At a glance
| Supported databases | MongoDB 7.0 or later, self-managed or on MongoDB Atlas |
| Query editor | Query bar, aggregation pipeline builder and embedded mongosh; no SQL support |
| Data import and export | JSON and CSV (Extended JSON options preserve BSON types) |
| SSH and connection security | SSH tunnel with password or identity file, Socks5 and application proxy; TLS; SCRAM, OIDC, X.509, Kerberos, LDAP and AWS IAM authentication; Queryable Encryption |
| Deployment | Desktop: Windows 10 or Server 2019 and later (64-bit), macOS 14 or later (x64 and ARM64), RHEL 8+, SLES 15+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 12+ |
| Licensing | Free for any use; source under the SSPL |
Compass is the obvious first MongoDB GUI: it is free for any use, made by MongoDB and covers document editing, aggregation pipelines, schema analysis, explain plans and indexes. Look elsewhere only for specific gaps, such as SQL queries against MongoDB, collection compare and sync, or one tool for MongoDB and SQL databases.
Overview
MongoDB Compass is the graphical client made by MongoDB for self-managed deployments and MongoDB Atlas. It is free, its source is on GitHub under the SSPL, and MongoDB releases new versions every few weeks: 1.53.2 came out on 27 October 2026, and 1.53.1 (23 October 2026) included a security fix that MongoDB says affects all earlier versions. Compass requires MongoDB 7.0 or later.
Two editions are documented: Compass, and Compass Isolated, which leaves out automatic updates, error reporting and usage collection, and the AI features. A Readonly edition still exists but MongoDB says it will be deprecated in a future release; the suggested replacement is the database-level read role plus the readOnly setting, which on its own only hides write controls.
Key features
- Query bar for filters, projections and sorts, plus full create, read, update and delete on documents
- Aggregation pipeline builder with stage previews, a stage wizard and a text view
- Schema analysis view of the fields and types in a collection
- Visual explain plans, index creation and deletion, and document validation rules
- Embedded mongosh shell inside the application
- Import and export of JSON and CSV for collections, query results and aggregation output
- Real-time server statistics and AI features such as natural-language queries (not in the Isolated edition)
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free for commercial use and maintained by MongoDB
- Strong visual tools for aggregation pipelines, schema analysis and explain plans
- Broad authentication support, including OIDC, Kerberos, LDAP, X.509 and AWS IAM
- An Isolated edition for environments that must not make outbound connections beyond the database
Cons
- MongoDB only; it cannot connect to SQL databases
- No SQL query support and no collection compare or scheduled jobs
- Requires MongoDB 7.0 or later, so older servers need another tool
- Several supported operating systems are already deprecated, including Windows 10, Windows Server 2019, RHEL 8, Ubuntu 20.04 and Debian 12
Pricing
MongoDB Compass is free to download and use, including for commercial work. There is no paid edition; its source code is on GitHub under the Server Side Public License (SSPL).
Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Who it is best for
Developers and DBAs working with MongoDB who want a free, official GUI for querying, aggregation, schema analysis and index work.
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want to query MongoDB with SQL, compare and sync collections or schedule jobs: see MongoDB Compass vs Studio 3T.
- Anyone who needs one client for MongoDB and SQL databases: see MongoDB Compass alternatives.
Verdict
MongoDB Compass covers most day-to-day MongoDB work at no cost and comes from the database vendor, which makes it the sensible default. Its limits are scope rather than quality: it is MongoDB only, has no SQL interface, and needs a recent MongoDB server, so pair it with another tool when those matter.
Frequently asked questions
Is MongoDB Compass free?
Yes. Compass is free to use, including for commercial work, and its source code is on GitHub under the SSPL. There is no paid edition.
Which MongoDB versions does Compass support?
MongoDB's installation guide lists MongoDB 7.0 or later as a requirement on every platform. For older servers, use an earlier Compass release or another client.
Is MongoDB Compass Readonly being discontinued?
MongoDB says the Readonly edition will be deprecated in a future release. Use the standard edition with the readOnly setting and give users the built-in read role, because the setting alone only hides write controls in the interface.
Sources
- MongoDB Compass release notes
- MongoDB Compass: download and install
- MongoDB Compass editions
- MongoDB Compass: Proxy / SSH Tunnel connection tab
- MongoDB Compass: Authentication connection tab
- Compass repository and licence (GitHub)
Checked November 2026.
How we research reviews and what star ratings mean: our editorial method.