Quick verdict
Stay on DBeaver Community if you work with SQL databases and need an editor, data editor, ER diagrams and import and export: it is free for any use. Move to DBeaver Lite if you need MongoDB, Redis or other NoSQL sources, the Visual Query Builder, SQL Server execution plans or SSO and Kerberos sign-in. Choose Enterprise for schema and data compare, ERD editing, mock data, Git and scheduled tasks, and Ultimate only if you need native AWS, Google Cloud or Azure integration. Check the exact feature you need against the edition before you buy, because the editions are not simple supersets of Community in every respect.
DBeaver Community is the open source edition, licensed under Apache-2.0 and published on GitHub. Version 26.2.2 was released on 5 October 2026. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and, according to the repository, includes more than 100 database drivers. The repository lists a schema editor, SQL editor, data editor, AI chat, ER diagrams, data export, import and migration, SQL execution plans, administration tools, a spatial data viewer and SSH tunnelling among its features. It covers relational databases; NoSQL sources are reserved for the commercial editions.
DBeaver PRO is not one product. It is the name DBeaver uses for its commercial desktop editions, each a subscription that includes updates and technical support: Lite (aimed at analysts and simpler data work), Enterprise (development and DBA tools) and Ultimate (Enterprise plus cloud integrations). Alongside them, CloudBeaver is a browser-based product and Team Edition combines Ultimate and CloudBeaver with team and role management. This page compares Community with the desktop PRO editions and notes where a feature needs Team Edition or CloudBeaver. For a general view of the product, see our DBeaver review.
Side by side
| Aspect | DBeaver Community | DBeaver PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Licence and price | Free, open source (Apache-2.0), for any use | Proprietary subscriptions: Lite and Enterprise monthly or annual, Ultimate annual only |
| SQL databases, SQL editor, data editor | Included | Included in every PRO edition |
| NoSQL (MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra and others) | Not included | Lite and above |
| Visual Query Builder | Not included | Lite and above |
| AI | AI chat and object descriptions, with OpenAI or GitHub Copilot as provider | Lite and above: AI assistant in the SQL editor (query generation, error fixing), more providers (for example Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Ollama, Azure OpenAI), AI tools and MCP |
| Execution plans | Available for many SQL engines, but not those the documentation marks PRO only | Lite and above add plans for the engines marked PRO only, including Microsoft SQL Server |
| Security and sign-in | Standard database authentication | Lite and above: advanced security and enterprise authentication (master password, SSO, Kerberos, Okta and others) |
| ER diagrams | View ER diagrams | Enterprise and above: ERD edit mode for schema design |
| Schema compare, data compare, mock data | Not included | Enterprise and above |
| Git integration | Not included | Enterprise and above |
| Task scheduler, backup tools, health dashboards | Task management included; no scheduler | Enterprise and above (not Lite) |
| Native AWS, Google Cloud, Azure; cloud storage | Not included | Ultimate (and Team Edition, CloudBeaver) |
| Shared scripts and connections, real-time collaboration | Not included | Team Edition and CloudBeaver only, not the desktop PRO editions |
| Technical support | Community support through GitHub | Included with the subscription |
Key differences
How the PRO family is structured
DBeaver's edition page builds the desktop editions in layers. Lite covers data access and querying: SQL and NoSQL databases, the SQL editor and data editor, the Visual Query Builder, execution plan diagrams, ER diagrams, query history, a GIS viewer, data import and export, analytical charts, AI capabilities and enterprise authentication. Enterprise adds development and administration tools: ERD edit mode, mock data generation, the PostgreSQL SQL debugger, schema compare and migration, table data comparison, Git repository sync, the task scheduler and multicomponent task manager, database backup and maintenance tools, data migration, server health dashboards and Tableau integration. Ultimate adds native AWS, Google Cloud and Azure support, a cloud explorer and cloud storage.
CloudBeaver and Team Edition are server-based. They add all-users query history, real-time data collaboration, shared scripts and connections and unified SSO; Team Edition also adds unlimited shared projects and advanced role management. CloudBeaver does not include the Enterprise development and DBA tools listed above, according to the edition matrix.
What you give up by staying on Community
For SQL-only work, Community covers the core: connecting to databases, browsing and editing schemas and data, writing SQL with autocomplete, viewing ER diagrams, transferring data and running tasks. The main gaps are NoSQL sources, the Visual Query Builder, execution plans for some engines (SQL Server among them), enterprise sign-in options, and the development tools in Enterprise (schema compare, data compare, mock data, ERD editing and Git).
AI is a partial gap. DBeaver's documentation shows Community with AI chat and object descriptions, using OpenAI or GitHub Copilot as the provider. AI assistance inside the SQL editor (generating and editing queries, fixing errors), the wider list of providers and the AI tools and MCP feature are documented as Lite, Enterprise and Ultimate only.
Lite is not a superset of Community
DBeaver's Community vs PRO page lists database maintenance tools and task management as available in Community. Its edition matrix lists database maintenance tools, backup tools and the task scheduler for Enterprise and Ultimate but not for Lite. Read together, Lite appears to trade some of Community's administration features for its analyst features (NoSQL, the query builder and AI assistance). If you rely on maintenance tools today, check them in the Lite trial or choose Enterprise.
Where Enterprise and Ultimate differ
On the edition page the only difference between Enterprise and Ultimate is cloud: native AWS, Google Cloud and Azure support, the cloud explorer and cloud storage are Ultimate features, and Ultimate is sold annually only. DBeaver's Enterprise documentation page also mentions cloud explorers; the edition comparison and the Community vs PRO page both place native cloud support in Ultimate, so we follow those. If cloud integration is your reason to buy, confirm it in the trial of the edition you intend to buy.
Pricing and licensing
Listed on the vendor's edition page in October 2026 (USD): DBeaver Community free; DBeaver Lite $113 per year or $12 per month; DBeaver Enterprise $255 per year or $26 per month; DBeaver Ultimate $510 per year (annual only); CloudBeaver from $1,025 per year and Team Edition from $1,630 per year, both with further pricing options. PRO editions are subscriptions that include updates and technical support for the term; they are not perpetual licences. DBeaver offers a 14-day PRO trial and free academic licences for students on application.
In our view, the jumps that matter are Community to Lite (NoSQL, query builder, AI assistance, enterprise sign-in) and Lite to Enterprise (development and DBA tools, Git). Ultimate is listed at twice the Enterprise annual price, for cloud integration, which only some teams need.
Pricing checked on the vendors' official pages on 7 October 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Where each one leads
DBeaver Community strengths
- Free for any use, including commercial work
- Open source under Apache-2.0, with public source on GitHub
- More than 100 bundled drivers for SQL databases
- SQL editor, data editor, ER diagrams, data transfer and task management included
- AI chat with OpenAI or GitHub Copilot
DBeaver PRO strengths
- NoSQL databases such as MongoDB, Redis and Cassandra from Lite upwards
- Visual Query Builder and AI assistance in the SQL editor from Lite upwards
- Schema compare, data compare, mock data, ERD editing and Git in Enterprise
- Native AWS, Google Cloud and Azure integration in Ultimate
- Vendor technical support included with every subscription
Limitations
DBeaver Community limitations
- No NoSQL databases
- No Visual Query Builder, and AI is limited to chat and object descriptions
- Execution plans for SQL Server and some other engines are not available
- No schema compare, data compare, Git integration or task scheduler
- No vendor technical support
DBeaver PRO limitations
- Subscriptions only; there is no perpetual licence
- Lite does not list maintenance tools, backup tools or the scheduler that Enterprise has
- Six edition names make it harder to work out which one you need
- Ultimate is annual only and listed at twice the Enterprise annual price, for cloud features
- Team collaboration needs the separately priced Team Edition or CloudBeaver
When to choose each
Choose DBeaver Community if
- You work only with SQL databases
- You want a free tool for work without a purchase process
- You prefer open source software
- You mainly write queries, browse data and draw ER diagrams
Choose DBeaver PRO if
- You need MongoDB, Redis or another NoSQL source (Lite or above)
- You want the Visual Query Builder or AI assistance in the editor (Lite or above)
- You need schema compare, data compare, Git or scheduled tasks (Enterprise or above)
- You manage databases on AWS, Google Cloud or Azure and want native integration (Ultimate)
- Your organisation requires vendor support or SSO sign-in
When neither is right
- You want an IDE built around SQL code, refactoring and version control in one edition: see DBeaver vs DataGrip.
- You want a commercial suite with a perpetual licence option: see DBeaver vs Navicat.
- You only use SQL Server and need administration tooling: Microsoft's free SSMS; see DBeaver vs SSMS.
- You want to compare other tools first: see the best DBeaver alternatives.
Final recommendation
Start with DBeaver Community. It is free, open source and covers everyday SQL work. Upgrade only for a specific feature, and pick the lowest edition that has it: Lite for NoSQL, the query builder, AI assistance in the editor or enterprise sign-in; Enterprise for compare tools, ERD editing, Git and scheduling; Ultimate for native cloud integration. Because Lite does not list every administration tool that Community and Enterprise have, use the 14-day trial to check the exact features you depend on.
Frequently asked questions
Is DBeaver Community free for commercial use?
Yes. DBeaver Community is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence and can be used at work without a licence purchase.
What is the cheapest DBeaver edition with MongoDB support?
DBeaver Lite. NoSQL databases, including MongoDB, Redis and Cassandra, are listed for Lite, Enterprise and Ultimate but not for Community.
Which DBeaver edition has Git integration?
Enterprise and above. Git repository sync is listed for Enterprise, Ultimate and Team Edition, not for Community or Lite.
Does DBeaver Community have AI features?
Yes, in part. Community includes AI chat and object descriptions with OpenAI or GitHub Copilot as the provider. AI assistance inside the SQL editor, more AI providers and AI tools and MCP are documented for Lite, Enterprise and Ultimate.
What is the difference between DBeaver Ultimate and Team Edition?
Ultimate is a desktop edition. Team Edition is a server-based product that DBeaver describes as including Ultimate's and CloudBeaver's features plus team and role management, shared projects and real-time collaboration, priced separately.
Is DBeaver PRO a one-time purchase?
No. All PRO editions are subscriptions. Annual licences include updates and technical support for the year.
Sources
- DBeaver edition comparison and pricing
- DBeaver Community vs DBeaver PRO
- DBeaver Community website
- DBeaver GitHub repository (licence, features)
- DBeaver documentation: Lite edition
- DBeaver documentation: Enterprise edition
- DBeaver documentation: AI Assistant
- DBeaver documentation: Visual Query Builder
- DBeaver documentation: query execution plan
Checked October 2026.
How we research comparisons: our editorial method.