Comparison of data modeling tools

This article is a comparison of data modeling tools which are notable, including standalone, conventional data modeling tools and modeling tools supporting data modeling as part of a larger modeling environment.

General

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Tool Creator Target Business Size License Supported Database Platforms Supported OSs Standalone or bundled into a larger toolkit Launch Date
Astah Change Vision Enterprises Proprietary MySQL, Oracle, Windows, macOS, Linux Standalone 2006
Database Workbench 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
DbSchema 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 Architect 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/Studio 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 Modeler 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
MagicDraw No Magic Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2 Windows, Linux, macOS Standalone 1995
SQL Server Management Studio Microsoft Un­known Proprietary MS SQL Server Windows Standalone 2005
ModelRight ModelRight Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary Access, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2 Windows Standalone 2005
MySQL Workbench MySQL (An Oracle Company) SMBs - personal Proprietary or GPL MySQL Linux, Windows, macOS Standalone 2006
Navicat Data Modeler PremiumSoft SMBs and enterprises Proprietary MySQL, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite Windows, macOS, Linux Standalone 2012
NORMA Object-Role Modeling Terry Halpin SMBs and enterprises Open source (CPL) MySQL, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, IBM Db2 Windows Visual Studio Extension 2005
Open ModelSphere 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 Modeler Oracle Enterprises Proprietary Oracle, MS SQL Server, IBM Db2 Cross-platform Standalone 2009
PowerDesigner 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 Modeler Dusan Rodina Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MS SQL Server, MySQL Windows Standalone 2009
SQLyog Webyog, Inc. Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MySQL, MariaDB Windows and Linux (using Wine) Standalone 2001
Toad Data Modeler 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

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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

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