DB Planner vs Lucidchart for ER diagrams
Lucidchart draws almost anything, and ER diagrams are one shape library among many. DB Planner does one thing: database schemas, where you write or import the schema and the ER diagram is drawn from it. Here is how the two compare for ER diagrams as of October 2026, including where Lucidchart is the better fit.
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| Feature | DB Planner | Lucidchart |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A database design tool: the schema is DBML text and the ER diagram is drawn from it | A general diagramming tool with an ERD shape library |
| Building an ER diagram | Write DBML or import SQL; tables and relationships draw themselves | Drag entity shapes onto the canvas, or generate from a prompt |
| Importing an existing database | Paste a SQL schema dump from PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQL Server | Run Lucid’s query against your database and upload the output; a raw SQL script cannot be imported |
| Exporting SQL | PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server, foreign keys included, with compatibility warnings | MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, and Oracle, without the connections between tables |
| Notation | Crow’s foot markers between the exact columns | Crow’s foot, plus a UML-style template |
| Free plan | One project with ten documents; exports are on Pro | Three editable documents, with a cap on objects per document |
| Collaboration | Real-time editing in an organization, $5 per seat | Real-time co-editing and comments; revision history on Team and Enterprise |
| AI assistants | Hosted MCP server with read and write scopes for schemas and the board | Hosted MCP server for searching, editing, and creating documents |
When Lucidchart is the better choice
If your organization already works in Lucid, an ER diagram there sits beside your flowcharts, org charts, and architecture diagrams with the sharing and administration you already have. Its database import reaches warehouses DB Planner does not, such as Snowflake and BigQuery, and its Oracle support covers both import and export.
When DB Planner fits better
A general canvas treats a table as a shape, so keeping the diagram true to the database is a manual job. In DB Planner the schema is the source: edit a column in the DBML and the diagram changes, import a fresh SQL dump and the diagram is current, export SQL and the foreign keys come with it. That is the difference between an ER diagram tool built on your schema and a drawing of one. To start from a database you already have, turn its SQL into an ER diagram.
What the two cost
As of October 2026, Lucid lists Lucidchart Individual at $9 a month, with a Team plan above it and a free plan of three editable documents; check Lucid’s pricing page for per-seat terms. DB Planner is free for one project with ten documents, $5 a month for Pro, and $5 for each added organization seat, so a team of three pays $15 a month. See the full pricing breakdown.
Questions about switching
Is DB Planner a good Lucidchart alternative for ER diagrams?
Yes, if the diagram is of a database. Lucidchart is a general diagramming tool where an ER diagram is shapes you place. DB Planner is built for database schemas: you write or import the schema and the ER diagram is drawn from it, so it stays accurate and exports back to SQL with its foreign keys.
Can DB Planner import the same databases as Lucidchart?
Partly. DB Planner imports schema dumps from PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server. Lucidchart’s database import also covers Oracle, Snowflake, BigQuery, and others, using a query you run and upload.
Which is better for a team that already uses Lucid?
If the ER diagram needs to sit beside org charts, flowcharts, and other Lucid documents, staying in Lucid is simpler. If the team designs and changes database schemas often, a schema-first tool like DB Planner keeps the diagram and the SQL in step.
Do both work with AI assistants?
Yes. Both run hosted MCP servers. DB Planner’s works on schemas specifically: it reads and edits DBML documents, converts SQL, and lays out the ER diagram.
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