Do you know about the Entity Relationship Diagram? It is the set of processes that helps you to develop, design, and maintain database management systems (DBMS) on a single platform. It helps to visualize and understand the correlation between the entity data sets that are available.
Moreover, ERD tools give a snapshot of your database and offer a blueprint of your data structure for your ease and comfort in performing your task. Entity Relationship Diagram is very popular in the business and IT world because it clearly defines and designs the data relationships and characteristics. It enables you to design physical and logical relationships structure.
There are massive number of ERD tools available on the internet. Some of these tools are entity relation templates, and some offer you the customization option as well. Here is a list of different ERD tools. You can pick anyone and can perform your task in an appropriate way.
1. Lucidchart
Lucidchart is primarily used for visual data modeling and is considered as the best software tool for Intelligent Diagramming. This tool also clarifies the complexity of modeling by providing templates, easy-to-draw charts and diagrams, and also collaborative online diagramming. You can get the cloud-based solution from this tool.
As discussed above, Lucidchart is a data visualization tool that helps analyze the important information and highlight the complex points out of it. You can create flowcharts, mockups, UML diagrams, and much more using this tool.
Key Features
- ERD can be generated automatically.
- Drag and drop facility.
- Export diagram to database service.
Lucidchart is an online free with limits tool, but it is unnecessary to download it. You need to create an account to use it. The tool is 100% privacy protected. However, for personal use, you have to pay a monthly fee.
2. Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio is considered the best software tool because of its user-friendly interface and ability to support many sources for fetching data. Microsoft Visio offers innovative solutions and data visualization. You can avail the facilities of Diagramming and Vector Graphics from this tool. MS Visio is part of the Microsoft Office family. This tool also provides custom-made charts and diagrams for data. This tool does not offer a feature to generate SQL scripts.
Key Features
- Easy customization and documentation.
- Share with users and non-users.
- Support multiple data sources.
Microsoft Visio is available as both web and desktop app. You can easily install the app from the MS Office home page, or other installation options can also be used.
3. Dbdiagram.io
Dbdiagram.io is the best software tool because it is a simple database tool and is free to use. It provides the facility to design your Databases Manually. You can also create and use your own templates. This tool also provides an option through which you can export diagrams into images. It supports both forward engineering and reverse engineering. Its visual interfaces are not as nice as Lucidchart. Using this tool, you can copy SQL but not create SQL scripts. You can call it a drawing tool, not a complete modeling tool.
Key Features
- ERD generate by writing.
- Schema can be uploaded.
- Diagram save as image or PDFs.
Dbdiagram.io is available on both web and desktop app. You can easily install the app from the official page, or other installation options can also be used.
4. DbSchema
DbSchema is designed for out-of-the-box schema management, documentation, and sharing the document with teams. Visual tools help the user to make decisions and manage data efficiently. It supports all relational and other databases. You can compare the different versions of schema and share documents with the team. DbSchema has SQL Editor option.
Key Features
- HTML5 documentation.
- Visual query builder.
- Multiply and deploy databases.
- Auto-completion SQL editor.
Like others, DbSchema is also free and you can use it online or install it according to your requirements. You have to pay a fee for its Modeller Pro for the advanced features option.
5. Vertabelo
Vertabelo is a professional database modeling tool, which allows you to create your database at the physical and logical level. You can share the document at three access levels, i.e, editor, viewer, and owner. Vertabelo also provides you with Reverse Engineering and Migration Script Generation, through which you can change the model. You can create SQL scripts and send a public link to others as the viewer. This also provides XML export and import functionality.
Key Features
- Supports SQLite, Big query, IBM DB2.
- Collaborative with the team.
- Handy features, script generation.
It is also a free online tool available as both web and desktop apps. Install this app from its official page and other installation options can also be used.
6. Visual Paradigm
Visual Paradigm is a leading business and IT solutions software tool. This tool provides drag-and-drop diagram modeling. It allows you to develop conceptual, logical, and physical data modeling. It has the option of REST API for model design. When you create ERD to a niche touch, an Automatic foreign key is generated. Through Visual Paradigm, you can build your report. Visual Paradigm supports a wide range of relational databases.
Key Features
- Export diagram without a watermark.
- Diagram templates are available.
- Unlimited diagrams can be drawn.
It is also free, and you can use it online to work with the team, and also you can install it for personal use. For standard and professional, you have to pay a monthly fee.
7. QuickDBD
QuickDBD facilitates you to draw database models quickly. QuickDBD is a user-friendly GUI. Without leaving your keyboard, you can draw database structures. This tool supports exporting to PDF, Word, and SQL. You find the QuickDBD in two categories;
- QuickDBD Database design tools.
- QuickDBD GUI tools.
Key Features
- Support MYSQL, Oracle, and SQLserver.
- Publicly save and share projects.
- Typing schema generates ERD.
QuickDBD is a free with limits online tool for modeling and available for web, Windows, OS, and Linux. QuickDBD can be easily installed from the office home page, or other installation options can also be used. But for professional use, you have to pay a monthly fee.
8. Dbdesigner.net
Dbdesigner.net is a modeling tool that allows you to make an online model and SQL script at the same time. It is a user-friendly tool. Through this, you can create a database without wiring a single SQL code. It provides team collaboration & sharing of models, and exports your database files. This tool lets you save your diagrams to cloud storage services like Dropbox.
Key Features
- Team collaboration option.
- Allows start from scratch.
- Export database in PNG and PDFs.
Dbdesigner.net is an online free tool that you can log-in and start using. You can easily install this app from its official page.
9. Gliffy
Gliffy is one of the first apps for diagram modeling. You can use it for flowcharts, wireframing app, and modeling. Gliffy allows you to draw diagrams on a whiteboard packed into one powerful tool. This tool allows you to import images and export diagrams. You can work and share models with remote teams through this tool.
Key Features
- Diagram with collaboration.
- Previous versions are compatible.
- The database is shown in diagram form.
It is also a free trial tool available on the Web, Windows, and iOS. To install this app you can use the official website, or other installation options can also be used.
10. Erwin
Erwin data modeler is considered an award-winning modeling tool to design, develop, deploy and find high-quality data assets. Through this tool, you can align data from anywhere for clarity and consistency. You can also do large-scale data integration and metadata management. Erwin gives you successful cloud adoption to save data. You can do effective decision-making on hybrid architectures and data intelligence.
Key Features
- Any data visualization from anywhere.
- Model management and development are centralized.
- Increase data quality and reduce risk.
It is also a free trial tool available on the Web, Windows, and iOS. This tool is easy to install from its official site.
Final Words
Many online ER Diagrams tools are available in both free and paid versions. When selecting an ER tool, ensure that it supports a wide range of DBMSs and offers labor-saving features like reverse engineering and migration scripts. Last but not least, the tool must be cost-effective and stack up the competition in different prices tiers.
