On Windows, SSMS 22 remains the free, full administration tool for SQL Server and Azure SQL, including SQL Server Agent and Always On availability groups. On macOS or Linux, or for development work, use VS Code with the MSSQL extension, which Microsoft names as the replacement for Azure Data Studio (retired 28 February 2026). For several engines in one tool, DBeaver Community is free and DataGrip is the paid IDE. dbForge Studio and Toad for SQL Server are commercial Windows suites for compare, profiling and tuning.
SQL Server has more first-party tooling than most engines, and Microsoft's line-up changed in 2026. SSMS is Windows-only, so the question for many readers is what to use on a Mac or Linux machine, and what to do now that Azure Data Studio has gone.
Azure Data Studio is retired. Microsoft states that Azure Data Studio was retired on 28 February 2026 and no longer receives updates or security fixes. Microsoft recommends Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension for development and SSMS for SQL Server Agent and full administration. Our older Azure Data Studio review and SSMS vs Azure Data Studio comparison are kept for reference; do not adopt Azure Data Studio for new work.
For each tool below we list the SQL Server features the vendor documents, such as execution plans, administration, schema compare and debugging. If you are choosing an edition rather than a tool, see SQL Server Express vs Developer; for T-SQL errors you may hit along the way, see the SQL Server error library.
Quick picks
Free, with SQL Server Agent, Always On, security management and execution plans.
Microsoft's cross-platform tool, with plan visualiser, schema compare and backup and restore.
Apache-licensed and cross-platform, with SQL Server among many engines.
Documented Explain Plan for SQL Server, Git integration and deep code assistance.
Free Express edition, with profiler, debugger and compare in paid editions.
How we chose
Considered: SSMS, VS Code with the MSSQL extension, DBeaver, DataGrip, dbForge Studio for SQL Server, Toad for SQL Server, TablePlus, DbVisualizer and Azure Data Studio.
Inclusion criteria: currently available and supported by its vendor; connects to SQL Server (Azure SQL noted where documented); offers a graphical query editor and object browser; and its platforms, licence or price model and SQL Server features could be confirmed on official pages. Azure Data Studio fails the first criterion because Microsoft has retired it.
What was checked, not tested: Microsoft Learn documentation and release notes, vendor product, edition and pricing pages, and release announcements, on 7 October 2026. The order is not a ranking: Microsoft's tools first, then multi-database clients, then commercial suites.
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Platforms | SQL Server features | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSMS 22 | Free | Windows (x64, Arm64) | Full admin, Agent, Always On, plans, GitHub Copilot | DBAs and Windows users | Windows only |
| VS Code + MSSQL | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Plan visualiser, schema compare/designer, backup/restore, profiler | Developers, non-Windows users | No SQL Server Agent; full admin stays in SSMS |
| DBeaver Community | Free (paid PRO editions) | Windows, macOS, Linux | SQL editor, ER diagrams, import/export; SQL Server plans need PRO | Several engines, free | Less SQL Server admin than SSMS |
| DataGrip | Paid (free non-commercial) | Windows, macOS, Linux | Explain Plan, refactoring, Git | SQL-heavy development | Commercial use is paid |
| dbForge Studio for SQL Server | Freemium | Windows (macOS, Linux via CrossOver) | Profiler, debugger, compare, index manager (paid) | Windows teams | Advanced tools are paid |
| Toad for SQL Server | Paid | Windows | Debugging, compare, SQL Optimizer (higher editions) | Enterprise DBAs and developers | Commercial, Windows only |
| TablePlus | Paid (limited free trial) | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS | General querying and editing | Quick editing | No SQL Server admin listed |
| DbVisualizer | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux | Explain plan (Pro) | Many JDBC databases | Explain plan is Pro-only |
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
SSMS 22 is the current generally available release; the release notes list 22.10.2, released on 28 September 2026. Microsoft's FAQ states that SSMS is free for personal or enterprise use, runs only on Windows (x64 and Arm64) and is not open source. It installs through the Visual Studio Installer and works with SQL Server 2014 and later (up to the current SQL Server 2025, version 17.x), Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Synapse Analytics and SQL database in Microsoft Fabric.
SQL Server features (vendor documented): Object Explorer, Query Editor with IntelliSense, execution plans, live query statistics, performance tuning advisors and dashboards, backup and restore, security management including logins, roles and Always Encrypted, Always On availability group configuration and monitoring, Registered Servers, database diagrams, Git integration and administration of SSIS, SSAS and SSRS. SSMS 22 adds GitHub Copilot (generally available since the 22.x releases, including Agent Mode in 22.10.2) and a Query Hint Recommendation tool. Microsoft names SSMS as the supported home for SQL Server Agent.
- Windows only; Microsoft states it does not run on macOS.
- Microsoft lists 4 GB of RAM minimum and 16 GB recommended, and 20 to 50 GB of disk for typical installs.
- Third-party extensions are not supported.
Read our SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) review · Official site
VS Code with the MSSQL extension
The MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code is Microsoft's recommended replacement for Azure Data Studio. It supports SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance and SQL database in Fabric, on Windows 10 and 11, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon) and Linux (x64 and Arm64).
SQL Server features (vendor documented, all marked GA): estimated and actual execution plans in a query plan visualiser, Object Explorer with filtering, table designer, schema designer, schema compare, DACPAC and BACPAC import and export, create, rename and drop databases, backup and restore, flat-file import, a query profiler based on Extended Events, SQL notebooks, a T-SQL formatter, local SQL Server containers and GitHub Copilot integration.
- Microsoft directs SQL Server Agent jobs and full administration to SSMS.
- Requires Visual Studio Code; the extension downloads a SqlToolsService package on activation unless you install an offline VSIX.
- The new results grid is still a preview feature.
Read our VS Code with the MSSQL extension review · Official site
DBeaver Community
DBeaver Community is open source under the Apache licence; version 26.2.2 was current, for Windows, macOS and Linux. DBeaver's documentation lists SQL Server among supported databases.
Features relevant to SQL Server (vendor documented): SQL editor with autocomplete, data editor, ER diagrams, import and export. DBeaver documents SQL Server execution plans as available only in the paid PRO editions (Lite and above). Paid editions also add a Visual Query Builder, Git integration and task scheduling (Enterprise and above) and cloud explorers (Ultimate).
- It does not replace SSMS for SQL Server Agent, Always On or security administration.
- It is a Java application; the vendor documents memory settings for large result sets.
DataGrip
DataGrip is free for non-commercial use and sold by subscription for commercial use, with a 30-day trial. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and lists Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL among supported databases.
SQL Server features (vendor documented): the DataGrip 2026.2 documentation includes Microsoft SQL Server among the engines for Explain Plan and plan copying in native formats; code completion understands foreign keys and objects; and the IDE integrates with Git. See DBeaver vs DataGrip.
- Commercial use requires a subscription.
- A development IDE, not a SQL Server administration console.
- JetBrains lists 8 GB of total RAM as a system requirement.
dbForge Studio for SQL Server
Devart's dbForge Studio for SQL Server has a free Express edition with no time limit and paid Standard, Professional and Enterprise subscriptions. Devart documents support from SQL Server 2000 (limited) to SQL Server 2025, plus Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Synapse and Microsoft Fabric.
SQL Server features by edition (vendor documented): Express covers code completion and formatting, visual editors, database diagrams, import and export, backup and recovery and a Security Manager. Standard adds a T-SQL debugger, Visual Query Builder and Query Profiler. Professional adds a T-SQL code analyser, schema and data compare and sync, Index Manager, Event Profiler and a data generator. Enterprise adds source control.
- Native on Windows only; macOS and Linux need CodeWeavers CrossOver, per Devart's compatibility page.
- The debugger, profiler and compare tools need paid editions.
Read our dbForge Studio for SQL Server review · Official site
Toad for SQL Server
Quest's Toad for SQL Server is a commercial Windows client. Quest announced general availability of Toad for SQL Server 2026 R2 on 1 June 2026, adding Toad Chat, an AI assistant for explaining and optimising queries. Quest's release notes list Professional, Xpert and Developer editions and a DBA Suite bundle, with trial and subscription licensing.
SQL Server features (vendor documented): SQL editing and query building, an AI Explain feature, and, in higher editions, a SQL Optimizer for tuning, Toad Data Modeler and Benchmark Factory. Check the edition matrix with Quest before buying, as features differ by edition.
- Windows only.
- Commercial licence; Quest does not show prices on the product page and directs buyers to trials and sales.
- Tuning and modelling tools sit in the higher editions.
TablePlus
TablePlus lists Microsoft SQL Server among supported engines and runs natively on macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. It is sold as a perpetual, per-device licence with a year of updates; the free trial limits tabs, windows and advanced filters to two each.
Features (vendor documented): inline editing, advanced filters, code review of pending changes, safe mode for production, SQL import and export and an editor with autocomplete. See DBeaver vs TablePlus.
- The TablePlus site does not list SQL Server administration features such as Agent jobs, backups or execution plans.
- The free trial is restricted.
DbVisualizer
DbVisualizer (version 26.2.3 on the vendor site) ships Free and Pro in one installer, with a 21-day Pro trial. It runs on Windows (x64 and ARM64), macOS and Linux and lists SQL Server among its supported databases.
SQL Server features (vendor documented): the Explain Plan feature supports SQL Server and Azure SQL Database, with graph, tree and text views, but only in DbVisualizer Pro. Git integration and an AI assistant are also listed.
- Explain Plan is Pro-only.
- Not a replacement for SSMS administration features.
How to choose
You administer SQL Server on Windows: SSMS 22. Nothing else on this list documents the same coverage of SQL Server Agent, Always On and security management, and it is free. You develop on macOS or Linux, or used Azure Data Studio: VS Code with the MSSQL extension, and keep SSMS on a Windows machine or VM for Agent jobs.
You use several engines: DBeaver Community or DataGrip. You want commercial compare, profiling and tuning: dbForge Studio for SQL Server or Toad for SQL Server, both Windows-first.
For other engines see the best MySQL GUI tools and best PostgreSQL GUI tools. Practise T-SQL with our SQL exercises.
Frequently asked questions
Is SSMS free?
Yes. Microsoft states that SSMS is free for personal or enterprise use and has its own licence terms; no Visual Studio subscription is needed.
Does SSMS run on Mac or Linux?
No. Microsoft states that SSMS is available only for Windows (x64 and Arm64). On macOS and Linux, Microsoft recommends Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension.
Is Azure Data Studio discontinued?
Yes. Microsoft retired Azure Data Studio on 28 February 2026; it no longer receives updates or security fixes. Microsoft recommends the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code, with SSMS for SQL Server Agent and full administration. Existing queries, scripts and SQL database projects open in VS Code without conversion, according to Microsoft.
Can VS Code show SQL Server execution plans?
Yes. The MSSQL extension documents estimated and actual execution plans in a query plan visualiser, with metrics such as elapsed time, cost and rows read.
What is the current version of SSMS?
SSMS 22 is the current generally available release. The latest update listed in Microsoft's release notes when we checked was 22.10.2, released on 28 September 2026.
Sources
- SQL Server Management Studio overview (Microsoft Learn)
- SSMS 22 release notes
- SSMS FAQ
- SSMS system requirements
- What is happening with Azure Data Studio (Microsoft Learn)
- MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code (Microsoft Learn)
- DBeaver Community download page
- DataGrip query execution plan documentation
- dbForge Studio for SQL Server
- dbForge Studio for SQL Server compatibility
- Toad for SQL Server 2026 R2 GA announcement (Quest Toad World)
- TablePlus pricing
- DbVisualizer Explain Plan feature
Checked October 2026.
How we research these guides: our editorial method.