DB Browser for SQLite: Features, Versions and Alternatives (2026)

Vendor

DB Browser for SQLite project (open source)

Price

Free

Platforms

Windows, macOS, Linux

Licence

Bi-licensed: Mozilla Public License 2.0 and GNU GPL v3 or later

Works with

SQLiteSQLCipher

At a glance

Supported databases	SQLite and SQLCipher files
Query editor	Execute SQL tab with a log of issued commands
Data import and export	CSV files and SQL dump files
Deployment	Windows MSI and zip (x86, x64, ARM64) and PortableApp; universal macOS DMG and Homebrew; Linux AppImage, Snap and distribution packages
Licensing	Free; MPL 2.0 and GPL v3 or later

Short answer

DB Browser for SQLite is the straightforward free choice for opening an SQLite file, browsing and editing rows, running SQL and moving data in and out as CSV or SQL dumps, and it handles SQLCipher encryption. The latest stable release is still 3.13.1 from October 2024, with development continuing in nightly builds, so power users who want diagrams or scripting may prefer Letos (formerly SQLiteStudio).

How we know: This profile is research-based: licence, versions, packages and features were checked against sqlitebrowser.org (home page, downloads page and blog) and the project's GitHub repository (LICENSE file and releases). We have not installed DB Browser for SQLite.

Overview

DB Browser for SQLite, often shortened to DB4S, is an open source visual tool for people who want to create, search and edit SQLite or SQLCipher database files without writing every command by hand. It offers a spreadsheet-like grid for data alongside a full SQL query tab, and wizards for creating and changing tables and indexes. It is a separate project from SQLite itself.

The latest stable release is 3.13.1, published on 16 October 2024. The project also publishes nightly builds (the most recent on 2 November 2026), which it warns may not work reliably. In April 2026 it announced official Windows on ARM support with native ARM64 installer and zip builds of 3.13.1, built on Qt 6.

Key features

Create, compact and open SQLite database files, and create, modify and delete tables and indexes
Browse, edit, add and delete records in a spreadsheet-style grid with search
Execute SQL queries and review a log of the commands the application has issued
Import and export tables as CSV and databases as SQL dump files
Plot simple graphs from table or query data
Add, change or remove SQLCipher encryption on database files

Pros and cons

Pros

Free and open source with a simple, spreadsheet-like interface suited to beginners
Packages for Windows (including ARM64), macOS and many Linux distributions
SQLCipher support for encrypted database files
Active development visible in frequent nightly builds

Cons

No stable release since 3.13.1 in October 2024
The project home page still names 3.13.0 as the current release, so check the downloads page or GitHub
SQLite only, and no documented ER diagram editor or scripting
No portable build for ARM64 Windows

Pricing

Free and open source, bi-licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and the GNU GPL v3 or later. There is no paid edition.

Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.

Who it is best for

Learners, analysts and developers who need a free, simple GUI to open, inspect and edit SQLite files, including SQLCipher-encrypted ones.

Who should look elsewhere

Users who want ER diagrams, custom SQL functions or a DDL log: see SQLiteStudio (now Letos).
Teams that also manage server databases: see SQLite GUI tools for multi-database clients.

Verdict

Our take

DB Browser for SQLite is a dependable free editor for everyday SQLite work and one of the easiest ways to look inside a database file. The long gap since its last stable release and its narrower feature set are the trade-offs to weigh against Letos or a multi-database client.

Frequently asked questions

Is DB Browser for SQLite free?

Yes. It is open source and bi-licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and the GNU GPL v3 or later, with no paid edition.

Is DB Browser for SQLite still maintained?

Development continues in nightly builds, the latest in November 2026, and the project added official Windows on ARM builds in April 2026. The latest stable release, however, is still 3.13.1 from October 2024.

What is the difference between SQLite and DB Browser for SQLite?

SQLite is the database engine and its command line shell. DB Browser for SQLite is a separate graphical program, from a different project, for creating, browsing and editing SQLite files.

Sources

Checked November 2026.

How we research reviews and what star ratings mean: our editorial method.