HeidiSQL vs MySQL Workbench: Free MySQL Tools (2026)

Quick verdict

Short answer

Choose HeidiSQL if you want a free client for day-to-day browsing, editing, exporting and table design across MariaDB, MySQL and other engines, especially if you use MariaDB, which Workbench does not document. Choose MySQL Workbench if you run MySQL 8.4 LTS or newer and want Oracle's own tool for administration, Performance Reports, Visual Explain and SQL Notebooks. Both are free, so many MySQL users keep both installed.

How we know: This comparison is research-based: features, platforms, licences and supported databases were checked against heidisql.com, the HeidiSQL GitHub repository and Oracle's mysql.com and dev.mysql.com pages in October 2026. We have not run either tool or any performance tests.

HeidiSQL is a free, open source database client. Its site lists support for MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL and Redshift. The Windows release (12.21, August 2026) is built with Delphi; native Linux and macOS builds are made with Lazarus and FreePascal, and a version 13 preview on a new code base is available for Windows. It is licensed under the GPL v2.

MySQL Workbench is Oracle's GUI tool for MySQL. Version 26.7, released in July 2026, is a new generation built on MySQL Shell; Oracle states that earlier Workbench releases have reached end of life and are no longer maintained. The 26.7 download is the free Community (OSS) edition under the GPL for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Side by side

Aspect	HeidiSQL	MySQL Workbench
Licence and price	Free, open source (GPL v2); donations accepted	Free Community (OSS) edition under the GPL
Supported databases	MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL, Redshift	MySQL only; Oracle documents 8.4 LTS and newer
Windows	Yes: installer, portable build, winget and Chocolatey	Yes: MSI installer and ZIP
macOS	Yes: native ARM64 app bundle	Yes
Linux	Yes: native Debian, RPM, Flatpak and other packages	Yes: Debian packages and a generic Linux build
SQL editor	Syntax highlighting, code completion, SQL reformatting, query tabs	Script Editor and SQL Notebooks; JavaScript and TypeScript through MySQL Shell
Explain plans and performance	Query profile option; process list with the ability to kill client processes	Performance Reports and a redesigned Visual Explain
ER diagrams	Not documented	EER modelling was a Workbench 8.0 feature; not listed on the current Workbench 26 product page
Import and export	SQL dumps, server-to-server export, CSV import, row export to CSV, HTML, XML, SQL, Markdown, JSON and more	MySQL Enterprise Backup integration; HeatWave Migration Assistant
Main trade-off	No visual modelling; analysis tools are basic	MySQL only, and the 26.7 rebuild does not yet carry every Workbench 8.0 capability

Key differences

MariaDB and other engines

HeidiSQL treats MariaDB as a first-class target and also connects to SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Firebird, Interbase, ProxySQL and Redshift. MySQL Workbench is a MySQL tool: Oracle's Workbench 26.7 announcement lists MySQL 8.4 LTS, 9.7 LTS, 26.7 and the innovation releases between them, and says nothing about MariaDB. If you run MariaDB, HeidiSQL is the safer choice of the two. See MariaDB vs MySQL for how the two servers have diverged.

Data work versus MySQL administration and analysis

HeidiSQL's documented strengths are practical data tasks: editing rows in a grid, bulk-editing tables (moving them between databases, changing engine or collation), batch-inserting files, finding text across every table on a server, optimising and repairing tables in batches, exporting SQL dumps directly to another server, and managing user privileges with roles and authentication plugins.

MySQL Workbench 26 concentrates on MySQL-specific administration and performance work: server status, configuration, users, grants and client connections, Performance Reports for slow queries, and a Visual Explain that Oracle says supports newer optimiser features such as the hypergraph optimiser and HeatWave query plans. If you need to understand why a MySQL query is slow, Workbench documents more for that job.

Workbench 26 is new; HeidiSQL is in transition too

Oracle rebuilt Workbench on MySQL Shell with an Electron front end and states that Workbench 8.0 is end of life. Oracle also says not every Workbench 8.0 capability is in the rebuild yet: visual EER modelling and the old Migration Wizard, both documented for 8.0, are not listed on the current product page. If you relied on those, check the Workbench 26 release notes before switching.

HeidiSQL's stable Windows line is 12.21, while a version 13 preview on a new code base is offered for testing. The Linux and macOS builds are native (Lazarus and FreePascal), not Wine-based, and the macOS download is for ARM64 (Apple silicon) only.

Modelling and diagrams

HeidiSQL does not document an ER diagram or data-modelling feature; it is a client and table editor. Workbench 8.0 was known for EER modelling with forward and reverse engineering, but that is not currently listed for Workbench 26. If diagrams matter, a multi-engine tool with ER diagrams, such as DBeaver, may suit you better than either. See DBeaver vs HeidiSQL.

Pricing and licensing

Both tools are free. HeidiSQL is open source under the GPL v2 with no paid edition; the project accepts donations. MySQL Workbench 26.7 is distributed as the Community (OSS) edition under the GPL. Workbench features that integrate with MySQL Enterprise products, such as MySQL Enterprise Backup, assume you hold the relevant Oracle commercial subscription.

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

Where each one leads

HeidiSQL strengths

Free and open source (GPL v2) with no paid tier
Supports MariaDB as well as MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Firebird and others
Portable Windows build and native Linux and macOS builds
Practical bulk tools: find text across all tables, batch optimise and repair, server-to-server export
Wide range of export formats, including CSV, JSON, Markdown and SQL

MySQL Workbench strengths

Oracle's own MySQL tool, free under the GPL
Documented support for MySQL 8.4 LTS, 9.7 LTS and 26.7
Performance Reports and Visual Explain for query analysis
SQL Notebooks and JavaScript or TypeScript scripting through MySQL Shell
Administration of configuration, users, grants and connections

Limitations

HeidiSQL limitations

No ER diagram or data-modelling feature documented
No graphical explain plan documented; query analysis is limited to profiling and the process list
The download page lists only an ARM64 (Apple silicon) macOS build, so Intel Macs are not covered
Version 13 is a rewrite on a new code base and is still a preview, so expect change over the next releases

MySQL Workbench limitations

MySQL only; MariaDB, PostgreSQL and SQL Server are not documented
Workbench 26 is a ground-up rebuild and Oracle says not every Workbench 8.0 capability is available yet
Visual EER modelling is not listed on the current product page
Workbench 8.0 is end of life, and MySQL 8.0 is outside Workbench 26's documented server support

When to choose each

Choose HeidiSQL if

You use MariaDB, or a mix of MySQL and other engines
You want a lightweight free client for browsing, editing and exporting data
You need a portable build that runs without installation on Windows
You do bulk table maintenance or cross-server exports

Choose MySQL Workbench if

You run MySQL 8.4 LTS or newer and want Oracle's supported tool
You need Performance Reports or Visual Explain to tune queries
You administer users, grants and server configuration from a GUI
You want SQL Notebooks or JavaScript and TypeScript scripting

When neither is right

You need ER diagrams across several engines for free: consider DBeaver Community. See the DBeaver review and DBeaver vs MySQL Workbench.
You need data and structure synchronisation, scheduled backups or team sharing: consider a commercial tool such as Navicat. See Navicat vs MySQL Workbench.
You only need browser-based access to a MySQL or MariaDB server on a web host: phpMyAdmin may be enough.
You want a polished SQL editor with refactoring inside a JetBrains IDE: consider DataGrip.

Final recommendation

Bottom line

These two tools overlap less than their shared MySQL focus suggests. HeidiSQL is a fast route to everyday data work: free, multi-engine, MariaDB-friendly and portable. MySQL Workbench 26 is the tool for MySQL-specific administration and query analysis on current MySQL servers. If you use MariaDB, pick HeidiSQL. If you tune MySQL 8.4 or newer, pick Workbench. If you need visual data modelling, check what Workbench 26 currently offers, or look at DBeaver.

Frequently asked questions

Is HeidiSQL free for commercial use?

HeidiSQL is free and open source under the GPL v2, and the project has no paid edition. The GPL does not restrict running the software for commercial work. See the HeidiSQL review.

Does HeidiSQL run on Mac and Linux?

Yes. HeidiSQL now offers native Linux packages (Debian, RPM, Flatpak and others) and a native macOS app bundle for ARM64, built with Lazarus and FreePascal rather than run through Wine.

Can MySQL Workbench connect to MariaDB?

Oracle does not document MariaDB support. Workbench 26.7 is documented for MySQL 8.4 LTS and newer. For MariaDB, a client that lists it explicitly, such as HeidiSQL or DBeaver, is the safer choice.

Is MySQL Workbench 8.0 still supported?

No. Oracle states that earlier Workbench releases have reached end of life and are no longer maintained, and that MySQL Workbench 26 replaces them. See the MySQL Workbench review.

Does HeidiSQL have ER diagrams?

Its documentation and feature list do not include ER diagrams or data modelling. If you need diagrams, look at DBeaver or a commercial tool.

Sources

Checked October 2026.

How we research comparisons: our editorial method.