Top 10 Data Modeling Tools You Must Know

Data modeling is the process of creating a data model so that you can understand your data better and use it to drive insights and make decisions. A good data model helps you understand your data, find what you need quickly and eliminate redundancy. When combined with business intelligence software, a data modeling tool also makes it easier to identify potential problems in your data. 

The scope of this article is to introduce the readers to some of the leading Data Modeling Tools in the market. If you are looking for a solution for building or optimizing your data models, this blog post will help you choose the right one for your needs. 

Keep reading to discover our top ten list of exciting new Data Modeling tools that we expect will revolutionize how companies tackle their models in 2024.

ER/Studio

One of the most widely used Data Modeling tools, ER/Studio, is a product from ER/Studio Solutions, a subsidiary of HCL Technologies. It is a full-featured modeling solution with a price almost as high as its features. 

The best part about ER/Studio is that it allows you to create data models in real-time, which can be extremely helpful if you are modeling a large or complex data set. You can also share your models with external stakeholders and receive their feedback directly from the model itself. This feature makes it easy to collaborate with a larger team and keeps everyone on the same page.

Salient features: 

• Ensures consistency of models and databases. 
• Allows for automation using manual scripting. 
• Accommodates physical as well as logical designs. 
• Performs impact analysis for fresh modifications done at the database level. 
• Supports various display formats, including – HTML, JPEG, PNG, RTF, XML, Schema, DTD, and more. 

IBM Cognos Data Studio

IBM Cognos Data Studio is the latest version of IBM’s flagship data modeling tool. It is easy to use and comes with an intuitive GUI that makes it accessible to new users. You can quickly create basic data models and use them to explore your data and generate reports. It also allows you to create relationships between tables and build calculated fields. Overall, it is an excellent tool if you are looking for an easy solution to develop basic data models. It also comes with a free trial, so you can try it out before deciding. However, it does not allow you to create more complex data models, which can be a limitation for specific requirements. It is an excellent solution for teams just starting data modeling and needing an easy-to-use tool. But it may not be the best choice if you need something more robust.

Salient features:

• Perfect for smaller teams looking for an easy-to-use tool. 
• Quick and accurate relationships between tables and databases. 
• Automatically discovers the structure of various data sources. 
• Integrates with other products seamlessly. 

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Microsoft Azure Data Catalog

Microsoft Azure Data Catalog is a new cloud-based solution that allows you to manage your data models remotely. You can create data catalogs and link them to your existing data sources to create a central location to manage your entire data set. It also allows you to collaborate with your team members and keep everyone on the same page. With Azure Data Catalog, you can manage permissions and track who has made changes to your models. It works as a robust solution with a wide range of features for easy data model management. It is easy to use and allows you to innovate complex models with ease. It also integrates with a number of other Microsoft tools, like Power BI, simplifying the sharing process, among others. It is a great option if you are looking for a modern data modeling tool that can help you manage your entire data set.

Oracle Data Cloud

Oracle Data Cloud is a new data modeling tool that enables you to develop and manage your data models in the cloud. You can quickly create basic data models and use them to explore your data and generate reports. Oracle lets you generate relationships between tables and build calculated fields. Some of the salient features include: 

• Has editors for stored triggers, procedures, and indexes,
• Provides proper entity-relationship modeling notation. 
• Supports IDAPI, Oracle, OLE DB, or ODBC interfaces. 

Inside-BI

Inside-BI is a data modeling and business intelligence solution designed to be easy to use and collaborate with the help of its online GUI. Inside-BI is an excellent solution if you are looking for a modern data modeling tool that can help with a wide range of features and assist in constructing complex data models. It is a good option if you are looking for a modern data modeling tool to help you to work on fresh and challenging data models. It does not have a free version, so you will have to purchase it if you decide that it is the right solution for your team.

Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is a great option if you are looking for an easy-to-use data modeling tool that you can use to get started with modeling your data. It is easy to use and allows you to create basic data models with ease. It does not provide you with the ability to create complex data models, so it may not be the best choice if you need something more robust. Beginners can significantly benefit from using this tool with its user-friendly features. 

Erwin Data Modeler

Erwin Data Modeler is a commercial data modeling tool that has been around for a long time. It is a robust solution that allows you to create complex data models and is suitable for advanced users. It provides you with the ability to create data models and relationships between tables and build calculated fields. It also allows you to create pivot tables and generate reports with ease. 

Some key features include: 

• Automatically compares the model and database. 
• Allows different teams to collaborate, maintain, and simulate different models from one centralized location. 
• Synchronizes the forward and reverse engineering of DD code. 
• Provides a simple-to-use graphical interface. 
• Perfect for creating complex data models. 

DbSchema Pro

DbSchema Pro is a commercial data modeling tool that has been around for a long time. It is a robust solution that allows you to create complex data models and is suitable for advanced users. It also allows you to create pivot tables and generate reports with ease. DbSchema Pro is an excellent solution if you are looking for a robust data modeling solution that will let you create complex data models with ease. 

Some of the key features include:

• The tool is independent of logical and conceptual designs. 
• Allows you to create queries with different groupings, filters, joins, and orderings. 
• Provides you with test data using specified patterns and reverse regex. 
• Uses foreign keys, which helps you look at and change data of different tables. 

SQL Database Modeler

SQL Database Modeler is a commercial data modeling and graphical tool that automates data modeling following a simple import of SQL script. It has assisted millions of people in accelerating and simplifying their database modeling journey, extending an automated and collaborative platform to work on.

• Provides various view modes. 
• Allows forward as well as reverse engineering. 
• Supports seamless collaboration. 
• Comes with a versioning feature, which makes collaboration and working on larger projects easier. 

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed ten of the most used data modeling tools by businesses and data analysts around the world. All of these tools come with sophisticated data modeling abilities, and the knowledge of these tools is really sought after in the corporate world today. 

If you want to dive deeper into the world of Data Science and explore more nuances beyond data modeling, we recommend you check out our MS in Data Science by upGrad, in collaboration with the University of Arizona, and get a chance to learn from industry experts alongside a strong network of alumni that will help you throughout your career.