PgDesigner vs dbdiagram.io

Feature comparison

Feature	PgDesigner	dbdiagram.io
Offline / local	Yes (single binary)	No (SaaS, cloud storage)
Database focus	PostgreSQL only	PG, MySQL (generic DBML)
Schema format	.pgd XML (git-friendly)	DBML (text DSL)
Visual ERD editor	Yes (drag & drop)	Yes (code → diagram)
Diff/ALTER engine	Yes (6 hazard codes)	No
Schema lint	75 rules, 15 autofix	No
Sample data generator	Yes (30 heuristics)	No
Import SQL scripts	Yes (PG parser + live DB)	Yes (PG, MySQL scripts)
Export SQL	Yes (15-phase DDL)	Yes (basic DDL)
CLI for CI/CD	Yes	No
VS Code extension	No	Yes (DBML preview)
Data stays local	Yes (your disk)	No (their servers)

Pricing

	PgDesigner	dbdiagram.io
Free tier	Non-commercial, unlimited	10 diagrams (public only)
Individual	$19 one-time	$9/mo ($108/yr)
Team	$49 one-time (5 devs)	$9/mo per user
1 year cost (5 devs)	$49	$540

Important: dbdiagram.io free-tier diagrams are public — anyone with the link can see your schema. Private diagrams require a paid plan.

Where dbdiagram.io is stronger

• Instant start — open browser, type DBML, see diagram. No download, no account needed for public diagrams
• DBML format — text-based DSL that's easy to type, version, and share. VS Code extension for inline preview
• Quick prototyping — fastest way to sketch a schema for a new project
• Team collaboration — real-time cloud editing with shared diagrams
• Export options — SQL, PDF, PNG for documentation

Where PgDesigner is stronger

• Data stays local — your schema never leaves your machine. Critical for security/compliance
• Diff & migrations — compare schemas → safe ALTER SQL with hazard warnings. dbdiagram.io has no diff engine
• 75 lint rules — structural errors, best practices, antipatterns with autofix. dbdiagram.io has no validation
• Sample data generator — FK-aware, 30 heuristics, seeded. Not available in dbdiagram.io
• PostgreSQL depth — 70+ types, partitions, IDENTITY, domains, temporal. DBML supports basic types only
• One-time pricing — $19 once vs $108/yr. Over 2 years: $19 vs $216
• CLI for CI/CD — lint, diff, generate in your pipeline. dbdiagram.io is UI-only
• Live DB reverse engineering — connect to PostgreSQL, extract full schema. dbdiagram.io imports SQL text only

Honest assessment

dbdiagram.io is the fastest way to sketch a database schema — open browser, type DBML, share the link. For quick prototyping and team communication, it's excellent. PgDesigner is for the next step: when you need production-grade DDL, safe migrations, schema quality checks, and a local-first workflow. If your schema lives in a single DBML file and you never need ALTER scripts — dbdiagram.io is fine. If you deploy to PostgreSQL and need migrations, linting, and CI/CD — PgDesigner.