For a free, lightweight client centred on MySQL and MariaDB, start with HeidiSQL. For one free tool across MySQL and other engines, use DBeaver Community. On a Mac, Sequel Ace is a free native MySQL and MariaDB client. If you relied on Workbench's EER modelling, which the new Workbench 26 product page no longer lists, or you are still on MySQL 8.0, which Oracle says Workbench 26 does not officially support, look at Navicat for MySQL (Windows, macOS, Linux) for modelling and sync, or dbForge Studio for MySQL (Windows) for schema and data comparison. If you need browser access on a server, phpMyAdmin is the established web option.
MySQL Workbench is Oracle's free, GPL-licensed tool for MySQL on Windows, macOS and Linux. In July 2026 Oracle released MySQL Workbench 26.7, a new generation built on the MySQL Shell foundation. Oracle's product page now states that earlier Workbench releases have reached end of life and are no longer maintained. That change is the biggest reason people are reviewing their options this year. The reasons below are documented by Oracle or are our editorial reading, not survey results.
- Server version support. Oracle's MySQL blog announcement says Workbench 26.7 supports MySQL 8.4 LTS and newer, and that MySQL 8.0 and older versions may work but are not officially supported. Teams still running MySQL 8.0 now face an unsupported Workbench either way: the old 8.0 tool is no longer maintained, and the new one does not officially cover their server.
- Data modelling. The current product page lists SQL, JavaScript and TypeScript development, server and user administration, Performance Reports, Visual Explain, MySQL Enterprise Backup integration and the HeatWave Migration Assistant. It does not list EER diagram modelling or the Migration Wizard that older Workbench releases were known for. If you relied on those, check the new release before upgrading and consider a tool that documents visual modelling.
- MySQL scope. Workbench is built for MySQL Server and Oracle's pages do not mention MariaDB, so MariaDB users often prefer a client that lists MariaDB explicitly. Anyone who also works with PostgreSQL, SQL Server or SQLite needs a second tool anyway (editorial).
- A smaller or native interface. Oracle's announcement describes the new Workbench as an Electron desktop application. Some users want a lighter client for daily queries, or a native macOS app (editorial).
Quick picks
Free and open source, with MariaDB and MySQL first in its supported list, on Windows, Linux and macOS.
Apache 2.0 Community edition with 100+ drivers, so MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server sit in one tool.
Navicat lists visual designers for modelling plus data and structure synchronisation, on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Schema and data compare, query profiler and debugger, with a free Express edition.
How we chose
We considered HeidiSQL, DBeaver, dbForge Studio for MySQL, Navicat for MySQL, TablePlus, Beekeeper Studio, Sequel Ace, phpMyAdmin, Adminer, DataGrip and DbGate. To be included, a tool had to be actively released, support MySQL and MariaDB on its official pages, and publish its platforms, editions and licence. We include web-based tools because a common reason for leaving Workbench is needing access from a server or browser.
DataGrip and DbGate support MySQL well but are covered in our DBeaver alternatives and DataGrip alternatives guides. Microsoft lists its own VS Code MySQL extension as pending, so VS Code is not covered here.
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.
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Databases | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HeidiSQL | Free | Windows, Linux, macOS | MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite and more | Lightweight daily MySQL work | No visual data modelling documented; macOS build is Apple Silicon only |
| DBeaver | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux | 100+ drivers | Mixed-engine teams | Broad interface; Java based |
| dbForge Studio for MySQL | Freemium | Windows (macOS, Linux via CrossOver/Wine) | MySQL, MariaDB, Percona, cloud MySQL | Compare, sync and profiling | Native on Windows only; paid editions are subscriptions |
| Navicat for MySQL | Paid | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS | MySQL, MariaDB, cloud MySQL | Modelling, sync and backup in a paid tool | Paid licence; not open source |
| TablePlus | Freemium | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS | MySQL, MariaDB and 13 others | Native, simple interface | Free use limited to 2 tabs and 2 windows |
| Beekeeper Studio | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux | 25+ | Simple open source client | Free edition intended for individuals and small organisations |
| Sequel Ace | Free | macOS 13.5+ | MySQL 5.7+, MariaDB 10.0+ | Mac users | macOS only; no administration or modelling suite |
| phpMyAdmin | Free | Web (PHP on a web server) | MySQL, MariaDB | Browser access on a server | You must host and secure it |
HeidiSQL
HeidiSQL is free and open source. Its site lists MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL and Redshift, and describes editing data and structures, creating tables and views, managing user privileges, and exporting to CSV, HTML, XML, JSON and other formats. Version 12.21 (August 2026) is offered for Windows (installer, portable, winget, Chocolatey), Linux (deb, RPM, Flatpak and others) and as an Apple Silicon macOS app.
For people who use Workbench mainly to browse tables, edit rows, manage users and run queries, HeidiSQL covers that with a smaller tool. See HeidiSQL vs MySQL Workbench.
- Its site does not describe visual data modelling, so it does not replace the EER modelling of older Workbench releases.
- The macOS download is an arm64 build only.
- Some Windows drivers need the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.
DBeaver
DBeaver Community is Apache 2.0 licensed and its repository describes support for over 100 database drivers, including MySQL and MariaDB. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux (x86 and ARM) and lists a SQL editor, data editor, task management, maintenance tools and result export in the Community edition.
It suits developers who use Workbench for MySQL and a second tool for everything else. Paid editions (Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate, Team) add NoSQL support, and schema compare is listed only in Enterprise, Ultimate and Team. See DBeaver vs MySQL Workbench.
- It is not MySQL-specific, so MySQL administration screens are less focused than Workbench's.
- Java based (the installers bundle Java 25).
- Schema compare needs a paid edition.
dbForge Studio for MySQL
Devart's dbForge Studio for MySQL supports MySQL, MariaDB, Percona and cloud MySQL services such as Amazon RDS, Aurora, Azure Database for MySQL and Google Cloud. Devart lists schema comparison and synchronisation, data comparison, a query profiler with execution plans, a debugger, a visual query builder, backup and recovery, and an AI Assistant. There is a free Express edition and paid Standard, Professional and Enterprise subscriptions.
It suits Windows users who want a full MySQL IDE with compare and sync tools, which the Workbench 26 product page does not list. Devart lists cloud MySQL and MariaDB support on its page; check its own documentation for the MySQL server versions it supports if you are on MySQL 8.0.
- Runs natively on Windows only; Devart supports macOS and Linux through CrossOver or Wine.
- Paid editions are subscriptions; Express has only basic features.
- MySQL and MariaDB only; other engines need separate dbForge products.
TablePlus
TablePlus describes itself as a native app and supports MySQL and MariaDB alongside PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, Redshift, CockroachDB, Vertica, Redis, MongoDB, Oracle, Cassandra, BigQuery, ClickHouse and TursoDB. Licences are one-time purchases with a year of updates.
It suits people who found Workbench's interface heavier than they needed and want a clean client for queries and data editing.
- Free use is limited to 2 tabs, 2 windows and 2 advanced filters at a time.
- No MySQL-specific administration suite or visual modelling documented.
- Paid licence for full use.
Beekeeper Studio
Beekeeper Studio Community is GPLv3 and includes MySQL and MariaDB in the free edition according to its pricing page, alongside PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, Redshift, TiDB, BigQuery, Redis and GreengageDB; engines such as Oracle, MongoDB and DuckDB need a paid plan. It has a SQL editor with autocomplete and a spreadsheet-style table editor; import and export, backup and restore and editing of query results start at the paid Indie plan. Version 6.1.5 shipped on 5 October 2026.
- The free edition is intended for students, individuals, non-profits and businesses with fewer than 10 employees or under USD 1 million revenue.
- No server administration or visual data modelling documented.
- Enterprise authentication options are paid.
Sequel Ace
Sequel Ace is a free, MIT-licensed macOS client for MySQL 5.7+ and MariaDB 10.0+, forked from the earlier Sequel Pro. It needs macOS 13.5 or later, runs on Intel and Apple Silicon, and is distributed through the Mac App Store and Homebrew.
- macOS only.
- MySQL and MariaDB only.
- Focused on querying and editing; no visual modelling or performance reports documented.
phpMyAdmin
phpMyAdmin describes itself as free software written in PHP for administering MySQL and MariaDB over the web, covering database and table management, user privileges, SQL execution and import and export. The current release is 5.2.3. It suits hosting environments where installing a desktop client is not possible.
Adminer is a single-file PHP alternative that also supports PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server and Oracle, under the Apache or GPL 2 licence.
- It must be installed on a web server with PHP, and exposing it to the internet needs care.
- No visual data modelling.
- MySQL and MariaDB only.
When to stay with MySQL Workbench
Stay with MySQL Workbench, and move to the new 26.x release, if you run MySQL 8.4 LTS or later and work only with MySQL. Oracle's product page lists SQL, JavaScript and TypeScript development with SQL Notebooks, server status and configuration, user and grant administration, Performance Reports (slow queries, statement execution, table sizes, memory use), Visual Explain and Visual Explain Analyze, MySQL Enterprise Backup integration and the HeatWave Migration Assistant, all in a free GPL tool from the same vendor as the server.
Before upgrading, check two things. If your servers are on MySQL 8.0, Oracle says Workbench 26 may work but is not officially supported with them. If you depend on EER modelling or the Migration Wizard, confirm they are present in the release you install, because the current product page does not list them. Many people keep Workbench for administration and performance work and use a lighter client for daily queries. Read our MySQL Workbench review for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to MySQL Workbench?
HeidiSQL is a free, lightweight option for MySQL and MariaDB on Windows, Linux and macOS. DBeaver Community is free and covers many engines. On a Mac, Sequel Ace is free and native.
Does MySQL Workbench work with MariaDB?
Oracle's Workbench documentation is written for MySQL Server and does not mention MariaDB. Tools that list MariaDB explicitly include HeidiSQL, DBeaver, dbForge Studio for MySQL, Navicat for MySQL, Sequel Ace and phpMyAdmin.
Is there a MySQL Workbench alternative for Mac?
Sequel Ace is a free native macOS client for MySQL and MariaDB. TablePlus, DBeaver, Beekeeper Studio and Navicat for MySQL also run on macOS, and HeidiSQL offers an Apple Silicon build.
Is there a web-based alternative to MySQL Workbench?
phpMyAdmin is the established web tool for MySQL and MariaDB. Adminer is a single PHP file that also supports several other engines.
Is MySQL Workbench still maintained?
Yes, as a new generation. Oracle released MySQL Workbench 26.7, built on the MySQL Shell foundation, in July 2026, and its download page lists 26.7.0 as the General Availability release for Windows, macOS and Linux. Oracle states that earlier Workbench releases, including the 8.0 series, have reached end of life and are no longer maintained.
Does MySQL Workbench 26 support MySQL 8.0?
Oracle's announcement says Workbench 26.7 supports MySQL 8.4 LTS and newer; MySQL 8.0 and older versions may work but are not officially supported. Clients that list MySQL 5.7 or later, such as Sequel Ace, or that support MySQL generally, such as HeidiSQL and DBeaver, are options for 8.0 servers.
Does the new MySQL Workbench still have EER diagrams?
The current MySQL Workbench product page does not list EER modelling or the Migration Wizard among its features. Check the release you install. Among the alternatives here, Navicat for MySQL documents visual modelling designers, and Navicat publishes a free Data Modeler Lite.
Sources
- MySQL Workbench download page
- MySQL Workbench product page
- Oracle MySQL blog: Introducing MySQL Workbench 26
- Navicat products (including free Lite editions)
- HeidiSQL download page
- DBeaver GitHub repository
- DBeaver commercial edition comparison
- dbForge Studio for MySQL
- Navicat for MySQL
- TablePlus pricing
- Beekeeper Studio pricing
- Sequel Ace GitHub repository
- phpMyAdmin
- Adminer
Checked October 2026.
How we research these guides: our editorial method.