Quick answer
drawDB - drawDB wins for most builders because its free tier is truly perpetual, requires no account or card, and removes practical diagram-count limits, while DB Designer is a stronger fit only if you want a hosted team workflow and can live with model and table caps.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve the same basic job, but they differ in where the constraints sit. DB Designer gives you a hosted schema tool with the full feature set from the paid plans, so the free tier is more about project size than product capability. Its limit is structural: 2 database models and 10 tables per model, plus signup and a card requirement. drawDB takes the opposite approach. The free tier is local-first, account-free, and effectively unbounded for diagrams, which makes it better for solo builders, quick prototypes, and offline work. The tradeoff is that the free tier stops at local use. If you need cloud storage, sharing, permissions, or live collaboration, drawDB pushes you into paid plans sooner than DB Designer does on features, even though DB Designer may cap you earlier on size.
DB Designer vs drawDB free tier, side by side
| DB DesignerFTV 51 | drawDBFTV 97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free account requiredDB Designer requires signup; drawDB does not require an account. | Yes | No |
| Credit card requiredDB Designer’s ftv_no_cc_required is false; drawDB’s is true. | Yes | No |
| Free model/diagram limitDB Designer limits the number of models; drawDB does not impose a practical diagram count cap on the free tier. | 2 database models | Unlimited local diagrams |
| Free table limitdrawDB’s free tier description does not specify a table cap. | 10 tables per model | Not stated |
| Collaboration on free tierdrawDB reserves live collaboration for paid Team plans. | Included | Not included |
| Export/import formats on free tierBoth support import/export workflows, but with different format sets. | SQL scripts, image, PDF | SQL, DBML, JSON, images |
After you outgrow the free tier
DB Designer uses flat monthly pricing for its general paid tiers, starting at $9/month for Basic and $17/month for Unlimited. drawDB starts at $14/month for Solo, then $17/user/month for Team. In practice, DB Designer is cheaper at the first paid step, especially for solo users who just need more models and tables. drawDB becomes the pricier option once you want cloud storage or collaboration, because those features are bundled into its paid plans. There is not enough input here to calculate usage-based scenarios for either product.
When to pick each one
Pick DB Designer when…
- You are prototyping a small schema and want collaboration, revision history, and exports without changing tools when you outgrow free.
- You need a hosted browser workflow and prefer a product where the free tier mirrors the paid feature set closely.
- Your database model stays small, under 2 models and 10 tables per model.
- You are in a student, nonprofit, or open source context and may qualify for an unlimited free plan.
Pick drawDB when…
- You want unlimited diagrams for local work and do not want to create an account.
- You only need schema design, SQL export, and templates, not cloud sync or team features.
- You are testing many schema variants and do not want to hit model caps quickly.
- You want a free tool that stays free for ongoing use rather than a limited starter tier.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, drawDB is the better free-tier pick because it stays free indefinitely, needs no account, and does not box you into a tiny project count. DB Designer is the better choice if you want a hosted schema tool with collaboration in the free plan and your work fits inside 2 models and 10 tables per model. Once you need more serious team features, drawDB charges sooner for collaboration, while DB Designer charges sooner for scale.
Read the full listings: DB Designer and drawDB. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.