The administration consoles database teams use day to day: the official tools for SQL Server, PostgreSQL and MySQL, and a long-standing MySQL GUI, covering server management, users and security, backups and query work.
Last updated November 2026. Each listing links to its full profile or guide, which shows its own review date. No vendor paid for inclusion and the order is alphabetical, not a ranking.
All admin & management listings
Free
MySQL Workbench
Oracle's free official MySQL tool, rebuilt on MySQL Shell in 2026; earlier releases are end of life.
Free
pgAdmin
Free, open source PostgreSQL administration and development tool, for desktop or web.
Free
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
The full-featured, free management tool for SQL Server on Windows.
Freemium
SQLyog
Windows GUI for MySQL and MariaDB with schema sync and backups; perpetual Ultimate licence, free GPL Community.
No listings match this filter.
Comparisons
SSMSVSAzure Data Studio
Azure Data Studio is retired: where to move, SSMS or VS Code with the MSSQL extension.
DBeaverVSSSMS
A cross-platform multi-database client against Microsoft's SQL Server tool.
DataGripVSSSMS
A JetBrains database IDE, free only for non-commercial use, against Microsoft's free SQL Server tool.
DBeaverVSpgAdmin
A multi-database client against the official PostgreSQL admin tool.
DataGripVSpgAdmin
A multi-database JetBrains IDE against the free, open source PostgreSQL admin tool.
DBeaverVSMySQL Workbench
A multi-database client against the official MySQL tool, now rebuilt as Workbench 26.
HeidiSQLVSMySQL Workbench
A free multi-engine client against Oracle's free MySQL-only tool.
NavicatVSMySQL Workbench
A paid commercial suite against the free official MySQL tool.
TablePlusVSMySQL Workbench
A multi-database client against the rebuilt official MySQL tool.
DataGripVSMySQL Workbench
A multi-database JetBrains IDE against the official MySQL tool.
pgAdminVSpgBadger
A PostgreSQL admin GUI with dashboards against a log analyser.
Alternatives and buyer guides
Best Database Management ToolsBest Free Database Management ToolsBest SSMS AlternativesBest MySQL Workbench AlternativesBest pgAdmin AlternativesBest SQL Server GUI ToolsBest MySQL GUI ToolsBest PostgreSQL GUI ToolsBest Redgate Alternatives
Related reading on CodeWithSQL
How we research listings: our editorial method. Other categories: the full SQL tools directory.
Compare before you choose
See the head to head comparisons or browse every category in the tools directory.