For deeper SQL code assistance, look at DataGrip (paid for commercial work, free for non-commercial use). For a cross-platform Java client with a long track record and a different feature split, look at DbVisualizer. For a native app with a simple interface, look at TablePlus. For a free open source desktop client, Beekeeper Studio Community (simpler, but import and export are paid) and HeidiSQL are the main options, and DbGate adds a self-hosted web version. If you already live in VS Code, the Microsoft mssql and PostgreSQL extensions may be enough.
DBeaver Community is free, open source under the Apache 2.0 licence, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and its GitHub repository describes out-of-the-box support for over 100 database drivers. That breadth is the reason many people install it. It is also the starting point for most of the reasons people look elsewhere.
The reasons below are either documented by the vendor or are our editorial reading of the trade-offs; we have not surveyed users.
- Paid features. DBeaver documents that its commercial editions (Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate and Team) add NoSQL and big data database support, and that schema compare and cloud explorers sit in the higher editions. If you need those, you are comparing DBeaver's paid tiers with other paid tools anyway.
- Java runtime. DBeaver is a Java desktop application; the download page states it requires Java 25 and bundles OpenJDK. Some people prefer a client built natively for their operating system (editorial).
- Interface breadth. A tool that covers 100+ drivers exposes a lot of options. For one engine and simple daily queries, a smaller interface can be easier to work in (editorial).
- Code assistance. Developers who want IDE-style inspections, quick fixes and version control integration in the SQL editor often compare DBeaver with JetBrains DataGrip (editorial).
Quick picks
JetBrains documents on-the-fly analysis with quick fixes, context-aware completion and Git integration. Free for non-commercial use.
Native app for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS, sold as a one-time licence rather than a subscription.
GPLv3 Community edition on all three desktop platforms covering the main SQL engines; import/export and engines such as Oracle and MongoDB are paid.
Runs as a desktop app or as a web application in Docker, with SQL and NoSQL support in the GPL-3.0 Community edition.
Microsoft's free mssql and PostgreSQL extensions are its recommended replacements for Azure Data Studio.
How we chose
We considered DataGrip, DbVisualizer, TablePlus, Beekeeper Studio, Navicat, HeidiSQL, DbGate, VS Code database extensions, dbForge Studio, Azure Data Studio, phpMyAdmin and Adminer. To be included, a tool had to be actively released in 2026, connect to more than one database engine (because DBeaver users usually need that), run as a desktop or self-hosted client, and have its editions, platforms and licence published on an official page.
Azure Data Studio was excluded because Microsoft retired it on 28 February 2026. dbForge Studio was left out of this list because it is sold as separate per-engine products rather than one multi-engine client. Web-only tools (phpMyAdmin, Adminer) are covered in our MySQL Workbench alternatives and pgAdmin alternatives guides instead.
Everything here was checked against vendor pages on 7 October 2026; none of it comes from our own use of the tools. The order is not a ranking: entries are grouped roughly from full IDEs to lighter clients.
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Databases | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DataGrip | Paid (free non-commercial) | Windows, macOS, Linux | 25+ incl. MongoDB, Redis | Developers who want IDE features | Subscription for commercial use; 8 GB RAM system requirement |
| DbVisualizer | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux | 70+ incl. MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra | Long-lived cross-platform client | Free edition has no table data viewer/editor or import/export |
| TablePlus | Freemium | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS | 15 incl. Redis, MongoDB | Native, simple daily work | Free use limited to 2 tabs and 2 windows |
| Beekeeper Studio | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux | 25+ | Free open source desktop client | Free edition intended for individuals and small organisations |
| Navicat Premium | Paid (free Lite edition) | Windows, macOS, Linux | MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, MongoDB, Redis and more | Commercial teams wanting modelling and transfer tools | Full product is a paid licence |
| HeidiSQL | Free | Windows, Linux, macOS | MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite and more | Lightweight free client | No Oracle or NoSQL; macOS build is Apple Silicon only |
| DbGate | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux, web (Docker) | SQL and NoSQL incl. MongoDB, Redis | Desktop or self-hosted web use | Some features need a Premium licence |
| VS Code database extensions | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | SQL Server, PostgreSQL; others via SQLTools | Developers already in VS Code | One extension per engine; less of a database browser |
DataGrip
DataGrip is JetBrains' database IDE. JetBrains lists support for 25+ databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, Redis, Snowflake, BigQuery and Redshift, and documents context-aware code completion, on-the-fly analysis with quick fixes, local query history, import and export (CSV, JSON, Excel and others) and integration with Git and other version control systems.
It suits DBeaver users whose main complaint is the editor rather than the connectivity. Since October 2025 JetBrains has offered DataGrip free for non-commercial use (learning, hobby projects, open source without commercial benefit, content creation); commercial use needs a paid subscription. The same database features are available inside paid JetBrains IDEs through the Database Tools and SQL plugin. See our DBeaver vs DataGrip comparison.
- Commercial use requires a paid subscription; there is no free commercial edition.
- JetBrains lists 8 GB of total RAM (3 GB available for the IDE) and 10 GB of disk as system requirements.
- The free non-commercial licence requires agreeing to send anonymised usage statistics.
DbVisualizer
DbVisualizer is a cross-platform database client; version 26.2.3 was released on 15 September 2026 for Windows (64-bit and ARM64), macOS 11+ and Linux. Free and Pro use the same installer, and a licence key unlocks Pro. Its supported-databases page lists 70+ databases, with extended support for Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MariaDB, MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis and DynamoDB, and basic support for any database reachable through a JDBC driver. Its feature pages describe inline data editing, export in several formats and visual explain plans in Pro.
Like DBeaver it is Java based (the recommended installers bundle Java 25), so it is not the choice if a native client is what you want. It is a reasonable alternative if you want a single vendor-supported commercial client and prefer a per-user Pro licence that, according to DbVisualizer's pricing page, includes perpetual use of versions released during the subscription term.
- The pricing page lists no table data viewer/editor, table import and export, query builder or explain plan in the Free edition, so the free tier is narrower than DBeaver Community.
- Pro is billed annually per user.
- Java based, like DBeaver, so it does not address a preference for native apps.
TablePlus
TablePlus describes itself as a native GUI tool and lists support for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, Redshift, MariaDB, CockroachDB, Vertica, Redis, MongoDB, Oracle, Cassandra, BigQuery, ClickHouse and TursoDB. Licences are one-time purchases that include a year of updates, rather than a subscription, and an iOS app is included for desktop licence holders.
It suits people moving away from DBeaver because they want a smaller, native interface for browsing, editing and querying, and do not need DBeaver's breadth of drivers or administration features. See DBeaver vs TablePlus.
- The free version is limited to 2 open tabs, 2 open windows and 2 advanced filters at a time.
- Fewer supported engines than DBeaver's 100+ drivers.
- Updates after the first year require renewing the licence.
Beekeeper Studio
Beekeeper Studio Community Edition is licensed under GPLv3, and its README lists 25+ supported databases. According to its pricing page, the free edition covers PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server, Redshift, TiDB, BigQuery, Redis and GreengageDB; CockroachDB, Oracle, MongoDB, DuckDB, ClickHouse, Cassandra and others need a paid plan, and Snowflake needs Business. Paid plans also add import and export, backup and restore, editing of query results, multiple devices, cloud workspaces and enterprise authentication. (The README lists CockroachDB under Community; we follow the pricing table.) Version 6.1.5 was released on 5 October 2026.
It is the closest like-for-like swap for someone who wants a free open source desktop client but finds DBeaver's interface too broad. It offers a SQL editor with autocomplete and a spreadsheet-like table data editor; import and export starts at the paid Indie plan, whereas DBeaver Community includes it free.
- The pricing page states the free Community edition is intended for students, individuals, non-profits and businesses with fewer than 10 employees or under USD 1 million revenue; larger organisations are asked to buy a licence.
- Import and export, backup and restore, query result editing, and engines such as Oracle, MongoDB and DuckDB are in paid plans.
- Advanced connectivity such as Kerberos, Windows authentication and IAM is in paid plans.
- It focuses on querying and editing; it does not aim to match DBeaver's administration and data transfer tooling.
HeidiSQL
HeidiSQL is free and open source and supports MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL and Redshift. It began as a Windows tool; its download page now offers version 12.21 (August 2026) for Windows, Linux (deb, RPM, Flatpak and others) and an Apple Silicon macOS app. It covers editing data and structures, user privileges and export to CSV, HTML, XML, JSON and other formats.
It suits DBeaver users who mainly work with MySQL or MariaDB and want something smaller. See DBeaver vs HeidiSQL.
- No Oracle or NoSQL support in its published list.
- The macOS download is an arm64 (Apple Silicon) build only.
- Windows needs the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for some drivers.
DbGate
DbGate is a GPL-3.0 database manager that runs as a desktop app on Windows, macOS and Linux or as a web application distributed as Docker containers. Its site lists MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis, MariaDB, CockroachDB, ClickHouse, Cassandra, DuckDB, Firebird and others. Premium and Team Premium plans add paid features.
It is worth a look if you liked DBeaver's reach but want NoSQL sources such as MongoDB and Redis without moving to a paid DBeaver edition, or want a browser-based client for a team. CloudBeaver, DBeaver's own web product, is the alternative within the same family.
- Some features require a Premium licence.
- Smaller project and ecosystem than DBeaver.
- Self-hosting the web edition means you own its security and updates.
VS Code database extensions
Microsoft publishes two free VS Code extensions: mssql (SQL Server, Azure SQL and SQL database in Fabric), with Object Explorer, IntelliSense, a query plan visualiser, Table and Schema Designers, Schema Compare and data editing; and PostgreSQL, with an object explorer, IntelliSense, schema visualisation and query plan views. Microsoft names them as the replacements for Azure Data Studio, which it retired on 28 February 2026.
For other engines, the community SQLTools extension has official drivers for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, MariaDB, CockroachDB and TiDB. This route suits people who mostly write SQL next to application code and only occasionally need a full database browser.
- Each extension covers specific engines; there is no single Microsoft extension for every database, and Microsoft lists a MySQL replacement as pending.
- Administration depth is lower than a dedicated client; Microsoft keeps SQL Server Agent and full administration in SSMS.
- Quality and feature sets vary between extensions.
When to stay with DBeaver
Stay with DBeaver Community if you work across several engines and need one free tool for all of them. Few of the alternatives above match its 100+ drivers at no cost, and its Apache 2.0 licence places no company-size condition on free use, unlike Beekeeper Studio's Community edition or DataGrip's non-commercial licence.
It also makes sense to stay if you rely on features DBeaver lists for Community, such as the data editor, task management, database maintenance tools, result export and SSH tunnels, or if your team already standardises on it. If NoSQL support or schema compare is the gap, check DBeaver's own paid editions before switching tools; you keep the same interface and saved connections. Read the full DBeaver review for details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to DBeaver?
It depends on why you are leaving. Beekeeper Studio Community (GPLv3) is the closest open source desktop alternative with a simpler interface, though its free edition is intended for individuals and small organisations and leaves import and export to paid plans. HeidiSQL is free with no such condition and suits MySQL and MariaDB work. DbGate Community adds a self-hosted web option.
Is DataGrip better than DBeaver?
DataGrip offers deeper code assistance (inspections, quick fixes, version control integration), while DBeaver Community is free for any use and reaches more engines through JDBC. See the DBeaver vs DataGrip comparison.
Is there a native alternative to DBeaver on macOS?
TablePlus describes itself as a native app and runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. For MySQL only, Sequel Ace is a free native macOS client; for PostgreSQL, Postico 2 is a paid native macOS client.
Is DbVisualizer free?
DbVisualizer has a Free edition, but its pricing page lists the table data viewer and editor, import and export, query builder and explain plan as Pro features. Pro is billed annually per user.
Is Azure Data Studio still an option?
No. Microsoft retired Azure Data Studio on 28 February 2026 and recommends VS Code with the mssql extension (and the PostgreSQL extension for PostgreSQL) instead.
Sources
- DBeaver Community download page
- DBeaver GitHub repository (licence, drivers)
- DBeaver commercial edition comparison
- DataGrip product page
- DataGrip system requirements
- JetBrains: DataGrip free for non-commercial use
- DbVisualizer pricing and edition comparison
- DbVisualizer supported databases
- TablePlus pricing
- Beekeeper Studio pricing
- Navicat Premium
- Navicat Premium Lite
- HeidiSQL download page
- DbGate GitHub repository
- Microsoft: What is happening with Azure Data Studio
Checked October 2026.
How we research these guides: our editorial method.