pgModeler

B tier on Database Design ToolsScore 7.1 · #4 of 32

Android app: Not listed
Free plan: Yes
Paid plans from: $59.90/mo
Runs on: Linux, Mac, Windows

pgmodeler.io

Summary

pgModeler is a desktop PostgreSQL schema engineering tool for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports visual schema design, reverse engineering, schema comparison and synchronization, and command-line deployment automation. Its relationship engine can propagate foreign-key columns, constraints, and indexes when tables are linked, and the software supports more than 30 PostgreSQL object types. Models can be exported as SQL, PNG, SVG, HTML data dictionaries, or directly to a PostgreSQL server. The command-line interface can export DDL, compare and validate models, and automate deployments in CI/CD workflows. Models use human-readable XML, while Plus adds a Git-based versioning workflow. The tool runs locally without an account, cloud dependency, or mandatory internet connection. The community edition is GPL v3 and free forever; Plus provides pre-built binaries and additional workflow features. A listed Plus single-user six-month plan is $59.90 per month, billed from $59.90/6 months. Connection passwords are stored in plain text in the settings directory.

Who it is for

pgModeler suits PostgreSQL users who want to design, inspect, compare, or deploy schemas from a desktop tool. Its local operation may suit people who do not want hosted schema infrastructure.

What is good

Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Supports more than 30 PostgreSQL object types.
Exports models to SQL, images, and HTML data dictionaries.
CLI supports validation and deployment automation.
Community edition is free forever.

What to know first

Connection passwords are stored in plain text.
The listed Plus six-month plan is $59.90 per month.
Plus features are separate from the community edition.

Verdict

pgModeler combines visual schema work with reverse engineering, synchronization, and command-line deployment. Consider the documented password-storage limitation when configuring database connections.

pgModeler plans and pricing

All plans

Single user · 6 months Not published 1 seat · 1 platform pgmodeler.io · 20 Sept 2026

Single user · 12 months Not published 1 seat · 1 platform pgmodeler.io · 20 Sept 2026

Team lifetime · Perpetual Not published 2 seats pgmodeler.io · 20 Sept 2026

pgModeler Community Free source code · free forever pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026

pgModeler Plus · Single user · 6 months $59.90/mo from $59.90/6 months 1 seat · single platform pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026

pgModeler Plus · Single user · 12 months Not published 12 months 1 seat · single platform pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on database design tools

Free plan: Yespgmodeler.io
Reverse engineering: Yespgmodeler.io
Forward engineering: Yespgmodeler.io
SQL export: Yespgmodeler.io
Supported databases: PostgreSQLpgmodeler.io
Team collaboration: Yespgmodeler.io
Version history: Yespgmodeler.io
Deployment: desktoppgmodeler.io

Facts

Purpose: pgModeler is a locally installed, multi-platform PostgreSQL schema engineering tool for visual design, reverse engineering, schema diff and synchronization, and CLI deployment automation.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
PostgreSQL scope: It supports more than 30 PostgreSQL object types, including domains, custom types, operators, collations, procedural languages, event triggers, foreign data wrappers, and extensions.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Modeling: The relationship engine automatically propagates foreign-key columns, constraints, and indexes when tables are linked.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Diff and sync: pgModeler Plus compares a model with a live server and generates the required ALTER, DROP, and CREATE statements for synchronization.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Exports: Models can be exported as SQL, PNG, SVG, HTML data dictionaries, or directly to a PostgreSQL server.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
CLI: The command-line interface can export DDL, run diffs, validate models, and automate deployments in CI/CD workflows.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Version control: The tool stores models as open, human-readable XML and Plus provides a Git-powered versioning workflow inside the interface.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Local operation: pgModeler runs entirely on the user's machine with no account, cloud dependency, mandatory internet connection, or hosted schema infrastructure.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Security: Connections support SSL modes, client certificates, Kerberos server settings, and GSSAPI authentication.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Security limitation: The documentation warns that connection passwords are stored in plain text in the settings directory.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Remote access: pgModeler Plus includes SSH tunneling for secure remote PostgreSQL connections without VPN configuration.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
Support: The project directs feature requests and bug reports to its GitHub issues page.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026
License: The community software is distributed under GPL v3, while Plus supplies pre-built binaries and professional workflow features.pgmodeler.io · 30 Sept 2026