JetBrains Rider Database Tools: Features and Licensing (2026)

Vendor

JetBrains

Price

Freemium

Platforms

Windows, macOS, Linux

Licence

Commercial subscription; free licence for non-commercial use

Works with

SQL ServerPostgreSQLMySQLMariaDBSQLiteOracleApache Cassandra

At a glance

Supported databases	MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, MariaDB, Oracle, Apache Cassandra and others
Query editor	DataGrip SQL editor and query consoles inside Rider
Schema comparison	Compare Structure with generated migration script; Compare Content for data
Data import and export	Import and export data in various formats
SSH and connection security	SSH tunnels with password, key pair or agent; SSL per data source
Deployment	Part of the Rider desktop IDE on Windows, macOS and Linux; plugin bundled and enabled by default
Licensing	Free for non-commercial use; organisations US$519 per user per year; individuals from US$169 per year

Short answer

If you already write .NET or game code in Rider, its bundled database tools mean you may not need a separate SQL client: you get DataGrip's query consoles, schema comparison with migration scripts, import and export, and SSH and SSL connections in the same window. Rider is free for non-commercial use, while commercial use needs a paid subscription; if you do not use Rider for code, DataGrip on its own is the more direct choice.

How we know: This profile is research-based: what is included, supported databases and features were checked against the JetBrains Rider help (database, SSH and SSL, and schema comparison topics), prices against the Rider buy page source, and licence terms against JetBrains' non-commercial licensing FAQ and announcement. We have not used Rider's database tools for this profile.

Overview

Rider is JetBrains' cross-platform IDE for .NET, ASP.NET, Unity and Unreal development. Its database features come from the Database Tools and SQL plugin, which the Rider help says is bundled and enabled by default and provides support for all the features available in DataGrip, JetBrains' standalone database IDE. You add data sources, write SQL in query consoles attached to them, browse and edit data, and generate diagrams, without leaving the IDE.

The help lists MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite, MariaDB, Oracle and Apache Cassandra among the supported databases, running locally, on a server or in the cloud. Licensing follows Rider itself: since October 2024 Rider has been free for non-commercial use, and JetBrains states that the free licence gives the same full-featured IDE as the paid version, differing only in Code With Me.

Key features

Query consoles attached to data sources with the same SQL code completion and analysis as DataGrip
Compare Structure for two database objects, with a Migration dialog that generates a script to make the target match the origin
Compare Content for table data alongside structure comparison
Import and export of data to and from various formats
SSH tunnels (password, key pair, OpenSSH config or agent) and SSL settings per data source
Diagrams for database objects, query plans and flame graphs for EXPLAIN output

Pros and cons

Pros

Full DataGrip feature set at no extra cost for Rider users
One tool for .NET code and the databases it uses
Free licence for non-commercial use with the same features as the paid version
Schema comparison with migration scripts, which many free clients lack

Cons

Commercial use needs a paid Rider subscription
The free non-commercial licence requires sending anonymised usage statistics with no opt-out
A full IDE is a heavy install if you only want a database client

Pricing

The database tools come with Rider at no extra cost. Rider is free for non-commercial use (learning, hobby projects, open source without commercial benefit, content creation) on condition that anonymised usage statistics are sent, with no opt-out. On the JetBrains buy page checked on 7 November 2026 (US dollar prices, before tax), an organisation licence costs US$519 per user per year or US$51.90 per month, and an individual licence US$169 for the first year, US$135 for the second and US$101 from the third year, or US$16.90 per month. Rider is also included in the dotUltimate and All Products Pack subscriptions.

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

Who it is best for

.NET, Unity and Unreal developers who already use Rider and want their SQL work in the same IDE.

Who should look elsewhere

People who only need a database client and do not write code in Rider: see DataGrip or DataGrip alternatives.

Verdict

Our take

For Rider users, the bundled database tools are a genuine DataGrip-class SQL client at no extra cost, which removes the need for a second tool in many workflows. Buying Rider only for its database features makes little sense, since DataGrip offers the same engine as a dedicated, focused product.

Frequently asked questions

Is DataGrip included in Rider?

Not as a separate app, but Rider bundles the Database Tools and SQL plugin, which the Rider help says supports all the features available in DataGrip.

Can I use Rider's database tools for free?

Yes, for non-commercial use such as learning, hobby projects, open source without commercial benefit and content creation. The free licence requires sending anonymised usage statistics. Commercial use needs a paid Rider subscription.

Which databases does Rider support?

The Rider help lists MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite, MariaDB, Oracle and Apache Cassandra, among others.

Sources

Checked November 2026.

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