- SSMS does not run on macOS, and Microsoft has announced no Mac version; its FAQ says SSMS is available only for Windows.
- Azure Data Studio was retired on 28 February 2026 and gets no security fixes; do not install it as an SSMS substitute.
- Microsoft's replacement on a Mac is VS Code with the MSSQL extension, which supports macOS on Intel and Apple silicon and covers querying, plans, table and schema design, import, backup and restore.
- For SQL Server Agent jobs and full administration Microsoft still points to SSMS, so Mac users who need those run SSMS in a Windows virtual machine or on a Windows server.
- Third-party options on macOS include DataGrip (paid for commercial use) and DBeaver Community (free and open source).
Is there SSMS for Mac?
No. Microsoft's SSMS FAQ answers "Does SSMS run on macOS?" with "No. SSMS is available only for Windows." The SSMS 22 system requirements list only 64-bit Windows 11 and Windows Server, and there is no Mac download on the SSMS install page. Any site offering "SSMS for Mac" is not offering Microsoft's product.
For years the usual workaround was Azure Data Studio. Microsoft retired it on 28 February 2026; it no longer receives updates or security fixes, and Microsoft tells its users to migrate to VS Code with the MSSQL extension. If it is still on your Mac, migrate your connections and remove it.
SSMS alternatives on macOS at a glance
| Option | Cost | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VS Code + MSSQL extension | Free | Daily T-SQL development, query plans, schema design, notebooks | No SQL Server Agent management; Microsoft points full administration to SSMS |
| DataGrip (JetBrains) | Free for non-commercial use; paid subscription for commercial use | Developers working across several database engines | Commercial use is paid; not a SQL Server administration console |
| DBeaver Community | Free, open source | A free multi-database GUI client | General-purpose; far fewer SQL Server administration tools than SSMS |
| sqlcmd (Go) | Free | Scripts and quick queries in Terminal | Command line only |
| SSMS in a Windows VM | SSMS is free; you need a Windows licence and VM software | Agent jobs, security, Always On and other full administration | Needs a full Windows installation; some components are unsupported on Arm64 |
Microsoft's answer: VS Code with the MSSQL extension
The MSSQL extension supports macOS on Intel and Apple silicon, as well as Windows and Linux. Install VS Code, open the Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X on macOS), search for mssql and install SQL Server (mssql). Microsoft lists Object Explorer, a query plan visualiser, table and schema designers, schema compare, import flat file, backup and restore, DACPAC and BACPAC, SQL notebooks, Query Profiler and GitHub Copilot integration as generally available. The extension targets SQL Server, Azure SQL and SQL database in Fabric.
What it does not replace is SSMS administration: Microsoft's retirement guidance says to use SSMS for SQL Server Agent and full administration. For the full feature-by-feature comparison, see SSMS vs VS Code (MSSQL extension), and for the extension on its own, the VS Code MSSQL extension review.
DataGrip and DBeaver on macOS
DataGrip is JetBrains' cross-platform database IDE. Its download page offers a macOS installer for Intel or Apple silicon, Microsoft SQL and Azure SQL are among its listed data sources, and it is free for non-commercial use, with a 30-day trial for commercial users. See DataGrip vs SSMS.
DBeaver Community is free and open source. The download page has Apple Silicon and Intel DMG files and a Homebrew cask (brew install --cask dbeaver-community), and lists macOS 11 or later as supported. See DBeaver vs SSMS.
For a wider shortlist, including paid Mac-native clients, see the best database tools for Mac and the best SSMS alternatives.
Command line, and running SSMS in a Windows VM
sqlcmd. Microsoft's Go-based sqlcmd runs on macOS and installs with Homebrew. It is useful for scripts, deployments and quick checks from Terminal.
SSMS in a virtual machine. If you need SSMS itself, run it in a Windows virtual machine. Microsoft supports SSMS on Arm64 Windows and requires a full Windows operating system in virtual machines, so a Windows 11 Arm64 VM on an Apple silicon Mac is within the documented requirements. Check the known issues first: on Arm64, SSAS and SSIS are not supported and a few features such as Replication's Distributor Properties do not work.
The server itself. SQL Server does not run natively on macOS. Microsoft's container images are Linux-based, and you can connect to a containerised instance from any macOS tool above.
brew install sqlcmdFrequently asked questions
Can I install SSMS on a Mac?
Not natively. Microsoft states that SSMS is available only for Windows. You can run it inside a Windows virtual machine on the Mac, or use VS Code with the MSSQL extension instead.
Is Azure Data Studio still an option on Mac?
No. Azure Data Studio was retired on 28 February 2026 and no longer receives updates or security fixes. Microsoft recommends VS Code with the MSSQL extension, which can import Azure Data Studio connections and settings.
What is the best free SSMS alternative for Mac?
For SQL Server specifically, VS Code with the MSSQL extension, because it is Microsoft's supported tool and is free. If you also use PostgreSQL or MySQL, DBeaver Community is a free multi-database alternative.
Does SSMS run on Apple silicon through a VM?
SSMS 22 supports Arm64 Windows, and Microsoft requires a full Windows operating system when SSMS runs in a virtual machine. Some components, including SSAS and SSIS, are not supported on Arm64.
Can I manage SQL Server Agent jobs from a Mac?
Not with the MSSQL extension: Microsoft's guidance is to use SSMS for SQL Server Agent and full administration. From a Mac, that means SSMS in a Windows VM or on a remote Windows machine, or T-SQL against the msdb job procedures.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: SSMS FAQ
- Microsoft Learn: SSMS system requirements
- Microsoft Learn: What's happening with Azure Data Studio
- Microsoft Learn: MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code
- Microsoft Learn: Known issues in SSMS
- Microsoft Learn: Download and install sqlcmd
- Microsoft Learn: SQL Server Linux container images quickstart
- Microsoft Learn: Transition from Azure Data Studio (MSSQL extension)
- DBeaver: Download
- JetBrains: DataGrip
- JetBrains: Download DataGrip
Checked 8 October 2026.
How we research tool guides: our editorial method. CodeWithSQL earns nothing from the vendors mentioned.