DBeaver vs DataGrip: Licences, Features, Pricing (2026)

Quick verdict

Short answer

Pick DBeaver if you need a free tool for commercial work, a very wide driver list, or an open source licence; move to a PRO edition only if you need NoSQL, cloud explorers, schema compare or vendor support. Pick DataGrip if you treat SQL as code and want JetBrains-style code analysis, refactoring and version control, and either qualify for the free non-commercial licence or can pay for a commercial subscription. For a team already paying for JetBrains IDEs, the same database features are available through the Database Tools and SQL plugin.

How we know: This comparison is research-based: editions, licences, platforms, supported databases and prices were checked against DBeaver's and JetBrains' official websites, documentation and repository on 7 October 2026. We have not run performance tests, so nothing here is a measured result.

DBeaver is a multi-platform database tool from DBeaver Corp. The free DBeaver Community edition is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence, is built in Java on the Eclipse RCP platform, and ships with its own Java runtime. The repository states that Community includes more than 100 database drivers. Commercial PRO editions (DBeaver Lite, Enterprise and Ultimate, plus the server-based Team Edition and CloudBeaver) add NoSQL databases, cloud integrations, schema and data comparison, advanced security options and technical support.

DataGrip is JetBrains' database IDE. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with a bundled JetBrains Runtime, and its code assistance (context-aware completion, on-the-fly analysis, rename refactoring, version control integration) comes from the same platform as IntelliJ IDEA. JetBrains documents that DataGrip and the Database Tools and SQL plugin for IntelliJ IDEA have the same functionality. Commercial use needs a paid subscription; since 1 October 2025 a free one-year renewable licence is available for non-commercial use.

Side by side

Aspect	DBeaver	DataGrip
Free version	DBeaver Community, free for any use, open source (Apache-2.0)	Free non-commercial licence (learning, hobby, open source without commercial benefit); 30-day trial for commercial evaluation
Paid model	PRO editions on per-user subscription, monthly or annual	Commercial subscription, separate individual and organisation pricing
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux (x86 and ARM builds)	Windows 10/11, macOS 15/26, listed Linux distributions
Supported databases	Community: SQL databases via 100+ bundled drivers. NoSQL (for example MongoDB, Redis) only in PRO editions	Relational engines plus MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra, DynamoDB and Couchbase listed on the product page, in the single edition
SQL code assistance	SQL editor with autocomplete and formatting	Context-aware completion, on-the-fly code analysis with quick fixes, rename refactoring with usage preview
ER diagrams	Documented ER diagrams	Documented database diagrams for a data source, schema or table
Version control	Git integration in Enterprise and above	Git, SVN, Mercurial and others, in every licence
Licence and source	Community source is public on GitHub	Proprietary; non-commercial licence requires online activation and accepts telemetry
Main trade-off	Free and broad, but NoSQL, compare tools, Git and support sit behind paid editions	Strong code tooling in one edition, but commercial use is always paid

Key differences

Licensing: open source plus PRO, or one edition with a non-commercial free tier

DBeaver splits by edition. Community is open source (Apache-2.0) and free for commercial and personal use alike. The PRO editions are commercial subscriptions that add features rather than lifting a usage restriction.

DataGrip splits by use. There is one feature set, and JetBrains states that the non-commercial licence includes all the features of the commercial version. What changes is who may use it free: learning, self-education, hobby projects, content creation and open source work without commercial benefit qualify; anything that brings direct or indirect commercial advantage needs a paid licence. The non-commercial licence lasts a year, renews automatically if you use it in the last six months, must be activated online, and requires accepting anonymous telemetry.

SQL as code versus data browsing breadth

DataGrip's documentation emphasises code work: completion aware of table structure and foreign keys, inspections that flag probable bugs with suggested fixes, rename refactoring with a preview of usages, query history and local history, and integration with major version control systems. If your SQL lives in files in a repository, that is the main reason to choose it.

DBeaver Community provides a SQL editor, a data editor, ER diagrams, data transfer and metadata tools for free. In our view it is aimed more at exploring and moving data across many sources than at refactoring SQL code, and its Git integration is a paid Enterprise feature.

NoSQL and cloud sources

DBeaver documents NoSQL database support and native AWS, Google Cloud and Azure integration as PRO-only. In Community you are limited to SQL databases. DataGrip's product page lists MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra, DynamoDB and Couchbase alongside relational engines, with no separate edition needed.

Runtime and platform requirements

Both are JVM-based desktop applications. DBeaver bundles OpenJDK 25 in its distributions; DataGrip bundles the JetBrains Runtime. DataGrip 2026.2 lists 8 GB of total RAM with 3 GB available for the IDE among its system requirements, and supports a specific set of OS versions (Windows 10 and 11, macOS 15 and 26, named Linux distributions). DBeaver offers more packaging options on Linux (DEB, RPM, tar.gz, Snap, Flatpak). We have not measured memory use or startup time for either.

Pricing and licensing

DBeaver. Community is free. Listed on the vendor's edition and product pages in October 2026 (USD): DBeaver Lite $113 per year or $12 per month, DBeaver Enterprise $255 per user per year or $26 per user per month, DBeaver Ultimate $510 per year (annual only). Team Edition and CloudBeaver are priced separately and depend on the number of users. Annual licences include product use, version updates and technical support for one year; they are subscriptions, not perpetual licences.

DataGrip. Free for non-commercial use under JetBrains' non-commercial agreement, with a 30-day trial for commercial evaluation. Commercial use requires a paid subscription, sold separately for individuals and organisations, and DataGrip is also included in JetBrains' multi-product subscriptions. We could not read the exact current figures from the JetBrains pricing page when checking, so we do not quote them here; see the DataGrip pricing page.

Pricing checked on the vendors' official pages on 7 October 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.

Where each one leads

DBeaver strengths

Community edition is free for commercial use and open source under Apache-2.0
More than 100 bundled drivers in Community, according to the repository
ER diagrams, data editor and data transfer available without paying
Wide packaging choice, including Windows and Linux ARM builds, Snap and Flatpak

DataGrip strengths

Documented code analysis, quick fixes and rename refactoring for SQL
Version control integration (Git and others) in every licence
NoSQL engines such as MongoDB and Redis included without a separate edition
Free for non-commercial use with all features
Same database features available inside other JetBrains IDEs via the Database Tools and SQL plugin

Limitations

DBeaver limitations

NoSQL, cloud explorers, schema and data compare, Git integration and vendor support require a paid PRO edition
Several edition names (Community, Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate, Team, CloudBeaver) make it harder to tell which features you get
PRO editions are subscriptions; there is no perpetual licence option

DataGrip limitations

Any commercial use requires a paid subscription
The non-commercial licence needs online activation and accepted telemetry
System requirements list 8 GB of RAM and a limited set of supported OS versions
No open source edition

When to choose each

Choose DBeaver if

You need a free client for work use
You prefer open source software or need to inspect the source
You connect to many different, including less common, SQL databases
You mainly browse, edit and move data rather than refactor SQL code

Choose DataGrip if

You keep SQL in files under version control and want refactoring and inspections
You are learning or working on non-commercial projects and want the full feature set free
You already pay for JetBrains tools and want the same database features
You need MongoDB or Redis alongside relational databases in one licence

When neither is right

You want a lightweight client with a one-time licence rather than a subscription: look at TablePlus, whose free version is limited.
You work only with SQL Server: Microsoft's own SSMS covers administration features neither tool aims at.
You work only with PostgreSQL and need server administration: pgAdmin is the project's own tool. See DBeaver vs pgAdmin.
You prefer to stay in your code editor: VS Code with the mssql extension may be enough for SQL Server work.

Final recommendation

Bottom line

For commercial work at no cost, DBeaver Community is the practical choice, and its paid editions are worth a look only if you need NoSQL, cloud sources, comparison tools or support. DataGrip is the stronger fit for developers who treat SQL as code and want inspections, refactoring and version control in one place; it costs nothing for non-commercial use but always needs a paid subscription for commercial work. If both seem heavier than you need, compare DBeaver vs TablePlus and DataGrip vs TablePlus.

Frequently asked questions

Is DataGrip free now?

For non-commercial use, yes. Since 1 October 2025 JetBrains offers a free, one-year, automatically renewing DataGrip licence for learning, hobby projects, content creation and open source work without commercial benefit. Commercial use still needs a paid subscription.

Is DBeaver free for commercial use?

DBeaver Community is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence and free to use, including at work. Paid PRO editions add features such as NoSQL support and technical support. See the DBeaver review.

Does DBeaver Community support MongoDB?

No. DBeaver documents NoSQL database support as a PRO feature; Community covers SQL databases. DataGrip lists MongoDB among its supported databases.

Is DataGrip the same as the database plugin in IntelliJ IDEA?

JetBrains states that DataGrip and the Database Tools and SQL plugin for IntelliJ IDEA have the same functionality. See the DataGrip review.

Which is better for beginners learning SQL?

Both are free for learning. DBeaver Community has no usage restriction; DataGrip's non-commercial licence covers learning but requires online activation and telemetry. Pair either with the SQL exercises.

Sources

Checked October 2026.

How we research comparisons: our editorial method.