Oracle SQL Developer vs DataGrip

Quick verdict

Oracle SQL Developer is Oracle's free IDE for Oracle Database. Version 26.2 was released on 14 July 2026. It is a Java application for Windows, macOS and Linux; the Windows x64 and macOS (Apple silicon) downloads include JDK 17, and the Linux RPM needs JDK 17 or later. It covers PL/SQL development and debugging, a SQL worksheet, a DBA navigator, reports, an integrated Data Modeler and migration of third-party databases to Oracle. Oracle also offers Oracle SQL Developer for VS Code (version 26.3.0 on the Marketplace in late September 2026), which it updates quarterly.

DataGrip is JetBrains' database IDE for Windows, macOS and Linux, currently 2026.2. It connects to more than 25 engines, Oracle among them, and focuses on SQL as code: schema-aware completion, inspections with quick fixes, refactoring and version control. Its debugger supports Oracle only. Commercial use needs a paid subscription; since 1 October 2025 a free licence is available for non-commercial use. See our DataGrip review.

Side by side

Key differences

One engine in depth, or many engines as code

SQL Developer is built for Oracle. Its User's Guide describes browsing every Oracle object type, APEX applications, scheduler jobs, reports and Oracle-specific features such as RDF and property graph support. It can connect to MySQL and some third-party databases (Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase Adaptive Server, IBM DB2) to view their objects, mainly in support of migrating them to Oracle.

DataGrip treats Oracle as one of many engines, alongside PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, MongoDB and others. Its strengths are code intelligence and project work: completion aware of your schema, inspections, rename refactoring with a usage preview, local history and version control. JetBrains' Oracle page lists Oracle versions 9 to 23, connecting through the thin or OCI JDBC drivers by SID, service name, TNS or URL; it does not name 26ai yet.

PL/SQL debugging

Both tools debug PL/SQL. DataGrip's documentation states that its debugger is supported only for Oracle; it is based on the DBMS_DEBUG API, works with procedures, functions, packages, triggers and anonymous blocks, and requires DEBUG CONNECT SESSION and DEBUG ANY PROCEDURE plus access to V$SESSION and DBMS_DEBUG. SQL Developer's documentation describes compiling a function or procedure for debug, setting breakpoints and stepping through it; the VS Code extension adds a PL/SQL debugger using VS Code's native debugging.

An anonymous block such as this one (Oracle PL/SQL; the hr.employees sample schema is assumed) can be debugged directly in DataGrip; in SQL Developer the documented route is to debug a stored subprogram:

-- Oracle PL/SQL anonymous block
SET SERVEROUTPUT ON
DECLARE
  v_total NUMBER;
BEGIN
  SELECT COUNT(*) INTO v_total
  FROM   hr.employees
  WHERE  department_id = 50;
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Employees in dept 50: ' || v_total);
END;
/

Administration and modelling

SQL Developer's DBA navigator covers initialisation parameters, Data Pump jobs, RMAN backups, AWR snapshots, ADDM and ASH reports, Resource Manager, the scheduler, auditing, users, roles and profiles, and storage. Some performance features require Oracle's paid packs; Real Time SQL Monitor, for example, requires the Oracle Tuning Pack. It also integrates SQL Developer Data Modeler for logical, relational and physical models with forward and reverse engineering.

DataGrip's documentation does not describe an Oracle DBA console of this kind, and its diagrams show existing structure rather than serving as a modelling tool. In our view, an Oracle DBA will not replace SQL Developer with DataGrip; a developer might.

Licence model

SQL Developer, its Data Modeler and its VS Code extension are free for any use under Oracle's Free Use terms. DataGrip is free only for non-commercial use: learning, hobby projects, content creation and open source work without commercial benefit. That licence lasts a year, renews if you keep using DataGrip, needs online activation and requires sending anonymous usage statistics. Commercial use needs a paid subscription after a 30-day trial. JetBrains documents that the Database Tools and SQL plugin in IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate has the same functionality.

Desktop, VS Code and runtime

Both desktop tools run on the JVM. SQL Developer 26.2 requires JDK 17 (bundled in the Windows x64 and macOS downloads); DataGrip bundles the JetBrains Runtime and its system requirements list 8 GB of RAM. We have not measured memory use or start-up time.

Oracle's new feature work is going into SQL Developer for VS Code. The desktop 26.2 release notes list updated Java and security fixes, deprecate the ORDS feature and no longer bundle SQLcl, while the Marketplace listing says the extension is updated quarterly with capabilities from "SQL Developer Classic" plus new features, including DBA and performance panels, a PL/SQL debugger, SQL notebooks and the SQLcl MCP Server for GitHub Copilot and other agents. If you are weighing DataGrip against VS Code generally, see DataGrip vs VS Code.

Pricing and licensing

Oracle SQL Developer. Free under the Oracle Free Use licence, as are SQL Developer Data Modeler and SQL Developer for VS Code. Customers with an Oracle Database support contract can raise service requests for them.

DataGrip. Free for non-commercial use under JetBrains' non-commercial terms, with a 30-day trial for commercial evaluation. Commercial use requires a paid subscription, sold separately for individuals and organisations, and DataGrip is included in JetBrains' multi-product subscriptions. 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.

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

Where each one leads

Limitations

When to choose each

When neither is right

• You need a paid, Oracle-specific suite with tuning, unit testing and monitoring add-ons: see Toad vs SQL Developer and our Toad review.
• You want a free multi-engine client for commercial work: see Oracle SQL Developer vs DBeaver and DBeaver vs DataGrip.
• You want a wider shortlist: see the best Oracle database tools, the best Oracle SQL Developer alternatives and the best DataGrip alternatives.
• You are still choosing the database: see SQL Server vs Oracle, PostgreSQL vs Oracle and MySQL vs Oracle.

Final recommendation

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Oracle SQL Developer product page
• Oracle SQL Developer downloads (26.2, JDK 17)
• Oracle SQL Developer 26.2 release notes
• Oracle SQL Developer 26.2 User's Guide: concepts and usage
• Visual Studio Marketplace: Oracle SQL Developer for VS Code
• DataGrip product page
• DataGrip documentation: Oracle
• DataGrip documentation: debugger
• JetBrains blog: DataGrip is now free for non-commercial use

Checked October 2026.

How we research comparisons: our editorial method.