DbVisualizer vs DataGrip: Editions, Licences, Pricing (2026)

Quick verdict

Short answer

Pick DataGrip if you write and maintain a lot of SQL, want inspections, refactoring, schema comparison with migration scripts and version control in one IDE, and either qualify for the free non-commercial licence or accept a subscription. Pick DbVisualizer Pro if you want a commercial client that you keep using after you stop paying (for the versions released during your term), with explain plans, charts, a query builder, a command-line tool and Git in one edition. For free use at work, neither is generous: DbVisualizer Free leaves out data editing, explain plans and most export, and DataGrip's free licence excludes commercial use.

How we know: This comparison is research-based: editions, the free versus paid feature split, platforms, licence terms and prices were checked against DbVisualizer's feature list, pricing and download pages and JetBrains' DataGrip product page, documentation and licensing pages on 7 October 2026. We have not run either product or measured speed or memory use.

DbVisualizer is a commercial database client from DbVis Software in Stockholm. Version 26.2.3 was released on 15 September 2026. It runs on Windows (including ARM64), macOS 11 and later, and Linux, and its recommended installers bundle a Java 25 runtime. One installer serves both editions: Free, and Pro, unlocked with a per-user licence key. Its feature list names database-specific support for engines from SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL and MySQL to Db2, Snowflake, BigQuery, MongoDB, Cassandra and Elasticsearch, plus generic JDBC support. See our DbVisualizer review.

DataGrip is JetBrains' database IDE, currently 2026.2, for Windows, macOS and Linux, with the JetBrains Runtime bundled. JetBrains lists more than 30 supported databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, BigQuery, ClickHouse, MongoDB, Redis and DynamoDB. Its strengths are code-centred: context-aware completion, inspections with quick fixes, refactoring and version control. Since 1 October 2025 it is free for non-commercial use; commercial use needs a subscription. See our DataGrip review.

Side by side

Aspect	DbVisualizer	DataGrip
Free version	DbVisualizer Free: SQL editor with auto completion, object browser, references graphs; no table data editing, explain plan or import, and result-set export as CSV or HTML only	Full features, non-commercial use only (one-year renewable licence, online activation, anonymous usage statistics)
Paid model	Pro: per user per year, with a perpetual licence for versions released during the term; 21-day trial	Subscription only, for individuals or organisations; 30-day trial; no perpetual licence
Platforms	Windows 64-bit and ARM64, macOS 11+, Linux; Java 25 bundled	Windows 10/11, macOS 15/26, listed Linux distributions; JetBrains Runtime bundled; 8 GB RAM listed
Supported databases	Database-specific support for more than 30 named engines including MongoDB, Cassandra and Elasticsearch; generic JDBC for others	30+ engines, relational and NoSQL, including MongoDB, Redis and DynamoDB
SQL code assistance	Auto completion and error highlighting in both editions; SQL formatter and editor templates in Pro	Context-aware completion, on-the-fly inspections with quick fixes, refactoring
Explain plans	Pro only (graph, tree and text views)	Included
Schema comparison	Compare editor buffers and grid contents (Pro); no schema compare listed	Compare schemas, tables or routines and generate migration statements
Version control	Git in Pro	Git, SVN, Mercurial and others in every licence
Charts and scripting	Result-set charts, client-side @ commands and the dbviscmd command-line interface in Pro	Not the focus; scripting is through the IDE and its plugins
Main trade-off	Perpetual use of paid versions, but a narrow free tier and no schema compare	Strongest SQL code tooling, but every commercial seat is a subscription

Key differences

Licences: perpetual versions versus subscription

This is often the deciding factor. DbVisualizer Pro is billed per user per year, but its pricing page says you "will always have access to DbVisualizer Pro for the versions that were released during your subscription term". Renewal is needed only for newer versions and is listed at a lower price than a new licence.

DataGrip has one feature set and splits by use. Non-commercial users get everything free under a one-year renewable licence; commercial users need a subscription, sold separately for individuals and organisations, and DataGrip is also included in JetBrains' multi-product subscriptions. There is no perpetual option.

What the free tiers allow

DbVisualizer's feature list marks table data editing, result-set editing, explain plans, data import, the query builder, charts, the SQL formatter, Git, the AI assistant and the command-line interface as Pro only, and limits Free's result-set export to CSV and HTML. Free is therefore suited to connecting, browsing objects and running SQL. The feature list does mark management of SQL Server Agent jobs, Oracle Scheduler, pgAgent and MySQL and MariaDB events as available in both editions.

DataGrip's free licence has no feature limits but is restricted to non-commercial purposes such as learning, hobby projects and open source work. In our view, a student or hobbyist gets far more from DataGrip for free, while a commercial user wanting a free tool should look at DBeaver Community instead of either.

SQL as code versus a database workbench

DataGrip comes from an IDE company: completion that understands schemas and foreign keys, inspections with quick fixes, refactoring, query history and built-in version control. Its documentation also describes comparing two schemas, tables or routines, even on different servers, and generating statements for a migration script.

DbVisualizer Pro leans towards a database workbench: a visual query builder, result-set charts, a data navigator that follows foreign keys, monitoring of result sets, client-side commands such as @export and @import in scripts, and the dbviscmd command-line interface for running scripts outside the GUI. It lists no schema compare feature.

AI features

DbVisualizer's AI assistant (ask questions, explain errors, analyse code) is in Pro only. DataGrip uses JetBrains AI: JetBrains documents an AI Free tier with a small monthly credit allowance for licensed users, and paid AI Pro, AI Ultimate and AI Enterprise plans for more use. Check each vendor's current AI terms and data-handling policy before enabling AI on production schemas.

Similar foundations

Both run on the JVM and bundle their own runtime, both run on Windows, macOS and Linux, and both reach a long list of engines. JetBrains lists 8 GB of total RAM in DataGrip's system requirements; we have not measured start-up time or memory use for either product.

Pricing and licensing

DbVisualizer. Free edition at no cost. Listed on the vendor's pricing page in October 2026 (USD, per user, per year, 1 to 3 users): Pro with 60-day email support $199 for a new licence and $89 to renew; Pro with premium support $229 new and $119 to renew. Volume discounts start at 4 users, and multi-year purchases are discounted. A 21-day Pro trial needs no account or credit card.

DataGrip. Free for non-commercial use. Commercial use requires a paid subscription, for individuals or organisations, with a 30-day trial. We could not read the exact current figures reliably from the JetBrains pricing page, so we do not quote them; see the DataGrip pricing page. JetBrains AI plans beyond the free tier are priced separately.

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

Where each one leads

DbVisualizer strengths

Perpetual right to the Pro versions released during your paid term
Visual query builder, result-set charts and a data navigator in Pro
dbviscmd command-line interface and client-side script commands for automation
Free edition includes management of SQL Server Agent, Oracle Scheduler, pgAgent and MySQL event jobs
Builds for Windows ARM64 and Apple silicon Macs

DataGrip strengths

Inspections, quick fixes and refactoring for SQL
Schema comparison with generated migration statements
Version control in every licence, not only in a paid tier
Full feature set free for non-commercial use
Same database features available in IntelliJ IDEA

Limitations

DbVisualizer limitations

Free edition has no table data editing, explain plan or data import, and exports result sets only as CSV or HTML
No schema compare feature listed
Proprietary, with no open source edition
New Pro licences cost more than renewals, so lapsing and restarting is more expensive

DataGrip limitations

Any commercial use needs a subscription; no perpetual licence
Free licence requires online activation and anonymous usage statistics
System requirements list 8 GB of RAM
Larger AI use needs a separate JetBrains AI plan

When to choose each

Choose DbVisualizer if

You will pay for a client and want to keep using the version you bought without an ongoing subscription
You want charts, a query builder and a command-line tool in one licence
You script database work with @ commands or run scripts from the command line
You need a Windows ARM64 build

Choose DataGrip if

You keep SQL in a repository and want refactoring, inspections and Git in the editor
You need to compare schemas and generate migration scripts
Your use is non-commercial and you want a full-featured tool free
You already use JetBrains IDEs

When neither is right

You want a free, open source client for commercial use: see DbVisualizer vs DBeaver and DBeaver vs DataGrip.
You want a compact native client with a one-time per-device licence: see DataGrip vs TablePlus.
You want a database management suite with synchronisation, backup and modelling: see DataGrip vs Navicat.
You want a wider shortlist: see the best DbVisualizer alternatives and the best DataGrip alternatives.

Final recommendation

Bottom line

For developers whose main job is writing and maintaining SQL, DataGrip is the stronger tool: its inspections, refactoring, schema comparison and built-in version control go further than DbVisualizer's editor, and it is free for non-commercial use. DbVisualizer Pro is the better fit for commercial users who dislike subscriptions, since the versions released during a paid year remain usable, and for those who want charts, a query builder and command-line automation in one edition. Use each vendor's trial (21 days for DbVisualizer Pro, 30 days for DataGrip) on your own databases before deciding.

Frequently asked questions

Is DbVisualizer or DataGrip free?

Both have free options on different terms. DbVisualizer Free is a reduced edition without table data editing, explain plans or data import. DataGrip has every feature free, but only for non-commercial use.

Can I keep using DbVisualizer or DataGrip after I stop paying?

DbVisualizer's pricing page says you keep access to the Pro versions released during your subscription term. DataGrip is sold as a subscription with no perpetual licence.

Which one can compare database schemas?

DataGrip documents comparing two schemas, tables or routines and generating migration statements. DbVisualizer's feature list includes comparing editor buffers and grid contents in Pro but no schema compare.

Do both support MongoDB?

Yes. DbVisualizer's feature list includes database-specific support for MongoDB, and DataGrip lists MongoDB among its supported databases.

Which is better for SQL Server Agent jobs?

DbVisualizer's feature list marks managing SQL Server Agent jobs as available in Free and Pro. DataGrip does not document a graphical SQL Server Agent job manager; for full SQL Server administration, Microsoft's free SSMS is the usual choice.

Sources

Checked October 2026.

How we research comparisons: our editorial method.