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

Quick verdict

Short answer

Pick TablePlus if your work is mostly reading, editing and querying data in common engines such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server or Redis, you want a small interface with a Code Review step before edits are committed, and you like an iOS companion app. Pick Navicat if you also manage databases: structure and data synchronisation, data transfer, backup and restore, scheduled jobs, visual explain, ER diagrams and modelling are in its paid editions. For free use, Navicat Premium Lite (commercial use allowed for up to 5 user accounts per organisation) is more usable long term than TablePlus's 2 tab, 2 window free version, but it lacks Navicat's distinguishing features.

How we know: This comparison is research-based: editions, licences, free version limits, platforms, supported databases and features were checked against each vendor's website, documentation, pricing pages and feature matrix 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 that the vendor describes as "a modern, native tool". It supports MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, Redshift, CockroachDB, Vertica, Redis, Cassandra, Snowflake, Oracle and MongoDB (beta), with some engines limited by platform. Its features centre on daily data work, including inline editing with Code Review, Safe mode and colour-coded connection tags. See our TablePlus review.

Navicat is a proprietary product line from PremiumSoft. Navicat Premium 18 connects to MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, Redis and Snowflake, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux (Flatpak and AppImage, x86_64 and aarch64). It is sold in Standard, Enterprise and Non-Commercial editions; Navicat Premium Lite is free with a reduced feature set, and single-engine products such as Navicat for MySQL are also sold. See our Navicat review.

Side by side

Aspect	TablePlus	Navicat
Free version	Limited to 2 open tabs, 2 open windows and 2 advanced filters	Navicat Premium Lite: commercial use allowed for up to 5 user accounts per organisation; no sync, transfer, backup, scheduling, query builder or modelling
Paid model	One-time per-device licence with 1 year of updates; keep the last covered build afterwards	Per user: perpetual licence or monthly/yearly subscription; 14-day trial
Platforms	macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Supported databases	Common SQL engines plus Redshift, CockroachDB, Vertica, Redis, Cassandra, MongoDB (beta); Oracle documented as macOS only	Premium: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, Redis, Snowflake
SQL editor	Autocomplete, multiple carets, query history, favourites, formatter	Code completion with live error checking, SQL beautifier; query builder in paid editions
Sync, transfer and backup	Backup and restore to dump files; no structure or data sync documented	Structure and data sync, data transfer, backup/restore and scheduling in paid editions
ER diagrams and modelling	Not in the documentation index	ER diagram view and data modelling in paid editions (not in Lite)
Explain plans	Not documented as a feature	Visual explain in paid editions
Team features	Team plan with a License Manager	Navicat Cloud for shared connections and queries; self-hosted On-Prem Server in Enterprise
Main trade-off	Compact and paid once per device, but few management tools and a very limited free version	Full management suite, but heavier feature tiers and prices not shown as plain text on the store

Key differences

Daily data client versus management suite

TablePlus concentrates on what developers do most days: browse tables, filter, edit rows and run queries. Its distinctive safeguards are Code Review, which shows pending edits as SQL before they are committed, and Safe mode with colour-coded environment tags.

Navicat's feature matrix covers a wider job. Paid editions add structure synchronisation, data synchronisation, data transfer within or across server types, backup and restore, data generation and masking, scheduling of most of these tasks, visual explain, ER diagrams, data modelling and BI charts. In our view, choose Navicat when you maintain and move databases, and TablePlus when you mainly work with the data in them.

Free editions

TablePlus's free version is time-unlimited but restricted to 2 active tabs, 2 active windows and 2 advanced filters, which makes it an extended trial.

Navicat Premium Lite is a separate free product. Navicat states it may be used commercially by up to 5 user accounts per organisation. Its feature matrix includes code completion, the SQL beautifier, SSH and HTTP tunnels, and import and export of TXT, CSV, XML and JSON, but no query builder, sync, data transfer, backup, scheduling, visual explain, ER diagram view, modelling, BI, Navicat Cloud or AI Assistant.

Licensing

Both vendors let you own a licence, which sets them apart from subscription-only tools. TablePlus licences are bought once per device and include a year of updates; afterwards you can keep using the last build released before expiry or renew. Navicat sells per-user perpetual licences with maintenance, and also monthly and yearly subscriptions. TablePlus counts devices; Navicat counts users.

Database and platform coverage

Both handle MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, Oracle, Redis, MongoDB and Snowflake to some degree. TablePlus also lists Redshift, CockroachDB, Vertica and Cassandra, but its documentation marks Oracle as macOS only and MongoDB as beta. Navicat Premium names nine engines and lists the same on all three desktop platforms. TablePlus has an iOS app included with paid licences.

Pricing and licensing

TablePlus. Listed on the vendor's pricing page in October 2026 (USD, one-time): Basic $99 for 1 device, Standard $129 for 2 devices, Team $79 per seat with a minimum of 3 seats. Each includes one year of updates and support and iOS access. Renewal is listed at $59 per device and extra devices at $79 per device.

Navicat. Navicat Premium Lite is free. Navicat Premium is sold in Standard, Enterprise and Non-Commercial editions, per user, as a perpetual licence or a monthly or yearly subscription. The store loads prices dynamically and we could not read the current amounts reliably, so we do not quote them; check the Navicat store for your region. A 14-day trial is offered.

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

Where each one leads

TablePlus strengths

Compact client focused on browsing, editing and querying
Code Review and Safe mode add a deliberate step before changes reach production
One-time per-device licence; keep the last covered build without paying again
iOS app included with paid licences

Navicat strengths

Structure and data synchronisation, data transfer, backup and scheduling in one product
Visual explain, ER diagrams and data modelling in paid editions
Free Premium Lite usable commercially within the vendor's limit
Perpetual or subscription licensing, plus team sharing through Navicat Cloud or On-Prem Server

Limitations

TablePlus limitations

Free version limited to 2 tabs, 2 windows and 2 advanced filters
No ER diagrams, schema comparison or data synchronisation documented
Database support varies by platform; Oracle documented as macOS only
Per-device licensing raises the cost across several machines

Navicat limitations

Premium Lite leaves out sync, transfer, backup, scheduling, visual explain, ER diagrams and modelling
Prices are not shown as plain text on the store page
Feature set is split across several editions and single-engine products
No iOS app on the Navicat Premium product page

When to choose each

Choose TablePlus if

Your daily work is browsing, editing and querying common SQL engines or Redis
You want an explicit review step before edits reach production
You want a one-time licence tied to your devices
You want a companion app on iOS

Choose Navicat if

You synchronise schemas or data between environments
You need scheduled backups, transfers or other automated jobs
You need visual explain, ER diagrams or data modelling
You want a free tool for work and can accept Premium Lite's limits

When neither is right

You want a full client at no cost and open source: see DBeaver vs TablePlus and DBeaver vs Navicat.
You write SQL as code and want refactoring and version control: see DataGrip vs TablePlus and DataGrip vs Navicat.
You only use SQL Server: Microsoft's free SSMS covers administration.
You want a wider shortlist: see the best TablePlus alternatives and the best Navicat alternatives.

Final recommendation

Bottom line

Both are commercial clients you can own outright, but they solve different problems. TablePlus is the better fit for developers who want a compact daily client for data work and like paying once per device. Navicat is the better fit for people who also maintain and move databases, since synchronisation, backup, scheduling, visual explain and modelling are built into its paid editions. Neither free tier replaces the paid product; trial both on your own databases before buying.

Frequently asked questions

Is TablePlus or Navicat free?

Both have a free option. TablePlus's free version is limited to 2 tabs, 2 windows and 2 advanced filters. Navicat Premium Lite is a free, reduced edition that Navicat allows for commercial use by up to 5 user accounts per organisation.

Can I buy TablePlus and Navicat outright?

Yes. TablePlus sells one-time per-device licences with a year of updates. Navicat sells per-user perpetual licences and also offers subscriptions.

Which is better for database synchronisation and backups?

Navicat. Its paid editions include structure and data synchronisation, data transfer, backup and restore, and scheduling. TablePlus offers backup and restore to dump files but documents no synchronisation tools.

Does TablePlus support Oracle on Windows?

The TablePlus documentation lists Oracle as macOS only. Navicat Premium supports Oracle on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Do either have ER diagrams?

Navicat's paid editions include an ER diagram view and data modelling. ER diagrams do not appear in the TablePlus documentation.

Sources

Checked October 2026.

How we research comparisons: our editorial method.