DbVisualizer vs DBeaver: Free Editions, Pro, Pricing (2026)

Quick verdict

Short answer

Pick DBeaver (Community) if you want a capable client at no cost: data viewing and editing, data transfer, ER diagrams and execution plans for many engines are included, under the Apache 2.0 licence. Pick DbVisualizer if you will pay for a commercial client and want NoSQL stores such as MongoDB, Redis and Cassandra alongside relational engines in one product, an AI assistant and Git in the same Pro licence, and a perpetual right to the versions you paid for. On the free tiers, DBeaver Community does considerably more.

How we know: This comparison is research-based: editions, the free versus paid feature split, supported databases, platforms, licences and prices were checked against each vendor's website, feature lists, pricing pages and documentation 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. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, bundles a Java 25 runtime in its recommended installers, and lists more than 70 supported databases, with generic JDBC support for others. One installer serves both editions: Free, and Pro, which is unlocked with a per-user licence key. See our DbVisualizer review.

DBeaver is a universal database tool from DBeaver Corp. DBeaver Community is free and open source under Apache 2.0, built on Eclipse RCP with a bundled Java runtime, and ships more than 100 drivers for SQL databases. Paid editions (Lite, Enterprise and Ultimate, plus Team Edition and CloudBeaver) add NoSQL and cloud support, comparison tools, Git and more. See our DBeaver review and DBeaver Community vs PRO.

Side by side

Aspect	DbVisualizer	DBeaver
Free edition	DbVisualizer Free: SQL editor with auto completion, object browsing, references graphs; no table data viewer or editor, no explain plan, export of result sets as CSV or HTML only	DBeaver Community: full client with data editor, data transfer, ER diagrams and execution plans for many engines, free for commercial use
Licence	Proprietary	Community: Apache 2.0, source on GitHub; paid editions proprietary
Paid model	Pro: per user per year, with a perpetual licence for versions released during the term	Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate: monthly or annual subscriptions; Team Edition and CloudBeaver priced by users
Supported databases	70+ listed, with extended support including MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra and DynamoDB; any JDBC database at a basic level	Community: 100+ drivers for SQL databases; NoSQL and cloud explorers require a paid edition
Explain plans	Pro only	Community for many engines; SQL Server and some others need Lite or above
ER diagrams	References graphs in both editions	ER diagrams in Community; diagram edit mode in paid editions
Git integration	Pro	Enterprise and above
AI assistant	Pro only, opt-in	Community includes AI chat (OpenAI or GitHub Copilot); other providers and in-editor AI in paid editions
Platforms	Windows (incl. ARM64), macOS 11+, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Main trade-off	One paid edition with NoSQL included, but a narrow free tier	Generous free tier, but NoSQL and Git sit in higher paid tiers

Key differences

Where the free line falls

This is the biggest practical difference. DbVisualizer's feature list marks the table data viewer and editor, result-set editing, explain plan, SQL formatting, charts, the query builder, table create and alter, and all export formats except CSV and HTML as Pro features. Free is therefore suited to connecting, browsing objects and running SQL.

DBeaver Community, by contrast, is a complete client for SQL databases: you can browse and edit table data, transfer data between connections, view ER diagrams and run execution plans for many engines without paying. In our view, anyone choosing on cost alone should start with DBeaver Community.

NoSQL and edition structure

DbVisualizer has a single paid edition. Its feature list marks MongoDB as available in both Free and Pro, and its supported-databases page lists extended support for MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra, DynamoDB and Elasticsearch next to the relational engines.

DBeaver splits its paid offering into tiers. NoSQL databases, cloud explorers, schema and data compare and ERD edit mode require a paid edition, and Git integration requires Enterprise or above. If you need NoSQL and Git together, compare DbVisualizer Pro with DBeaver Enterprise or Ultimate rather than with Lite.

Licence models

DBeaver Community is open source; you can inspect, build and redistribute it under Apache 2.0, and there is no company-size condition on free use. DBeaver's paid editions are subscriptions.

DbVisualizer is proprietary. Pro is billed per user per year, but the pricing page states that the purchase includes a perpetual licence: after the term you keep the versions released while you were paying, and renewal (listed at a lower price than a new licence) is only needed for newer versions.

Similar foundations

Both are Java applications that bundle their own runtime, both run on Windows, macOS and Linux, and both can connect to databases through JDBC drivers. Neither is the answer if you specifically want a native client; see DBeaver vs TablePlus for that trade-off. We have not measured start-up time or memory use for either.

Pricing and licensing

DbVisualizer. Free edition at no cost. Listed on the vendor's pricing page in October 2026 (USD, per user, per year): Pro with 60-day 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 terms are discounted. A 21-day Pro trial needs no account or credit card.

DBeaver. Community is free. Listed on dbeaver.com/edition in October 2026 (USD): Lite $113 per year or $12 per month, Enterprise $255 per year or $26 per month, Ultimate $510 per year, CloudBeaver from $1,025 per year and Team Edition from $1,630 per year.

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

Where each one leads

DbVisualizer strengths

NoSQL stores (MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra, DynamoDB) listed with extended support in the same product as relational engines
One paid edition that includes explain plans, Git, charts and an AI assistant
Perpetual licence for versions released during the paid term
Builds for ARM64 Windows and Apple silicon Macs

DBeaver strengths

Community edition is open source and free for commercial use
Data editing, data transfer, ER diagrams and many execution plans included free
More than 100 drivers for SQL databases in Community
Entry-level paid edition (Lite) for those who need only a few PRO features

Limitations

DbVisualizer limitations

Free edition has no table data viewer or editor, no explain plan and only CSV or HTML export
Proprietary, with no open source edition
Pro is billed per user per year; new licences cost more than renewals
Java based, like DBeaver

DBeaver limitations

NoSQL, cloud explorers and schema compare require a paid edition
Git integration requires Enterprise or above
Execution plans for SQL Server and some other engines are paid only
The edition line-up takes effort to understand

When to choose each

Choose DbVisualizer if

You will pay for a client and want NoSQL and relational databases in one edition
You want Git, explain plans and an AI assistant under one per-user licence
You prefer to keep using the versions you paid for without an ongoing subscription
You work with engines in DbVisualizer's extended-support list, such as Db2 or Exasol

Choose DBeaver if

You need a full client and the budget is zero
You want open source software
You mostly use SQL databases and need data editing and transfer
You want ER diagrams and execution plans without paying

When neither is right

You want a compact client for everyday editing with a one-time licence: see TablePlus and DBeaver vs TablePlus.
You want a free open source client with a simpler interface: see Beekeeper Studio vs DBeaver.
You write SQL as code and want refactoring and inspections: see DBeaver vs DataGrip.
You want a wider shortlist: see the best DBeaver alternatives.

Final recommendation

Bottom line

For most people starting without a budget, DBeaver Community is the stronger choice: it is open source and includes the data editing, transfer, diagrams and execution plans that DbVisualizer reserves for Pro. DbVisualizer Pro becomes a reasonable choice when you are paying anyway and want NoSQL, Git, explain plans and an AI assistant in one edition, with a perpetual right to the versions you bought. Compare it against the DBeaver edition that actually matches your needs, often Enterprise, rather than against Community.

Frequently asked questions

Is DbVisualizer Free as capable as DBeaver Community?

No. According to DbVisualizer's feature list, Free has no table data viewer or editor, no result-set editing, no explain plan and exports only CSV or HTML. DBeaver Community includes data editing, data transfer, ER diagrams and execution plans for many engines.

Are DbVisualizer and DBeaver both written in Java?

Yes. DbVisualizer's recommended installers bundle a Java 25 runtime, and DBeaver is built on Eclipse RCP and bundles OpenJDK.

Which one supports MongoDB for free?

DbVisualizer's feature list marks MongoDB as available in Free and Pro. In DBeaver, NoSQL databases such as MongoDB require a paid edition.

Do I keep DbVisualizer Pro if I stop paying?

According to the DbVisualizer pricing page, yes for the versions released during your subscription term; renewal is needed only for newer versions. DBeaver's paid editions are subscriptions.

Sources

Checked October 2026.

How we research comparisons: our editorial method.