Comparison of data modeling tools

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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.

Contents

General

ToolCreatorTarget Business Size License Supported Database PlatformsSupported OSsStandalone or bundled into a larger toolkitLaunch Date
Astah Change Vision Enterprises Proprietary MySQL, Oracle,Windows, macOS, LinuxStandalone2006
Database Workbench Upscene ProductionsSMBs and enterprises Proprietary MS SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, Firebird, InterBase, SQL Anywhere, NexusDB, MariaDB Windows, Linux and FreeBSD (both through Wine)Standalone2001
DbSchema Wise Coders GmbH SMBs and enterprises Proprietary MS SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, Firebird, InterBase, SQL Anywhere, NexusDB, MariaDB, SQLite, PostgreSQL, Sybase Windows, Linux, macOSStandalone2018
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 SQLWindowsStandalone1998
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 SQLWindowsStandalone1998
MagicDraw No Magic Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2 Windows, Linux, macOSStandalone1995
SQL Server Management Studio Microsoft Unknown Proprietary MS SQL Server WindowsStandalone2005
ModelRightModelRightEnterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary Access, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2 WindowsStandalone2005
MySQL Workbench MySQL (An Oracle Company)SMBs - personal Proprietary or GPL MySQL Linux, Windows, macOSStandalone2006
Navicat Data ModelerPremiumSoftSMBs and enterprises Proprietary MySQL, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite Windows, macOS, LinuxStandalone2012
NORMA Object-Role ModelingTerry HalpinSMBs and enterprises Open source (CPL) MySQL, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, IBM Db2 WindowsVisual Studio Extension2005
Open ModelSphere GranditeEnterprises - SMBs - personal Open source (GNU GPL3) MS SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, IBM Db2 Windows, macOS, LinuxStandalone with Data, UML, and process modeling2008
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler Oracle Enterprises Proprietary Oracle, MS SQL Server, IBM Db2 Cross-platformStandalone2009
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 WindowsStandalone1989
Software Ideas Modeler Dusan RodinaEnterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MS SQL Server, MySQL WindowsStandalone2009
SQLyog Webyog, Inc.Enterprises, SMBs, personal Proprietary MySQL, MariaDB Windows and Linux (using Wine)Standalone2001
Toad Data Modeler Quest Software SMBs and enterprises Proprietary Access, IBM Db2, Informix, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MS SQL Server, SQLite, Oracle WindowsStandalone2005 (before this date known as CaseStudio)
ToolCreatorTarget Business Size License Supported Database PlatformsSupported OSsStandalone or bundled into a larger toolkitLaunch Date

Features

ToolSupported data models (conceptual, logical, physical)Supported notationsForward engineeringReverse engineeringModel/database comparison and synchronizationTeamwork/repository
Database Workbench Conceptual, logical, physical IE (Crow’s foot) YesYesUpdate database and/or update modelNo
Enterprise Architect Conceptual, Logical & Physical + MDA Transform of Logical to Physical IDEF1X, UML DDL, Information Engineering & ERD YesYesUpdate database and/or update modelMulti-user collaboration using File, DBMS or Cloud Repository (or transfer via XMI, CVS/TFS or Difference Merge).
ER/Studio Logical, physical, ETLIDEF1X, IE (Crow’s feet)YesYesUpdate database and/or update modelER/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 PhysicalIDEF1X, UML DDL, Information Engineering & ERDYesYesUpdate database and/or update modelMulti-user collaboration using File, DBMS or (transfer via XMI, CVS/TFS or Difference Merge).
MySQL Workbench PhysicalIDEF1X, IE (Crow’s feet), UML, and moreYesYesUpdate database and/or update modelNo
Navicat Data ModelerConceptual, Logical & PhysicalIE (Crow’s foot)YesYesUpdate database and/or update modelNo
NORMA Object-Role modelingConceptual (ORM), Logical, PhysicalORM, Relational(Crow’s foot option), BarkerYesYesUpdate database and/or update modelNo
Open ModelSphere Conceptual, Logical, physicalIDEF1X, IE (Crow’s foot), and moreYesYesUpdate database and/or update modelNo
Oracle SQL Developer Data ModelerLogical, physicalBarker, IE (Crow’s foot), and BachmanYesYesUpdate database and/or update modelYes
PowerDesigner Conceptual, logical, physicalIDEF1X, IE (Crow’s foot), and moreYesYesUpdate database and/or update modelYes
Software Ideas Modeler Conceptual, logical, physicalIDEF1X, IE (Crow’s foot), UML and moreYesYesUpdate database and/or update modelYes
Toad Data Modeler Logical, physicalIDEF1X, IE (Crow’s foot), and moreYesYesUpdate database and/or update modelYes

See also