At a glance
| Supported databases | SQL Server only (on premises, Azure SQL Database, Amazon RDS, Google Cloud SQL, VMs) |
| Data generation | Synthetic rows from 60+ generators, regex, SQL and Python generators |
| Masking | Not a masking tool; Redgate sells Test Data Manager for masked copies |
| Referential integrity | Foreign key aware generation |
| CI/CD integration | Command line for automation |
| Test automation | Generates data only; pair with tSQLt or SQL Test for unit tests |
| Data volume or subsetting | Row counts set per table; no subsetting of production data |
| Deployment | Windows desktop application and SSMS integration |
| Licensing | $303 per user per year (1-4 users) or inside SQL Toolbelt Essentials |
SQL Data Generator suits SQL Server teams that need to populate empty development or test databases with plausible rows that respect keys and constraints. It generates new data rather than masking production copies, works only with SQL Server, and costs $303 per user per year on its own, so teams already buying SQL Toolbelt Essentials get it included.
Overview
SQL Data Generator is a Redgate desktop tool that reads a SQL Server schema and proposes a generator for each column, based on table and column names, data types, field lengths and constraints. You adjust the generators, choose how many rows each table needs, and the tool inserts the data, following foreign keys so child rows point at valid parents. It also runs inside SQL Server Management Studio and from the command line.
The current line is version 4. Version 4.8.0 (27 November 2025) added SSMS 22 support and SQL Server 2025 support with a documented known issue on data type generation; later 4.8 builds through 4.8.16 (5 November 2026) are maintenance releases. It is still sold as an individual product as well as inside the SQL Toolbelt Essentials bundle.
Key features
- Automatic generator selection from table names, column names, data types, lengths and constraints
- More than 60 built-in generators, plus regular expression, SQL statement and cross-column generators
- Custom generators written in Python
- Foreign key support so generated child rows reference existing parent rows
- Seeded random generation for repeatable data sets between runs
- Import of existing data (for example CSV files) as a source for generated values
- Command-line interface for scripted or CI-driven data generation
Integrations and ecosystem
Pros and cons
Pros
- Published per-user price and a 14-day trial
- Understands SQL Server keys and constraints, so data loads without manual ordering
- Python and SQL generators cover rules the built-in generators miss
- Included in SQL Toolbelt Essentials alongside SQL Compare, SQL Prompt and SQL Test
Cons
- SQL Server only, with no PostgreSQL, MySQL or Oracle support
- Windows only
- Redgate's requirements page (last updated 2021) and product page list older SQL Server versions than the release notes, so confirm support for your version
- Creates synthetic data; it does not mask or subset production databases
Pricing
Redgate still sells SQL Data Generator on its own: the product page showed $303 per user for a 1-year subscription in the 1-4 user band (equivalent to $25.25 per user per month), with lower per-user rates for 5-9 and 10+ users that were not shown in the page text. It is also one of the 11 tools in SQL Toolbelt Essentials, listed at $1,410 per user per year for 1-4 users. A 14-day free trial is available. Prices are in US dollars as shown on 7 November 2026.
Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Who it is best for
SQL Server developers and testers who need repeatable, realistic test data in development databases and already work in SSMS or with other Redgate tools.
Typical use cases
- Filling a new development database with thousands of plausible customers and orders
- Creating load-sized tables to check query plans before release
- Producing repeatable seeded data sets for automated test runs
- Giving contractors a database with no real personal data in it
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that need masked or subsetted copies of production data across several engines: look at Tonic.ai or Delphix instead.
- Teams on PostgreSQL, MySQL or Oracle, where dbForge Data Generator's separate engine editions or Mockaroo may fit.
Verdict
SQL Data Generator remains a straightforward way to generate key-aware synthetic data for SQL Server, with a published price and continuing maintenance releases. Its scope is narrow, SQL Server and Windows only and generation rather than masking, so compare it with dbForge Data Generator on price and generator range before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy SQL Data Generator on its own?
Yes. On 7 November 2026 Redgate's product page offered it at $303 per user for a 1-year subscription (1-4 users). It is also included in SQL Toolbelt Essentials, which lists 11 tools at $1,410 per user per year.
Does SQL Data Generator mask production data?
No. It generates new synthetic rows. For masking and subsetting copies of production, Redgate sells a separate product, Redgate Test Data Manager.
Does it support SQL Server 2025?
Version 4.8.0 added SQL Server 2025 support with a documented known issue on data type generation. Check the release notes for the build you install.
Can it run in a CI pipeline?
Yes, it has a command-line interface, so a build agent with SQL Data Generator installed can populate a test database before tests run.
Sources
- SQL Data Generator product and pricing page
- SQL Toolbelt Essentials
- SQL Data Generator 4 requirements
- SQL Data Generator 4.8 release notes
- SQL Data Generator release notes index
Checked November 2026.
Listed in: Database Testing & Test Data.
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