If you need PostgreSQL plus other engines in one free tool, use DBeaver Community. If you want stronger SQL code assistance, look at DataGrip (paid for commercial work). On a Mac, Postico 2 is a native PostgreSQL client. If you write SQL in VS Code, Microsoft's free PostgreSQL extension is the closest no-cost replacement for everyday querying. Many teams keep pgAdmin for administration and use one of these for daily work.
pgAdmin is the open source administration and development platform for PostgreSQL, released under the PostgreSQL licence. pgAdmin 4 includes a Query Tool, debugger, ERD Tool, Schema Diff, PSQL Tool, backup and restore, and a Grant Wizard. The reasons people look for alternatives are mostly about scope and interface. They are documented by the pgAdmin project or are our editorial reading; we have not surveyed users.
- PostgreSQL only. pgAdmin is built for PostgreSQL. Anyone who also works with MySQL, SQL Server or SQLite needs another tool anyway (editorial).
- Web application architecture. pgAdmin documents that it is built with Python, ReactJS and JavaScript, and that the desktop version is an Electron runtime around the same web application. Some users prefer a client built natively for their operating system (editorial).
- Supported server versions. The pgAdmin 9.16 release notes (June 2026) list PostgreSQL 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 as supported. Teams with older servers may need an older pgAdmin or another client.
- Daily querying versus administration. pgAdmin covers a lot of administration. For people who mainly write queries and browse data, a lighter or more editor-focused tool can suit better (editorial).
Quick picks
Apache 2.0 Community edition with 100+ drivers, so PostgreSQL and other engines share one tool.
JetBrains documents context-aware completion and on-the-fly analysis; free for non-commercial use.
Native Mac app for PostgreSQL with an evaluation version that has no time limit.
Free Microsoft extension with object explorer, IntelliSense and query plan views.
How we chose
We considered DBeaver, DataGrip, Postico 2, TablePlus, Beekeeper Studio, the Microsoft PostgreSQL extension for VS Code, DbGate, Navicat for PostgreSQL, dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL, Adminer, DbVisualizer and Azure Data Studio. To be included, a tool had to be actively released in 2026, list PostgreSQL support on an official page, and publish its platforms, editions and licence.
Azure Data Studio was excluded because Microsoft retired it on 28 February 2026; Microsoft names the PostgreSQL extension for VS Code as its replacement for PostgreSQL work. DbVisualizer and dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL support PostgreSQL but are covered in our PostgreSQL GUI tools and DBeaver alternatives guides.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBeaver | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux | 100+ drivers | PostgreSQL plus other engines | Less PostgreSQL-specific administration; Java based |
| DataGrip | Paid (free non-commercial) | Windows, macOS, Linux | 25+ | Developers writing a lot of SQL | Subscription for commercial use; 8 GB RAM requirement |
| Postico 2 | Paid (unlimited evaluation) | macOS 14+ | PostgreSQL, Redshift, CockroachDB, Greenplum | Mac users | macOS only; some features disabled without a licence |
| TablePlus | Freemium | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS | 15 incl. PostgreSQL, Redshift | Native, simple daily work | 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 |
| PostgreSQL extension for VS Code | Free | Windows, macOS 13+, Linux | PostgreSQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL | SQL alongside application code | Less administration than pgAdmin |
| DbGate | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux, web (Docker) | SQL and NoSQL | Desktop or self-hosted web use | Some features Premium; smaller ecosystem |
| Navicat for PostgreSQL | Paid | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS | PostgreSQL, cloud PostgreSQL, Redshift | Modelling, sync and backup in a paid tool | Paid licence; not open source |
DBeaver
DBeaver Community is open source under Apache 2.0, with support for over 100 database drivers according to its repository. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux (x86 and ARM), and lists a SQL editor, data editor, task management, maintenance tools, result export and SSH tunnels in the Community edition. Version 26.2.2 was released on 4 October 2026.
It suits people who use pgAdmin for PostgreSQL and something else for the rest of their stack. See DBeaver vs pgAdmin.
- Not PostgreSQL-specific; pgAdmin documents PostgreSQL tools such as Schema Diff, the PSQL Tool and the Grant Wizard for free, while DBeaver lists schema compare only in its Enterprise, Ultimate and Team editions.
- Java based (the installers bundle Java 25).
- NoSQL support requires a paid edition.
DataGrip
DataGrip supports PostgreSQL among 25+ databases and documents context-aware completion aware of tables and foreign keys, on-the-fly analysis with quick fixes, query history, import and export, and Git integration. It has been free for non-commercial use since October 2025; commercial use requires a subscription.
It is the choice when the Query Tool is where you spend your day and you want more help writing SQL.
- Commercial use needs a paid subscription.
- JetBrains lists 8 GB of total RAM and 10 GB of disk as system requirements.
- Fewer built-in PostgreSQL administration dialogs (backup, Grant Wizard, maintenance) than pgAdmin documents.
Postico 2
Postico 2 is a native Mac app for PostgreSQL, also compatible with Amazon Redshift, CockroachDB, Greenplum and others according to the developer. It requires macOS 14 or later. The evaluation version has no time limit but some features are disabled until you buy a licence.
It suits Mac users who want a native interface for browsing, editing and querying PostgreSQL rather than a web-based UI.
- macOS only.
- Full features require a paid licence.
- Focused on data and queries; it does not aim to replace pgAdmin's administration tools.
TablePlus
TablePlus describes itself as a native app and supports PostgreSQL alongside MySQL, 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.
- Free use is limited to 2 open tabs, 2 windows and 2 advanced filters at a time.
- No PostgreSQL administration suite comparable to pgAdmin.
- Paid licence for full use.
Beekeeper Studio
Beekeeper Studio Community is GPLv3 and includes PostgreSQL in the free edition according to its pricing page, alongside MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server, Redshift, TiDB, BigQuery, Redis and GreengageDB; CockroachDB and 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.
- Backup and restore and import and export are paid features, and there is no role management comparable to pgAdmin.
- IAM and Entra ID authentication are paid features.
PostgreSQL extension for VS Code
Microsoft's free PostgreSQL extension adds an object explorer, a query editor with IntelliSense and export to CSV, JSON or Excel, schema visualisation, query plan visualisation for EXPLAIN output, GitHub Copilot integration, and Entra authentication for Azure Database for PostgreSQL. Microsoft names it as the replacement for Azure Data Studio's PostgreSQL extension.
- Some features (server management, migration tools) are aimed at Azure Database for PostgreSQL.
- Fewer administration dialogs than pgAdmin.
- Requires VS Code; not a standalone client.
DbGate
pgAdmin can already run as a web application on a server. DbGate offers the same deployment choice (desktop on Windows, macOS and Linux, or a web application in Docker) across more engines, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis and ClickHouse. The Community edition is GPL-3.0; Premium plans add paid features.
- Some features require a Premium licence.
- Less PostgreSQL-specific administration than pgAdmin.
- Self-hosting means you are responsible for security and updates.
When to stay with pgAdmin
Stay with pgAdmin if PostgreSQL is your only engine and you use its administration tools. It is free under the PostgreSQL licence and documents backup and restore, a Grant Wizard, maintenance dialogs, Schema Diff, an ERD Tool, a PSQL Tool and a function debugger. Few free alternatives above document that much PostgreSQL-specific tooling.
It also makes sense to stay if you need one web-based tool that several people can reach through a browser, since pgAdmin can be deployed on a web server as well as run on the desktop. A common pattern is to keep pgAdmin for administration and use DBeaver, DataGrip or a VS Code extension for daily queries. Read our pgAdmin review for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to pgAdmin?
DBeaver Community is free and covers PostgreSQL and many other engines. Microsoft's PostgreSQL extension for VS Code is free for querying inside VS Code. Beekeeper Studio Community is free for individuals and small organisations.
Is there a native Mac alternative to pgAdmin?
Postico 2 is a native Mac app for PostgreSQL (macOS 14 or later), with a paid licence and an evaluation version that has no time limit. TablePlus also describes itself as native and runs on macOS.
Which PostgreSQL versions does pgAdmin support?
The pgAdmin 9.16 release notes list PostgreSQL 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Check the release notes of the version you install.
Can I use pgAdmin and another client together?
Yes. Connections are independent, so many people use pgAdmin for administration and a second client for daily queries.
What replaced Azure Data Studio for PostgreSQL?
Microsoft retired Azure Data Studio on 28 February 2026 and recommends the PostgreSQL extension for VS Code for PostgreSQL work.
Sources
- pgAdmin home page
- pgAdmin download page
- pgAdmin 4 documentation
- pgAdmin 4 9.16 release notes
- DBeaver GitHub repository
- DBeaver commercial edition comparison
- DataGrip product page
- DataGrip system requirements
- Postico 2
- TablePlus pricing
- Beekeeper Studio pricing
- PostgreSQL extension for VS Code
- DbGate GitHub repository
- Navicat for PostgreSQL
- Microsoft: What is happening with Azure Data Studio
Checked October 2026.
How we research these guides: our editorial method.