TablePlus vs HeidiSQL: Features, Licences, Pricing (2026)

Quick verdict

Short answer

Pick HeidiSQL if you want a capable client at no cost, work mainly with MariaDB or MySQL (or also SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite or Firebird), and value bulk table tools, many export formats and a portable Windows build. Pick TablePlus if you are willing to buy a licence for a compact client that also covers Redis, Cassandra, CockroachDB and other engines, with Code Review and Safe mode guarding edits, and an iOS app. TablePlus's free version (2 tabs, 2 windows, 2 advanced filters) works as an extended trial rather than a long-term free tool.

How we know: This comparison is research-based: licences, free version limits, platforms, supported databases, documented features and prices were checked against tableplus.com, the TablePlus documentation, heidisql.com and the HeidiSQL GitHub repository on 7 October 2026. We have not run either product or measured speed or memory use.

TablePlus, from TablePlus Inc., is a commercial GUI client for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. Its website lists MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server, Amazon Redshift, MariaDB, CockroachDB, Vertica, Redis, MongoDB, Oracle, Cassandra, BigQuery, ClickHouse and Turso; the documentation notes that Oracle is macOS only, Snowflake is macOS and Windows only, and MongoDB is in beta. Its features centre on daily data work: inline editing, advanced filters, Code Review and Safe mode, a query editor with autocomplete and split panes, import and export, backup and restore, and a Metrics board. See our TablePlus review.

HeidiSQL is a free, open source client licensed under the GPL v2, with no paid edition. Its site lists MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL and Redshift. Version 12.21 (August 2026) is the stable release for Windows, Linux and macOS (ARM64 only), and a version 13 preview on a new code base is available for Windows. See our HeidiSQL review.

Side by side

Aspect	TablePlus	HeidiSQL
Price and licence	Proprietary; one-time per-device licence with 1 year of updates	Free and open source (GPL v2); no paid edition
Free version	Limited to 2 open tabs, 2 open windows and 2 advanced filters	The whole product is free, with no feature limits
Platforms	macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS	Windows (installer, portable, winget, Chocolatey), Linux (DEB, RPM, Flatpak and more), macOS ARM64 only
Supported databases	Common SQL engines plus CockroachDB, Vertica, Redis, Cassandra, BigQuery, ClickHouse, Turso; Oracle macOS only, MongoDB beta	MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL, Redshift
Editing safeguards	Code Review shows pending changes as SQL before commit; Safe mode for production connections	Grid editing; no equivalent review step documented
Import and export	Import CSV and SQL dumps; export CSV, JSON or SQL; backup and restore to dump files	SQL exports with compression, server-to-server export, text file import, row export to CSV, HTML, XML, SQL, LaTeX, Markdown, JSON and more
Bulk and maintenance tools	Not a documented focus	Bulk table edits, batch optimise and repair, find text across all tables, monitor and kill processes
User management	MySQL only	User privileges with roles and authentication plugins
Extensions	JavaScript plugin system	Not documented
Main trade-off	Wider engine coverage and an iOS app, but paid per device after a very limited free version	Free with practical bulk tools, but no NoSQL engines and the Mac build is Apple silicon only

Key differences

Paid once per device versus free

This is the first decision. HeidiSQL costs nothing for any use, and the project has no paid tier; it accepts donations. TablePlus sells a perpetual licence for each device that includes a year of updates. When the year ends, the documentation says you can renew, or keep using the last build released before expiry without limitation.

TablePlus's free version is time-unlimited but capped at 2 active tabs, 2 active windows and 2 advanced filters at a time. In our view that is enough to evaluate the product, not to replace a free client in daily use.

Database coverage

Both handle MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite and Redshift. TablePlus extends to CockroachDB, Vertica, Redis, Cassandra, BigQuery, ClickHouse, Turso, Oracle and MongoDB, with the documented caveats that Oracle runs on macOS only, Snowflake on macOS and Windows, and MongoDB is in beta. HeidiSQL adds Interbase, Firebird and ProxySQL but no NoSQL stores. If Redis or Cassandra sits next to your SQL databases, TablePlus covers more of your estate in one tool.

Safe editing versus bulk tooling

TablePlus is built around careful data editing: changes made in the grid are held until you commit them, Code Review shows them as SQL first, and Safe mode adds protection on production connections. Colour-coded connections and the Open Anything search help you keep track of where you are.

HeidiSQL documents more operational tools for MariaDB and MySQL: 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 directly between servers, and managing privileges with roles. TablePlus's user management is documented for MySQL only.

Platforms and packaging

TablePlus runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS; the Windows build requires .NET 4.8 (bundled with the installer), and paid licences include iOS access. HeidiSQL's Windows build is the original Delphi application and comes as an installer, a portable build, and through winget and Chocolatey. Its Linux and macOS builds are native (Lazarus and FreePascal), but the macOS download is ARM64 only, so Intel Macs are not covered.

Pricing and licensing

TablePlus. Listed on the vendor's pricing page in October 2026 (USD, one-time, no auto-renewal): Basic $99 for 1 device; Standard $129 for 2 devices (shown as a discount from $198); Team $79 per seat with a minimum of 3 seats. Each includes one year of updates and support. The page lists renewal at $59 per device and extra devices at $79 per device. The free version is limited to 2 open tabs, 2 open windows and 2 advanced filters.

HeidiSQL. Free and open source under the GPL v2, with no paid edition. The project accepts donations.

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

Where each one leads

TablePlus strengths

Covers Redis, Cassandra, CockroachDB, Vertica, BigQuery, ClickHouse and Turso as well as common SQL engines
Code Review and Safe mode add a deliberate step before edits reach the database
Runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS
Perpetual per-device licence; keep the last covered build without paying again
JavaScript plugin system for extending the app

HeidiSQL strengths

Free and open source (GPL v2) with no feature limits
Strong MariaDB and MySQL tooling: bulk table edits, batch maintenance, server-to-server export
Wide range of row export formats, including CSV, JSON, Markdown, XML and SQL
Portable Windows build, plus winget and Chocolatey packages
Also supports Firebird, Interbase and ProxySQL

Limitations

TablePlus limitations

Free version limited to 2 tabs, 2 windows and 2 advanced filters
Oracle documented as macOS only; Snowflake not on Linux; MongoDB in beta
User management documented for MySQL only
Per-device licensing raises the cost across several machines

HeidiSQL limitations

No NoSQL databases such as Redis or MongoDB
macOS build is ARM64 only, so Intel Macs are not covered
No review step for pending edits comparable to TablePlus Code Review documented
Version 13 is a preview on a new code base, so expect change over the next releases

When to choose each

Choose TablePlus if

You use Redis, Cassandra, CockroachDB or other engines HeidiSQL does not list
You want a review step before edits are committed to production
You work on an Intel Mac or want an iOS companion app
You are happy to pay once per device for a compact client

Choose HeidiSQL if

You want a full client at no cost, for any use
You work mainly with MariaDB or MySQL and need bulk maintenance and export tools
You need a portable client that runs without installation on Windows
You use Firebird or Interbase

When neither is right

You need ER diagrams and data transfer across many engines for free: see DBeaver vs TablePlus and DBeaver vs HeidiSQL.
You need schema and data synchronisation, scheduled backups or modelling: consider Navicat. See TablePlus vs Navicat and Navicat vs HeidiSQL.
You tune MySQL 8.4 or newer and want Visual Explain and Performance Reports: see HeidiSQL vs MySQL Workbench.
You want a wider shortlist: see the best TablePlus alternatives and the best HeidiSQL alternatives.

Final recommendation

Bottom line

HeidiSQL is the better fit if cost matters and your databases are mainly MariaDB, MySQL or the other engines it lists: it is free, practical for bulk work and portable on Windows. TablePlus is the better fit if you work across more engine types, including Redis and Cassandra, want Code Review and Safe mode around your edits, or use an Intel Mac or an iPhone or iPad. Since HeidiSQL is free and TablePlus has a free version, try both on your own connections before buying.

Frequently asked questions

Is HeidiSQL completely free?

Yes. HeidiSQL is open source under the GPL v2 and has no paid edition or feature limits. The project accepts donations.

How limited is the free version of TablePlus?

The TablePlus documentation states that the free version allows a maximum of 2 active tabs, 2 active windows and 2 advanced filters at a time. It is not time-limited.

Does HeidiSQL run on a Mac?

Yes, on Apple silicon. The download page offers a native macOS ARM64 app bundle for version 12.21; there is no Intel build listed. TablePlus lists macOS 10.13 or later and states that it supports Apple silicon, so it also covers older Intel Macs.

Which supports Redis or MongoDB?

TablePlus lists Redis, and MongoDB in beta. HeidiSQL does not list any NoSQL databases.

Is a TablePlus licence a subscription?

No. It is a perpetual licence per device with one year of updates. After that you can renew for further updates or keep using the last build released before the licence expired.

Sources

Checked October 2026.

How we research comparisons: our editorial method.