# A free alternative to Lucidchart for ER diagrams

> For entity-relationship diagrams, EntityModel.com is a free, open-source alternative to Lucidchart built for data modeling — typed attributes, keys, validation, SQL import and DDL export — with no document limits or account.

Source: https://entitymodel.com/docs/compare/lucidchart-alternative/

[Lucidchart](https://www.lucidchart.com) is a general-purpose diagramming platform: flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, and ER diagrams among them. EntityModel.com does one thing, data modeling, and is free with no document limits, account or install.

*Comparison as of November 2026. Check Lucidchart's own site for its current plans and features.*

## At a glance

| | EntityModel.com | Lucidchart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Purpose | Data modeling: ER diagrams backed by a typed model | General diagramming, including ERD shapes |
| License and price | Open source (MIT), free, no limits | Proprietary; free plan limits documents and shapes; paid plans |
| Account | Not needed | Required |
| What a box is | An entity with typed attributes, keys and descriptions, checked by validation | A shape with text rows |
| SQL | Import DDL and DBML; export DDL for PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, Databricks | Varies by plan |
| Logical and physical models | Yes, derived from each other, with compare and migration SQL | Drawn by hand |
| Documentation | Data dictionary tables and a PDF design document from the model | The diagram |
| Real-time collaboration | Share links and model files; Git for teams | Yes, built in |
| Privacy | Models stay in your browser | Stored in Lucid's cloud |

## The difference that matters: a model, not a drawing

In a drawing tool, an ER diagram is shapes and lines. Rename a column and nothing else knows. In EntityModel.com the diagram is a view of a model: attributes have types, keys and references; relationships know their foreign key; renames update every reference; and the same model produces the SQL, the dbt tests and the documentation. Validation tells you when something is inconsistent.

## When Lucidchart is the better choice

- You need many kinds of diagrams in one place, not just ER diagrams.
- You need live multi-user editing of the same diagram, or your company already uses Lucid.

## When EntityModel.com is the better choice

- You're designing or documenting a database and want the diagram to produce SQL and documentation.
- You don't want document limits, accounts, or your schema stored in a vendor's cloud.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a free alternative to Lucidchart for database diagrams?

EntityModel.com is free and open source, runs in the browser without an account, and is built for ER diagrams: entities with typed attributes and keys, relationships in crow's foot notation, SQL import, and DDL export for PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake and Databricks.

### Can I make an ER diagram from SQL instead of drawing it?

Yes. Paste CREATE TABLE statements or a DBML file into EntityModel.com's Import SQL or DBML and the diagram is built for you, with foreign keys as relationships.