Side by side
ER Designer vs SQL Power Architect
Both stand on database design tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
Choose ER Designer if you need browser-based ER diagramming with guided schema restructuring or classroom assignment tools. Its free Student and Teacher plans make those workflows available without a listed charge. Look elsewhere if you require reverse or forward engineering or SQL export.
Visit ER Designer Free plan LinuxMacWindows
SQL Power Architect brings database modeling, profiling, comparison, and OLAP schema work into a free desktop tool. Check the Java requirement and listed driver versions against your environment before choosing it.
Visit SQL Power ArchitectThe facts
| ER Designer | SQL Power Architect | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | ermap.io | github.com |
| On database design tools | #14 of 35 | #18 of 35 |
ER Designer: what it does well
- Supports three diagram styles and a broad set of ER elements.
- Guides users through common schema restructuring issues.
- Generates tables, primary and foreign keys, and crow’s foot notation.
- Imports and exports JSON; exports PDF and PNG.
- Includes class, assignment, and submission workflows for teachers and students.
What to know first
- Saving projects on the server requires signing in.
- Teacher access requires an administrator-reviewed profile request.
- The Institute / Department plan has a price on request.
- It does not offer reverse engineering, forward engineering, or SQL export.
SQL Power Architect: what it does well
- Connects to multiple source databases through JDBC.
- Supports forward and reverse engineering.
- Compares models and database structures for discrepancies.
- Profiles column sizes, ranges, and value distributions.
- Free Community Edition under GPL-3.0.
What to know first
- Listed downloads require Java Runtime 8.
- Mac download specifies OS X 10.4 or later.
- Bundled JDBC drivers are listed for older database versions.
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