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Comparison of data modeling tools

This article provides a comparison of notable data modeling tools, including standalone tools specifically designed for data modeling and tools that support data modeling as part of a broader modeling environment.

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May 29, 2026
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This article provides a comparison of notable data modeling tools, including standalone tools specifically designed for data modeling and tools that support data modeling as part of a broader modeling environment.1

General

Tool Creator Target Business Size License Supported Database Platforms Supported OSs Standalone or bundled into a larger toolkit Launch Date
Astah2 Change Vision Enterprises Proprietary MySQL, Oracle, Windows, macOS, Linux Standalone 2006
Database Workbench3 Upscene Productions SMBs and enterprises Proprietary MS SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, Firebird, InterBase, SQL Anywhere, NexusDB, MariaDB Windows, Linux and FreeBSD (both through Wine) Standalone 2001
DbSchema4 Wise Coders GmbH SMBs and enterprises Proprietary MS SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, Firebird, InterBase, SQL Anywhere, NexusDB, MariaDB, SQLite, PostgreSQL, Sybase Windows, Linux, macOS Standalone 2018
Enterprise Architect5 Sparx Systems SMBs and enterprises Proprietary IBM Db2, Firebird, InterBase, Informix, Ingres, Access, MS SQL Server, MySQL, SQLite, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Sybase Windows, Linux (Wine), macOS (via CrossOver) Data modeling is supported as part of a complete modeling platform. 2000
ER/Studio6 Embarcadero (acquired by IDERA) SMBs and enterprises Proprietary Access, Snowflake, Microsoft Azure IBM Db2, Informix, Hitachi HiRDB, Firebird, Interbase, MySQL, MS SQL Server, Netezza, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Sybase, Teradata, Visual Foxpro and others via ODBC/ANSI SQL Windows Standalone 1998
Erwin Data Modeler7 Logic Works (now Quest) SMBs and enterprises Proprietary Access, IBM Db2, Informix, MySQL, MS SQL Server, Netezza, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Sybase, and others via ODBC/ANSI SQL Windows Standalone 1998
MagicDraw8 No Magic Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2 Windows, Linux, macOS Standalone 1995
ModelRight9 ModelRight Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary Access, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2 Windows Standalone 2005
MongoDB Compass10 MongoDB, Inc. Enterprise, SMBs, Personal Server Side Public License Any MongoDB Server (Atlas, Localhost, EA, Community, etc.) Linux (64-bit), Windows (64-bit), Mac OS (64-bit) Standalone or bundled into a larger toolkit 2015
MySQL Workbench11 MySQL (An Oracle Company) SMBs - personal Proprietary or GPL MySQL Linux, Windows, macOS Standalone 2006
Navicat Data Modeler12 PremiumSoft SMBs and enterprises Proprietary MySQL, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite Windows, macOS, Linux Standalone 2012
NORMA Object-Role Modeling13 Terry Halpin SMBs and enterprises Open source (CPL) MySQL, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, IBM Db2 Windows Visual Studio Extension 2005
Open ModelSphere14 Grandite Enterprises - SMBs - personal Open source (GNU GPL3) MS SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, IBM Db2 Windows, macOS, Linux Standalone with Data, UML, and process modeling 2008
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler15 Oracle Enterprises Proprietary Oracle, MS SQL Server, IBM Db2 Cross-platform Standalone 2009
PowerDesigner16 SAP SMBs and enterprises Proprietary Access, Greenplum, Apache Hive, HP Neoview, IBM Db2, Informix, Ingres, Interbase, MySQL, Netezza, NonStop SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Red Brick Warehouse, SAP business Suite, SAP Hana, SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise, SAP IQ, SAP SQL Anywhere, MS SQL Server, Teradata Windows Standalone 1989
Software Ideas Modeler17 Dusan Rodina Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MS SQL Server, MySQL Windows Standalone 2009
SQLServer Management Studio18 Microsoft Unknown Proprietary MS SQL Server Windows Standalone 2005
SQLyog19 Webyog, Inc. Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MySQL, MariaDB Windows and Linux (using Wine) Standalone 2001
Toad Data Modeler20 Quest Software SMBs and enterprises Proprietary Access, IBM Db2, Informix, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MS SQL Server, SQLite, Oracle Windows Standalone 2005 (before this date known as CaseStudio)
Tool Creator Target Business Size License Supported Database Platforms Supported OSs Standalone or bundled into a larger toolkit Launch Date

Features

Tool Supported data models (conceptual, logical, physical) Supported notations Forward engineering Reverse engineering Model/database comparison and synchronization Teamwork/repository
Database Workbench Conceptual, logical, physical IE (Crow’s foot) Yes Yes Update database and/or update model No
Enterprise Architect Conceptual, Logical & Physical + MDA Transform of Logical to Physical IDEF1X, UML DDL, Information Engineering & ERD Yes Yes Update database and/or update model Multi-user collaboration using File, DBMS or Cloud Repository (or transfer via XMI, CVS/TFS or Difference Merge).
ER/Studio Logical, physical, ETL IDEF1X, IE (Crow’s feet) Yes Yes Update database and/or update model ER/Studio Repository and Team Server (formerly Portal/CONNECT) for web based publishing collaboration and model management, with Business Glossary as standard.
MagicDraw Conceptual, Logical & Physical + MDA Transform of Logical to Physical IDEF1X, UML DDL, Information Engineering & ERD Yes Yes Update database and/or update model Multi-user collaboration using File, DBMS or (transfer via XMI, CVS/TFS or Difference Merge).
MySQL Workbench Physical IDEF1X, IE (Crow’s feet), UML, and more Yes Yes Update database and/or update model No
Navicat Data Modeler Conceptual, Logical & Physical IE (Crow’s foot) Yes Yes Update database and/or update model No
NORMA Object-Role modeling Conceptual (ORM), Logical, Physical ORM, Relational(Crow’s foot option), Barker Yes Yes Update database and/or update model No
Open ModelSphere Conceptual, Logical, physical IDEF1X, IE (Crow’s foot), and more Yes Yes Update database and/or update model No
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler Logical, physical Barker, IE (Crow’s foot), and Bachman Yes Yes Update database and/or update model Yes
PowerDesigner Conceptual, logical, physical IDEF1X, IE (Crow’s foot), and more Yes Yes Update database and/or update model Yes
Software Ideas Modeler Conceptual, logical, physical IDEF1X, IE (Crow’s foot), UML and more Yes Yes Update database and/or update model Yes
Toad Data Modeler Logical, physical IDEF1X, IE (Crow’s foot), and more Yes Yes Update database and/or update model Yes
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Database Modeling and Design. 2011-02-10. ISBN 978-0-12-382020-4.
  2. "Change Vision, Inc". www.change-vision.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  3. "Database Workbench: database GUI tool for MySQL, MariaDB, InterBase, Firebird, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, NexusDB and SQLite @ Upscene Productions". www.upscene.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  4. "Database Workbench: database GUI tool for MySQL, MariaDB, InterBase, Firebird, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, NexusDB and SQLite @ Upscene Productions". www.upscene.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  5. "Documentation | Sparx Enterprise Architect SAAS". 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  6. Hirsch, Ryan (2025-09-10). "Enterprise Data Architecture: A Complete Guide". ER/Studio. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  7. https://www.dlt.com/sites/default/files/resource-attachments/2024-05/erwin-data-modeler-datasheet-147769.pdf
  8. "MagicDraw". Dassault Systèmes. 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  9. "ModelRight - DBMS Tools". dbmstools.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  10. "MongoDB Compass". MongoDB. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  11. "MySQL :: MySQL Workbench". www.mysql.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  12. "Products | Navicat". www.navicat.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  13. https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ORMSolutions.NORMA2019
  14. "Open ModelSphere - User's Guide". www.modelsphere.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  15. https://www.oracle.com/database/sqldeveloper/technologies/sql-data-modeler/
  16. "SAP Help Portal | SAP Online Help". help.sap.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  17. "Diagram CASE Tool for Software Modeling & Analysis - UML, BPMN, ERD". www.softwareideas.net. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  18. rwestMSFT. "SQL Server Management Studio". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  19. "SQLyog Ultimate - Powerful MySQL Development and Administration". Webyog. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  20. https://www.quest.com/documents/toad-data-modeler-datasheet-68531.pdf