DB Planner vs dbdiagram.io
Both tools render DBML as entity relationship diagrams. The difference is what happens when your schema grows and your team grows with it: DB Planner is built around modular multi-file schemas and a live shared board. Here is the honest feature-by-feature picture, as of July 2026.
| Feature | DB Planner | dbdiagram.io |
|---|---|---|
| DBML as the schema source of truth | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-file schemas with use * from './file' imports | Yes, references resolve across every file in a project | No, one DBML file per diagram |
| Real-time shared board | Yes, everyone sees the same live board with presence | No live multiplayer board |
| Organizations and roles | Owner, editor, and viewer roles per organization | Limited |
| SQL import | Postgres, MySQL, MSSQL, and Snowflake | Postgres, MySQL, and MSSQL |
| Sticky notes on the canvas | Yes, draggable and resizable in seven colors | No |
| Column-level notes | Markdown notes with in-diagram popups | Plain-text notes |
| Built-in DBML editor | CodeMirror with syntax highlighting and autocompletion | Yes |
When dbdiagram.io is enough
For a solo developer sketching a small schema, dbdiagram.io is quick and pleasant, and its DBML syntax is the same language DB Planner speaks. Diagrams port between the two easily.
When teams switch to DB Planner
The switch usually happens for one of three reasons: the schema outgrew a single file, more
than one person needs to edit the diagram at the same time, or design context (why a column
exists, what a value means) needs to live on the diagram instead of in a wiki. DB Planner
handles all three: use * from './file' imports keep large schemas modular, the
board is shared and syncs in real time, and sticky notes plus column-level markdown notes keep
the reasoning next to the tables.
Want the wider landscape? Read our roundup of dbdiagram.io alternatives, or see the full DB Planner feature list.