If you’re looking to create an ER diagram, you have several options to choose from. There are many ER diagram maker tools available online, ranging from free to paid options.
But before jumping into the list, Let’s first take a quick introduction to ER Diagram design.
Shall we?
So, designing an Entity Relationship (ER) diagram is a crucial step in developing a database schema.
ER diagrams help you visualize the relationships between different entities in your database and understand how data flows through the system.
However, creating an ER diagram manually can be a tedious and time-consuming task. That’s where ER diagram online tools come in.
These tools offer a user-friendly interface and various features to help you create ER diagrams quickly and easily.
Additionally, there are many online resources available to help you learn about ER diagram design and best practices.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, using an ER diagram tool can save you time and help you create a more efficient database schema.
In this article, we will explore the best ER diagram online tools and resources to help you design an effective database schema.
10 Best Online Entity Relationship(ER) Diagram Tools
1. Vertabelo:
Vertabelo is a cloud-based data modeling tool that allows you to design and visualize your database schema. It is popular among developers, data analysts, and database administrators.
Features:
- User-friendly interface
- Reverse engineering
- Data modeling
- Database schema generation
- Collaborative editing
- Version control
- Database schema synchronization
Pricing:
- Individual: starts at $49/month, 20 database models, 100 tables per model, and 5 GB of storage
- Team: starts at $99/month, 10 users, unlimited models, unlimited tables per model, and 100 GB of storage
2. Lucidchart:
Lucidchart is a web-based diagramming tool that allows you to create various diagrams, including ER diagrams. It offers a drag-and-drop interface and various features to make diagramming easier.
Features:
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Various templates
- Real-time collaboration
- Integrations with other tools like Jira and Trello
- Data linking
- Data validation
Pricing:
- Free: 3 documents, 60 objects per document, and limited features
- Basic: starts at $7.95/month, unlimited documents, unlimited objects, and basic features
- Team: starts at $9.00/month, advanced features and integrations
- Enterprise: NA- Full Visual Suite
3. Visual Paradigm Online:
Visual Paradigm is an all-in-one software design and development tool that offers various features like UML modeling, ER modeling, and code generation. It is popular among software developers and designers.
Features:
- ER modeling
- Reverse engineering
- Code generation
- Team collaboration
- Integrations with other tools like Jira and GitHub
- Support for various databases like Oracle, MySQL, and SQL Server
Pricing:
- Community: Free, limited features
- Starter: starts at $4/user/month, standard features
- Advance: starts at $9/user/month, advanced features
- Combo: starts at $15/user/month, full features and support
4. Draw.io:
Draw.io is a free online diagramming tool that allows you to create various diagrams, including ER diagrams. It offers a simple interface and various templates to make diagramming easier.
Features:
- Simple interface
- Various templates
- Integrations with other tools like Google Drive and Dropbox
- Real-time collaboration
Pricing:
- Free: limited features
- Paid: starts at $5/month, advanced features and integrations
5. Microsoft Visio:
Microsoft Visio is a desktop-based diagramming tool that allows you to create various diagrams, including ER diagrams. It offers various features and integrations with other Microsoft products.
Features:
- ER modeling
- Various templates
- Data linking
- Validation rules
- Integrations with other Microsoft products like Excel and Access
Pricing:
- Visio Online Plan 1: $5/user/month, limited features
- Visio Online Plan 2: $15/user/month, full features and integrations
6. Gliffy:
Gliffy is a web-based diagramming tool that allows you to create various diagrams, including ER diagrams. It offers a simple interface and various templates to make diagramming easier.
Features:
- It has a simple interface,
- Collections of templates help you to design even faster.
- You can collaborate with your colleagues in real time.
- Integrations with other tools like Jira and Confluence
- Data linking
- Data validation
Pricing:
7. Creately:
Creately is a cloud-based diagramming tool that offers a wide range of features, including the ability to create ER diagrams. It offers an intuitive interface and many templates to make diagramming easy.
Features:
- Intuitive interface
- Many templates
- Real-time collaboration
- Integrations with other tools like Google Drive and Trello
- Data linking
- Data validation
Pricing:
Free trial available, paid plans start at $5/month/user.
8. SmartDraw:
SmartDraw is a diagramming tool that offers various templates, including ER diagrams. It is easy to use and has a wide range of features to help you create professional-looking diagrams.
Features:
- Large template library
- Intuitive interface
- Real-time collaboration
- Integrations with other tools like Dropbox and Google Drive
- Data linking
- Data validation
Pricing:
Free trial available, paid plans start at $9.95/month/user.
9. ERDPlus:
ERDPlus is a free online tool that allows you to create ER diagrams easily. It has a simple interface and various templates to make diagramming easy.
Features:
- Free to use
- Simple interface
- Various templates
- Real-time collaboration
- Data linking
- Data validation
Pricing:
Free.
10. DbSchema:
DbSchema is a database diagramming and design tool that allows you to create various diagrams, including ER diagrams. It has an intuitive interface and various features to make diagramming easy.
Features:
- Intuitive interface
- Various templates
- Real-time collaboration
- Integrations with other tools like MySQL and PostgreSQL
- Data linking
- Data validation
- Schema synchronization
Pricing:
Free trial available, paid plans start at $127/year.
FAQs on Online Entity Relationship Diagram Tools
Where can I design an ER diagram?
If you want to design an ER diagram, there are many options available online. Some popular tools that allow you to create ER diagrams easily are Lucidchart, ERDPlus, Draw.io, Visual Paradigm, SmartDraw, and DbSchema.
These tools offer various templates, real-time collaboration, and integrations with other tools to make the diagramming process easier.
Which is the best tool to generate ER diagram?
The best tool to generate an ER diagram depends on your specific needs and budget. However, Lucidchart, Visual Paradigm, and SmartDraw are popular choices among users.
Lucidchart is a web-based diagramming tool that offers a free trial and paid plans starting at $7.95/month/user.
Visual Paradigm offers a free trial and paid plans starting at $7/month/user, while SmartDraw offers a free trial and paid plans starting at $5.95/month.
Where can I create a ER diagram for free?
If you want to create an ER diagram for free, ERDPlus and Draw.io are popular options. ERDPlus is a free online tool that allows you to create ER diagrams without any cost.
Draw.io is another free online diagramming tool that offers a simple interface, various templates, and real-time collaboration.
Where do I draw an ER diagram on my laptop?
To draw an ER diagram on your laptop, you can use any of the above-mentioned online tools that offer ER diagramming capabilities.
Lucidchart, ERDPlus, and Draw.io are web-based tools, so you can access them from any device with an internet connection.
Visual Paradigm, SmartDraw, and DbSchema are desktop-based tools that you can download and install on your laptop.
These tools offer offline diagramming capabilities, but you need to purchase a license or subscription to use them.
In conclusion, designing an effective database schema is essential for any software development project, and an ER diagram is an essential part of that process.
Using an ER diagram online tool can help you create a more efficient database schema by allowing you to visualize and understand the relationships between different entities in your database.
Additionally, there are many resources available online to help you learn about ER diagram design and best practices.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, using an ER diagram online tool can save you time and help you create a better-designed database schema.
With the best ER diagram online tools and resources, you can create a more efficient and effective database schema for your software project.