL server versions from 3.23, direct support for MariaDB-specific features, easy database object management, database designer, comfortable access to MySQL security features, data management and data analysis tools, many more.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: No
ER Diagram: Yes

RISE

RISE is a software suite for model driven information system development, packed with features and functions needed to build your information model and to turn it into a complete information management solution. You can generate your entire information solution including database, web services, and documentation.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

Valentina Studio

Valentina Studio is a database management tool that helps to create, administer, query, and explore Valentina DB, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite databases for FREE.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: No
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

ERDesigner NG

The Mogwai ERDesigner is an entity relationship modeling/design tool(ERD). It is open source tool designed to make database modeling easier and support the developer in the whole development process, from database design to schema and code generation.

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: Yes
ER Diagram: Yes

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
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: No
ER Diagram: Yes

ModelRight

ModelRight is a database design and data modeling tool. It is used by data modelers, database developers, and database architects to create, visualize, and document their databases as an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD).

Desktop/Cloud: Desktop
Generate DDL scripts: Yes
Free edition: No
ER Diagram: Yes

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.