On Windows you have tools that other platforms do not. SSMS is the free SQL Server tool and runs natively on x64 and Arm64. HeidiSQL began as a Windows application and offers an installer, a portable ZIP, winget and Chocolatey. dbForge Studio and Toad are Windows-native commercial suites. Among cross-platform tools, DBeaver, DataGrip, DbVisualizer and VS Code all publish native Windows Arm64 builds; pgAdmin, MySQL Workbench and Navicat Premium list 64-bit x86 Windows downloads only. If your database runs in WSL, Windows tools connect to it like any other server.
Most "best database tool" lists treat Windows as one platform among three. In practice Windows users face questions that macOS and Linux users do not: some of the strongest tools exist only for Windows, Arm-based Windows laptops need native Arm64 builds or run x64 software under emulation, and managed corporate PCs often block installers, which makes a portable ZIP or a winget package the deciding factor.
This guide answers those questions. If you are choosing by administration features rather than by platform, see best database management tools; if you are moving off SSMS, see best SSMS alternatives.
Not recommended: Azure Data Studio, once a common Windows choice, was retired by Microsoft on 28 February 2026 and no longer receives updates or security fixes.
Quick picks
Free, Windows-only, native on x64 and Arm64, with full SQL Server administration.
Free and GPL-licensed, with a portable ZIP plus installer, winget and Chocolatey packages.
Native Windows ARM installer and ZIP, plus Microsoft Store and Chocolatey distribution.
Windows-native Studios per engine, with a free Express edition for SQL Server.
How we chose
Considered: SSMS, HeidiSQL, dbForge Studio, Toad, DBeaver, DataGrip, VS Code with the MSSQL and PostgreSQL extensions, DbVisualizer, pgAdmin, MySQL Workbench, Navicat Premium, Beekeeper Studio, TablePlus, SQLyog and Azure Data Studio.
Inclusion criteria: currently maintained; a Windows build published by the vendor; and supported Windows versions or architectures and install options confirmable on official pages. Azure Data Studio is excluded because it is retired. TablePlus has a Windows version, but we could not confirm its Windows system requirements or architectures on an official page, so it is left out here (see our TablePlus review). We could not confirm a current SQLyog release date on the vendor site, so it is also excluded.
What was checked, not tested: download pages, installation guides, system requirements and release notes, on 7 October 2026. The order is not a ranking: Windows-only tools first, then cross-platform tools with Arm64 builds, then those with x64 builds only.
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Windows builds | Databases | Install options | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSMS 22 | Free | x64, Arm64 (Windows only) | SQL Server, Azure SQL, Fabric SQL | Visual Studio Installer | SQL Server family only |
| HeidiSQL | Free (GPL) | 64-bit | MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, others | Installer, portable ZIP, winget, Chocolatey | No Windows Arm64 build listed |
| dbForge Studio | Freemium (Express for SQL Server) | Windows-native | SQL Server, MySQL/MariaDB, Oracle, PostgreSQL | Installer per Studio | Separate product per engine |
| Toad | Paid | Windows only | Oracle, SQL Server (separate products) | Installer | Commercial; edition-dependent features |
| DBeaver Community | Freemium | x86-64, ARM | Many relational; NoSQL in PRO | Installer, ZIP, Microsoft Store, Chocolatey | Java-based; some features paid |
| DataGrip | Paid (free non-commercial) | x64, ARM64 | Many relational and NoSQL | Installer, ZIP, Toolbox App, silent install | Commercial use paid; 8 GB RAM listed |
| VS Code + MSSQL / PostgreSQL | Free | x64, Arm64 | SQL Server, Azure SQL; PostgreSQL via its own extension | User or system installer, ZIP | Editor plus extensions, not a full admin tool |
| DbVisualizer | Freemium | x64, ARM64 | Many JDBC databases | Setup with Java, ZIP without Java | Several features Pro-only |
| pgAdmin 4 | Free | 64-bit x86 only | PostgreSQL | Signed installer | No Windows Arm64 build listed |
| MySQL Workbench 26 | Free (Community) | x86 64-bit | MySQL | MSI, ZIP | Rebuilt in 2026; prerequisites to install |
| Navicat Premium 18 | Paid (free Lite) | 64-bit | Many relational and NoSQL | Installer | Paid; no Arm64 build listed |
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
SSMS is the clearest example of a tool that exists only on Windows. Microsoft's FAQ states that it is free for personal or enterprise use, runs on Windows 10 or later, is a 64-bit application, and is available for both x86-64 and Arm64 processors. The current release is SSMS 22 (22.10.2, 28 September 2026), supporting SQL Server 2014 to 2025.
Install notes: the download is a small stub that opens the Visual Studio Installer. Microsoft states that you do not need Visual Studio itself, and that SSMS installs in its own location if Visual Studio is already present. Git integration and GitHub Copilot are optional components added through the same installer.
- SQL Server family only.
- Third-party extensions are not supported, according to Microsoft.
- Installation goes through the Visual Studio Installer, which some managed environments restrict.
Read our SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) review · Official site
HeidiSQL
HeidiSQL has the longest Windows heritage on this list: the project states that the Windows version is built with Embarcadero Delphi, while the newer Linux and macOS builds use Lazarus and FreePascal. It is GPL-licensed and supports MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase/Firebird and others. Version 12.21 was released on 3 August 2026, and a v13 preview is available for Windows.
Install notes: HeidiSQL offers a 64-bit installer, a portable ZIP that the project describes for USB or portable use, and installation through winget or Chocolatey. The download page says Windows users need the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable libraries for drivers to work. See HeidiSQL vs MySQL Workbench and DBeaver vs HeidiSQL.
- No Windows Arm64 build is listed on the download page.
- It needs the Visual C++ Redistributable, which a locked-down PC may not have.
- In our view its strength is MySQL and MariaDB; administration depth for other engines is lighter than their official tools.
dbForge Studio
Devart's dbForge Studio products are native Windows applications; Devart documents running them on macOS and Linux only through the CodeWeavers CrossOver compatibility layer. There are separate Studios for SQL Server, MySQL and MariaDB, Oracle and PostgreSQL, plus the dbForge Edge bundle.
dbForge Studio for SQL Server has a free Express edition with code completion, visual editors, database diagrams, import and export, backup and recovery and a Security Manager. Paid Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions add a debugger, Query Profiler, schema and data compare, an index manager and source control.
- Windows-native only; other platforms need commercial CrossOver.
- Each engine is a separate product unless you buy dbForge Edge.
- Advanced compare, profiling and DevOps tools are in paid editions.
Toad
Quest's Toad for Oracle and Toad for SQL Server are commercial Windows applications. Both are current, with 2026 R2 releases listed by Quest. Toad for SQL Server 2026 R2 added Toad Chat, an AI assistant for explaining and optimising queries; higher editions include a SQL Optimizer and Toad Data Modeler.
Toad suits organisations that already buy Quest products and run Windows desktops. Quest offers trials and directs buyers to sales rather than listing prices on the product pages.
- Windows only, with a separate product per engine.
- Commercial licence; features depend on the edition.
DBeaver Community
DBeaver Community 26.2.2 (released 4 October 2026, Apache 2.0) publishes Windows downloads for both x86 and ARM, each as an installer or a ZIP archive. It is also distributed through the Microsoft Store and Chocolatey (choco install dbeaver). All distributions bundle OpenJDK, so no separate Java install is needed.
It connects to many relational databases in Community; NoSQL databases, cloud explorers and some features such as SQL Server execution plans and the Visual Query Builder need a paid edition. See DBeaver Community vs DBeaver PRO.
- Java-based; the vendor documents memory settings for large result sets.
- Several features many Windows users expect, such as SQL Server execution plans, need a paid edition.
DataGrip
JetBrains' installation guide lists Windows 10 and 11, with a standalone .exe installer, a separate ARM64 build, a ZIP archive that runs without installation, and the JetBrains Toolbox App. For managed estates it documents a silent install with the /S and /CONFIG switches. A Java runtime is bundled.
DataGrip is free for non-commercial use (an annual, renewable licence that requires online activation and anonymised usage statistics); commercial use needs a subscription after a 30-day trial.
- Commercial use is paid.
- JetBrains lists 8 GB of total RAM, with 3 GB available for the IDE.
- The non-commercial licence needs online activation.
VS Code with the MSSQL and PostgreSQL extensions
Visual Studio Code supports Windows 10 and 11 and is offered as a User Installer, a System Installer or a ZIP, each in x64 and Arm64 builds. Microsoft's MSSQL extension lists Windows 10 and 11 on x64 and Arm64, with execution plans, schema compare, a schema designer, backup and restore and a query profiler. Microsoft also publishes a PostgreSQL extension, which is generally available but not open source.
Microsoft's WSL database tutorial suggests VS Code extensions for working with the databases it installs inside WSL, which makes VS Code a natural fit if your database runs there.
- It is an editor with extensions, not a dedicated administration tool; Microsoft directs SQL Server Agent and full administration to SSMS.
- The MSSQL extension downloads a service package on first activation unless you install the offline VSIX.
Read our VS Code with the MSSQL and PostgreSQL extensions review · Official site
DbVisualizer
DbVisualizer 26.2.3 offers a Windows 64-bit setup and a Windows ARM64 setup, both bundling the Eclipse Temurin Java runtime, plus a 64-bit ZIP archive without Java for users who supply their own (it requires Java 25). Free and Pro share one installer, with a 21-day Pro trial.
- Features such as Explain Plan are Pro-only.
- The ZIP option is x64 only and needs a separately installed Java 25 runtime.
pgAdmin 4
pgAdmin 4 v9.18 (17 September 2026) is the PostgreSQL project's official administration tool, under the PostgreSQL Licence. Its Windows page lists Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 and above for v7.0 and later, and 64-bit Windows only. The installers are signed with a Microsoft-issued signing key.
- PostgreSQL only.
- Only a 64-bit x86 Windows installer is listed; there is no Windows Arm64 build on the download page.
MySQL Workbench
MySQL Workbench 26.7.0 (July 2026) is Oracle's rebuilt Workbench on the MySQL Shell foundation; earlier releases are end of life. For Windows, Oracle offers an MSI installer and a ZIP archive, both for x86 64-bit. The download page lists the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 and the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2019 as prerequisites.
Oracle states that the rebuild targets MySQL 8.4 LTS and later. See MySQL Workbench alternatives if you need an older server or features not listed for version 26.
- No Windows Arm64 download is listed.
- Prerequisites must be installed first on a clean PC.
- MySQL only; Oracle's pages do not yet agree on which earlier features, such as EER modelling, carry over to version 26.
Beekeeper Studio
Beekeeper Studio offers both an installer and a portable version for Windows; its download page recommends the portable build on locked-down machines or a USB stick. The free Community edition includes PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server, Redshift, BigQuery, Redis and others; Oracle, MongoDB and DuckDB need a paid plan.
- The Community edition is aimed at individuals, non-profits and businesses with fewer than 10 employees or under USD 1M revenue.
- Import and export, backup and restore and editing of query results are paid features, starting at the Indie plan.
- Its download page does not state Windows architectures, so check Arm64 availability before buying for Arm devices.
How to choose on Windows
Windows on Arm laptop: prefer tools with native Arm64 builds: SSMS, VS Code with the MSSQL extension, DBeaver, DataGrip and DbVisualizer. pgAdmin, MySQL Workbench, HeidiSQL and Navicat list x64 Windows builds only on their download pages, so check with the vendor whether it supports running them on an Arm device before you rely on it.
Locked-down corporate PC: look for a portable or per-user option: HeidiSQL's portable ZIP, DBeaver's and DataGrip's ZIP archives, Beekeeper Studio's portable build or the VS Code User Installer. For fleet deployment, DataGrip documents silent installation and HeidiSQL and DBeaver are available through package managers.
Databases in WSL: Microsoft documents installing MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, MongoDB and Redis inside WSL, and states that SQL Server on WSL 2 is for development only, not production. Windows tools such as SSMS connect to SQL Server on Linux in the same way as to any remote instance. For administration-first choices regardless of platform, see best database management tools.
Frequently asked questions
Which database tools only run on Windows?
Of the tools on this page, SSMS and Toad are Windows only, and dbForge Studio is native only on Windows (Devart documents macOS and Linux use through CrossOver). HeidiSQL started as a Windows application and now also has Linux and macOS builds.
Does SSMS work on Windows on Arm?
Yes. Microsoft states that SSMS is available for x86-64 and Arm64 processors on Windows.
Is there a portable database tool for Windows that needs no installation?
Yes. HeidiSQL offers a portable ZIP, Beekeeper Studio has a portable version, and DBeaver, DataGrip and DbVisualizer publish ZIP archives. HeidiSQL still needs the Visual C++ Redistributable on the PC.
Can I use Windows database tools with a database running in WSL?
Yes. Microsoft's SQL Server on WSL 2 quickstart says Windows tools connect to SQL Server on Linux as they would to any remote instance, and lists sqlcmd, SSMS and the MSSQL extension for VS Code. Microsoft also states that SQL Server on WSL 2 is for development only.
Is Azure Data Studio still available for Windows?
It was retired on 28 February 2026 and no longer receives updates or security fixes. Microsoft recommends VS Code with the MSSQL extension, and SSMS for full administration.
Sources
- SSMS FAQ (Microsoft Learn)
- SSMS 22 release notes (Microsoft Learn)
- HeidiSQL downloads
- Running dbForge Studio on Linux and macOS (Devart docs)
- Toad for SQL Server 2026 R2 GA announcement (Quest Toad World)
- DBeaver Community download page
- DataGrip installation guide (JetBrains)
- Visual Studio Code download page
- MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code (Microsoft Learn)
- DbVisualizer download page
- pgAdmin 4 for Windows
- MySQL Workbench downloads
- Navicat Premium download page
- Beekeeper Studio download page
- Install SQL Server on WSL 2 (Microsoft Learn)
- Add or connect a database with WSL (Microsoft Learn)
Checked October 2026.
How we research these guides: our editorial method.