- HeidiSQL is free for everyone, including at work: the licence is GPL v2 and there is no paid or "Pro" edition.
- The Windows installer, portable ZIP, Linux packages and the macOS app bundle are all free downloads from heidisql.com.
- The project asks for voluntary donations; the installer shows a donation button on its last page.
- Two telemetry options in the Windows installer (update checks and version statistics) are optional tasks you can untick.
- The practical limits are missing features, for example no ER diagram designer, not usage caps.
Is HeidiSQL free? The short answer
Yes, HeidiSQL is free. The help page states that HeidiSQL is open source and released under the GPL, and the GitHub repository is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2.0. The home page describes it as free software for people who work with databases. There is one edition: the same program is offered for Windows, Linux and macOS, and you do not need an account, a licence key or a subscription.
For a full look at features and fit, see our HeidiSQL review.
What the GPL v2 licence means for you
The GNU GPL is a copyleft free software licence. Its preamble makes the key point: "free software" refers to freedom, not price. In practice for a database client:
- Using it on any number of machines, at home or in a company, costs nothing and needs no registration.
- Commercial use is allowed; the GPL does not restrict what you use the program for. GitHub's licence summary for the repository lists commercial use, modification, distribution and private use as permissions.
- Modifying or redistributing HeidiSQL itself brings obligations: if you distribute a modified version, you must make the source available under the same licence.
- No warranty. Like most open source software, it comes without warranty or liability.
Editions, downloads and what is not free
There is no paid tier to compare against. The download page offers the Windows x64 installer and portable build, packages for winget and Chocolatey, Linux DEB, RPM, Flatpak and tarball builds, and a macOS arm64 app bundle, all at no cost. A v13 preview for Windows is also free.
Two things to know about the download page: it asks visitors to disable their ad blocker to enable the download links, and nightly builds are offered with a warning that they are not official releases.
A HeidiSQL version once existed in the Microsoft Store; the project's issue tracker now labels it "abandoned", so use the official download page.
Donations and optional telemetry
HeidiSQL is maintained mainly by its author, Ansgar Becker, and asks for donations rather than charging. The help page says you may make a donation if HeidiSQL saved you time, and the Windows installer's final page adds a short message, "free software for database workers", with a donate button. Donating unlocks nothing; it is voluntary.
The Windows installer (Inno Setup) has two tasks under the heading Telemetry: Automatically check heidisql.com for updates and Automatically report client and server versions. Both are ordinary installer checkboxes, so you can clear them during setup.
The real limits: features, not licences
Because nothing is paywalled, the question "what does the free version lack" becomes "what does HeidiSQL lack". Based on its documented feature list and issue tracker:
- No ER diagrams. Requests for an ER diagram feature were closed by the author as not planned. See ER diagram tools for alternatives.
- Uneven platform maturity. The Linux and macOS builds come from a separate Lazarus code base, and the project notes that SQL Server support there is not yet fully mature. The macOS build supports Apple silicon only.
- Engine focus. The tool is strongest on MariaDB and MySQL; it does not describe SQL Server administration features such as Agent jobs.
- Community support. Help comes from the forum, the issue tracker and the help page; there is no paid support contract.
If you need a free client with ER diagrams, compare DBeaver vs HeidiSQL, or browse HeidiSQL alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is HeidiSQL free for commercial use?
Yes. HeidiSQL is licensed under GPL v2, which places no restriction on using the program in a business. Obligations only apply if you distribute modified versions of HeidiSQL itself.
Is there a HeidiSQL Pro or paid version?
No. heidisql.com offers one free edition per platform and asks for voluntary donations. There is no licence key or trial.
Is HeidiSQL open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub under the GNU General Public License v2.0, with the Windows version built with Delphi and the Linux and macOS versions with Lazarus and FreePascal.
Does HeidiSQL collect data?
The Windows installer offers two optional telemetry tasks: automatic update checks and reporting client and server versions to heidisql.com. You can untick both during installation.
Is HeidiSQL safe to download?
Download it only from heidisql.com or the official GitHub releases. The project publishes a security policy on GitHub that says which release series receive security updates and how to report a vulnerability.
Sources
- HeidiSQL home page (features)
- HeidiSQL help: licence and requirements
- HeidiSQL downloads
- HeidiSQL GitHub repository
- HeidiSQL LICENSE (GPL v2) on GitHub
- HeidiSQL Windows installer script (Inno Setup)
- HeidiSQL issue tracker labels
- HeidiSQL issue #2117: ER diagram request
- HeidiSQL security policy
- HeidiSQL Lazarus branch (Linux and macOS code base)
Checked 8 October 2026.
How we research tool guides: our editorial method. CodeWithSQL earns nothing from the vendors mentioned.