Schemity

Schemity is database design software for engineers working with live schemas. It is best for people who want to inspect and plan changes locally, with a deliberate approval before migration execution. Its main trade-off is that live database features require a paid license after the two-week trial.

Overview

Schemity reads a live database and previews proposed schema changes and their effects; it runs a migration only after the user clicks Migrate. That gives engineers a clear decision point before changes are applied, though teams needing a broader approval workflow will need to account for that separately.

It supports PostgreSQL, Supabase, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server and SQLite. Desktop work is stored in plain JSON files on the user's machine and can be version-controlled with Git. The desktop app has no cloud backend, accounts, analytics or telemetry, but transmits an automatically generated machine ID and country code for license verification.

Key features

• Modeling and import: ERD design, inferred relationships, SQL and DBML import, check constraints and junction table generation cover common schema-design tasks. This makes Schemity useful for both shaping a model and bringing an existing schema into the design process.
• Schema linting: Checks across 26 problem classes can help identify design issues before they become part of a migration. The breadth is useful, though the checks are not a replacement for engineering judgment.
• AI integrations: A local MCP server provides 16 tools and works with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex, OpenCode and other MCP hosts. The maker says it listens only on the user's machine, stores its token in the OS keychain and does not give AI agents database credentials. That is a useful boundary for AI-assisted workflows, while still allowing database design actions through supported tools.
• Local files and privacy: Keeping design files as ordinary JSON makes them compatible with Git-based versioning. The absence of a cloud backend and telemetry will appeal to users who prefer local desktop software, with the license-verification transmissions remaining an exception.

Pricing

Schemity is freemium, with a two-week desktop trial that unlocks every feature and requires no credit card. Once it ends, offline design remains available, but live database features and Context Views pause until a license is active; that makes the trial a meaningful evaluation window rather than ongoing free access to the live workflow.

• Lite: free, for browser-based schema design and sharing by link. It suits lightweight modeling and collaboration, but does not provide the full feature set.
• Education license: free for students and educators, with all features unlocked and one year of updates included. A .edu address is required to request it, so it is the strongest fit for eligible academic users.
• License: $129, paid once. It unlocks all features, includes one year of updates and can be used forever after updates expire. Optional updates renewal is $69/year. This is the best fit for an individual who prefers a one-time purchase, but ongoing updates cost extra and active licensing is needed for live features after the trial.

For team purchases, the creator invites inquiries about invoices, offline activation, security reviews and volume licensing.

Platforms

Schemity is available on Linux, macOS, Windows and the web. Desktop deployment suits local design-file workflows, while the browser-based Lite plan offers a narrower way to design and share.

Who it's for

Schemity is aimed at software engineers maintaining database schemas, particularly those who want to review live changes before applying them or keep design artifacts under version control. Its MCP integrations also make it relevant to developers who want AI tools involved in schema work without giving agents database credentials. It is less suitable for anyone who needs persistent live-database access on a free plan or requires a cloud-based collaboration environment.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Migration previews and an explicit Migrate action put execution under the user's control.
• Pro: Broad database support spans six named systems, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server and SQLite.
• Pro: Plain JSON project files can be version-controlled, and the desktop app avoids cloud accounts and telemetry.
• Con: The free Lite plan is browser-based and limited to schema design and link sharing; live database features require a license after the trial.
• Con: The $129 one-time license includes updates for only one year; continuing updates require an optional $69/year renewal.

Alternatives

For a wider set of database-design options, browse Database Design Tools.

• Hackolade Studio is another freemium option, with a Community Edition capped at 50 model objects per model and a 14-day Workgroup Edition trial.
• MySQL is worth considering when the priority is its GPL-licensed Community Edition for SQL and NoSQL applications, with replication, high-availability components and connectors.
• DbSchema may fit users seeking a Community edition alongside paid Pro and Architect plans; Pro adds saving and loading design files and schema synchronization.
• pgModeler is an alternative with single-user term licenses and a team lifetime option.
• SQL Power Architect suits readers seeking a free, GPL v.3-licensed option, provided Java Runtime 8 is suitable for their setup.
• ChartDB is a web or self-hosted alternative whose free plan caps use at one user, one database, 10 tables per diagram and two private diagrams.
• Database Workbench is another freemium option with Basic, Professional and Enterprise plans.
• DB Designer is a web-based option with a free Starter plan capped at two models and 10 tables per model.

Verdict

Schemity is a strong choice for engineers who want live-schema previews, local design files and a clear pause before migration execution. Its all-features license is a straightforward $129 one-time purchase, but readers who need continuing updates or free access to live database features should compare alternatives before committing.