DbGate vs DBeaver: Free Database Clients Compared (2026)

Quick verdict

Short answer

Choose DbGate if you want MongoDB or Redis next to your SQL databases without paying, want the same tool as a desktop app or a browser app you host yourself, or prefer a lighter-weight paid tier (Premium is listed at USD 12 a month). Choose DBeaver if you mainly work with SQL databases and want the larger, longer-established Community edition with more than 100 bundled drivers, or if you need its Enterprise tools such as Git integration, mock data and the task scheduler. Both are free for commercial use in their community editions, so try both on your own databases before paying for either.

How we know: This comparison is research-based: editions, licences, supported databases, deployment options, versions and prices were checked against DbGate's pricing page and GitHub repository and against DBeaver's edition page, website and GitHub repository on 7 November 2026. We have not run either client side by side, so nothing here is a measured result.

DbGate is a cross-platform database manager. Its repository describes a Svelte front end, a Node.js and Express back end and an Electron desktop app, and lists desktop builds for Windows, macOS and Linux plus a web version that runs as an npm package or a Docker image. The Community edition is licensed under GPL-3.0. The repository lists free support for MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, CockroachDB, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, DuckDB, Firebird, ClickHouse, Apache Cassandra, MongoDB and Redis. Version 7.3.4 was released on 2 November 2026.

DBeaver is a universal database tool from DBeaver Corp, built in Java on the Eclipse platform. DBeaver Community is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0 and covers SQL databases; version 26.2.4 was released on 2 November 2026. The commercial desktop editions (Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate) add NoSQL databases and more tools, and the browser-based CloudBeaver and Team Edition are separate products. See our DBeaver review and DBeaver Community vs PRO.

Side by side

Aspect	DbGate	DBeaver
Free edition licence	Community: GPL-3.0	Community: Apache-2.0
Technology	Svelte front end, Node.js back end, Electron desktop app	Java on the Eclipse platform
Deployment	Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) or self-hosted web app (npm or Docker) in Community	Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux); browser access needs the separate CloudBeaver product
SQL databases in the free edition	MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, CockroachDB, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, DuckDB, Firebird, ClickHouse	More than 100 bundled drivers for SQL databases, plus generic JDBC
NoSQL in the free edition	MongoDB, Redis and Cassandra	None; NoSQL starts at DBeaver Lite
Paid-only connectors	Redshift, libSQL/Turso, Cloudflare D1, Cosmos DB, DynamoDB, Firestore, legacy MongoDB 4	NoSQL and cloud integrations by edition (Lite, Ultimate)
Schema and data compare	Premium (compare and deploy DB models, data compare)	Enterprise and Ultimate
Visual query builder	Query designer listed under Premium	Visual Query Builder from Lite
AI features	Premium: database chat and error explanation	Community: AI chat; Lite and above: AI assistance in the SQL editor
Cheapest paid tier (list)	Premium: USD 12 a month or USD 120 a year, one user	Lite: USD 12 a month or USD 113 a year
Team features	Team Premium: web app, administration, external identity providers	Team Edition and CloudBeaver: shared scripts and connections, collaboration
Main trade-off	NoSQL and a web mode for free, but a smaller project and several features behind Premium	Large SQL driver catalogue and mature tooling, but NoSQL and web access cost extra

Key differences

NoSQL in the free edition

This is the clearest difference. DbGate Community lists MongoDB, Redis and Apache Cassandra as free, with a Mongo JavaScript editor and a Redis tree view described in the repository. DBeaver Community covers relational databases only: MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra and other NoSQL sources are listed from DBeaver Lite upwards. If one free tool has to cover a PostgreSQL database and a MongoDB or Redis instance, DbGate does that out of the box; with DBeaver you either pay for Lite or use a second tool.

For relational work the picture reverses. DBeaver Community bundles more than 100 drivers and can add any engine that ships a JDBC driver, which is why it reaches long-tail databases. DbGate's free list is shorter, and some cloud and serverless sources, such as Amazon Redshift, libSQL/Turso, Cloudflare D1, Azure Cosmos DB, Amazon DynamoDB and Firestore, are Premium connectors.

Desktop only versus desktop or web

DbGate ships the same application in two forms. The Community edition runs as a desktop app or as a web application you host yourself from npm or Docker, which is useful when a team wants to reach databases from a browser on a jump host or inside a private network. Team Premium adds an administration interface and external identity providers for that web mode.

DBeaver's desktop editions are single-user applications. Browser access is a separate product line: CloudBeaver (with a free Community edition and a paid Enterprise edition) and Team Edition, which DBeaver prices separately from the desktop editions. See CloudBeaver vs DBeaver for how they differ.

What the paid tiers add

DbGate Premium is a single tier for one user. The pricing page lists the query designer and charts, editing of query results and views, database backup and restore, master/detail views, AI tools, compare and deploy of database models, data compare, advanced and batch import and export, and exploring GraphQL, OData and OpenAPI endpoints. Team Premium adds the web application, an administration interface and external identity providers.

DBeaver splits paid features across three desktop editions. Lite adds NoSQL, the Visual Query Builder, AI assistance in the editor and enterprise authentication. Enterprise adds schema compare, table data compare, ERD edit mode, mock data, the PostgreSQL debugger, Git sync, the task scheduler and backup tools. Ultimate adds native AWS, Google Cloud and Azure support. DbGate therefore puts compare tools in its cheapest paid tier, while DBeaver keeps them in Enterprise.

Licences and project maturity

Both community editions are free for commercial use. The licences differ only if you redistribute or modify the software: GPL-3.0 (DbGate) requires derived works you distribute to stay under the GPL, while Apache-2.0 (DBeaver) is permissive. For everyday use as a client, the licence makes no practical difference.

DBeaver is the older and larger project, with a company behind it, paid support on every commercial edition and a long record of releases. DbGate is smaller but actively released: version 7.3.4 shipped on 2 November 2026, the same day as DBeaver 26.2.4. In our view, DBeaver is the safer default for a large SQL estate, and DbGate is worth a serious look where NoSQL or a self-hosted web mode matters.

Pricing and licensing

DbGate. Listed on dbgate.io/pricing in November 2026 (prices shown with a dollar sign): Community is free; Premium is $12 per month or $120 per year for one user; Team Premium is $15 per user per month or $150 per user per year for two or more users; Azure and AWS marketplace editions start at $0.02 per hour; an Academic edition is free for students and teachers for one year. Premium and Team Premium have a free 30-day trial.

DBeaver. Community is free. Listed on dbeaver.com/edition in November 2026 (prices shown with a dollar sign): Lite $113 per year or $12 per month; Enterprise $255 per year or $26 per month; Ultimate $510 per year (no monthly option); CloudBeaver Enterprise from $1,025 per year and Team Edition from $1,630 per year. PRO editions are subscriptions and academic licences are free for students. Example for one developer paying annually: DbGate Premium lists at $120 and DBeaver Enterprise, the cheapest DBeaver edition with schema compare, at $255.

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

Where each one leads

DbGate strengths

MongoDB, Redis and Cassandra included in the free Community edition
Runs as a desktop app or a self-hosted web app from the same project
Schema compare and data compare in the cheapest paid tier
Free 30-day trial of Premium and Team Premium
Premium connectors for serverless and cloud sources such as Turso, Cloudflare D1 and DynamoDB

DBeaver strengths

More than 100 bundled SQL drivers plus generic JDBC in the free edition
Permissive Apache-2.0 licence for the Community edition
Enterprise tools such as Git sync, mock data, task scheduler and PostgreSQL debugger
Vendor technical support included with every commercial edition
Large, long-established user base and documentation

Limitations

DbGate limitations

Query designer, charts, compare tools and AI are Premium features
Some cloud connectors (Redshift, Cosmos DB, Firestore) are Premium only
Smaller project and ecosystem than DBeaver
Community edition has community support only

DBeaver limitations

No NoSQL databases in the free Community edition
Desktop only; browser access needs CloudBeaver or Team Edition
Schema and data compare require the Enterprise edition or above
Java desktop application, heavier than some native clients

When to choose each

Choose DbGate if

You need MongoDB or Redis alongside SQL databases in a free tool
You want to host a browser-based client for your team
You want schema and data compare at the lowest listed price
You use Turso, Cloudflare D1 or DynamoDB and will pay for Premium

Choose DBeaver if

You work mostly with relational databases, including less common ones reached through JDBC
You want an Apache-licensed free client with a large community
You need Git integration, mock data or scheduled tasks (Enterprise)
Your organisation wants vendor support on a commercial edition

When neither is right

You work with one engine and want its first-party tool: see DBeaver vs pgAdmin and DBeaver vs SSMS.
You want an IDE focused on SQL code assistance and refactoring: see DBeaver vs DataGrip.
You prefer a light native client with a simple interface: see Beekeeper Studio vs DBeaver and DBeaver vs TablePlus.
You want to compare a wider set first: see the best DBeaver alternatives.

Final recommendation

Bottom line

For free use, the deciding question is NoSQL. If you need MongoDB, Redis or Cassandra next to SQL databases, or a browser-based client you host yourself, DbGate Community covers that at no cost and its Premium tier is inexpensive. If your work is relational and you value the widest driver catalogue, a permissive licence and a deep set of paid development and DBA tools, DBeaver is the more established choice. Install both community editions, connect to the databases you use daily, and pay only when a specific feature, such as compare or NoSQL, demands it.

Frequently asked questions

Is DbGate free for commercial use?

Yes. DbGate Community is open source under GPL-3.0 and can be used at work without a licence fee. Premium features such as the query designer, compare tools and AI are paid.

Does DBeaver Community support MongoDB?

No. MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra and other NoSQL sources are listed for DBeaver Lite, Enterprise and Ultimate, not Community. DbGate Community includes MongoDB, Redis and Cassandra.

Can DbGate run in a browser?

Yes. The repository says the web version runs as an npm package or a Docker image, and the pricing page lists desktop and web applications for Community. Team Premium adds administration and external identity providers.

Which is cheaper for schema compare?

As listed in November 2026, DbGate Premium (USD 120 a year) includes compare and deploy of database models and data compare. In DBeaver, schema compare starts at Enterprise (USD 255 a year).

Sources

Checked November 2026.

How we research comparisons: our editorial method.