I'll admit that I'm not a database developer, hence, I'm not an expert when it comes to the intricacies of database managers. Then again, I have tried various apps of this sort, and what I can say is that very few of them are as comprehensive as DbSchema.

To put it as simply as possible, DbSchema is a cross-platform well-thought-out database visualizer/manager/design tool. It's an app for database design, management, and documentation.

The whole point of DbSchema is to help database designers, developers, and teams create, visualize, and maintain database structures within one GUI.

Some important things to know about DbSchema right from the get-go are as follows: it's a closed-source app that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, it's available in two editions (Community and PRO), it works with local, remote, and cloud databases, and it comes with support for over 70 database types.

Oh, and in case you're wondering why the GUI looks the way it does, it's because the app is built with Java (OpenJDK and JavaFX).

DbSchema features

The whole point of DbSchema is to simplify database design, management, design, visualization, maintenance, reverse engineering, and so forth. However, it's the features that make everything possible.

Here's a list of all DbSchema features at a glance (all features included in the PRO Edition. The ability to connect to any database (including cloud databases) with automatic JDBC driver download and SSH support, and support for a wide range of relations, shapes, conversion rules, and the option to share the designs in a team.

DbSchema also supports interactive diagrams which make the whole work with schemas a lot easier, and HTML5 documentation that allows users to add comments to tables, columns, and foreign keys.

Other important features include schema synchronization, a visual query builder, a relational data editor, SQL editor (with syntax highlight, text auto-completion, and the ability to export queries to CSV and XLSX), a CSV editor (for large files), random data generator, data importer (support for CSV, XML, XLS, and XLSX).

DbSchema also supports MongoDB (design, document, and manage MongoDB validation rules and databases), automation scripts (all about improving that workflow), virtual foreign keys, and last but not least, a universal command-line client (DbSchemaCLI).

Granted, that's a lot to unpack. Considering the complexity of DbSchema, it might be worth taking a look at the app's complete feature list and documentation section.

The Free Community Edition of DbSchema offers a basic set of features. It allows the users to connect to the databases and load schema structures, as well as visually create new tables and columns (visually create and edit schema tables), and it provides full access to interactive diagrams as well as to the capable SQL editor (with all its features such as syntax highlighting and text-autocompletion).

Of course, the PRO Edition offers everything the Free Community Edition offers plus all the more advanced features such as HTML5 documentation, visual query builder, design model offline, schema synchronization, database reports, database management app, data generator, and data importer (just to name a few).

What's really good is that the PRO Edition is available for anyone to try out for free for 14 days.

As a conclusion, there's no denying that having the ability to visually design, document, and query SQL and NoSQL databases from under a single roof is an attractive proposition for most database developers out there.

Taking everything into account, what DbSchema offers is truly impressive, and the amount of useful information and tutorials on the app's website is equally as impressive. DbSchema might not look the part (with its somewhat outdated Java GUI), but when it comes to functionality and ease of use, it's just right.