There is no shortage of ERD tools you can start using for free. The catch is that "free" means something different in every one of them — some cap the number of diagrams, some cap tables per diagram, and some lock private diagrams behind payment.
This article compares the free tiers of five widely used tools, checked as of August 2026, and matches each one to the situation it fits best. All five run online, in the browser, with nothing to install.
Three things to check before you choose
Do you need private diagrams? A company schema is internal information by itself. If a free plan is public-only, rule it out for work before you start.
Do you need SQL in and out? If a database already exists, whether the tool imports DDL (and exports it back) decides how much typing you do. A tool that only draws pictures ends at pictures.
Where does the limit bite? A cap on diagram count can be managed by deleting old ones. A cap on tables per diagram has no workaround once your schema outgrows it.
The five tools at a glance
| Tool | Free tier | Editing style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| dbdiagram.io | 10 diagrams | DBML code | SQL import/export, PNG/PDF/SVG output |
| drawSQL | 15 tables per diagram, public only | GUI | Clean interface, easy sharing and embedding |
| ChartDB | Cloud free: 1 DB · 10 tables | GUI | Open source — can self-host |
| ERDCloud | Free to use | GUI | Real-time co-editing, Korean service |
| WorksCove ERD | 3 projects · 40 tables per project | GUI | SQL round-trip for 4 DBMS, version history |
Limits and prices change often. Check each tool's official pricing page before you commit — this table reflects what we verified in August 2026. One more shared trait: all five draw relationships in crow's foot (IE) notation, so learning the symbols once carries across every tool.
A closer look at each
dbdiagram.io: You write tables in a small language called DBML instead of dragging boxes. It looks like this:
Table members {
id bigint [pk, increment]
email varchar(255) [unique, not null]
nickname varchar(50) [not null]
}If you're comfortable in code this is genuinely faster, and because the source is text, diagrams can live in git, go through code review, and show schema changes as diffs — something GUI tools can't offer. dbdiagram's own community also notes there is no table-count limit even on free, so a single large schema managed as code works fine.
drawSQL: The cleanest interface of the five, and the sharing story is just as polished: diagrams embed nicely in docs and wikis, which makes it a good show-your-work tool. It suits coursework and portfolio pieces — anywhere the finished picture is meant to be seen.
ChartDB: Open source, so you can install it and run it on your own servers. It ships as a Docker image, so anyone who has run a container before can have it up quickly, and the data never leaves your infrastructure — a real argument in security-sensitive organizations. If you'd rather skip the install, the cloud version is an easy way to try it first.
ERDCloud: A Korean service widely used there, mainly because real-time co-editing costs nothing — which is why it's a common choice for student team projects and study groups. It exports images, Excel and SQL, which makes it an easy start for a team on no budget.
WorksCove ERD: This is our tool, so we'll skip the praise and just state the free tier precisely. Three projects, 40 tables per project. For scale: the forum example above is 4 tables, so the free ceiling is ten times that — roughly the full schema of an early-stage service. DDL import and export cover MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle and SQL Server, and table specifications, version history and an AI assistant (50K tokens per month) are all included. Team collaboration is paid.
Three tips for getting the most out of a free plan
Whichever tool you pick, a few things are worth knowing up front if you plan to stay on the free tier for a while. Knowing them in advance saves the surprise.
The table cap. When a schema outgrows the limit, the first idea is usually to split it across several diagrams. Resist it — the moment you split, the FK lines between the parts disappear from view, and "seeing relationships at a glance" was the whole point of an ERD. If you've hit the cap, moving to a tool with more headroom beats fragmenting the design.
Public diagrams. A public diagram is visible to anyone with the URL, and can end up in search results. If table names contain your company or product name, it's that much easier to find. For real schemas, confirm private diagrams are possible first, and keep public-only free plans for practice schemas.
Export gates. Sometimes drawing is free but getting the result out (high-resolution images, SQL, documents) is not. A diagram isn't finished until it's shared or submitted, so check that the format you ultimately need to produce is inside the free tier before you invest hours in a tool.
Switching tools in practice
If you've decided to move, the procedure is short: export SQL (DDL) from the old tool, import it into the new one. DDL is the common language.
Three things to keep in mind before you start:
- Match the dialect. If you exported MySQL, import as MySQL. If the new tool supports several DBMS, this is just a dropdown to get right.
- Layout doesn't travel. DDL carries no positions or colors, so expect to re-arrange with auto-layout after the move. If you had a hand-tuned layout, that part is redone.
- Check whether comments survive. Not every export includes COMMENTs. If you've been keeping logical names and descriptions in comments, open the exported DDL and confirm they're there before you burn the bridge.
After the move, compare table and FK counts against the original, and keep the original file around for a while. The import itself is the same exercise as in How to Draw an ERD, and if you want to turn the moved schema straight into documentation, that path is covered in How to Write a Table Specification.
Which one for which situation
- You want diagrams managed as code → dbdiagram.io. It fits review-and-version workflows best.
- You can run your own install → ChartDB. Open source, and your data stays yours.
- A team needs to draw together on no budget → ERDCloud. Real-time co-editing is included without payment.
- The work is small and fine to be public → drawSQL. The clean look makes coursework presentable.
- You want to import DDL, draw, and continue into specs → WorksCove ERD. The 4-DBMS round-trip and the 40-table free ceiling are built for that flow.
FAQ
Which free ERD tool is the best?
There's no single best. If you want diagrams as code, dbdiagram fits; if you can run your own install, ChartDB; if a team needs to edit together, ERDCloud — the answer depends on the situation. All five are free to start, so the surest way is to try them and pick what fits your work.
Can I keep using a free plan for real work?
It depends on schema size and what deliverables you need. For a few dozen tables, free tiers last a long time. The usual upgrade triggers are real-time team editing and needing several private projects at once.
Is it safe to draw my company's schema in a free tool?
Check first whether the free plan is public-diagrams-only — some are. Table and column names alone reveal how a service works, so treat the schema itself as internal information.
Why aren't desktop tools like MySQL Workbench or DBeaver on the list?
This comparison covers only tools you can start in a browser without installing anything. Desktop tools differ in setup and sharing, so putting them in the same table would blur the criteria. If you already use DBeaver, we're planning a separate article on getting ERDs and specs out of it.
How do I switch from one tool to another?
Export SQL (DDL) from the old tool and import it into the new one. DDL is the common language between these tools, so as long as both sides support SQL in and out, the cost of moving is small.
All five are free to start. In the end the choice belongs to the person using the tool — the surest way is to try each one and find what fits your work. Keep the three checks in mind as you go — privacy, SQL round-trip, where the limit sits — and whichever you pick, you're unlikely to regret it.