For a free, dedicated SQLite editor, start with DB Browser for SQLite (spreadsheet-style editing, CSV import and export, SQLCipher) or Letos, the renamed SQLiteStudio, which adds plugins, an ERD editor and a portable build. If you also work with other databases, DBeaver Community and HeidiSQL are free and open source, and DataGrip is the paid IDE (free for non-commercial use). In VS Code, a viewer extension saves switching apps; to look at a file without installing anything, SQL Online IDE runs SQLite in the browser. For scripting, recovery and quick imports, the official sqlite3 shell remains the reference tool.
An SQLite database is a single file, so an SQLite GUI is mostly a file editor: open the file, browse tables, edit rows, run SQL, and import or export CSV. There is no server to administer, so features that matter for MySQL or PostgreSQL clients (user management, server monitoring) are irrelevant here. What does matter is how the tool handles SQLite specifics: encrypted files (SQLCipher), altering tables (SQLite's ALTER TABLE is limited, so GUIs often rebuild the table for you), and safe editing of a file another program may also be using.
For each tool we list what its maintainers document. If you are still choosing an engine, see SQLite vs MySQL, SQLite vs PostgreSQL and, for analytics, DuckDB vs SQLite.
Quick picks
Open source (MPL 2.0 / GPL v3), cross-platform, with spreadsheet-style editing, CSV import and export, and SQLCipher support.
GPL v3, portable, with plugins, an ERD editor and custom SQL functions in JavaScript, Python or Tcl.
Apache-licensed and cross-platform, covering SQLite alongside MySQL, PostgreSQL and others.
SQLite Viewer opens .db files in the editor; SQLTools adds a query runner with an SQLite driver.
Runs SQLite in the browser through the official WebAssembly build.
The official shell, with .import, output modes, .recover and .expert.
How we chose
Considered: DB Browser for SQLite, SQLiteStudio (now Letos), DBeaver Community, DataGrip, TablePlus, Beekeeper Studio, HeidiSQL, the sqlite3 command-line shell, VS Code extensions for SQLite (SQLite by alexcvzz, SQLite Viewer, SQLTools with its SQLite driver) and SQL Online IDE (sqliteonline.com).
Inclusion criteria: opens SQLite database files; offers data browsing and SQL execution; is available and maintained according to its official pages (a release, or repository or marketplace activity, within the past year); and its licence or price model and platforms could be confirmed on official pages. The SQLite extension by alexcvzz was left out: its Marketplace listing shows no update since June 2022.
What was checked, not tested: official websites, GitHub releases and licence files, documentation and Marketplace listings on 7 October 2026. The order is not a ranking: dedicated SQLite tools first, then multi-database clients, then editor, browser and command-line options.
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Databases | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB Browser for SQLite | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | SQLite, SQLCipher | Simple free SQLite editing | Last stable release October 2024 |
| Letos (formerly SQLiteStudio) | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | SQLite and encrypted variants | Power users, portable use | Renamed in 2026; older guides use the old name |
| DBeaver Community | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux | SQLite plus many others | Several engines, free | Heavier general-purpose tool |
| DataGrip | Paid (free non-commercial) | Windows, macOS, Linux | SQLite plus many others | SQL-heavy development | Commercial use is paid |
| TablePlus | Paid (limited free trial) | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS | SQLite plus many others | Native multi-database client | Free trial limited to 2 tabs and 2 windows |
| Beekeeper Studio | Freemium | Windows, macOS, Linux | SQLite plus many others | Simple open-source client | Community Edition aimed at small organisations |
| HeidiSQL | Free | Windows, Linux, macOS (ARM64) | SQLite, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, PostgreSQL and more | Windows users with several engines | macOS build is ARM64 only |
| VS Code SQLite extensions | Free (SQLite Viewer PRO paid) | Windows, macOS, Linux (in VS Code) | SQLite (SQLTools: several) | Developers in VS Code | Free SQLite Viewer is read-only |
| SQL Online IDE | Free (paid options listed) | Any modern browser | SQLite, DuckDB, PGLite, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQL Server | Quick look, nothing installed | Not intended for personal data |
| SQLite CLI (sqlite3) | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | SQLite | Scripting, imports, recovery | Command line only |
DB Browser for SQLite
DB Browser for SQLite (DB4S) is an open-source visual tool for creating, designing and editing SQLite database files. It is bi-licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and the GNU GPL v3 or later, and runs on Windows, macOS and most versions of Linux and Unix. The latest stable release on GitHub is 3.13.1 (16 October 2024); the project also publishes nightly builds, the most recent in October 2026, which it warns are not guaranteed to be reliable.
Features (project documented): create, modify and delete tables and indexes; browse, edit, add and delete records in a spreadsheet-like grid; run SQL queries; import and export tables as CSV; plot simple graphs from table or query data; and open, create and change the encryption of SQLCipher databases.
- No stable release since October 2024; development continues in nightly builds.
- The project website still names 3.13.0 as the current release, so check GitHub for the latest version.
- SQLite only, so you need another tool for other databases.
Letos (formerly SQLiteStudio)
SQLiteStudio has been renamed Letos: sqlitestudio.pl now redirects to letos.org, which states that Letos was formerly known as SQLiteStudio. Version 4.0.0 (June 2026) was the first release under the new name, and 4.0.3 (12 August 2026) is current. It is licensed under the GNU GPL v3 with an OpenSSL linking exception, and the site says it has no paid edition and no telemetry. Releases are offered as installers and as portable packages that run without installation on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Features (project documented): an SQL editor with hints and formatting, an ERD editor, SQL and DDL history, drag and drop between databases, data populating, support for encrypted variants (SQLCipher, WxSQLite3, System.Data.SQLite), custom SQL functions written in JavaScript, Python or Tcl, custom collations, import from CSV or by regular expression, and export to SQL, CSV, HTML, XML, PDF and JSON. Plugins add scripting languages, import and export formats and more.
- The rename is recent, so many tutorials and package managers still use the SQLiteStudio name.
- SQLite only.
- No paid edition, so there is no commercial support contract to buy.
DBeaver Community
DBeaver Community is free and open source under the Apache licence, and lists SQLite among the SQL databases it supports, alongside MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and others. Version 26.2.2 was current on dbeaver.io. Paid PRO editions (Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate) add features such as NoSQL support, but SQLite is covered by the free edition.
Features (vendor documented): SQL editor with autocomplete, data editor, ER diagrams, and import and export. See DBeaver vs DataGrip and Beekeeper Studio vs DBeaver.
- A general-purpose tool: more set-up than a dedicated SQLite editor for opening one file.
- It is a Java application; the vendor documents memory settings for large result sets.
- Some features, such as the Visual Query Builder, are in paid editions only.
DataGrip
JetBrains' DataGrip documents SQLite connections in its 2026.2 help: it downloads the driver on demand and connects to a file (jdbc:sqlite:path/to/file) or to an in-memory database. DataGrip is free for non-commercial use, with a 30-day trial and subscription for commercial use.
Features (vendor documented): code completion aware of database objects, a data editor, import and export, and Git integration. It suits developers who already use DataGrip or another JetBrains IDE for other databases and want SQLite in the same place. See DataGrip vs TablePlus.
- Commercial use requires a subscription.
- JetBrains lists 8 GB of total RAM as a system requirement.
- More tool than most people need to inspect a single SQLite file.
TablePlus
TablePlus is a native database client that lists SQLite alongside MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Redis and others, and runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. It is sold as a perpetual, per-device licence with a year of updates; the free version is limited to two tabs, two windows and two advanced filters.
Features (vendor documented): inline editing, advanced filters, a code review step before changes are committed, safe mode, import and export, and an SQL editor with autocomplete. The iOS app is one of the few ways on this list to open an SQLite database on a phone or tablet. See DBeaver vs TablePlus.
- The free version is restricted to two tabs, two windows and two filters.
- No SQLite-specific features such as SQLCipher support are listed on the TablePlus site.
Beekeeper Studio
Beekeeper Studio's Community Edition is GPLv3 open source and includes SQLite, according to the edition comparison on its pricing page. Paid plans add further features and databases. The vendor states feature parity across macOS, Windows and Linux.
Features (vendor documented): an SQL editor with autocomplete, spreadsheet-style table data editing and visual table creation in Community; import and export, backup and restore and editing of query results need a paid plan. See Beekeeper Studio vs DBeaver.
- The vendor says the Community Edition is intended for individuals, students, non-profits and businesses with fewer than 10 employees or under USD 1M revenue.
- No SQLite-specific features such as SQLCipher support are listed.
HeidiSQL
HeidiSQL is open source under the GPL and lists SQLite among its supported database systems, with MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Interbase and Firebird. Version 12.21 (3 August 2026) is current; its changelog updates the bundled SQLite libraries to 3.53.4. It runs on Windows (installer or portable), Linux (DEB, RPM, Flatpak and other builds) and macOS on ARM64.
SQLite features (project documented): the help page lists an "SQLite (encrypted)" connection type with cipher options in addition to plain SQLite files. See DBeaver vs HeidiSQL.
- The macOS build is for ARM64 (Apple silicon) only.
- HeidiSQL grew up as a MySQL tool; its feature set is broadest for MySQL and MariaDB.
VS Code SQLite extensions
Two maintained extensions on the Visual Studio Marketplace cover most needs. SQLite Viewer (publisher Florian Klampfer, qwtel.sqlite-viewer) opens .db and similar files directly in an editor tab; the free version is read-only, and a paid PRO licence adds editing (wrapped in transactions), inserting and deleting rows, export to CSV, JSON, SQL and other formats, and remote, SSH and WSL support. SQLTools (mtxr.sqltools, open source) is a query runner with history, bookmarks and a formatter, and its official SQLite driver (mtxr.sqltools-driver-sqlite) connects it to SQLite files.
The older SQLite extension by alexcvzz still appears prominently in searches, but its Marketplace listing shows version 0.14.1 last updated in June 2022, so we do not recommend it for new set-ups.
- The free SQLite Viewer is read-only; editing needs the paid PRO licence.
- Extensions cover browsing and querying, not schema design tools such as ER diagrams.
- Requires VS Code; these are community and third-party extensions, not Microsoft products.
SQL Online IDE
SQL Online IDE at sqliteonline.com is a browser-based SQL editor for SQLite, DuckDB and PGLite, plus MariaDB, PostgreSQL and MS SQL Server. Its SQLite engine runs in the browser: the site moved from sql.js to the official SQLite WebAssembly build in April 2024, so you can open a database file and query it in a tab.
It is useful for a quick look at a file on a machine where you cannot install software, or for practising SQL. See our best online SQL editors guide for other browser options.
- Its terms state that the service is not intended for personal data processing, so do not use it with real or personal data.
- Prices for its paid options are not clearly published.
- Browser storage is less durable than a desktop file workflow; keep your own copy of any database you edit.
SQLite CLI (sqlite3)
The sqlite3 shell is the official command-line program from the SQLite project, which is public domain. It ships in the sqlite-tools bundle on sqlite.org for Linux x64, macOS (arm64 and x64) and Windows (x64 and ARM64), together with sqldiff, sqlite3_analyzer and sqlite3_rsync. SQLite 3.53.4 (24 July 2026) is the latest release.
Features (project documented): .import for CSV files, output modes including box, table, markdown, JSON and CSV, .schema, .dump, .recover to salvage data from a corrupt database, .expert (experimental) to suggest indexes for a query, and .excel to open a result in a spreadsheet.
-- sqlite3 shell: import a CSV file and show results as a table
.import --csv customers.csv customers
.mode box
SELECT country, count(*) FROM customers GROUP BY country;- Command line only: no grid editing or visual schema tools.
- On Windows, double-clicking sqlite3.exe opens a temporary in-memory database; use .open to work on a file.
How to choose
You only work with SQLite: start with DB Browser for SQLite for straightforward editing, or Letos if you want plugins, an ERD editor, custom functions or a portable app. Both are free and open source. You also use MySQL, PostgreSQL or SQL Server: use a multi-database client: DBeaver Community or HeidiSQL for free, Beekeeper Studio if you are within its Community Edition terms, TablePlus or DataGrip if you are happy to pay.
You live in VS Code: SQLite Viewer for browsing, SQLTools for running queries. You cannot install anything: SQL Online IDE, with invented or non-sensitive data only. You are scripting, importing or recovering a damaged file: the sqlite3 shell. If the job is analysing a large SQLite file rather than editing it, DuckDB can attach the file and query it with SQL; see DuckDB vs SQLite.
For other engines see the best MySQL GUI tools, best PostgreSQL GUI tools and best MongoDB GUI tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free SQLite GUI?
For a dedicated SQLite editor, DB Browser for SQLite and Letos (formerly SQLiteStudio) are both free and open source. DBeaver Community and HeidiSQL are free options if you also use other databases.
What happened to SQLiteStudio?
It was renamed Letos. sqlitestudio.pl now redirects to letos.org, version 4.0.0 in June 2026 was the first release under the new name, and 4.0.3 (August 2026) is current. It remains free and GPL v3 licensed.
Is DB Browser for SQLite still maintained?
Development continues: the project publishes nightly builds, the most recent in October 2026. The latest stable release, however, is 3.13.1 from October 2024.
How do I open an encrypted SQLite (SQLCipher) database?
DB Browser for SQLite documents SQLCipher support, including adding, changing and removing encryption. Letos supports SQLCipher and other encrypted variants, and HeidiSQL has an "SQLite (encrypted)" connection type.
Can I view an SQLite database in VS Code?
Yes. The SQLite Viewer extension opens database files in an editor tab (read-only in the free version), and SQLTools with its SQLite driver lets you run queries.
Can I open an SQLite file online?
SQL Online IDE (sqliteonline.com) runs SQLite in the browser through WebAssembly. Its terms say it is not intended for personal data, so use it only with non-sensitive data.
Sources
- DB Browser for SQLite website
- DB Browser for SQLite releases (GitHub)
- Letos (formerly SQLiteStudio)
- Letos features
- Letos repository and licence (GitHub)
- DBeaver Community
- DataGrip SQLite documentation
- TablePlus
- Beekeeper Studio pricing and editions
- HeidiSQL
- SQLite Viewer for VS Code (Marketplace)
- SQLTools SQLite driver (Marketplace)
- SQL Online IDE
- SQLite command line shell documentation
- SQLite download page
Checked October 2026.
How we research these guides: our editorial method.