erd-editor
erd-editor is an open-source Entity-Relationship Diagram editor available as a web app, VSCode extension, and IntelliJ plugin. It supports offline-first collaboration with local storage, real-time sync across browser tabs, and end-to-end encryption for shared diagrams.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | dineug/erd-editor |
| Owner | dineug |
| Primary language | TypeScript |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 1.7k |
| Forks | 152 |
| Open issues | 41 |
| Latest release | v3.3.0 (2025-05-06) |
| Last updated | 2026-06-14 |
| Source | https://github.com/dineug/erd-editor |
What erd-editor is
TypeScript-based diagram editor with PWA capabilities, local-first persistence, real-time synchronization, and E2E encryption. Distributed as standalone web application, VSCode extension, and IntelliJ plugin, with documented API for integration.
Get the erd-editor source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/dineug/erd-editor.gitcd erd-editor# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Verify end-to-end encryption implementation and key management before storing sensitive schema data; security audit trail not provided in documentation excerpts.
- Evaluate PWA offline mode behavior and conflict resolution strategy when multiple tabs/devices edit the same diagram simultaneously.
- Test API surface and extension hook availability if deeper integration with existing database tools or CI/CD pipelines is required.
- Confirm data export formats (SQL, JSON, etc.) and import compatibility with your target database systems.
- Plan rollout strategy for VSCode/IntelliJ extensions if organization-wide adoption is needed; no enterprise deployment docs referenced.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Proprietary Database Vendor Lock-in Required — If you need deep integration with specific database platforms (Oracle, Snowflake proprietary features) or vendor-specific diagram semantics, limitations not stated in available data.
- Enterprise Audit & Compliance Rigor — Self-hosted deployments, HIPAA/SOC2 requirements, and formal audit trails are not clearly documented; requires detailed security review before regulated use.
- Real-Time Collaboration at Scale — While real-time sync is mentioned, performance under concurrent heavy editing (50+ simultaneous users) and infrastructure scaling are not documented.
- Advanced Diagramming (non-ER models) — Tool is ER-specific; if you need UML, data flow diagrams, or other modeling paradigms, alternatives are more suitable.
License & commercial use
MIT License: permissive, allows commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution and inclusion of license/copyright notice.
MIT is a permissive OSI license permitting commercial use. No proprietary SaaS restrictions evident in license terms. However, erd-editor.io web app and hosted services may have separate terms; review erd-editor.io usage and support policies if relying on hosted version.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | Medium |
End-to-end encryption and local-first storage are claimed but cryptographic approach, key derivation, and security audits are not documented. No vulnerability disclosure policy or security contact listed in provided data. Browser-based storage subjects data to XSS risks; CSP and sandboxing not detailed. Third-party hosted version (erd-editor.io) requires separate privacy/security review.
Alternatives to consider
Lucidchart / Draw.io
Established commercial/open tools with broader diagram support (UML, flowcharts) and enterprise compliance certifications; larger communities but require online access.
dbdiagram.io
Focused ER/database design tool with SQL import/export and collaboration; similar feature scope but different pricing/hosting model.
MySQL Workbench / Oracle SQL Developer
Vendor-native database design tools with native SQL generation and reverse-engineering; tighter database coupling but less portable.
Build on erd-editor with DEV.co software developers
Test the web app and extensions in a non-critical environment. Review security documentation and API scope before adopting for production schema management. Contact us to integrate erd-editor into your development toolchain.
Talk to DEV.coRelated open-source tools
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erd-editor FAQ
Can I self-host erd-editor?
What export formats are supported?
Is the real-time collaboration end-to-end encrypted?
Does it work offline?
Custom software development services
Need help beyond evaluating erd-editor? DEV.co is a software development agency offering software development services and web development for teams of every size. Our software developers and web developers build custom software, web applications, APIs, and open-source databases integrations — and maintain them long-term.
Evaluate erd-editor for Your Database Design Workflow
Test the web app and extensions in a non-critical environment. Review security documentation and API scope before adopting for production schema management. Contact us to integrate erd-editor into your development toolchain.