Data governance and database governance are four letters apart and constantly conflated. They are different disciplines, owned by different teams, solved by different tools. Here is the dividing line.

Data Governance vs. Database Governance: The Difference Is the Base

PopSQL shuts down on September 1, 2026. Compare the top PopSQL alternatives for team SQL editing, dashboards, and governed database access before you migrate.

Top PopSQL Alternatives 2026: Where to Migrate Before the Shutdown

Money software is judged not on whether the feature works, but on what the database can prove eighteen months later. Fintech database governance through three principles: no invented data, no lost data, no trust.

Database Governance for Fintech: Guarding the Ledger

PostgreSQL has no ADD COLUMN ... AFTER. The reason one little number in a system catalog turned a "simple" feature into a decade-long engineering saga, and what you can do about it today.

Why It's So Hard to Add a Column in the Middle of a PostgreSQL Table

The static data masking tools that produce safe non-production data, Delphix, Tonic.ai, and greenmask compared, plus how to roll your own when no tool fits.

Static Data Masking Tools (and How to Roll Your Own)

Notes on the MySQL 9.7 LTS release: Hypergraph Optimizer in Community, JSON Duality View DML, Group Replication observability, and Dynamic Data Masking for Enterprise.

Notes on the MySQL 9.7 LTS release

PostgreSQL 19 features I'm excited about: planner advisor framework, DDL extraction, online REPACK, pg_stat_recovery, parallel autovacuum, sequence sync, and 64-bit MultiXact.

PostgreSQL 19 features I'm excited about

What SOC 2 compliance audits actually want from your database audit log: not 'logging enabled' but evidence your auditor will accept. Lessons from going through our own audit.

SOC 2 Audit Log Requirements: Lessons From Our Own Audit

A practical look at what SOX Section 404 expects from database changes: the four ITGC domains, the six questions auditors actually ask, and how to make compliance evidence a byproduct of your workflow.

Database Change Management for SOX Compliance

A look at 10 data management tools developers and data engineers actually use in 2026: GUI clients, schema migration, pipelines, and analytics, with pricing for each.

Top 10 Data Management Tools in 2026

The best SQL editors built exclusively for PostgreSQL: what each one is good at, who it fits, and when a Postgres-only tool beats a multi-database client.

Enterprise Text-to-SQL: Context, Evaluation, and Governance

A practical look at the database deployment tools DevOps teams actually use in 2026, sorted by how each one defines, applies, and coordinates schema changes.

Database Deployment Tools for DevOps Teams in 2026

Postgres 19 widens MultiXactOffset to 64 bits, eliminating the hidden 4 billion member limit that caused catastrophic outages for high-concurrency workloads.

Postgres 19 Feature Preview: 64-bit MultiXactOffset

How to run MySQL schema migrations without blocking queries or causing downtime, covering the MySQL-specific behaviors that bite in production and the tools that work around them.

MySQL Schema Migration Best Practice

Postgres 19 introduces automatic sequence synchronization for logical replication, eliminating manual tracking and making major version upgrades and failover significantly easier.

Postgres 19 Feature Preview: Sequence Synchronization for Logical Replication

A guide to open source sensitive data discovery tools, from NLP libraries like spaCy and Microsoft Presidio to multi-source scanners like Hawk-Eye and full metadata platforms like OpenMetadata.

Top Open Source Sensitive Data Discovery Tools in 2026

Six open-source PostgreSQL backup tools compared for 2026, with the language, license, interface, and best-fit use case for each, plus a note on which ones are still maintained.

What's New in PostgreSQL 18: A Developer's Perspective

A look at the open-source ways to add authentication and authorization to a Postgres app in 2025, from all-in-one platforms to libraries, identity servers, and the minimalist JWT-to-RLS pattern, with a "best for" note on each.

Features I Wish Postgres Had but MySQL Already Has

Areas where PostgreSQL shines and MySQL falls short.

Features I Wish MySQL Had but Postgres Already Has

Compare the top free, open-source database schema diagram tools in 2026 (DrawDB, ChartDB, Azimutt, and Liam ERD) by database support, workflow, and project momentum.

Top 4 Free, Open Source Database Schema Diagram Tools in 2026

An overview of the most popular text-to-SQL AI tools in 2026, including DataGrip, TablePlus, Vanna.ai, SQLAI.ai, DBHub MCP server, and Bytebase SQL Editor. Compare features and capabilities to find the best SQL AI assistant for your workflow.

Top 6 Text-to-SQL Query Tools in 2026

Evaluate several TypeScript ORMs, and help you to choose the right one for 2026

Top TypeScript ORM 2026

PostgreSQL 18 features and what they change for running production databases.

What's New in PostgreSQL 18: A DBA's Perspective

Explore alternatives to Amazon RDS in 2026: Aurora, Cloud SQL, AlloyDB, Azure, DigitalOcean, Aiven, TigerData, and the serverless Postgres providers, with cost comparisons.

RDS Alternatives in 2026

Infrastructure as Code security tools help organizations identify vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in their infrastructure definitions. This post explores the top open-source IaC security tools available in 2025.

Top Open Source Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security Tools in 2025

Compare the price of the mainstream managed PostgreSQL hosting providers

PostgreSQL Hosting Options in 2026: Pricing Comparison

Database governance controls how production databases are changed and accessed; data governance catalogs what lands downstream. The terms are conflated in every search, so this post covers the top open-source tools on both sides of the line.

Top Open Source Database Governance Tools in 2026

Workflow orchestration tools help coordinate tasks, handle errors, and monitor execution processes. In this post, we are taking a look at open source workflow orchestration options

Top Open Source Workflow Orchestration Tools in 2025

Compare the price of the mainstream managed MySQL hosting providers

MySQL Hosting Options in 2026: Pricing Comparison

A comprehensive guide to the best open-source Kubernetes cluster management tools in 2025, including Argo CD, Karmada, Sveltos, and Plural.

Top 4 Open Source Kubernetes Cluster Management Tools in 2025

Review the state of the Golang ORM and query builder in 2026

Choose the Right Golang ORM or Query Builder in 2026

Overview of MySQL 9 features with spicy comments

What's New in MySQL 9 - a DBA's Perspective

SQL clients makes it safer and easier to manage databases. In this post, we are taking a look at open source SQL clients options for you to try in 2024.

Top Open-Source SQL Parsers in 2025

A comprehensive reference guide to standard port numbers used by popular database systems in 2025

Common Database Port Numbers in 2025

Explore the leading Terraform UI tools of 2026 that enhance IaC workflows with visualization, collaboration, and governance features to streamline infrastructure management.

Top 4 Terraform UI Tools 2026

A comprehensive guide to the best free and open-source PostgreSQL EXPLAIN tools for query performance analysis, including built-in extensions, online visualizers, and integrated GUI solutions.

Top Free, Open Source Postgres Explain Tool to Analyze Database 2025

Top open-source Kubernetes dashboard solutions include K9s, Lens, and KubeDashboard.

Top Free, Open Source Kubernetes Dashboard in 2026

In this post, we will review the top 5 open source Terraform tools for 2025.

Top 5 Open Source Terraform Tools for 2025

A Postgres schema compare tool diffs and synchronizes schemas between PostgreSQL databases. This 2026 guide reviews the top 6 tools — pg-schema-diff, Atlas, Liquibase, pgAdmin, Navicat, and Bytebase — and how to choose.

Top 6 Open Source Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Tools 2025

How to Become a Platform Engineer in 6 months?

SQL editor with built-in AI streamlines database management, making SQL development faster, more accurate, and accessible to users of all skill levels.

Top 3 Free SQL Editors with Built-in AI

An extensive list of PostgreSQL SQL Review and Style Guide.

PostgreSQL SQL Review and Style Guide

Compare the best SQL Server monitoring tools for 2026 — free and paid. Includes SSMS built-in SQL monitors, open-source MSSQL monitoring tools (DBA Dash, SQLWATCH, Opserver), and commercial SQL performance monitoring solutions (Redgate, Datadog).

Top SQL Server Monitoring Tools: Best SQL Performance Monitors in 2026

The open source, self-hostable, web-based SQL editors compared honestly, with per-tool verdicts and a fresh repository-activity check.

Top 5 Open Source, Online SQL Editors You can Self-host

Describe the top database devops tools in 2025.

Top Database DevOps Tools in 2025

Introduce the advanced tools for platform engineering. Covering CD, security, workflow orchestration, database development workflow, and internal development portal.

How to Pick Platform Engineering Tools in 2025 - Advanced Guide

Introduce the essential tools for platform engineering. Covering code hosting, CI/CD, observability, resource provisioning, and secret management.

How to Pick Platform Engineering Tools in 2025 - Essential Guide

Bastion gates connections. ITSM gates approval. PAM gates credentials. Three layers, three tools, one gap at execution — and what an integrated platform replaces.

Securing Database Change: From Bastion to Integrated Platforms

How OpenAI and DeepSeek designs SSN database schema.

OpenAI vs. DeepSeek: SSN Database Schema Design

DevSecOps tools empower teams to seamlessly integrate security into every phase of the software development lifecycle, fostering the adoption of DevSecOps practices.

Top DevSecOps Tools for 2025

What happened in the database tooling landscape in 2024.

Database Tools in 2024: A Year in Review

Some of the craziest database security vulnerabilities uncovered in DBAs' career

Database security vulnerabilities are the craziest

Due to Docker's recent requirement for a paid subscription for professional use, people began searching for alternatives. Right alternatives for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements.

Top 4 Free Docker Desktop Alternatives 2026

What are the top Postgres extensions you may need to enhance your Postgres instance in 2026.

Why Managed Database Service is not Enough

Six levels of database automation, named after the autonomous-driving framework. From L0 manual SQL to L5 self-healing — and where most teams plateau.

The 6 Levels of Database Automation

When team wants to enforce a process for database change management. A quick approach is to reuse their existing ITSM system such as Jira. Let's review how a typical Jira workflow looks like and its inherent limitations.

Hope Is Not a Strategy: Why Jira Falls Short for Database Change

A list of features I wish PostgreSQL had. It is mainly around improving development workflow and inspired by Git. While acquiring Git-like behavior is challenging in database because of the stateful nature.

Features I wish PostgreSQL had as a developer

In this post, we are reviewing several open-source GitOps tools.

Top Open Source GitOps Tools in 2025

When schema migration outage happens, who should be more responsible in order to prevent future incidents?

Schema Migration Outage: Author or Reviewer's Fault?

The "Modern Snowflake Stack" refers to the set of technologies and tools built around Snowflake for data ingestion, transformation, security, and analytics. First mapped in early 2024, refreshed for 2026 after a wave of mergers and acquisitions reshuffled nearly every layer.

Modern Snowflake Stack in 2026

What are the top open source MySQL schema migration tools in 2026 - Skeema, Liquibase, Flyway, and Bytebase compared.

Top Open Source MySQL Migration Tools in 2026

This article explores leading database security tools designed to shield your data from varied risks.

Top Database Security Tools

A comparison of the top 5 MySQL GUI clients in 2026: MySQL Workbench, DBeaver, TablePlus, Beekeeper Studio, and Navicat.

Top 5 MySQL GUI Clients in 2026

The top open source Postgres migration tools in 2026: Flyway, Liquibase, Atlas, Sqitch, pgroll, graphile-migrate, pgschema, and Bytebase compared.

How many DBAs should a company hire

DORA recently released its annual State of DevOps 2023 report. Bytebase is a Database CI/CD tool for DBAs and DevOps teams, and we are diving deep into the State of DevOps Report.

Notes on the DORA 2023 State of DevOps Report

DataGrip is a database IDE developed by JetBrains and closely integrated with the JetBrains ecosystem. If you prefer a dedicated database GUI, here are the top DataGrip alternatives in 2026.

Top DataGrip Alternatives 2026

If you work exclusively with MySQL, MySQL Workbench is an excellent choice for a database GUI, but if you work with multiple databases, you need to look elsewhere. This article highlights five database GUI alternatives for MySQL Workbench.

Top MySQL Workbench Alternatives 2026

pgAdmin is the default Postgres GUI, but it is not the only one. Here are the top pgAdmin alternatives in 2026.

Top pgAdmin Alternatives 2026

Navicat is a long-established database GUI, but it falls short in multi-user scenarios where team collaboration and centralized control are needed. Here are the top Navicat alternatives in 2026.

Top Navicat Alternatives 2026

DBeaver is one of the most popular database management tools. If it doesn't fulfill your requirements or you want to try something new, here are the top DBeaver alternatives in 2026.

Top DBeaver Alternatives 2026

A Postgres GUI client gives you a visual interface to query, design, and administer PostgreSQL — instead of doing everything from psql. Here are the 7 most useful in 2026, with the trade-offs that decide which one fits your workflow.

Understanding Google Cloud SQL Pricing

A MySQL schema compare tool diffs and synchronizes schemas between MySQL databases. This 2026 guide reviews the top 6 common tools in this category and how to choose.

Top 6 MySQL Schema Compare Tools to Diff and Sync Databases in 2026

Database schema migration have come a long way, from CLI to GUI, and all the way to GitOps/Database-as-Code. Let's review the state-of-the-art of database schema change / migration tools in 2026.

Top Database Schema Migration Tools to Avoid Change Outage 2026

What happened in database industry in 2022.

Database Review 2022 and 2023 Prediction

The best free SQL clients and database management software in 2026. Compare DBeaver, Beekeeper Studio, DbGate, HeidiSQL, and Bytebase — open-source SQL GUI tools for Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Top 5 Free, Open Source SQL Clients and Database Management Tools (2026)

To manually spin up several different kinds (and versions) of database instances for testing can be gruesome. Here are some free tools to help you start a local database instance on Mac.

Top 3 Free Tools to Start a Local Database Instance on Mac

Real talk on whether strict SQL review and schema conventions actually help — with answers from working developers and DBAs.

Is SQL Review Necessary? Real Talk From Developers

We wonder if ChatGPT can help us in the field of database administration, and we dug deep into some toolings that have incorporated ChatGPT to make our life easier.

A (Non-Exhaustive) Summary of ChatGPT Enhanced Database Tools

From the SQLite-insipred DuckDB to the real Snowflake challenger and the Docker for data.

MotherDuck, from SQLite to the Docker for Data

The idea of codifying database schema changes (aka schema migration) is not new. While we are observing an accelerated trend of embracing Database as Code (DaC) across the industry. In this blog, we will review the state-of-the-art in the Database as Code landscape and share our own insight into the current and future trends in this space.

The Database as Code Landscape

This is the first of the DDD series, consisting of 10 stories of DBA & Database & developer.

DBA, Database and Developer - The Decameron

What happened in database industry in 2021. OLAP (Snowflake, Databricks, ClickHouse, Firebolt, ClickHouse), OLTP (PostgreSQL, PlanetScale, SQLite) and open source.

Database Review 2021 and 2022 Prediction


We have been working with PostgreSQL and other databases for a while. In the realm of database management, PostgreSQL stands out for its robustness and flexibility. However, as developers navigate the complexities of modern application development, there are additional functionalities that could streamline their workflows. Here are the features I wish PostgreSQL had to make developers' lives easier:

## Versioned Schema

The PG catalog only stores the current schema. Schema migration tools usually need to create an external table to store the schema migration history. A built-in versioned schema will be beneficial:

1. Standardize the format. e.g. The version string, the status indicating whether the schema change is in progress.
2. Consistency. When schema migration history is stored externally, it's hard to guarantee the consistency between the migration history and the actual schema.
3. Rollback. If a new schema change introduces issues, versioning allows for safer rollbacks to previous stable states, minimizing downtime and impact on users.
4. Process enforcement. With a versioned schema and the migration history, it's easier to enforce that only a single schema migration can run on a database at any point in time.

## Online Schema Migration

PostgreSQL has been improving this area over the years, but there are still cases where altering the schema would block the database. [pg-osc](https://github.com/shayonj/pg-osc), [reshape](https://github.com/fabianlindfors/reshape) are built to tackle this. Ideally, PostgreSQL can encapsulate the long schema migration process:

- Temp tables created as part of the migration are internal tables. Thus it won't pollute the user space.
- Postgres exposes a migration progress percentage.

## State-based Migration (Declarative)

The typical way to do schema migration is to compose a list of `ALTER TABLE` statements. This becomes hard to track the latest schema state as the migration accumulates. It's more intuitive for the developers to specify the desired state. Ideally, PostgreSQL could allow developers to specify the desired `CREATE TABLE` schema, the engine then reconcile it with the latest schema, figure out the diff, and plan the migration path internally.

## Branching

During development, it's desirable to have a high-fidelity testing environment as close as the prod environment. The challenge is to fork the production database quickly enough (for compliance, it also needs to sanitize the sensitive data). What if PostgreSQL could have the instant git-like branching?

## Archived Table

To prevent deleting data by mistake, we invent soft-delete pattern by having a `is_deleted` column. However, this brings extra complexities around foreign key, unique index enforcement. Ideally, PostgreSQL could allow users to configure an archived table. The removed data is moved to the archived table first and purged after a configured retention period. This simplifies application logic and data compliance work.

## Label

PostgreSQL allows adding [SECURITY LABEL](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-security-label.html) to the objects. I wish it could be extended to a more generic label system where users can attach arbitrary KV pairs. This would be useful in data dictionary, reporting, and orchestrating developer workflow. e.g.

- Find all tables/databases owned by a particular application.
- Require additional review when changing tables matching a certain label.

## Git Integration

Snowflake added this one in the [2023 summit](https://medium.com/snowflake/streamlining-devops-with-snowflake-and-git-integration-fc0b76a40a76):

![snowflake-git](/content/blog/features-i-wish-postgres-had/snowflake-git.webp)

This allows developers to keep the stored procedures, user-defined functions, and operational scripts in the same place as the application code. Thus they will adopt the same version control best practices.

Similar to how Foreign Data Wrapper (FDW) is implemented, the core PostgreSQL could provide the underlying infrastructure, and the specific VCS integration can be implemented as an extension.

## Summary

As to the database development workflow, Git is always the source of inspiration. Git is invented to
manage the stateless code, the hard part is to adapt Git to manage the stateful database. Companies
have already been pushing the frontiers:

- [Neon](https://neon.tech/) rebuilds the Postgres engine to enable serverless and instant branching.
- [Xata](https://xata.io/) offers serverless, branching, as well as zero-downtime schema migration.
- [Snaplet](https://snaplet.dev/) for seeding and sanitization.
- [Supabase](https://supabase.com/) for an entire application platform around Postgres.
- [Bytebase](https://bytebase.com/) for unifying all human-to-postgres operations including schema migration, ad-hoc change, database access control, and dynamic masking.

What's your most desired PostgreSQL feature?



GitOps is a modern approach to manage infrastructure that emphasizes automation, collaboration, and continuous delivery. It’s based on the idea of using Git as the single source of truth for configuration and code. With GitOps, all changes to infrastructure are made through pull requests, which are reviewed and approved by other team members before being merged into the main branch.

In this post, we are reviewing several open-source GitOps tools:

- [Terraform](#terraform)
- [Pulumi](#pulumi)
- [ArgoCD](#argocd)
- [Bruno](#bruno)
- [Bytebase](#bytebase)
- [OPA](#opa)
- [mdx](#mdx)

[![star-history](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/star.webp)](https://www.star-history.com/#hashicorp/terraform&pulumi/pulumi&argoproj/argo-cd&usebruno/bruno&open-policy-agent/opa&mdx-js/mdx&bytebase/bytebase&Date)

## Terraform

[Terraform](https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform) is an open-source infrastructure as code tool (IaC) that lets you build, change, and version infrastructure safely and efficiently. This includes low-level components like compute instances, storage, and networking; and high-level components like DNS entries and SaaS features.

Terraform uses HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) and also supports JSON for writing configurations.
![terraform](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/terraform.webp)

To enable GitOps, create a Git repo with Terraform configs, define infrastructure in Terraform, and manage updates via a pipeline and pull requests.

![terraform-gitops](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/terraform-gitops.webp)

## Pulumi

[Pulumi](https://github.com/pulumi/pulumi) is an open-source infrastructure as code tool that allows you to create, deploy, and manage cloud infrastructure using your favorite language. Unlike Terraform, Pulumi uses real programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and Go to define infrastructure.

![pulumi](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/pulumi.webp)

Similar to Terraform, Pulumi can be used to enable GitOps by creating a Git repo with Pulumi configs, defining infrastructure in Pulumi, and managing updates via a pipeline and pull requests.

![pulumi-gitops](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/pulumi-gitops.webp)

## ArgoCD

[ArgoCD](https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd) is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes.

![argocd](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/argocd.webp)

Argo CD follows the GitOps pattern of using Git repositories as the source of truth for defining the desired application state. Kubernetes manifests can be specified in several ways such as kustomize applications, helm charts and jsonnet files.

Argo CD automates the deployment of the desired application states in the specified target environments. Application deployments can track updates to branches, tags, or pinned to a specific version of manifests at a Git commit.

![argocd-diff](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/argocd-diff.webp)

## Bruno

[Bruno](https://github.com/usebruno/bruno) is a Fast and Git-Friendly open-source API client, aimed at revolutionizing the status quo represented by Postman, Insomnia and similar tools out there.

![bruno](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/bruno.webp)

Bruno stores your collections directly in a folder on your filesystem with a plain text markup language, Bru, to save information about API requests.

Regarding GitOps, you can use git or any version control of your choice to collaborate over your API collections.

![bruno-gitops](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/bruno-gitops.webp)

## OPA

[OPA](https://github.com/open-policy-agent/opa) (Open Policy Agent) is an open-source policy engine designed to enforce policies across your stack. While OPA is not a GitOps tool itself, it can complement GitOps workflows by providing policy enforcement and compliance checks.

![opa](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/opa.webp)

In the context of GitOps, OPA can be integrated into your CI/CD pipelines or Kubernetes admission controllers to validate changes to your infrastructure and applications. By enforcing policies defined in code, OPA ensures that all changes comply with your organization's standards before they are applied, enhancing the security and reliability of your GitOps processes.

## MDX

[MDX](https://github.com/mdx-js/mdx) is a tool that allows you to write JSX in Markdown documents, enabling the creation of interactive and dynamic content using React components within your Markdown files.

![mdx](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/mdx.webp)

While MDX is not a traditional GitOps tool, it can complement GitOps workflows by enabling version-controlled documentation. This ensures that your documentation evolves alongside your code and infrastructure, maintaining alignment with the latest changes.

## Bytebase

[Bytebase](https://github.com/bytebase/bytebase) is an all-in-one database DevSecOps and CI/CD solution. It's like GitHub/GitLab that provides a GUI workspace for developers and DBAs to collaborate on database changes.

![bb](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/bb.webp)

Besides its intuitive UI workflow, Bytebase also supports a GitOps workflow for managing database changes. This feature allows for initiating database issues through pull requests. Furthermore, Bytebase provides SQL review, custom approval workflows, and rollout policies, enabling database changes to be managed in an advanced GitOps manner.

![bb-rollout](/content/blog/top-open-source-gitops-tools/bb-rollout.webp)

## Summary

To summarize, these open-source GitOps tools offer a range of options for managing infrastructure and application deployments. They adhere to the GitOps principles, automating the deployment process to achieve the desired states in specified target environments.



Once upon a time, a developer named John was modifying the name column in a large table from `VARCHAR(20)` to `VARCHAR(512)`. This change was intended to accommodate more diversity in name lengths, a request that had come down from the product team as they expanded into new, international markets. The exact SQL is:

```sql
ALTER TABLE person MODIFY name VARCHAR(512);
```

Bob, the Database Administrator (DBA), reviewed John's migration script. On the surface, it seemed like a straightforward change, one that he had seen and approved many times in his career. Bob gave his blessing to the change.

With Bob's approval, John executed the migration. As soon as the migration was deployed, alarms blared throughout the office.

The root cause is subtle. Even MySQL 8.0 has increased the online DDL coverage, this particular statement is still not covered. Because the statement enlarges the byte to encode the size value from 1 to 2 as described in the [official doc](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/innodb-online-ddl-operations.html).

![mysql-extend-varchar](/content/blog/schema-migration-outage-fault/mysql-extend-varchar.webp)

Thus all other transactions were blocked while waiting for this DDL to finish. And for large tables, that would take hours.

**Though the industry is advocating the [blameless culture](https://sre.google/sre-book/postmortem-culture/), someone needs to be accountable. Otherwise, no one will own the initiative to fix the process and the chances are it will happen again.**

Is this the author, John’s fault? Maybe. However, it’s a bit more ask for an average developer to know the execution plan of a particular statement from a particular database at a particular version.

Is this the reviewer, Bob’s fault? Plausible. Since Bob has more knowledge and was hired exactly for catching this type of error. However, if Bob takes the bullet, there will be less incentive for the developers to improve their database knowledge.

The good thing is, that such dilemmas have become less nowadays:

1. Companies are moving more DB responsibilities to the developers. There will still be a DB person or a platform team taking care of the DB infrastructure, but the day-to-day DB development tasks are managed by the developer team entirely.
1. Companies may use an external DBA consulting service like [Vettabase](https://vettabase.com/), [Percona](https://www.percona.com/), [Enterprise DB](https://www.enterprisedb.com/) for expert advice.
1. Companies may adopt database development tools like Bytebase to improve the collaboration between the developers and the DB team.

Welcome to the era of Database DevOps.



I first published this post in February 2024, when the `Modern Snowflake Stack` was a constellation of independent vendors, each owning one layer around Snowflake. Two years later, half of them have merged, been acquired, or repositioned around AI agents. Time for a refresh.

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/semantic-layer-google-trend.webp)

If you want the refresh in one chart, this is it: Google Trends for `semantic layer`, flat for four years, then a >5,000% breakout once the agents arrived. The layer that did not exist in the 2024 version is now the hottest thing in the stack. We will get there.

Snowflake played the pivotal role in the `Modern Data Stack` era, so this post walks the tools built around it, layer by layer, and notes what changed since 2024.

## Data Ingestion - Fivetran

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/fivetran.webp)

[Fivetran](https://www.fivetran.com/) automates extracting and loading data into the warehouse through a large library of pre-built connectors. The Salesforce to Snowflake connector remains its flagship.

It is also where the biggest story of this refresh begins. In May 2025 Fivetran [acquired Census](https://www.fivetran.com/press/fivetran-signs-agreement-to-acquire-census-delivering-the-first-end-to-end-data-movement-platform-for-the-ai-era), the reverse-ETL leader. In October 2025 it announced a merger with dbt Labs, which [closed on June 1, 2026](https://www.fivetran.com/press/fivetran-dbt-labs-complete-merger-to-create-the-data-infrastructure-for-trusted-ai-agents) at nearly $600M combined annual revenue. Three boxes from my 2024 diagram now share one cap table.

Meanwhile Snowflake built its own ingestion: [Openflow](https://www.snowflake.com/en/news/press-releases/snowflake-openflow-unlocks-full-data-interoperability-accelerating-data-movement-for-ai-innovation/), launched at Summit 2025 on top of Apache NiFi (via the Datavolo acquisition). Native, event-driven, hundreds of connectors. Fivetran still wins on breadth and polish, but the moat is being circled.

## Data Transformation - dbt

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/dbt.webp)

[dbt (data build tool)](https://www.getdbt.com/) turns warehouse transformations into code: SQL models that are version-controlled, tested, and deployed. It remains the de facto standard for the "T" in ELT, and Snowflake remains its favorite execution engine.

Two changes. dbt Labs rewrote the engine in Rust (Fusion, built from the SDF acquisition) and open sourced its runtime as dbt Core v2.0 after the merger. And Snowflake made dbt native: [dbt Projects on Snowflake](https://www.snowflake.com/en/blog/dbt-projects-generally-available/) went GA in January 2026, running dbt entirely inside Snowsight. No dbt Cloud subscription, no self-hosted runner, no external orchestrator.

When your ingestion vendor owns your transformation tool, and your warehouse runs it natively, the boundary lines in any stack diagram start to look negotiable.

## Semantic Layer - Suddenly, Everyone

This layer did not exist in the 2024 version, and that is the point. The semantic layer is an old idea (BusinessObjects universes, OLAP cubes, LookML) that kept failing to become its own layer, because dashboards tolerate ambiguity: a human eyeballing a chart absorbs definitional drift. AI agents do not. Text-to-SQL against raw schemas produces plausible SQL; against a curated semantic model it produces governed SQL that a human approved.

The momentum is measurable: on Google Trends, the term that named the whole era is now a flat line under the layer it never bothered to include, average interest 14 versus 3 over five years.

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/semantic-layer-vs-modern-data-stack-trend.webp)

So everyone built one. Snowflake shipped [semantic views](https://docs.snowflake.com/en/user-guide/views-semantic/overview) that Cortex Analyst, CoWork, and CoCo all read from. Databricks answered with Unity Catalog [metric views](https://www.databricks.com/blog/redefining-semantics-data-layer-future-bi-and-ai), GA in April 2026 and open sourced into Apache Spark. dbt has owned MetricFlow since 2023, so the merged Fivetran + dbt owns one too. The independents ([Cube](https://cube.dev/), AtScale, Honeydew) repositioned as the neutral option, queried by agents over MCP.

The momentum peaked in an unlikely place: a standards body. [Open Semantic Interchange](https://www.snowflake.com/en/news/press-releases/snowflake-salesforce-dbt-labs-and-more-revolutionize-data-readiness-for-ai-with-open-semantic-interchange-initiative/) launched in September 2025, led by Snowflake and Salesforce, and published a vendor-neutral YAML spec in January 2026 with 40+ partners. When Snowflake, Databricks, and Salesforce co-sign a spec, you know where the choke point is: whoever owns the semantic layer owns the control plane for AI analytics. OSI makes definitions portable. Where they live is still the fight.

## Data Security - Immuta

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/immuta.webp)

[Immuta](https://www.immuta.com/) manages access control, masking, and privacy compliance at scale, for organizations handling sensitive data under GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA and friends.

Immuta is one of the survivors: still independent, still valued around $1B. But Snowflake's built-in governance grew into [Horizon Catalog](https://www.snowflake.com/en/product/features/horizon/), covering the baseline access control, masking, and discovery that used to justify a third-party purchase. Immuta responded by climbing up the stack: at Summit 2026 it launched [agentic data access](https://www.immuta.com/news/immuta-launches-new-agentic-data-access-capabilities-on-snowflake-ai-data-cloud/), zero-standing-privilege access for AI agents with a dual-identity audit trail. The pattern repeats across this list: when Snowflake absorbs your core feature, you go govern the agents instead.

## Data Catalog - Atlan

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/atlan.webp)

[Atlan](https://atlan.com/) is a data catalog and collaborative workspace for discovery, governance, and metadata. It had a good two years: a Leader in both the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data & Analytics Governance (2026) and the Forrester Wave for Data Governance. Its Snowflake story evolved from "built on top of Snowflake's features" to "the cross-system layer above Horizon": Horizon governs what lives inside Snowflake, Atlan stitches lineage and policy across everything else. A sensible division of labor, as long as Snowflake stays on its side of the line.

## Data Monitoring - Bigeye

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/bigeye.webp)

[Bigeye](https://www.bigeye.com/) started as a data observability platform: data quality monitoring, anomaly detection, lineage. That is now the smaller half of the company. Bigeye rebranded around an "AI Trust Platform" and in June 2026 launched Agent Trust Hub, mapping AI agent activity to data quality, classification, lineage, and cost signals. Same telemetry, new customer: the thing consuming your data is no longer just a dashboard.

Snowflake made its own observability move in January 2026: [acquiring Observe](https://www.snowflake.com/en/news/press-releases/snowflake-announces-intent-to-acquire-observe-to-deliver-ai-powered-observability-at-enterprise-scale/) for roughly $1B, the largest acquisition in its history. To be fair, Observe is infrastructure telemetry (logs, traces, an AI SRE) rather than data quality, so Bigeye is not directly displaced. But Snowflake clearly wants the observability workload too.

## Data Activation - Census / Hightouch

In 2024 I wrote that Census and Hightouch were neck-to-neck in reverse-ETL and that it was better to leave the judgement to the audience. The market delivered the judgement for us. Census sold to Fivetran in May 2025 and now lives on as Fivetran's activation layer. Hightouch stayed independent, raised at a $1.2B valuation, and repositioned as a Composable CDP with [AI Decisioning](https://hightouch.com/platform/ai-decisioning): instead of syncing segments that humans define, an AI decides which message goes to which customer.

Two companies that once shipped mirror-image comparison pages ended up in different businesses entirely. Reverse-ETL turned out to be a feature, not a company. Census accepted that; Hightouch out-ran it.

The 2024 version gave Segment its own CDP section. Its update is corporate rather than technical: activist investors pushed Twilio to divest it; after an operational review Twilio [decided to keep it](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/press/releases/twilio-concludes-operational-review-of-segment). Meanwhile the composable-CDP camp led by Hightouch keeps arguing your warehouse should be the CDP, and that argument gets easier every year. So Segment loses the standalone section, and this stack gets a little more Snowflake-shaped.

## CI/CD - Bytebase

After all, Snowflake is a database system, and the pain point for any database is schema migration. Everything above is DataOps; schema migration is CI/CD. Snowflake open sourced [schemachange](https://github.com/Snowflake-Labs/schemachange), a python CLI in the spirit of [flyway](https://github.com/flyway/flyway), and it is still maintained. The bigger native move is [DCM Projects](https://docs.snowflake.com/en/user-guide/dcm-projects/dcm-projects-overview) (public preview since March 2026): declare the desired state of your Snowflake objects, and Snowflake plans and applies the diff, terraform-style, without terraform state drift.

[Bytebase](/) approaches the same problem from the review side. It provides a GUI collaborative workspace with review workflow and version control for Snowflake schema migrations and ad-hoc changes, like what GitHub does for code management.

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/snowflake-issue.webp)

It also provides native GitOps integration with all mainstream VCSs to manage the change scripts in the repository.

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/vscode-create-table.webp)

The practical difference: schemachange and DCM Projects manage Snowflake. Bytebase manages Snowflake next to everything else, because Snowflake is rarely your only database. The same review workflow, approval policy, and audit trail apply to the PostgreSQL and MySQL fleet feeding the warehouse. If your change process ends at the warehouse boundary, you have two change processes.

## Data Analytics - Hex

![_](/content/blog/modern-snowflake-stack/hex.webp)

[Hex](https://hex.tech/) is an AI analytics platform built around notebooks: SQL, Python, and no-code in one workspace, published as interactive data apps and dashboards. Since 2024 it went all-in on agents: a Notebook Agent that writes queries and builds charts, Threads reachable from Slack, semantic models to keep the answers governed.

Hex was not in the 2024 version either; it earns the slot because of who keeps funding it. Snowflake Ventures invested, [increased its stake](https://www.snowflake.com/en/blog/snowflake-ventures-increases-investment-in-hex/), then joined the [$70M Series C](https://hex.tech/blog/series-c/) in May 2025. It also inherited much of Mode's audience after ThoughtSpot acquired Mode. Not Snowflake-exclusive (it speaks BigQuery, Databricks, and Redshift too), but the closest thing to an ecosystem-blessed analytics front end for Snowflake.

## The BI prediction, graded

In the 2024 version, this section was called "What are we missing?" and noted the elephant in the room: there was no outstanding BI tool built specifically for Snowflake. I wrote: "Maybe the industry is just waiting for Snowflake to announce its own BI solution, not a far sight from Snowsight anyway."

Grading honestly: half right. Snowflake did ship its own answer: Cortex Analyst (natural language to SQL against a governed semantic layer), then Snowflake Intelligence, renamed CoWork at Summit 2026: a conversational agent that answers questions, publishes live RBAC-scoped dashboards, and generates deliverables on Snowflake data. But calling it a BI solution is a stretch. No drag-and-drop authoring, no pixel-perfect layout, Snowflake-only. Teams still keep Tableau or Looker for the hand-crafted dashboards, so the elephant is still in the room. What Snowflake shipped is a different bet: you ask an agent instead of opening a dashboard. Whether that bet retires the BI license is a prediction for the next refresh.

## Summary

The 2024 summary opened with a chart of `Modern Data Stack` picking up; this refresh opened with `semantic layer` breaking out. The torch has passed. Jim Barksdale said there are only two ways to make money in business: bundling and unbundling. The Modern Data Stack era was the great unbundling: one vendor per layer, composed via the warehouse. Now comes the re-bundling. Fivetran, dbt, and Census merged into one company. Snowflake absorbed ingestion (Datavolo becoming Openflow), transformation (native dbt Projects), observability (Observe), BI (CoWork), and even OLTP: it bought Crunchy Data to ship [Snowflake Postgres](https://www.snowflake.com/en/blog/snowflake-postgres-enterprise-ai-database/) weeks after Databricks [paid ~$1B for Neon](https://www.databricks.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/databricks-agrees-acquire-neon-help-developers-deliver-ai-systems). When both warehouse giants buy a Postgres company in the same season, that tells you where the puck is heading ([and Databricks still disagrees with Snowflake on everything else](https://www.databricks.com/databricks-vs-snowflake)).

The independents that remain (Atlan, Immuta, Bigeye, Hightouch) all made the same move: reposition one level up, from governing data to governing the AI agents that consume it. The stack consolidated; the pendulum will swing back. See you in 2028!



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform. We update the post periodically.

</HintBlock>

MySQL is the most popular open-source relational database management system (RDBMS), and MySQL schema migration remains notoriously painful. Several open-source migration tools have emerged with different capabilities and workflows. All of the tools below are actively maintained as of 2026:

- [Skeema](https://www.skeema.io/)
- [Liquibase](https://www.liquibase.com/)
- [Flyway](https://flywaydb.org/)
- [Bytebase](https://www.bytebase.com/)

One adjacent category is deliberately excluded: **online schema change** tools like gh-ost and pt-online-schema-change, which rebuild large tables without blocking writes. They complement rather than replace the migration tools below, and we compare them in depth in [gh-ost vs pt-online-schema-change](/blog/gh-ost-vs-pt-online-schema-change/).

## Skeema

[Skeema](https://www.skeema.io/) is a schema management system for MySQL and MariaDB. It enables management of table definitions and schema changes in a declarative fashion using pure SQL.

![skeema](/content/blog/top-open-source-mysql-migration-tools/skeema.webp)

Skeema supports a pull-request-based workflow for schema change submission, review, and execution. This permits your team to manage schema changes the same way as you manage code changes.

Skeema has a companion SaaS tool, Skeema Cloud Linter, that provides automatic linting of schema change commits and pull requests.

GitHub uses both Skeema and gh-ost to [automate its MySQL schema migration process](https://github.blog/2020-02-14-automating-mysql-schema-migrations-with-github-actions-and-more/).

## Liquibase

[Liquibase](https://github.com/liquibase/liquibase) is arguably the most well-known product in this segment. It's CLI-based and written in Java.

In Liquibase, the schema migrations are organized as `Changeset` and `Changelog`. Probably due to its age and root in Java, the most commonly used form is XML (YAML and JSON support have been added later):

![_](/content/blog/_shared/liquibase-xml.webp)

Plain SQL is also supported with proper annotation:

![_](/content/blog/_shared/liquibase-sql.webp)

## Flyway

[Flyway](https://github.com/flyway/flyway) is another open source project with a long history and a large customer base. Its core product includes the CLI and a Java library.

Flyway has been acquired by Redgate, while it still retains a developer-oriented approach. This can be felt from its website.

![_](/content/blog/_shared/flyway-migration.webp)

Liquibase and Flyway are closely matched in their offerings. The key distinction between them is their target audiences: Liquibase is oriented towards serving enterprise clients, whereas Flyway presents itself as more developer-friendly and approachable.

## Bytebase

[Bytebase](https://github.com/bytebase/bytebase) is an all-in-one database DevOps and CI/CD solution. It's like GitHub/GitLab that provides a GUI workspace for developers and DBAs to collaborate on database changes. It's written in Go and TypeScript.

![issue-detail](/content/blog/top-open-source-postgres-migration-tools/issue-detail.webp)

It also provides configurable SQL lint rules to detect SQL anti-patterns.

![sql-review](/content/blog/top-open-source-postgres-migration-tools/sql-review.webp)

For MySQL, it also provides a GUI wrapper around gh-ost for online schema migration.

![bb-issue-ghost-config](/content/blog/top-open-source-mysql-migration-tools/bb-issue-ghost-config.webp)

Apart from taking care of database change management, Bytebase also provides a SQL Editor with data access control, dynamic data masking and audit logs to control the query path.

![sql-editor](/content/blog/top-open-source-postgres-migration-tools/sql-editor.webp)

## Summary

| Name                                                | Interface | Language        | MySQL Only          | Highlight                               |
| --------------------------------------------------- | --------- | --------------- | ------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| [Skeema](https://github.com/skeema/skeema)          | CLI       | Go              | N (MySQL + MariaDB) | Declarative pure-SQL schema management. |
| [Liquibase](https://github.com/liquibase/liquibase) | CLI       | Java            | N                   | Long-standing.                          |
| [Flyway](https://github.com/flyway/flyway)          | CLI       | Java            | N                   | Developer-friendly.                     |
| [Bytebase](https://github.com/bytebase/bytebase)    | GUI       | Go + TypeScript | N                   | All in one for team collaboration.      |

## References

- [How to install local MySQL on Mac, Ubuntu, CentOS, Windows](/reference/mysql/how-to/how-to-install-mysql-on-mac-ubuntu-centos-windows/)



In today's digital age, where data is as valuable as oil, protecting this crucial asset is essential for every organization. Threats arise from external sources like hackers and malware, as well as internal ones, including human errors and malicious insiders. This article will explore leading database security tools designed to shield your data from these varied risks.

- Networking - [Tailscale](#tailscale)
- Database credential management - [Infisical](#infisical)
- On-demand database access - [Indent](#indent)
- All-in-one human-to-db operation - [Bytebase](#bytebase)

## Tailscale

[Tailscale](https://tailscale.com/) is a VPN service that makes the devices and applications you own accessible anywhere in the world, securely and effortlessly. It enables encrypted point-to-point connections using the open source WireGuard® protocol, which means only devices on your private network can communicate with each other.

![tailscale-home-img](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/tailscale-home-img.webp)

When it comes to databases, Tailscale can be used to connect to your database from any location globally, without having to expose your database to the public internet or setting up extra SSH tunnels.

![tailscale-home-slogan](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/tailscale-home-slogan.webp)

Its free tier accommodates up to 3 users and 100 devices, which is for individuals or small businesses. For additional capabilities like Access control and Audit logs, paid plans start at $6 per user per month.

![tailscale-pricing](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/tailscale-pricing.webp)

## Infisical

[Infisical](https://infisical.com/) is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted secret management platform for storing, managing, and syncing application configuration and secrets like API keys, database credentials, and environment variables across applications and infrastructure. It is an alternative to HashiCorp Vault and AWS Secrets Manager.

![infisical-one-dashboard](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/infisical-one-dashboard.webp)

You have the option to host Infisical on your premises or utilize their cloud offering.

With its help, your database credentials can be stored in a secure vault and be accessed by your application only when needed. In this way, you can avoid storing your database credentials in your application code or configuration files. Access is facilitated through CLI, SDK, Docker, Kubernetes, or REST API.

![infisical-dashboard-secrets](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/infisical-dashboard-secrets.webp)

The free tier supports up to 5 developers and 3 environments, catering to hobbyists. For features such as Access Controls and Audit Logs, paid plans start at $6 per developer per month.

![infisical-pricing](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/infisical-pricing.webp)

## Indent

[Indent](https://indent.com/) provides team members with on-demand access to cloud apps and infrastructure in seconds. They aptly describe this innovation as the **request access button** for any software or service utilized by the company.

![indent-button](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/indent-button.webp)

In the context of database access management, Indent provides you the capability to grant time-bound, granular access to systems that handle customer data. It offers three methods of integration:

- Zero Trust Network (ZTN) - e.g. Tailscale
- Identity Group - e.g. Okta
- Custom Integration

![indent-graph](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/indent-graph.webp)

Indent provides a secure-by-default free tier suitable for small teams on a trial basis. For those requiring more, the paid plans begin at $8 per user per month.

![indent-pricing](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/indent-pricing.webp)

## Bytebase

[Bytebase](/) is an open-source database DevOps tool, it's the GitLab/GitHub for managing databases throughout the application development lifecycle. It offers a web-based collaboration workspace for DBAs, Developers and platform engineers. It consolidates disparate DB tools
such as DBeaver, Liquibase, Flyway into a single place.

![replaced-tools](/content/blog/_shared/replaced-tools.webp)

It seeks to encompass all interactions between humans and databases across every database, including managing changes, querying data, handling access, and beyond. Thanks to its features such as SQL Lint, Database CI/CD, Database Access Control, Data Masking, and more, you can be confident that all your database activities are executed via standardized procedures and completely auditable.

![bb-3-op](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/bb-3-op.webp)

With Community Plan, you can have up to 10 users and up to 5 databases for free. For medium to large organizations, the Enterprise plan offers advanced options like Database Access Control, Audit Log, and additional features.

![bb-pricing-995](/content/blog/top-database-security-tools/bb-pricing-995.webp)

## Summary

In this article, we have explored four database security tools that can help you protect your database from external and internal threats. Each tool offers its unique strengths; by understanding your specific needs, you can choose the one that most aligns with your requirements.



MySQL GUI clients give you a visual way to browse tables, write queries, and manage your databases without living in the terminal. They handle connection management, syntax highlighting, auto-complete, data export, and dozens of other small tasks that add up over a day of database work. Choosing the right one depends on your budget, which databases you use beyond MySQL, and whether you work solo or on a team.

The MySQL GUI client market has shifted noticeably in the past two years. DBeaver's Community Edition has established itself as the default free option. Beekeeper Studio has emerged as a serious contender with its AI features and clean design. Meanwhile, traditional tools like Navicat are feeling pricing pressure from open-source alternatives that now match most of their features.

Below are the five MySQL GUI clients worth evaluating in 2026, followed by a comparison table and a note on when a dedicated database DevSecOps tool like [Bytebase](/) makes more sense than a single-user client.

## MySQL Workbench

![mysql-workbench](/content/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/mysql-workbench.webp)

[MySQL Workbench](https://www.mysql.com/products/workbench/) is the official GUI from Oracle. It is free under the GPL license and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The current version is 8.0.46 (January 2026).

**What it does well:**

- **ER diagrams and data modeling.** Workbench is the only tool on this list with built-in visual schema design. You can forward-engineer a model into DDL or reverse-engineer an existing database into a diagram.
- **Migration wizard.** It can migrate schemas and data from SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and other databases into MySQL.
- **Performance dashboard.** A real-time server status panel shows connections, query throughput, and InnoDB buffer pool usage.

**Limitations:**

- MySQL only. If you also work with Postgres, MongoDB, or any other database, you need a second tool.
- The UI has not changed much in years. On macOS especially, it can feel slow and occasionally crashes under heavy ER diagram editing.
- No built-in AI assistance or modern auto-complete beyond basic keyword suggestions.

**Pricing:** Free.

**Best for:** Developers and DBAs who work exclusively with MySQL and want a no-cost tool with schema design capabilities. If you only use MySQL and never need to connect to Postgres, MongoDB, or any other database, Workbench is hard to argue against. It costs nothing and it does things (like visual ER modeling) that other free tools skip.

## DBeaver

![dbeaver](/content/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/dbeaver.webp)

[DBeaver](https://dbeaver.io/) started as a hobby project in 2010 and has become the most widely used open-source database client. The Community Edition (Apache 2.0 license) covers most SQL databases. The Pro and Enterprise editions add NoSQL support, cloud databases, a visual query builder, and an AI-powered SQL assistant. The latest release is version 26.0 (March 2026).

**What it does well:**

- **Database coverage.** The Community Edition connects to 80+ SQL databases through JDBC, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, SQLite, ClickHouse, and CockroachDB. The Pro edition adds MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra, BigQuery, Snowflake, and others.
- **ER diagrams.** Auto-generated from existing schemas. Useful for understanding table relationships in an unfamiliar database.
- **Plugin ecosystem.** Extensions for Git integration, data visualization, and additional drivers.

**Limitations:**

- Java-based. DBeaver uses more memory than native apps like TablePlus, and startup is slower, especially on older hardware.
- The UI is functional but dense. New users can find the toolbar and preferences overwhelming.
- NoSQL and cloud databases require a paid edition (Pro or Enterprise).

**Pricing:** Community is free. Paid editions (Pro and Enterprise) start at $250/user/year.

**Best for:** Developers who work with multiple SQL databases daily and want a single free tool that covers all of them. If your stack includes MySQL, Postgres, and maybe a data warehouse like ClickHouse or Snowflake, DBeaver Community can replace three separate clients.

## TablePlus

![tableplus](/content/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/tableplus.webp)

[TablePlus](https://tableplus.com/) launched in 2017 and quickly gained a following among macOS developers for its clean, native UI. It now runs on Windows, Linux, and iOS as well. The current version is 6.8 (February 2026).

**What it does well:**

- **Speed.** TablePlus is a native app (not Electron or Java), so it launches instantly and handles large result sets without lag.
- **Inline editing.** You can edit data directly in the result grid, and TablePlus shows a diff-style preview of all pending changes before you commit. This "code review for data" workflow prevents accidental writes.
- **Clean design.** The interface is minimal and focused. Tabs, filters, and connections are all accessible without digging through menus.

**Limitations:**

- The free tier limits you to 2 open tabs and 2 open windows. That is tight enough to push most working developers toward a paid license.
- No ER diagram or data modeling features.
- No AI-powered SQL generation (as of early 2026).

**Pricing:** Free tier with limits. A Basic license is $89 one-time (1 device, 1 year of updates). Standard is $129 (2 devices). After the update period ends, you keep the app but stop receiving new versions unless you renew.

**Best for:** Mac-first developers who value speed and simplicity and are willing to pay for a polished experience. The one-time pricing model is also attractive compared to the annual subscriptions that DBeaver Pro and Navicat charge.

## Beekeeper Studio

![beekeeper-studio](/content/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/beekeeper-studio.webp)

[Beekeeper Studio](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/) is the newest entrant on this list and has grown steadily since its first release. The Community Edition is free (GPLv3) and the paid tiers add cloud workspaces, an AI Shell, and team features. The current version is approximately 5.6 (February 2026).

**What it does well:**

- **Modern UI.** The interface is clean and approachable. Among the tools on this list, it has the gentlest learning curve for someone who has never used a database client before.
- **Open-source core.** The Community Edition has no tab limits or connection restrictions, unlike TablePlus's free tier.
- **AI Shell (paid).** Connects your database schema to OpenAI, Copilot, or Gemini to generate SQL from natural language. You can also ask questions about your data directly.

**Limitations:**

- Built on Electron, so it uses more memory than a native app like TablePlus, though Beekeeper Studio is lighter than DBeaver.
- The Community Edition does not include the AI features or cloud workspaces.
- Fewer database drivers than DBeaver. It covers MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, CockroachDB, MariaDB, Oracle, MongoDB, Redis, and a few others, but not the 80+ that DBeaver supports.

**Pricing:** Community is free. Paid plans start at $9/user/month (billed annually) for Indie, $14/user/month for Professional, and $18/user/month for Business. All paid plans include a lifetime usage license after 12 months of payment.

**Best for:** Developers and small teams who want a free, modern client with optional AI features and a reasonable upgrade path. If you are new to database clients and find DBeaver's interface intimidating, Beekeeper Studio is a less overwhelming starting point.

## Navicat

![navicat](/content/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/navicat.webp)

[Navicat](https://navicat.com/) has been around since 2002 and positions itself as a premium database management tool. The "Navicat for MySQL" edition supports MySQL and MariaDB. The separate "Navicat Premium" edition covers 15+ databases. The current version is Navicat 17.

**What it does well:**

- **Data synchronization.** Navicat can compare and sync data or schema structures between two MySQL databases, which is useful for staging-to-production workflows.
- **Automation.** You can schedule queries, backups, and data transfers to run on a recurring basis without external cron jobs.
- **Navicat Cloud.** A cloud service for sharing connections, queries, and models with teammates.

**Limitations:**

- Expensive. Navicat for MySQL starts at $14.99/month or $149.99/year for the Standard edition, with the Enterprise edition at $22.99/month or $229.99/year. There is no free tier, only a 14-day trial.
- The UI has improved over the years but still feels heavier than TablePlus or Beekeeper Studio.
- For the price, many developers find that DBeaver Pro or DataGrip offers comparable features at a lower cost.

**Pricing:** Standard starts at $149.99/year. Enterprise at $229.99/year. A non-commercial license is $99.99/year (requires eligibility). 14-day free trial.

**Best for:** Enterprise teams with budget for a premium tool who need built-in data sync, scheduling, and cloud collaboration. Individual developers and small startups will find better value in DBeaver or TablePlus.

## Comparison table

| Feature                 | MySQL Workbench | DBeaver Community |      TablePlus       | Beekeeper Studio |     Navicat     |
| ----------------------- | :-------------: | :---------------: | :------------------: | :--------------: | :-------------: |
| **Price**               |      Free       |       Free        |    $89+ one-time     |  Free / $9+/mo   |   $149.99+/yr   |
| **MySQL support**       |       Yes       |        Yes        |         Yes          |       Yes        |       Yes       |
| **Multi-database**      |       No        | 80+ SQL databases |    ~15 databases     |  ~15 databases   |  15+ (Premium)  |
| **ER diagrams**         |       Yes       |        Yes        |          No          |        No        |       Yes       |
| **Data modeling**       |       Yes       |     Pro only      |          No          |        No        |       Yes       |
| **AI SQL assistant**    |       No        |     Pro only      |          No          |    Paid tiers    |       No        |
| **Inline data editing** |     Limited     |        Yes        |   Yes (with diff)    |       Yes        |       Yes       |
| **Data sync**           |       No        |     Pro only      |          No          |        No        |       Yes       |
| **Platforms**           | Win, Mac, Linux |  Win, Mac, Linux  | Win, Mac, Linux, iOS | Win, Mac, Linux  | Win, Mac, Linux |
| **Open source**         |    Yes (GPL)    | Yes (Apache 2.0)  |          No          |   Yes (GPLv3)    |       No        |

## Notable mentions

**phpMyAdmin** is still the default MySQL tool in most shared hosting environments. If you manage MySQL through cPanel or Plesk, you probably already have it. It is web-based, free, and has been around since 1998. For local development, one of the five desktop clients above is a better fit.

**DataGrip** from JetBrains ($229/year) is a strong choice if you already use IntelliJ or other JetBrains IDEs. It has excellent code intelligence and refactoring support, but it is not free. See our [Bytebase vs. DataGrip comparison](/blog/bytebase-vs-datagrip/) for a detailed breakdown.

**HeidiSQL** is a lightweight, Windows-only client that has been quietly reliable for years. If you are on Windows and want something fast and free, it is worth a look.

**Sequel Ace** is a free, open-source MySQL client for macOS. It is the community-maintained successor to the discontinued Sequel Pro. If you only use MySQL on a Mac and prefer a native, no-frills client, Sequel Ace is a solid option.

## When a GUI client is not enough

Every tool above is designed for individual use: one person writing queries against one or more databases. That works until your team grows and you need to answer questions like:

- Who changed the schema on the production database last Tuesday?
- Can we review this ALTER TABLE before it runs in production?
- How do we restrict which developers can run DELETE statements on customer data?

These are team-level concerns, and they are where a dedicated database DevSecOps platform like [Bytebase](/) fits in. Bytebase provides a [SQL Editor](/sql-editor/) for day-to-day queries, but it also adds change review workflows, [schema migration management](/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/), role-based access control, [data masking](/blog/mysql-dynamic-data-masking/), and audit logging. If your organization needs [more than what a single-user client offers](/blog/bytebase-vs-navicat/), Bytebase is built for that.

![Bytebase SQL Editor interface](/content/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/bytebase-sql-editor.webp)



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform. We update the post periodically.

</HintBlock>

PostgreSQL keeps topping the popularity charts (DB-Engines named it DBMS of the Year in 2023, runner-up in 2024). And yet doing a schema migration in Postgres is still a PITA. Over the years a small industry of tools has grown up to make it less so, and they don't all solve the same problem. Put simply, the tools that apply your SQL fall into three camps: the versioned-migration veterans that run your scripts in order, the declarative newcomers that diff a desired schema against the live one, and the zero-downtime specialists that rewrite big tables without taking a lock. Bytebase is the odd one out, a governance layer that sits on top of whichever camp you pick. I'll get to why.

Here's the full list, all open source and, with the one exception I flag under Reshape, actively maintained as of July 2026:

- [Flyway](#flyway)
- [Liquibase](#liquibase)
- [Sqitch](#sqitch)
- [graphile-migrate](#graphile-migrate)
- [Atlas](#atlas)
- [pgschema](#pgschema)
- [pgroll](#pgroll)
- [Reshape](#reshape)
- [Bytebase](#bytebase)

## The versioned veterans

### Flyway

[Flyway](https://github.com/flyway/flyway) is the one your CI probably already runs. You write each change as a numbered SQL file (`V1__init.sql`, `V2__add_index.sql`), Flyway applies them in order, and it records what ran in a `flyway_schema_history` table. It's Java, and ships as a CLI, a library, Maven and Gradle plugins, and a Docker image.

Redgate bought Flyway in 2019 and, to their credit, kept the developer-first feel while stacking paid tiers on top (Teams and Enterprise add undo, dry runs, and drift checks). The open source Community edition still covers the core job. It's on the 12.x line now, with 12.9 shipping in June 2026. ~9,900 stars.

The honest limitation: Flyway runs migrations, full stop. Review, approval, and audit are your problem to solve elsewhere. I go into that boundary in [Bytebase vs. Flyway](/blog/bytebase-vs-flyway/).

### Liquibase

[Liquibase](https://github.com/liquibase/liquibase) is the enterprise incumbent. Changes live as a `changeset` inside a `changelog`, and because of its Java roots the canonical format is XML (YAML, JSON, and plain SQL came later).

![liquibase-xml](/content/blog/_shared/liquibase-xml.webp)

Liquibase 5.0 shipped in early 2026, folding the old Pro capabilities and a reworked flow engine into the main line. The core stays free; Pro and Secure tiers add policy checks and reporting. ~5,600 stars.

To be honest, the XML is the part I'd push back on. It takes a paragraph of markup to add one column. If your shop is already standardized on Liquibase changelogs, it's a fine default and the integrations are unmatched. If you're starting fresh, that verbosity is a tax you're choosing to pay. More on where it fits in [Bytebase vs. Liquibase](/blog/bytebase-vs-liquibase/).

### Sqitch

[Sqitch](https://github.com/sqitchers/sqitch) is for people who just want SQL and nothing else. No version numbers, no framework. You write three scripts per change (deploy, revert, verify), and Sqitch tracks dependencies between changes instead of a linear counter. Perl, MIT-licensed, no paid tier. ~3,100 stars.

The dependency model is the clever bit. Declare that change B depends on A, and Sqitch refuses to deploy B first. It fits Postgres like a glove and rides directly on `psql`, so there's almost nothing to learn if you already write SQL by hand. FWIW, this is what I'd reach for when a project wants reversible plain-SQL migrations without dragging in a heavyweight.

### graphile-migrate

[graphile-migrate](https://github.com/graphile/migrate) is the framework-native member of the versioned camp: [opinionated](https://github.com/graphile/migrate?tab=readme-ov-file#opinions), roll-forward, and written in TypeScript for the Graphile and PostGraphile crowd. Its signature is a git-like local loop: `graphile-migrate commit` moves the current migration into the `committed/` folder and resets a shadow database, and `uncommit` backs it out while you iterate. ~840 stars.

If you're not already in PostGraphile land, there's little reason to reach for it. If you are, it fits like a native.

## The declarative camp

### Atlas

[Atlas](https://github.com/ariga/atlas) brings the Terraform model to database schema. You declare the schema you want (in HCL, SQL, or straight from an ORM), Atlas plans the diff against the live database, then applies it. It also does versioned migrations, so you can work declaratively and still generate files for review. Go, from the Ariga team.

The core is Apache-2.0. Atlas Pro, sold through Atlas Cloud, adds linting, drift detection, and a schema registry. ~8,600 stars and moving fast. If you love `terraform plan`, you'll feel at home immediately. One thing to weigh: its declarative diffing overlaps with the dedicated [Postgres schema compare tools](/blog/top-postgres-schema-compare-tools/), so decide up front whether you want one tool doing both jobs.

### pgschema

[pgschema](https://github.com/pgplex/pgschema) is the new kid (Go), doing the same declarative, Terraform-like flow, but Postgres-only:

- **Dump** a Postgres schema in a developer-friendly format
- **Edit** it to the desired state
- **Plan** the change by diffing desired against current
- **Apply** with concurrent-change detection, transaction-adaptive execution, and lock-timeout control

Postgres-only is a feature here, not a limitation. It can lean on Postgres specifics instead of the lowest-common-denominator abstraction a multi-engine tool has to settle for. It's early though (~970 stars), so I'd trial it on a side project before betting a production pipeline on it. _Alternatives:_ Atlas, if you want the same model with more mileage and multi-engine support.

## The zero-downtime specialists

### pgroll

[pgroll](https://github.com/xataio/pgroll) (Go, from [Xata](https://xata.io/)) tackles the genuinely hard one: schema change with zero downtime. It uses the expand/contract pattern, keeping both the old and new schema valid behind versioned views so the old and new versions of your app run side by side during a rollout.

![pgroll-migration-flow](/content/blog/top-open-source-postgres-migration-tools/pgroll-migration-flow.webp)

Apache-2.0, actively developed, ~6,500 stars. Put simply, this is the tool you add the day a plain `ALTER TABLE` on a hot 40-million-row table would lock writes long enough to page someone. You don't need it until you very much do.

### Reshape

[Reshape](https://github.com/fabianlindfors/reshape) got there first with the same view-based, zero-downtime idea, written in Rust. A migration runs in three phases: `start` sets up the views and triggers so both schemas work, you roll out the app gradually, and `complete` drops the old schema.

![reshape](/content/blog/top-open-source-postgres-migration-tools/reshape.webp)

Here's the caveat I'd want to know before adopting it. The author has moved on to [ReshapeDB](https://reshapedb.com/), a database built from the ground up around zero-downtime migrations, and Reshape itself (~1,800 stars) now sees less activity than pgroll. It's a great idea and worth reading to understand expand/contract. But if you're choosing today, pgroll is the more actively maintained take on the same trick.

## The governance layer

### Bytebase

Full disclosure: [Bytebase](https://github.com/bytebase/bytebase) is ours, so read this with the appropriate grain of salt. It's the odd one out on this list, on purpose. Everything above applies SQL. Bytebase governs the change around it. Think GitHub or GitLab for database changes, where developers and DBAs collaborate through a GUI or a GitOps workflow. Go and TypeScript, ~14,000 stars.

![issue-detail](/content/blog/top-open-source-postgres-migration-tools/issue-detail.webp)

It runs configurable SQL review rules to catch anti-patterns, a missing `NOT NULL` or a dangerous DDL, before a change reaches production.

![sql-review](/content/blog/top-open-source-postgres-migration-tools/sql-review.webp)

It also keeps change history, approval flows, and an audit log, plus a SQL Editor with data access control and dynamic data masking on the query path.

![sql-editor](/content/blog/top-open-source-postgres-migration-tools/sql-editor.webp)

To be clear, Bytebase doesn't replace Flyway or pgroll at the apply step. It wraps review, approval, and audit around whatever migration style you already use. If your problem isn't running the SQL but knowing who approved a change and whether what actually ran matched what was approved, that's the gap it fills. See [how to build a CI/CD pipeline for database schema migration](/blog/how-to-build-cicd-pipeline-for-database-schema-migration/) and [database version control](/blog/database-version-control/).

## Summary

| Tool | Approach | Interface | Language | Postgres-only | Zero-downtime | Licensing model |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flyway | Versioned SQL | CLI + library | Java | No | Edition-dependent | OSS core + paid |
| Liquibase | Versioned changesets | CLI + library | Java | No | No | OSS core + paid |
| Sqitch | Versioned, dependency-based | CLI | Perl | No | No | MIT |
| Atlas | Declarative + versioned | CLI | Go | No | Partial | Apache-2.0 core + paid |
| pgschema | Declarative | CLI | Go | Yes | Lock-aware apply | Open source |
| pgroll | Expand/contract | CLI | Go | Yes | Yes | Apache-2.0 |
| Reshape | Expand/contract | CLI | Rust | Yes | Yes | MIT |
| graphile-migrate | Roll-forward SQL | CLI | TypeScript | Yes | No | MIT |
| Bytebase | Governed platform | GUI + GitOps | Go + TypeScript | No | Depends on tool | OSS core + paid |

## My take

So which one? If I'm starting a new Postgres project today, I'd use Sqitch or Flyway for everyday versioned migrations and keep pgroll in my back pocket for the handful of changes that would otherwise lock a big table. If your team thinks in desired state, Atlas is the safer bet than the newer pgschema, at least for now.

And once more than a couple of people are touching production, the bottleneck stops being which tool applies the SQL. It becomes who's allowed to, and what actually ran. That's the boring, unglamorous part, and it's exactly where most [migration outages](/blog/postgres-schema-migration-without-downtime/) come from. Pick the migration tool you like. Just don't skip that part.



It's the beginning of the year and companies are planning their HCs for the new year. With the advent of advanced database platforms and tooling, the industry is trending towards decreasing or even eliminating DBAs (Database Administrators). We have been working with companies of all sizes in the past and below share our thoughts.

To clarify, the DBA role we are talking about is the role dedicated to database operational tasks. The person may hold different titles, including Database Administrator (DBA), Database Reliability Engineer (DRE), SRE, Platform Engineer, DevOps Engineer, etc.

## < 30 - No need to have a dedicated DBA

When the company's engineering HC is below 30, there is no need for a DBA. Usually, the backend engineers, DevOps / Platform engineers, or TLs in the team take up part-time responsibilities at this stage.

At this stage, it is recommended to choose a cloud database hosting service, because it comes with out-of-the-box tooling such as monitoring and backup. As for daily changes to the database, you can introduce tools or not. If you don't introduce it, the TL can cope with it through design review, code review, etc.

## 30 to 50 - First DBA and tooling

The database-related tasks have increased and part-time can not sustain. At the same time, because the business is beginning to take off, it is necessary to pave the way for longer-term data quality and governance. Therefore, at this stage, the company needs to consider introducing a dedicated DBA to take charge of database-related matters.

With the introduction of the first DBA, the introduction of relevant database tools should also be considered. As for the exact timing, one is to look at the proportion of the database-related workload, 50% is the watermark. Another is to see whether more than 50% of the high-priority work items of the entire engineering org are database-related. Of course, another indicator is the number of database-triggered outages. If there have been incidents in two consecutive months, then the introduction of a DBA is imminent.

Usually at this stage, the company still has difficulty attracting a good DBA, and that's OK. The first DBA does not need to build a system, just establishes a process. The process is divided into two parts, one is to formalize the database's operational and maintenance tasks, such as monitoring, periodic fleet inspection, and backup. The other part is to standardize the process of database access and change management. Both things need to leverage tools. The former usually leverages the cloud platform with the proper configuration; the latter requires 3rd party tools such as [Bytebase](https://docs.bytebase.com/introduction/what-is-bytebase/) to standardize the process (e.g. Require manual review before changing the database in prod).

![change-query-secure-govern-database-all-in-one](/content/blog/_shared/db-scheme-lg.png)

At this stage, it is also necessary for the engineering lead to be supportive. Because the introduction of DBA and process will limit the developers' freedom. Because DBA and Developers have different incentives, and DBA is new to the team. We need the engineering lead to mediate between the two sides to avoid conflict. In the end, at this stage, the business is still the absolute priority, so if the developers do not buy in, they can find excuses to bypass the policies that DBA establishes.

![_](/content/blog/how-many-dbas-should-a-company-hire/freedom-control.webp)

Meanwhile, the engineering lead should also focus on mentoring the DBA, so that she can grow with the company into the next stage.

## 100 - Second DBA

Typically, when the engineering team size reaches 100, it is necessary to bring in a second DBA to form a backup. If the first DBA grows up, then the second DBA can be a junior. However, if the first DBA does not keep up with the company's growth, then it is necessary to introduce a relatively senior DBA.

At this stage, DBA must examine the current database stacks and standardize on very limited choices (e.g. Pick either MySQL or PG, not both). The key are two things, choosing the right database and the right tool. This is also why we need a seasoned DBA. After this stage, it will be a huge endeavor to switch databases and tooling, so it's more cost-effective to find an experienced DBA now.

## 200 - Team DBA

We see cases of public companies maintaining a two-DBA setup for a long time. However, the number of DBAs is correlated with database risk. **The empirical rule is the DBA:Developer ratio should not be less than 1:200**. The DBA cost can be justified if she can prevent one outage per year, which is quite easy to achieve.

At this stage, it's also quite often that the DBA team needs to extend the standard 3rd-party tools to meet the custom in-house requirements. This can go as far as GitHub, where they build the [entire toolchain to automate the database schema migrations](https://github.blog/2020-02-14-automating-mysql-schema-migrations-with-github-actions-and-more/).

## Wrapup

| Engineering Org Size | DBA Size                               | Core Responsibilities |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------- | --------------------- |
| Below 30             | 0                                      | Run                   |
| 30 to 50             | 1                                      | Establish process     |
| 50 to 200            | 2 ~ 3                                  | Governance            |
| Above 200            | DBA:Developer ratio no less than 1:200 | Customization         |

## Do we need DBA at all

> A skilled warrior has no illustrious achievements - The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Cloud, Serverless, and Autonomous DBs, all suggest a path to a future without DBAs. However, dealing with database operations is still a specialized skill and also bears high risk. Even for companies not having the luxury to hire a DBA, a database person should always be put in place. This is quite similar to the security team.

The stakes are so high that one can't blindly trust an index optimization suggestion and must take a second eye. It's better to let the database platform and tools be the copilots and still put the dedicated DBA in the driver seat.

Meanwhile, companies can also consider hiring 3rd-party DBA consultants such as [Vettabase](https://vettabase.com/). For small companies, they provide database health checks and monthly DBA time. For larger companies, they can also provide expertise with technologies that DBAs are not familiar with, such as certain load balancers, query optimization, or Ansible/Terraform automation.



![state-of-devops-2023](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/state-of-devops-2023.webp)

## Background

A few days ago, [DORA](https://dora.community/) (DevOps Research and Assessments), a program run by Google Cloud, [released](https://cloud.google.com/devops/state-of-devops) its annual State of DevOps 2023 report. Starting from 2014, DORA releases one report every year. Due to the pandemic, they skipped one in 2020, so this year's report adds to a total of nine reports.

Initially an independent research institution, DORA joined Google Cloud at the end of 2018. Overall, DORA's reports are considered the authoritive in the entire DevOps industry; this should also be why it got the nod from Google initially. Even after joining Google, its reports still maintain neutrality for the most part. From initially focusing on software release metrics to now extending to organizational culture and business performance, DORA's readers have expanded from managers, directors to CTOs, VPs in leadership roles. This is particularly prominent in this year's report and aligns with Google Cloud shifting its focus to enterprise sales.

Bytebase is a database CI/CD tool for DBAs and DevOps teams. As part of the DevOps ecosystems, the
Bytebase team is eager to learn the new development in this year's DORA report.

## The Sponsors

![form](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/form.webp)

To get the report this year, you need to fill out your contact info. In the fifth year after acquiring DORA, Google Cloud has finally accelerated the monetization of DORA. Besides, there have been significant changes in this year's sponsors compared to last year.

![sponsors](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/sponsors.webp)

### Familiar faces from last year

1. [Broadcom Software](https://software.broadcom.com/). Broadcom is a relatively old-school software vendor, and its product line related to DevOps mostly comes from [the acquisition of CA in 2018](https://investors.broadcom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/broadcom-acquire-ca-technologies-189-billion-cash).
2. [Deloitte](https://www.deloitte.com/). IT consulting, a frequent sponsor of the DORA reports.

### New faces this year

1. [LinearB](https://linearb.io/) focuses on the optimization of development processes.

![linearb](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/linearb.webp)

2. [Digital.ai](https://digital.ai/) is doing something similar to LinearB, but utilizes AI for promotion.

![digital-ai](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/digital-ai.webp)

3. [Opsera](https://www.opsera.io/)'s offering is similar to the previous two companies.

![opsera](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/opsera.webp)

4. [Sleuth](https://www.sleuth.io/) does somewhat similar things, but focuses more on DORA.

![sleuth](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/sleuth.webp)

> Sidenote: 10 points to Swarmia, knowing that the new DORA report has been released and people will search for sponsors, and looks like they have placed corresponding keywords.

![google-ads](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/google-ads.webp)

![swarmia](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/swarmia.webp)

5. [Qarik](https://qarik.com/) helps users migrate to cloud-native architecture.

![qarik](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/qarik.webp)

From the sponsor list, the majority of vendors are engaged in optimizing R&D processes, which aligns with the target audience of the DORA report. It will be a bloody battle to be the [Celonis](https://www.celonis.com/)
for software development.

Now let's get to the point and dive deep into the DORA report itself.

## Target Audience

The sample size has increased by 3.6 times compared to last year, making it second only to [Stack Overflow Developer Survey](https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey) in terms of scale within the industry. The coverage of respondents is also more comprehensive.

![sample](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/sample.webp)

In terms of regional distribution, it also reflects the relative size of the software industry in various countries.

![region](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/region.webp)

## Methodology

![methodology](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/methodology.webp)

DORA's recent reports have two main themes:

- Organizational: organizational performance, team performance, employee well-being.
- Operational: software delivery performance, operational performance

## Software Delivery Metrics

The four metrics to measure the speed and stability of software delivery remain largely unchanged:

- Deployment frequency
- Change lead time
- Change failure rate
- Failed deployment recovery time

Among them, the last term was adjusted. The previous report used a more general term "time-to-restore". However, it was too generic to differentiate between failures caused by releases and those caused by natural disasters. The new term more precisely defines within the realm of software delivery.

![recovery-time](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/recovery-time.webp)

## Grading - Return of the Elite Level

Due to the lack of distinction between Elite and High levels, the original four levels became three levels in last year's report.

![grading-2022](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/grading-2022.webp)

This year, Elite returns because of a significant increase in sample size, and the distinction has reemerged.

![grading-2023](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/grading-2023.webp)

## Clustering

![tuckman](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/tuckman.webp)

Last year's report adopted a stage-based classification similar to [Tuckman's stages of group development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckman%27s_stages_of_group_development) (Forming > Storming > Norming > Performing > Adjourning), and was formed into Staring > Flowing > Slowing > Retiring.

![classification](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/classification.webp)

This year, a new trait-based classification was adopted:

- User-centric
- Feature-driven
- Developing
- Balanced

![trait-based](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/trait-based.webp)

Performance of various indicators under different types.

![trait-based-performance-1](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/trait-based-performance-1.webp)

![trait-based-performance-2](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/trait-based-performance-2.webp)

It seems that this year's classification is a bit blurry. Taking Bytebase itself as an example, according to last year's stage classification, Bytebase clearly falls between "starting" and "flowing". However, Bytebase somehow fits into all four classes this year. In terms of trait classification, it may needs to be further subdivided like [MBTI personality analysis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator).

## Key Findings

![key-findings](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/key-findings.webp)

- Establish a healthy culture
- Build with users in mind
- Unlock software delivery performance with faster code reviews
- Amplify technical capabilities with quality documentation
- Increase Infrastructure flexibility with cloud
- Balance delivery speed, operational performance, and user focus
- Distribute work fairly

### Culture and User-centrism

Westrum's Organizational Culture and user-centrism are also part of organizational culture, so we discuss them together.

![culture-1](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/culture-1.webp)
![culture-2](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/culture-2.webp)
![culture-3](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/culture-3.webp)

> Westrum's Organizational Culture originates from Westrum's views in his 2004 paper [A typology of organisational cultures](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1765804/pdf/v013p0ii22.pdf). A highly trusting and information-sharing organizational culture can lead to outstanding business performance.

Among all the evaluated indicators, Westrum's Organizational Culture and user-centrism are the most effective in bringing positive effects. For Westrum's Organizational Culture, you can read more about it in his paper; while for the latter, further data is provided in the DORA report.

You can see that putting the user at the center can bring significant improvements to every indicator, no wonder why companies are vigorously promoting it.

### Technical factors that affect performance

![tech-factor-1](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/tech-factor-1.webp)
![tech-factor-2](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/tech-factor-2.webp)

Loosely coupled architecture -> smaller changes -> improvement of DORA's four core metrics.

![divide](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/divide.webp)
![loosely-coupled-teams](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/loosely-coupled-teams.webp)

## Revalidating the Relationship between Reliability and Performance

![data-2022](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/data-2022.webp)

The data from the 2022 report shows that organizations need to invest a long period of time in reliability engineering before seeing results. This conclusion can be somewhat discouraging as it is easy to give up without early wins.

However, through refined questionnaires in 2023, an inspiring conclusion was drawn: the relationship between stability and performance follows a J-curve, where there are effective results in the early investment stage, followed by a period of bottleneck, and ultimately leading to substantial returns.

## AI Boost: Not much

![ai-contribution](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/ai-contribution.webp)
![ai-contribution-perf](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/ai-contribution-perf.webp)

The 2023 report naturally cannot leave out AI. The conclusion is somewhat discouraging, as it ranks last with a significant gap, among all technological factors. This actually aligns with my personal expectations because currently, the only widely adopted scenario for AI is assisting in coding. While the coding speed is
insignificant compared with other software development activities such as collecting user feedback,
making decision, team collaboration, project management and etc.

![ai-capabilities](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/ai-capabilities.webp)

## Conclusion

### Yet another benchmark

Apart from the content, DORA has once again shown us how to produce a professional industry report. The methodology, interviewees, and analysis methods are clearly explained in the report.

![variable](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/variable.webp)

Data that goes against intuition aren't forcefully conformed to, but instead, questions are raised.

![ci](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/ci.webp)

Listen to various voices, which makes the report more comprehensive and inclusive.

![sample-set](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/sample-set.webp)

And - a few nits from my POV.

### Skimmed Platform Engineering

![pe](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/pe.webp)

The recently emerging Platform Engineering was mentioned for the first time in this year's report. The theme of DORA is Software Delivery and DevOps, and from industry trends, this work corresponds to the Platform Engineering team. The users of Platform Engineering are internal developers, so this part appears in User-centric on page 19. However, as a report studying engineering organizations, DORA ought to elaborate more on Platform Engineering since it is a new organizational shift from the longstanding SRE.

### The Cloud cliché

![cloud-cliche](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/cloud-cliche.webp)

The report lists various advantages of Cloud, but it does not touch upon the recent industry discussions on [Cloud cost](https://world.hey.com/dhh/the-price-of-managed-cloud-services-4f33d67e).

### DORA in transition

![dora](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/dora.webp)

Among the authoritative industry annual reports, Stack Overflow Developer Survey focuses on the specific tools and technologies used in work. Gartner targets management and focuses on industry trends. DORA is positioned between the two. And from the trend of these years' reports, DORA is gradually moving towards management.

![2022-sponsor](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/2022-sponsor.webp)

For example, looking at the sponsor list, in previous years there were more tool vendors specializing in different stages of the development workflow, such as JetBrains IDE, JFrog artifact repositories, GitLab for code hosting, Octopus for application deployment, and Liquibase for database changes. This year's sponsors are all focused on development process efficiency optimization.

Furthermore, this year's report somewhat downplays the four core metrics of software delivery that DORA has always endorsed and instead focuses more on describing the grand traits like culture, user-centrism behind these metrics.

## Final Thoughts

![measurement-goal](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/measurement-goal.webp)

Measurement is not the goal, just like releasing software is not the goal. While it is reassuring if data can confirm assumptions, what is more valuable is revealing incorrect hypothesis.

![final-thought](/content/blog/dora-state-of-devops-2023/final-thought.webp)

At the dawn of AI, the eve of VR, an organization with the ability to continuously improve is the greatest certainty in facing uncertainties.

---

Thanks for reading so far and I'm sure you have a pursuit for software delivery excellence. Take a look at [Bytebase](/), the industry-leading open source database CI/CD tool to deliver database changes faster and safer.



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform. We update the post periodically.

</HintBlock>

[DataGrip](https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/) is an IDE (integrated development environment) for databases. It's developed by JetBrains (the same company behind popular IDEs IntelliJ and PyCharm) and designed to provide a unified interface for working with different relational databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQL Server, and others.

DataGrip is part of the JetBrains ecosystem, with a consistent experience across JetBrains IDEs and the JetBrains AI Assistant for query generation and explanation. So it's perfect if you prefer an IDE with database management features.

![](/content/blog/top-datagrip-alternative/datagrip.webp)

If you are not familiar with the JetBrains ecosystem or prefer a dedicated database GUI for database management and administration tasks, this post highlights five alternatives to DataGrip.

## DBeaver

[DBeaver](https://dbeaver.com/) is a universal database tool that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers both open-source (free) and commercial products (subscription-based). The open-source version provides basic support for relational databases such as MySQL, SQL Server, Postgres, etc.; the commercial editions add NoSQL and cloud databases, plus an AI assistant that writes and edits queries in natural language.

![](/content/blog/top-datagrip-alternative/dbeaver.webp)

## Navicat

[Navicat](https://navicat.com/) is another long-established database GUI tool, which supports a long list of databases. It is a great single-user SQL client that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, it has a [serious limitation](/blog/bytebase-vs-navicat/) in multi-user scenarios where team collaboration and centralized control are needed. Navicat is not open-source; the full product is subscription-based with a 14-day trial, and since 2024 [Navicat Premium Lite](https://www.navicat.com/en/products/navicat-premium-lite) offers basic operations for free.

![](/content/blog/top-datagrip-alternative/navicat.webp)

## TablePlus

[TablePlus](https://tableplus.com/) is a modern and lightweight intuitive database management tool fit for macOS, Windows, Linux, and even iOS. It offers a simple and streamlined interface for managing various relational and a few NoSQL databases.

![](/content/blog/top-datagrip-alternative/tableplus.webp)

TablePlus offers a limited free tier and a paid subscription. It is not open-source, but the team's other product DBngin is: it can [spin up a local Postgres, MySQL or Redis](/blog/free-tools-to-start-local-database-on-mac/) on your Mac, connected to TablePlus as the UI. For AI, TablePlus takes the BYOK (bring your own key) route: its [LLM plugin](https://docs.tableplus.com/llm-plugin) does text-to-SQL with the provider you choose, sharing only the table structure, never the data.

## Beekeeper Studio

[Beekeeper Studio](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/) is a modern and lightweight database manager and SQL GUI client that supports Postgres, MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server, CockroachDB, and a few others, on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

![](/content/blog/top-datagrip-alternative/beekeeper.webp)

It offers two editions: the open-source community version, which is free to use; and the full subscription version with all the features, including an AI query assistant in the Ultimate edition.

Beekeeper was designed with easy-to-use and minimalistic in mind, at the expense of some more complex functionalities, but it obviously has all the basics of a database GUI down: connect to databases, view data and structure, run SQL queries, export data, etc.

## Bytebase

Of course, if you have multiple different databases at your organization and are looking for a universal tool that can handle them all while covering database change, query, security, and governance all in one, please check out [Bytebase](/). Aside from the visual [SQL Editor](https://docs.bytebase.com/sql-editor/overview/) integrated with [access control](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/database-permission/overview/) and [data masking](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/data-masking/overview/), it also provides a customizable [change workflow](https://docs.bytebase.com/change-database/change-workflow/) to fit your data/database change requirements.

![change-query-secure-govern-database-all-in-one](/content/blog/_shared/db-scheme-lg.png)

## Summary

DataGrip is a powerful SQL tool, but whether it is the right option for you depends on your tasks. It is a great complement to IntelliJ as a database IDE. However, as a database admin tool, DataGrip is not a comprehensive alternative to the other professional database GUIs. A summary:

|  | Open Source | Free version | Paid version | Audience | Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DataGrip | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | Individual | Intuitive UX and integration with other JetBrains IDEs |
| DBeaver | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features |
| Navicat | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features |
| TablePlus | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Native and intuitive interface |
| Beekeeper Studio | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Modern and sleek interface |
| Bytebase | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Entire engineering org for developer, DBA and data team | Centralized access control, data masking, change review workflow |



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform that can manage MySQL. We update the post gradually.

</HintBlock>

**MySQL** is widely-recognized as the world's most popular open source database and powers many of the most accessed applications, including Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, Shopify, and Booking.com. While you can use MySQL just fine without a GUI, having one can take your experience working with MySQL to the next level.

If you work exclusively with MySQL databases, [MySQL Workbench](https://www.mysql.com/products/workbench/) is an excellent choice, as it's specifically designed to work with MySQL and provides a comprehensive set of tools and functionalities for managing and interacting with MySQL databases.

![](/content/blog/top-mysql-workbench-alternative/mysql-workbench.webp)

It is available on Windows, Linux and MacOS. It is also worth noting that MySQL Workbench is offered in three different editions with [different features supported](https://www.mysql.com/products/workbench/features.html):

- Community Edition - Open Source (GPL License)
- Standard Edition - Commercial
- Enterprise Edition - Commercial

But - if MySQL is not the only database you work with, you need to look elsewhere. This article highlights five database GUI alternatives for MySQL Workbench.

## phpMyAdmin

[phpMyAdmin](https://www.phpmyadmin.net/) remains one of the most popular alternatives to MySQL Workbench. It is a web-based interface to MySQL and MariaDB written in PHP that was first released back in 1998. It's open-source and free to use. For over 25 years, phpMyAdmin continues to be one of the most popular administration tools for MySQL databases, with a large community of users and contributors.

![](/content/blog/top-mysql-workbench-alternative/phpmyadmin.webp)

Development continues at a steady pace with security patches and compatibility updates, but the feature set has been stable for years. If you manage MySQL through a shared-hosting control panel like cPanel, you probably already have it.

## DBeaver

[DBeaver](https://dbeaver.com/) is a universal database tool that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers both open-source (free) and commercial products (subscription-based). The open-source version provides basic support for relational databases such as MySQL, SQL Server, Postgres, etc.; while the commercial one offers further support for NoSQL and cloud databases.

![](/content/blog/top-mysql-workbench-alternative/dbeaver.webp)

Beyond the basics, the commercial editions add enterprise credential stores (AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault) and an AI assistant that writes and edits queries in natural language, with support for OpenAI, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, and local models via Ollama.

## Navicat

[Navicat](https://navicat.com/) is another long-established database GUI tool, which supports a long list of databases. It is a great single-user SQL client that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, it has a [serious limitation](/blog/bytebase-vs-navicat/) in multi-user scenarios where team collaboration and centralized control are needed. Navicat is not open-source; the full product is subscription-based with a 14-day trial, and since 2024 [Navicat Premium Lite](https://www.navicat.com/en/products/navicat-premium-lite) offers basic operations for free.

![](/content/blog/top-mysql-workbench-alternative/navicat.webp)

Recent versions added an AI Assistant for contextual guidance directly within the tool, plus Snowflake support for cloud data warehousing.

## TablePlus

[TablePlus](https://tableplus.com/) is a modern and lightweight intuitive database management tool fit for macOS, Windows, Linux, and even iOS. It offers a simple and streamlined interface for managing various relational and a few NoSQL databases.

![](/content/blog/top-mysql-workbench-alternative/tableplus.webp)

TablePlus offers a limited free tier and a paid subscription. It is not open-source, but the team's other product DBngin is: it can [spin up a local Postgres, MySQL or Redis](/blog/free-tools-to-start-local-database-on-mac/) on your Mac, connected to TablePlus as the UI. For AI, TablePlus takes the BYOK (bring your own key) route: its [LLM plugin](https://docs.tableplus.com/llm-plugin) does text-to-SQL with the provider you choose, sharing only the table structure, never the data.

## DataGrip

[DataGrip](https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/) is a database IDE by JetBrains for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It provides complete support for the most popular databases like Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, etc., and basic support with limited features for database vendors including DuckDB, Elasticsearch, SingleStore, etc. It is not open-source and operates on a commercial licensing model (but offers a 30-day trial period).

![](/content/blog/top-mysql-workbench-alternative/datagrip.webp)

DataGrip is part of the JetBrains ecosystem, with the JetBrains AI Assistant (free tier plus AI Pro/Ultimate subscriptions) for query generation, error explanation with schema context, and SQL optimization. So it's perfect if you prefer a dedicated IDE with a consistent JetBrains experience.

## Bytebase

If you have multiple different databases at your organization and are looking for a universal tool that can handle them all while covering database change, query, security, and governance all in one, please check out [Bytebase](/). Aside from the visual [SQL Editor](https://docs.bytebase.com/sql-editor/overview/) integrated with [access control](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/database-permission/overview/) and [data masking](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/data-masking/overview/), it also provides a customizable [change workflow](https://docs.bytebase.com/change-database/change-workflow/) to fit your data/database change requirements.

![change-query-secure-govern-database-all-in-one](/content/blog/_shared/db-scheme-lg.png)

## Summary

Each tool focuses on a different slice of the problem; the right choice depends on your team and requirements. A summary:

|  | Open Source | Free version | Paid version | Audience | Strength | AI Features | Cloud DB Support |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MySQL Workbench | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual and teams | Built for MySQL | ❌ | Limited |
| phpMyAdmin | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Individual | Built for MySQL | ❌ | Limited |
| DBeaver | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features | ✅ | Extensive |
| Navicat | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features | ✅ | Extensive |
| TablePlus | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Native and intuitive interface | ✅ (BYOK) | Moderate |
| DataGrip | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | Individual | Intuitive UX and integration with other JetBrains IDEs | ✅ | Extensive |
| Bytebase | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Entire engineering org for developer, DBA and data team | Centralized access control, data masking, change review workflow | ✅ | Extensive |

## References

- [Top MySQL GUI Clients](/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/#the-old-school-phpmyadmin)
- [How to install MySQL Client on Mac, Ubuntu, CentOS, Windows](/reference/mysql/how-to/how-to-install-mysql-client-on-mac-ubuntu-centos-windows/) (in case you don't feel like using any GUI at all)



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform. We update the post periodically.

</HintBlock>

If you work only with Postgres, [pgAdmin](https://www.pgadmin.org/) is the default GUI: free and open-source, just like Postgres itself, and as a web app it runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

![](/content/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/pgadmin.webp)

But pgAdmin is not the only option, whether you work with Postgres alone or alongside other databases. This article highlights the top GUI alternatives to pgAdmin.

## DBeaver

[DBeaver](https://dbeaver.com/) is a universal database tool that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers both open-source (free) and commercial products (subscription-based). The open-source version provides essential support for relational databases such as MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, etc.; the commercial editions add NoSQL and cloud databases, plus an AI assistant that writes and edits queries in natural language.

![](/content/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/dbeaver.webp)

## Navicat

[Navicat](https://navicat.com/) is another long-established database GUI supporting a long list of databases on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is a great single-user SQL client, but has a [serious limitation](/blog/bytebase-vs-navicat/) in multi-user scenarios where team collaboration and centralized control are needed. Navicat is not open-source; the full product is subscription-based with a 14-day trial, and since 2024 [Navicat Premium Lite](https://www.navicat.com/en/products/navicat-premium-lite) offers basic operations for free.

![](/content/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/navicat.webp)

## TablePlus

[TablePlus](https://tableplus.com/) is a modern, lightweight, and intuitive database management tool fit for macOS, Windows, Linux, and even iOS. It offers a simple and streamlined interface for managing various relational and a few NoSQL databases.

![](/content/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/tableplus.webp)

TablePlus offers a limited free tier and a paid subscription. It is not open-source, but the team's side product DBngin is: it [spins up a local Postgres, MySQL or Redis](/blog/free-tools-to-start-local-database-on-mac/) on your Mac that connects straight to TablePlus. For AI, TablePlus takes the BYOK (bring your own key) route: its [LLM plugin](https://docs.tableplus.com/llm-plugin) does text-to-SQL with the provider you choose, sharing only the table structure, never the data.

## DataGrip

[DataGrip](https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/) is a database IDE by JetBrains for macOS, Windows, and Linux, with complete support for the popular databases (Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB) and basic support for many more. It is commercial with a 30-day trial.

![](/content/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/datagrip.webp)

DataGrip pairs an intelligent SQL editor with schema diff and VCS support, plus the JetBrains AI Assistant for query generation and explanation. Perfect if you prefer a dedicated IDE with a consistent JetBrains experience.

## Beekeeper Studio

[Beekeeper Studio](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/) is a modern and lightweight SQL client that supports Postgres, MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server, CockroachDB, among others, on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers a free open-source community edition and a full commercial version, including an AI query assistant in the Ultimate edition.

![](/content/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/beekeeper.webp)

The sleek, minimalistic UI is a deliberate reaction to cluttered database tools: simple yet feature-rich with all the necessities, and easy to use.

## pgconsole

[pgconsole](https://www.pgconsole.com/) is an open-source, self-hosted web editor built specifically for PostgreSQL. It ships as a single binary (or Docker image) configured through one TOML file, so the setup lives in Git alongside your other infrastructure.

![](/content/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/pgconsole.webp)

Unlike the desktop clients above, pgconsole is built for teams: database credentials stay server-side behind fine-grained access control, every query and login is audit-logged, and an MCP server lets AI agents connect under the same governance as human users. The built-in AI assistant (bring your own provider, so data stays in your infrastructure) covers natural language to SQL, query explanation, and error fixing.

Its scope is deliberately narrow: fast day-to-day SQL work rather than full administration. Backup workflows and server configuration are out of scope, so pair it with pgAdmin if you also manage the server itself.

## Mac-only: Postico

[Postico](https://eggerapps.at/postico2/) is a Mac-only app for Postgres databases (and some compatible databases including Amazon Redshift, CockroachDB, Greenplum, and others).

![](/content/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/postico.webp)

Note that Postico does not cover backup and restore, user and permission management, or monitoring, so it is not for administration needs. But if you are a data analyst on a Mac, this is the tool for you. The person behind Postico also built [postgres.app](/blog/free-tools-to-start-local-database-on-mac/), which starts a Postgres server on your Mac.

## Bytebase

If your organization runs multiple databases and needs one tool covering change, query, security, and governance, check out [Bytebase](/). The visual [SQL Editor](https://docs.bytebase.com/sql-editor/overview/) integrates [access control](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/database-permission/overview/) and [data masking](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/data-masking/overview/), and a customizable [change workflow](https://docs.bytebase.com/change-database/change-workflow/) covers the database change path.

![change-query-secure-govern-database-all-in-one](/content/blog/_shared/db-scheme-lg.png)

## Summary

Two questions place every tool on the map: does it cover only Postgres or many databases, and does it serve an individual or a team with centralized control?

```mermaid
quadrantChart
    title Database coverage vs. who the tool serves
    x-axis Postgres only --> Multi-database
    y-axis Individual --> Team
    quadrant-1 Org-wide database governance
    quadrant-2 Governed Postgres teamwork
    quadrant-3 Personal Postgres clients
    quadrant-4 Personal multi-database clients
    pgAdmin: [0.14, 0.30]
    Postico: [0.10, 0.10]
    pgconsole: [0.16, 0.78]
    Bytebase: [0.84, 0.88]
    DBeaver: [0.78, 0.30]
    Navicat: [0.90, 0.22]
    DataGrip: [0.86, 0.10]
    TablePlus: [0.66, 0.10]
    Beekeeper Studio: [0.64, 0.24]
```

The crowded quadrant is the personal multi-database client: that market is well served, and the entries above are its strongest. The team quadrants are sparser, and that is where the tools differ the most. A summary:

|  | Open Source | Free version | Paid version | Audience | Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pgAdmin | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Individual and teams | Built for Postgres |
| DBeaver | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features |
| Navicat | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features |
| TablePlus | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Native and intuitive interface |
| DataGrip | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | Individual | Intuitive UX and integration with other JetBrains IDEs |
| Beekeeper Studio | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Modern and sleek interface |
| pgconsole | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Teams (Postgres only) | Self-hosted with access control, audit logging, and AI |
| Postico | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | Individual | Mac-native, streamlined UI |
| Bytebase | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Entire engineering org for developer, DBA and data team | Centralized access control, data masking, change review workflow |

## References

- [Top 5 Postgres GUI Clients](/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/#the-starlet-tableplus)



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform. We update the post periodically.

</HintBlock>

Launched in 2002, [Navicat](https://navicat.com/) is a long-established database GUI. It is a great single-user SQL client. However, it has a [serious limitation](/blog/bytebase-vs-navicat/) in multi-user scenarios where team collaboration and centralized control are needed. What's more, Navicat is developed using old-school desktop technology rather than modern web-based technology.

![](/content/blog/top-navicat-alternative/navicat.webp)

Let's take a look at the top modern Navicat alternatives.

## DBeaver

[DBeaver](https://dbeaver.com/) is arguably one of the most popular database management tools out there. It started in 2010, counts its users in the millions, and took a [$6M seed round](https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/11/dbeaver-takes-6m-seed-investment-to-build-on-growing-popularity) in 2023.

You can run DBeaver on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers both open-source (free) and commercial products (subscription-based). The open-source version provides basic support for relational databases such as MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, etc.; the commercial editions add NoSQL and cloud databases, plus an AI assistant that writes and edits queries in natural language.

![](/content/blog/top-navicat-alternative/dbeaver.webp)

## TablePlus

[TablePlus](https://tableplus.com/) is a modern, lightweight, and intuitive database management tool fit for macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS. It offers a simple and streamlined interface for managing various relational and a few NoSQL databases.

![](/content/blog/top-navicat-alternative/tableplus.webp)

Currently, TablePlus offers two plans: a free tier with no trial time (but with limited features) and a paid subscription model that provides extended features.

TablePlus is not open-source, but the team's side product is - DBngin, which can [spin up a local database](/blog/free-tools-to-start-local-database-on-mac/) (Postgres, MySQL, or Redis) quite easily on your Mac, it can then be connected to TablePlus to visually manage your local databases. For AI, TablePlus takes the BYOK (bring your own key) route: its [LLM plugin](https://docs.tableplus.com/llm-plugin) does text-to-SQL with the provider you choose, sharing only the table structure, never the data.

![](/content/blog/top-navicat-alternative/tableplus-ui.webp)

## DataGrip

[DataGrip](https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/) is a database IDE by JetBrains on macOS, Windows, and Linux. It provides complete support for the most popular databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Oracle, Redis, Snowflake, CockroachDB, and basic support with limited features for database vendors including DuckDB, Elasticsearch, SingleStore, TiDB, YugabyteDB, etc. It is not open-source and operates on a commercial licensing model (but offers a 30-day trial period).

DataGrip excels in providing a powerful IDE for database development and administration: it has an intelligent SQL editor, data compare to view schema diff, along with VCS support for GitHub.

![](/content/blog/top-navicat-alternative/datagrip.webp)

DataGrip is part of the JetBrains ecosystem, offering integration with other JetBrains tools, including the JetBrains AI Assistant for query generation and explanation. So it's perfect if you prefer a dedicated IDE with comprehensive database management features.

## Beekeeper Studio

[Beekeeper Studio](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/) is a modern and lightweight SQL client that supports MySQL, Postgres, SQLite, SQL Server, CockroachDB, etc. And it runs on Windows, macOS (M1 and Intel), and Linux.

It has two editions:

- Beekeeper Studio Community Edition: the open-source version, and free to use.
- Beekeeper Studio - the full version with all the features (along with a 14 day free trial), including an AI query assistant in the Ultimate edition.

![](/content/blog/top-navicat-alternative/beekeeper.webp)

The sleek and minimalistic UI comes from the frustration that other open-source SQL editors and database management tools added so many features that the UI becomes cluttered and hard to navigate. Beekeeper Studio is the answer: simple yet feature-rich with all the necessities, and easy to use.

## DbVisualizer

[DbVisualizer](https://www.dbvis.com/) supports a long list of databases including MySQL, Postgres, Oracle, ClickHouse, MongoDB, SQLite, SAP, and more. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix platforms.

You can use DbVisualizer for free, or unlock all features by purchasing a license-based subscription (the more users, the more licenses you will need).

![](/content/blog/top-navicat-alternative/dbvis.webp)

## Special Shout-out: PopSQL

<HintBlock type="warning">

PopSQL is shutting down on September 1, 2026. Following its acquisition by Timescale, the product entered limited support mode in September 2025, and the service will be discontinued entirely: saved queries, dashboards, and connections will be deleted. If your team is still on PopSQL, see our [top PopSQL alternatives](/blog/top-popsql-alternative/) and plan the migration before the deadline.

</HintBlock>

[PopSQL](https://popsql.com/pricing) is a web-based collaborative SQL Editor specifically for modern data teams to collaborate on writing, editing, running, and organizing SQL queries efficiently. PopSQL supports connecting to a variety of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, SQLite, among others.

Unlike the aforementioned database management tools, PopSQL is not as extensive in database management features, as it focuses specifically on collaborative SQL editing for data teams (hence the special shout-out): shared queries, real-time collaboration, and comments, so a team's SQL doesn't live scattered across personal editors.

![](/content/blog/top-navicat-alternative/popsql.webp)

With the shutdown announced for September 1, 2026, PopSQL is no longer an option to adopt. Teams currently on it should be evaluating where to move instead.

## Bytebase

If you have multiple different databases at your organization and are looking for a universal tool that can handle them all while covering database change, query, security, and governance all in one, please check out [Bytebase](/). Aside from the visual [SQL Editor](https://docs.bytebase.com/sql-editor/overview/) integrated with [access control](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/database-permission/overview/) and [data masking](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/data-masking/overview/), it also provides a customizable [change workflow](https://docs.bytebase.com/change-database/change-workflow/) to fit your data/database change requirements.

![change-query-secure-govern-database-all-in-one](/content/blog/_shared/db-scheme-lg.png)

## Summary

Each tool focuses on a different slice of the problem; the right choice depends on your team and requirements. A summary:

|  | Open Source | Free version | Paid version | Audience | Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Navicat |  | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features |
| DBeaver | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features |
| DbVisualizer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive with good visualization |
| TablePlus |  | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Native and intuitive interface |
| DataGrip |  |  | ✅ | Individual | Intuitive UX and integration with other JetBrains IDEs |
| Beekeeper Studio | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Modern and sleek interface |
| PopSQL |  | ✅ | ✅ | Data team | Shutting down September 1, 2026 |
| Bytebase | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Entire engineering org for developer, DBA and data team | Centralized access control, data masking, change review workflow |

## References

- [Top 5 Postgres GUI Clients](/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/#the-starlet-tableplus)



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform. We update the post periodically.

</HintBlock>

[DBeaver](https://dbeaver.com/) is one of the most popular database management tools out there. It started in 2010, offers both an open-source Community edition and commercial PRO editions (plus browser-based CloudBeaver), counts its users in the millions, and took a [$6M seed round](https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/11/dbeaver-takes-6m-seed-investment-to-build-on-growing-popularity) in 2023. Its paid editions now include an AI assistant that writes and edits queries in natural language.

Still, DBeaver may not fulfill your requirements, or you may just want to try something new. Here are the top DBeaver alternatives in 2026.

## Navicat

[Navicat](https://navicat.com/) is probably the most similar to DBeaver. It was initially released in 2002 as a simple app for MySQL on Windows; more than two decades on, it supports macOS and Linux and a handful of mainstream databases.

![](/content/blog/top-dbeaver-alternative/navicat-dbeaver.webp)

The difference between Navicat and DBeaver lies in their target audience and pricing models: Navicat is designed for commercial users and enterprises (yet [they don't provide sufficient database access control, data masking, or centralised control over password for database security](/blog/bytebase-vs-navicat/)), while DBeaver is an open-source tool that caters to a wider range of users, from individual developers to SMEs. This difference is also visible in that Navicat uses a commercial licensing model, while DBeaver has both open-source (free) and commercial products.

## DbVisualizer

[DbVisualizer](https://www.dbvis.com/) supports a long list of databases including MySQL, Postgres, Oracle, ClickHouse, MongoDB, SQLite, to SAP, and more. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix platforms. It comes with a powerful SQL editor with support for auto-completion, visual query builder, SQL formatter, inline data editing, CLI-based interface, and efforts on security including SSH, local password.

![](/content/blog/top-dbeaver-alternative/dbvis.webp)

You can use DbVisualizer for free, or unlock all features plus technical support by purchasing a subscription. The subscription is seat-based (the more users, the more seat licenses you will need).

DbVisualizer and DBeaver have similar core functionalities, such as SQL querying, database exploration, object management, and data visualization. But DbVisualizer offers more comprehensive data analysis tools, while DBeaver excels in database administration tasks with a broader range of tools and features for advanced database management.

## TablePlus

[TablePlus](https://tableplus.com/) is a modern, lightweight, and intuitive database management tool fit for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It offers an easy-to-use interface for managing various relational and a few NoSQL databases.

![](/content/blog/top-dbeaver-alternative/tableplus.webp)

Currently, TablePlus offers two plans: a free tier with no trial time (but only limited features are available) and a paid subscription model that provides extended features.

TablePlus is not open-source, but the team's side product is - DBngin, which can [spin up a local database](/blog/free-tools-to-start-local-database-on-mac/) (Postgres, MySQL, or Redis) quite easily on your Mac, it can then be connected to TablePlus to visually manage your local databases. For AI, TablePlus takes the BYOK (bring your own key) route: its [LLM plugin](https://docs.tableplus.com/llm-plugin) does text-to-SQL with the provider you choose, sharing only the table structure, never the data.

Another major difference between TablePlus and DBeaver is their target audience: TablePlus is more geared towards individual developers or small teams who seek a handy database management tool. In comparison, DBeaver targets a wider range of users with more database support and additional advanced features, from individual developers, to DBAs, and enterprises.

![](/content/blog/top-dbeaver-alternative/tableplus-ui.webp)

## DataGrip

[DataGrip](https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/) is a database IDE developed by JetBrains (the company behind popular IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA and PhpStorm) for developers and DBAs.

DataGrip excels in providing a feature-rich, user-friendly, and powerful IDE for database development and administration. Other than the list of relational and NoSQL databases it supports, DataGrip includes an intelligent SQL editor, data compare to view schema diff, along with VCS support for GitHub.

![](/content/blog/top-dbeaver-alternative/datagrip.webp)

It is not open-source and operates on a commercial licensing model, requiring a paid license for usage, but offers a 30-day trial.

DataGrip is part of the JetBrains ecosystem, offering integration with other JetBrains tools, including the JetBrains AI Assistant for query generation and explanation. So it's perfect if you prefer a dedicated IDE with comprehensive database management features.

## Beekeeper Studio

[Beekeeper Studio](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/) is a modern and lightweight SQL client that supports MySQL, Postgres, SQLite, SQL Server, CockroachDB, etc. And it runs on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

![](/content/blog/top-dbeaver-alternative/beekeeper.webp)

The sleek and minimalistic UI comes from the frustration that other open-source SQL editors and database management tools added so many features that the UI becomes cluttered and hard to navigate. Beekeeper Studio is the answer: simple yet feature-rich with all the necessities, and easy to use.

It has two editions:

- Beekeeper Studio - the full version with all the features, including an AI query assistant in the Ultimate edition.
- Beekeeper Studio Community Edition: the open-source version, and free to use.

## PopSQL

<HintBlock type="warning">

PopSQL is shutting down on September 1, 2026. Following its acquisition by Timescale, the product entered limited support mode in September 2025, and the service will be discontinued entirely: saved queries, dashboards, and connections will be deleted. If your team is still on PopSQL, see our [top PopSQL alternatives](/blog/top-popsql-alternative/) and plan the migration before the deadline.

</HintBlock>

[PopSQL](https://popsql.com/pricing) is a web-based collaborative SQL Editor specifically for modern data teams to collaborate on writing, editing, running, and organizing SQL queries efficiently. PopSQL supports connecting to a variety of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, SQLite, and others.

Unlike DBeaver or the aforementioned database management tools, PopSQL is not as extensive in database management features, as it focuses specifically on **collaborative SQL editing for data teams**: shared queries, real-time collaboration, comments, and a data catalog, so a team's SQL doesn't live scattered across personal editors.

![](/content/blog/top-dbeaver-alternative/popsql.webp)

With the shutdown announced for September 1, 2026, PopSQL is no longer an option to adopt. Teams currently on it should be evaluating where to move instead.

## Bytebase

If you have multiple different databases at your organization and are looking for a universal tool that can handle them all while covering database change, query, security, and governance all in one, please check out [Bytebase](/). Aside from the visual [SQL Editor](https://docs.bytebase.com/sql-editor/overview/) integrated with [access control](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/database-permission/overview/) and [data masking](https://docs.bytebase.com/security/data-masking/overview/), it also provides a customizable [change workflow](https://docs.bytebase.com/change-database/change-workflow/) to fit your data/database change requirements.

![change-query-secure-govern-database-all-in-one](/content/blog/_shared/db-scheme-lg.png)

## Summary

Each tool focuses on a different slice of the problem; the right choice depends on your team and requirements. A summary:

|  | Open Source | Free version | Paid version | Audience | Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DBeaver | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features |
| Navicat |  | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive features |
| DbVisualizer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Comprehensive with good visualization |
| TablePlus |  | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Native and intuitive interface |
| DataGrip |  |  | ✅ | Individual | Intuitive UX and integration with other JetBrains IDEs |
| Beekeeper Studio | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Individual | Modern and sleek interface |
| PopSQL |  | ✅ | ✅ | Data team | Shutting down September 1, 2026 |
| Bytebase | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Entire engineering org for developer, DBA and data team | Centralized access control, data masking, change review workflow |

## References

- [Top 5 Postgres GUI Clients](/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/#the-starlet-tableplus)



A Postgres GUI client is a desktop or web application that gives you a visual interface to query, design, and administer PostgreSQL databases — instead of doing everything from `psql`. The right one depends on your operating system, whether you're a solo developer or part of a team, and how much you care about features like collaboration, audit, and SQL review. Here are the 7 most useful Postgres GUI clients in 2026.

## The 7 Postgres GUI clients at a glance

| Tool                               | Type               | OS                      | Pricing          | Standout                                          |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **pgAdmin**                        | Open source        | Win / Mac / Linux       | Free             | The official Postgres GUI; complete admin toolkit |
| **TablePlus**                      | Commercial         | Win / Mac / Linux / iOS | Free tier + paid | Cleanest modern UI; multi-database                |
| **Postico**                        | Commercial         | Mac only                | Paid             | Native Mac feel; analyst-friendly                 |
| **DataGrip**                       | Commercial         | Win / Mac / Linux       | $99/year         | JetBrains IDE quality; strong SQL refactoring     |
| **Navicat**                        | Commercial         | Win / Mac / Linux       | Paid (no free)   | Full DBA toolkit; data modeling and sync          |
| **DBeaver**                        | Open source + paid | Win / Mac / Linux       | Free + Pro       | OSS option that scales to enterprise features     |
| **VS Code (PostgreSQL extension)** | Open source        | Win / Mac / Linux       | Free             | Lives inside your editor; Copilot integration     |

<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform that can manage PostgreSQL. We update at least once per year.

</HintBlock>

Postgres (or [PostgreSQL](/blog/postgres-vs-mysql/)) is one of the most advanced open-source relational databases in production. You don't have to use a GUI to operate one — `psql` covers everything — but a GUI is faster for visual work like browsing schemas, comparing diffs, or running ad-hoc queries you'll want to revisit. Most of the seven below are multi-database tools; if you specifically want editors built exclusively for Postgres, we compare those in [Top SQL Editors for PostgreSQL](/blog/top-pg-only-sql-editor/).

## The official: pgAdmin

**pgAdmin is the official open-source GUI for PostgreSQL**, considered the go-to for most Postgres users. The project was started by Dave Page, a Postgres core team member, and is backed by EnterpriseDB. The current major version, pgAdmin 4, is a complete rewrite in Python and JavaScript/jQuery.

It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Beyond the standard set (creating databases, running queries, editing tables, managing users and permissions), pgAdmin includes monitoring tools for live operation status — useful when something is locked or slow.

![pgadmin](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/pgadmin.webp)

## Mac-first

### TablePlus

**TablePlus is a modern multi-database GUI** with one of the cleanest UIs in this category, first released in 2017. It supports a wide range of relational databases plus some NoSQL, and was originally Mac-exclusive but is now available on Windows, Linux, and iOS.

![tableplus-ui](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/tableplus-ui.webp)

TablePlus offers a free tier with feature limits, plus paid subscriptions for the full feature set. It's not open source, but the same team makes DBngin, which spins up a local Postgres, MySQL, or Redis server on your Mac and connects directly into TablePlus for visual management.

![tableplus](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/tableplus.webp)

### Postico

**Postico is a native Mac app for Postgres** (and Postgres-compatible databases like Amazon Redshift, CockroachDB, and Greenplum). The developer also built [postgres.app](/blog/free-tools-to-start-local-database-on-mac/), the standard way to run a Postgres server on macOS — so the integration story is tight.

![postico](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/postico.webp)

The current version is Postico 2 (the original 1.5 shipped in Feb 2015). Postico is good at designing databases, importing and editing data, and searching and analyzing data. It does not handle backup and restore, user and permission management, or database monitoring — so it's a poor fit for DBAs but excellent for analysts on Mac.

## Cross-platform

### DataGrip

**DataGrip is a cross-platform Postgres IDE from JetBrains**, sharing the IntelliJ codebase with the rest of the JetBrains lineup. It includes strong SQL refactoring, schema-aware autocomplete, and an AI Assistant for query generation and explanation.

![datagrip-for-pg](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/datagrip.webp)

Pricing is $99/year for individuals; included free with the JetBrains All Products Pack. Worth the cost if you already use IntelliJ-based tools and want that same UX for SQL.

### Navicat

**Navicat is a long-running commercial database GUI** first released in 2002 for MySQL on Windows, now multi-database and cross-platform. There's a dedicated Navicat for Postgres at a lower cost than the premium edition.

![navicat-for-pg](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/navicat-for-pg.webp)

Feature set covers the full DBA toolkit: data modeling, database-to-database synchronization, backup and restore, data import/export, and a SQL editor for query development. Navicat has no free tier, and there's a [known piracy issue](/blog/bytebase-vs-navicat/) — only download from the official channels.

![navicat](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/navicat.webp)

### DBeaver

**DBeaver is the open-source alternative to Navicat**, with both a free Community Edition and a paid Pro Edition. Community covers basic management and administration; Pro adds data modeling, collaboration, and advanced security.

![dbeaver](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/dbeaver.webp)

DBeaver started as a hobby project in 2010 and went open source in 2013. In early 2023, the team raised a first round of funding — the project has come a long way from a side project.

### VS Code (PostgreSQL extension)

**The VS Code PostgreSQL extension is Microsoft's official Postgres tooling for VS Code**, [announced in 2025](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/adforpostgresql/announcing-a-new-ide-for-postgresql-in-vs-code-from-microsoft/4414648). Core features include IntelliSense, schema visualization, database explorer, and query history. It integrates with Copilot for AI-assisted SQL and with Entra ID for authentication.

![vs-code](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/vs-code.webp)

The right pick if your team already lives inside VS Code and you'd rather one less app on the desktop.

## Governance built in: Bytebase

When your organization needs an additional layer of control over database queries, schema changes, and administrative actions, look at [Bytebase](/) — an [open-source](https://github.com/bytebase/bytebase) Database DevSecOps platform built for teams. Bytebase adds approval workflows, [SQL review with 200+ rules](https://docs.bytebase.com/sql-review/review-rules/), and a searchable per-statement audit log on top of the GUI capability — see [Bytebase vs. DBeaver](/blog/bytebase-vs-dbeaver/) for a head-to-head with the closest open-source alternative.

![bytebase-sql-editor](/content/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/bytebase-sql-editor.webp)

## Which one should you pick?

The honest defaults we'd recommend:

- **Solo dev on Mac** → TablePlus or Postico. Postico if you want native Mac feel; TablePlus if you'll eventually outgrow Mac-only.
- **Solo dev on Windows or Linux** → pgAdmin (free) or DBeaver Community (more polished). DataGrip if you already pay for JetBrains tools.
- **Inside VS Code all day** → the VS Code PostgreSQL extension; one less window.
- **Team needing approvals + audit** → Bytebase on top of any of the above. The GUI tools above don't gate destructive queries; Bytebase does.
- **Need data modeling, sync, and DBA workflow in one tool** → Navicat or DBeaver Pro.

The single biggest filter is whether you're working alone or in a team. The 6 tools above are designed for solo workflows; they don't enforce who can run what. If you've ever had to ask "who ran that DELETE?" — that's the gap a team-aware platform fills.

## FAQ

**What is the best free Postgres GUI?** For most users, pgAdmin (the official open-source client) or DBeaver Community Edition. pgAdmin is more Postgres-specific; DBeaver is multi-database with a more polished UI. Both run on Windows, Mac, and Linux. TablePlus has a free tier but limits feature use; the others above are paid-only.

**Is pgAdmin 4 better than DBeaver?** They optimize for different things. pgAdmin 4 is Postgres-only with deeper coverage of Postgres-specific admin tasks (vacuum, replication slots, role hierarchies). DBeaver covers Postgres plus 80+ other databases with one UI. If you only run Postgres, pgAdmin is the more focused tool; if you also work with MySQL, ClickHouse, or Snowflake, DBeaver is more efficient.

**What's the best Postgres GUI for Mac?** Postico for analysts and casual users — it's native Mac and pleasant to use, but lacks DBA features (no backup/restore, no permission management). TablePlus for users who want a fuller feature set and may eventually leave the Mac-only constraint. pgAdmin and DBeaver also run on Mac if you need open-source.

**Is DataGrip worth $99 for Postgres?** Worth it if you already use JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, GoLand) and want consistent UX, refactoring, and AI Assistant across SQL and code. Not worth it if you just need to run queries and browse schema — pgAdmin or DBeaver Community do that for free.

**Which Postgres GUI works on Linux?** pgAdmin, DBeaver, DataGrip, TablePlus, Navicat, and the VS Code extension all run on Linux. Postico is the only Mac-only client in this list. For pure open-source on Linux, pgAdmin and DBeaver Community are the standard choices.

**What's the best Postgres GUI for teams?** The GUI tools above are designed for individual workflows — they don't enforce approval, gate destructive operations, or produce searchable per-statement audit logs. Teams that need those controls usually pair a GUI with a database DevSecOps platform like Bytebase, which sits between the user and the database. See [Bytebase vs. DBeaver](/blog/bytebase-vs-dbeaver/) for the team-vs-individual trade-off.

**What's the difference between pgAdmin and Postico?** pgAdmin is the official open-source admin tool for Postgres, runs on every platform, covers the full DBA feature set including backup, replication, and permission management. Postico is a paid Mac-only app focused on data exploration and editing — cleaner UI, but no DBA features. Pick by role: pgAdmin for DBAs and platform engineers, Postico for analysts on Mac.



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform that can manage Google Cloud SQL. We update the post gradually.

</HintBlock>

[Google Cloud SQL](https://cloud.google.com/sql/) is a popular database service from Google Cloud. It offers completely managed relational databases for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server with rich extension collections, configuration flags, and developer ecosystems. Apart from features, pricing is another core factor to consider when comparing it with other similar services like AWS RDS and Microsoft Azure SQL Database. Also, there are several discussions on Reddit related to the pricing of Google Cloud SQL, as shown in the figure below. These all point to the importance of understanding the structure of Google Cloud SQL pricing.

![reddit](/content/blog/understanding-google-cloud-sql-pricing/reddit.webp)

## Google Cloud SQL Pricing

Pricing for Google Cloud SQL is based on a pay-as-you-go model. As of 2025, Google Cloud SQL offers two editions: Enterprise and Enterprise Plus. These editions provide different levels of availability, performance, and data protection. The price varies among different instance types and regions:

- CPU and memory pricing
- Storage and networking pricing
- Instance pricing (only applicable to shared-core)
- License pricing (only applicable to SQL Server)

### CPU and Memory Pricing

For dedicated-core instances, you choose the number of CPUs and the amount of memory you want, up to 96 CPUs and 624 GB of memory for Enterprise edition and up to 128 CPUs and 864 GB of memory for Enterprise Plus edition. For Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition for SQL Server instances, you can also choose from performance-optimized machines (up to 128 CPUs and 864 GB of memory) and memory-optimized machines (up to 16 CPUs and 512 GB of memory).

Pricing for CPUs and memory varies based on the following three primary factors:

- The volume of CPUs you choose
- The total memory you select
- The region where your instance is located

If you enable other services, the total cost may include those charges:

- Failover replicas pricing
- Read replicas pricing
- High Availability pricing

Read replicas and failover replicas are charged at the same rate as stand-alone instances. HA prices are applied for instances configured for high availability, also called regional instances.

**Enterprise Edition (Monthly Pricing)**

| Resource  | Price (USD)      | 1-year commitment | 3-year commitment |
| --------- | ---------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- |
| vCPUs     | $0.0706 per vCPU | $0.05297          | $0.0339           |
| Memory    | $0.0118 per GB   | $0.00883          | $0.00565          |
| HA vCPUs  | $0.1413 per vCPU | $0.105948         | $0.0678           |
| HA Memory | $0.0235 per GB   | $0.01765          | $0.0113           |

**Enterprise Plus Edition - N2 Machine Series (Monthly Pricing)**

| Resource              | Price (USD)      | 1-year commitment | 3-year commitment |
| --------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- |
| vCPUs                 | $0.0537 per vCPU | $0.04027          | $0.02578          |
| Memory                | $0.0091 per GB   | $0.00683          | $0.00437          |
| HA vCPUs              | $0.1074 per vCPU | $0.08055          | $0.05155          |
| HA Memory             | $0.0182 per GB   | $0.01365          | $0.00874          |
| Data Cache Storage    | $0.0002 per GB   | $0.0002 per GB    | $0.0002 per GB    |
| HA Data Cache Storage | $0.0004 per GB   | $0.0004 per GB    | $0.0004 per GB    |

In addition, Cloud SQL provides committed use discounts (CUDs) that grant deeply discounted prices for continuous use of database instances in a particular region for a one-year or three-year term. CUDs only apply to CPU and memory pricing. For more information, go to review [Committed use discounts](https://cloud.google.com/sql/cud).

### Storage and Networking Pricing

| Storage Type         | Price               |
| -------------------- | ------------------- |
| SSD storage capacity | $0.222 per GB/month |
| HDD storage capacity | $0.118 per GB/month |
| Backups (used)       | $0.105 per GB/month |

#### HA Storage Pricing (Monthly)

| Storage Type         | Price               |
| -------------------- | ------------------- |
| SSD storage capacity | $0.445 per GB/month |
| HDD storage capacity | $0.235 per GB/month |
| Backups (used)       | $0.105 per GB/month |

#### Hyperdisk Balanced

| Resource   | Price                  |
| ---------- | ---------------------- |
| Capacity   | $0.15 per GB/month     |
| IOPS       | $0.026 per IOP/month   |
| Throughput | $0.105 per MB/s /month |

#### Hyperdisk Balanced HA

| Resource   | Price                               |
| ---------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Capacity   | $0.301 per GB/month                 |
| IOPS       | $0.052 per IOPS-month over baseline |
| Throughput | $0.209 per MB/s-month over baseline |

With Hyperdisk Balanced, you are billed for provisioned capacity, IOPS, and throughput independently. You are billed for the total provisioned capacity of your Hyperdisk Balanced volumes until you delete them. You are charged per GiB per month. Hyperdisk Balanced charges a monthly rate for the provisioned IOPS and provisioned throughput (in MBps) in excess of the baseline values of 3,000 IOPS and 140 MBps throughput.

Note: Committed use discounts do not apply to storage or network prices.

### Network Egress Pricing

When network traffic leaves a Cloud SQL instance, the charge applied depends on the destination of the traffic, and in some cases, whether a partner is involved.

Internet egress is network traffic leaving a Cloud SQL instance to a client that is not a Google product, such as using a local server to read data from Cloud SQL.

| Destination | Price |
| --- | --- |
| Compute Engine instances and Cloud SQL cross-region replicas | Within the same region: free<br />Between regions within North America: $0.12/GB<br />Between regions outside of North America: $0.12/GB |
| Google Products (except Compute Engine and traffic to Cloud SQL cross-region replicas) | Intra-continental: free<br />Inter-continental: $0.12/GB |
| Internet egress using Cloud Interconnect | $0.05/GB |
| Internet egress (not using Cloud Interconnect) | $0.19/GB |

IPv4 addresses: $0.0131 per hour while idle.

### Instance Pricing

Instance pricing is only relevant for shared-core instances. It is charged for every second that the instance is running with the activation policy being set to "always". For more details, see [Billing on partial seconds](https://cloud.google.com/sql/pricing#billing-partial-seconds).

### License pricing (for SQL Server)

SQL Server License Pricing is based on the selected edition. SQL Server instances are charged a 10 minute minimum for licenses. After 10 minutes, SQL Server licenses are charged in 1 minute increments.

Note: From February 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025, Google has waived charges for extended support. Committed use discounts don't apply to extended support prices.

## Tools for Estimating Google Cloud SQL Pricing Cost

Given the pricing complexity, there are tools to help you estimate pricing easily.

### Official Pricing Calculator

[Pricing Calculator](https://cloud.google.com/products/calculator) is the official tool from Google Cloud. It enables you to estimate Google Cloud SQL cost with different configurations. After selecting the database engine, enter required information such as the number of instances, instance type, and location, and click **ADD TO ESTIMATE** to generate the result.

![calculator](/content/blog/understanding-google-cloud-sql-pricing/calculator.webp)

### DB Cost

[DB Cost](https://www.dbcost.com/) is an open source pricing comparison tool for Google Cloud SQL and AWS RDS. It can provide estimates of a set of instances according to your configurations, such as database engines, billed models (on demand and reserved), multiple locations, and the lease length.

![dbcost-1](/content/blog/understanding-google-cloud-sql-pricing/dbcost-1.webp)

What's more, DB Cost allows you to compare two selected instances in a more intuitive way, as shown in the following figure.

![dbcost-2](/content/blog/understanding-google-cloud-sql-pricing/dbcost-2.webp)

## Tips for Optimizing Google Cloud SQL Pricing Cost

As mentioned above, one of the biggest concerns raised by reddit discussions is how to optimize Google Cloud SQL cost. Here are some common tips:

- **Watch out the disk space**: Google Cloud SQL has a unique feature called [automatic storage increases](https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/mysql/instance-settings). You should monitor the disk space to spot any abnormal disk increase.

- **Watch out the network egress cost**: The egress cost could be outrageous. Usually you should try to co-locate your app server with the database in the same region to avoid any cost. If that's not possible, you may consider aggregating request or batching data transfer.

- **Take advantage of discounts for reserved instances**: Cloud SQL offers committed use discounts that give you a considerable discount for one-year / three-year commitment. As of 2025, these discounts can reduce costs by up to 25% for one-year commitments and up to 52% for three-year commitments on CPU and memory resources.

- **Delete idle instances**: It is well known that idle or abandoned resources are one of the biggest sources of waste in cloud spending. To reduce your cloud cost, it is absolutely necessary to delete idle instances. Watch our for those ephemeral testing database instances.

- **Resize overallocated instances**: Over-provisioning resources is common for DBAs who are used to provisioning larger instances on-premises. However, it can lead to unnecessary spending when migrating to the cloud platform. The smart way to optimize your cloud cost is to identify your resource requirements and scale instances accordingly.

- **Consider Hyperdisk Balanced storage**: For workloads with varying I/O requirements, Hyperdisk Balanced offers independent scaling of capacity, IOPS, and throughput, potentially providing cost savings compared to fixed-performance storage options.

## Summary

Google Cloud SQL is a great choice for organizations that need a full-managed relational database service. In order to get the best value for your money, it is essential to understand the pricing structure of Google Cloud SQL.

Besides optimizing cloud database cost, teams also want to make better use of the purchased databases. To achieve that, you can check out our open source project Bytebase. Bytebase supports 10+ OLTP, OLAP, NoSQL databases including all three Google Cloud SQL databases, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. It's an all-in-one platform for developers, DBAs, and platform engineers to manage the database development lifecycle efficiently and reliably. Go [self hosting](https://docs.bytebase.com/get-started/deploy-with-docker) with a single command to try it out.

![change-query-secure-govern-database-all-in-one](/content/blog/_shared/db-scheme-lg.png)



Database schema compare tool enables you to identify differences in the object structure within relational databases, and synchronize your specific objects across multiple databases. It is usually used in the following scenarios:

- Merge database changes from your private branch to your team's main branch
- Maintain schema consistency across homogeneous databases
- Build a new database test environment
- Deploy database schema changes to production based on application requirements
- Troubleshoot database problems when the service is down

**Quick pick:** for changelog-driven CLI workflows go with **Liquibase**; for declarative schema-as-code in CI/CD use **Atlas**; for a fine-grained desktop GUI use **MySQL Workbench**, **dbForge Schema Compare**, or **Navicat**; for team change management with review and one-click sync, use **Bytebase**.

## MySQL Workbench

[MySQL Workbench](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/workbench/en/) is the official GUI for MySQL development from Oracle. It includes schema comparison and synchronization utilities. It enables you to compare and synchronize schema between models, databases and SQL files. These three types can be the destination, source, or both. The following figure shows the source is model and the destination is database.

![workbench](/content/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/workbench.webp)

In addition, MySQL Workbench allows you to create a report showing the differences in catalog between the compared objects, as the next figure shows.

![report](/content/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/catalog-report.webp)

It is available on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.

## dbForge Schema Compare for MySQL

[dbForge Schema Compare for MySQL](https://www.devart.com/dbforge/mysql/schemacompare/) is dbForge's flagship product for MySQL database development and management. It allows you to compare and synchronize database schema between databases and SQL files. dbForge Schema Compare for MySQL has two distinct advantages over other comparison tools:

- Diff and synchronize MySQL databases quickly and efficiently, even for extra-large ones
- Automate routine tasks via CLI to schedule your comparison and synchronization tasks

![dbforge](/content/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/dbforge.webp)

dbForge is only available on Windows.

## Navicat

[Navicat](https://www.navicat.com/) is a commercial cross-database GUI with strong MySQL support. Its Structure Synchronization feature compares two MySQL databases, shows the structural differences, and generates and executes the SQL to synchronize the target with the source. It also handles data synchronization and general database administration.

Navicat is a paid product for Windows, macOS, and Linux — a good fit for teams that want a full-featured commercial GUI, though it is heavier and licensed compared with a free option like MySQL Workbench.

## Liquibase

[Liquibase](https://www.liquibase.com/) is an open-source command-line tool that helps you track, version, and deploy database changes with declarative and imperative approaches. It provides three Diff-based commands to discover the differences between databases and database snapshots: `diff`, `diff-changelog`, and `generate-changelog`. You can refer to the section of [Database inspection commands](https://docs.liquibase.com/commands/home.html#database-inspection-commands) for more details. The biggest advantage of Liquibase's comparison feature is that it allows you to integrate it into various workflows.

![liquibase](/content/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/liquibase.webp)

## Atlas

[Atlas](https://atlasgo.io/) is an open-source schema-as-code tool that manages database schemas declaratively. You define the desired MySQL schema in HCL or plain SQL, and Atlas computes the difference against a live database and generates the migration needed to reconcile them — the `atlas schema diff` and `atlas migrate diff` commands compare a source and a target (databases, schema files, or migration directories) and emit the SQL.

Atlas is built for automation: it plugs into CI/CD, supports migration linting and pre-apply safety checks, and works across MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, and more. It rewards teams that prefer to manage schema in version control rather than through a GUI. The trade-off is the learning curve of its declarative workflow and HCL dialect.

## Bytebase

[Bytebase](/) is an open-source database DevOps tool that is GitLab/GitHub for databases management throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). It offers a GUI web-based workspace for Developers and DBAs to collaborate safely and efficiently. Bytebase has a powerful comparison and synchronization feature with the following unique capabilities:

- Compare and synchronize schema from one database to multiple databases

![bytebase-source](/content/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/bytebase-source.webp)

- Allow you to select a schema version from the database change history as the source

![bytebase-target](/content/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/bytebase-target.webp)

- Provide a user-friendly way to display the differences between databases

![bytebase-diff](/content/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/bytebase-diff.webp)

- Enable you to complete the synchronization with one-click

![bytebase-issue](/content/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/bytebase-issue.webp)

Most schema compare features are available in Bytebase's Free plan.

## Summing it up

If you are comfortable with code-first tooling, Liquibase and Atlas are excellent choices for automating diffs in your pipeline. If you prefer fine-grained control during the synchronization process, there are GUI solutions like MySQL Workbench, dbForge Schema Compare for MySQL, and Navicat. On the other hand, if you need a fully-fledged GUI and a more streamlined experience to compare, review and deploy database schema changes, Bytebase will be a great fit.

## FAQ

**What is a MySQL schema compare tool?**

It is a tool that detects structural differences between two MySQL schemas — tables, columns, indexes, constraints, views, stored procedures, triggers — and generates the SQL to synchronize them. It's used to keep environments consistent and to promote changes safely.

**Which MySQL schema compare tool works best in CI/CD?**

Command-line and schema-as-code tools automate most cleanly: Liquibase fits scripted pipelines, Atlas offers a declarative CI/CD workflow with migration linting, and dbForge exposes a CLI for scheduled tasks. Bytebase layers GitOps-driven review and approval on top for team workflows.

**Are there free MySQL schema compare tools?**

Yes. MySQL Workbench and Atlas are free and open source; Liquibase has an open-source edition; dbForge and Navicat are commercial (dbForge is Windows-only); and most of Bytebase's schema-sync capability is available on its Free plan.



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform. We update the post gradually.

</HintBlock>

This is a series of articles about database schema change / database schema migration:

1. [What is a Database Schema?](/blog/what-is-database-schema/)
1. [What is a Database Schema Migration?](/blog/what-is-database-migration/)
1. [How to Handle Database Migration / Schema Change?](/blog/how-to-handle-database-schema-change/)
1. Top Database Schema Migration Tools in 2026 (this one)

---

It's year ~~2024~2025~2026, database schema migration is still the riskiest area in application development - it's tough, risky, and painful. Database schema migration tools exist to alleviate pain, and have come a long way: from the basic CLI tools to GUI tools, from simple SQL GUI clients to the all-in-one collaboration database platform.

## Command-Line Clients (CLI) - mysql / psql

`mysql` and `psql` are the native CLI for MySQL and PostgreSQL respectively. You can send commands or queries directly to MySQL or PostgreSQL servers from the command line.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/mysql.webp)

Although the CLI interface is simple, sometimes it's intimidating to the beginners.

## GUI

### phpMyAdmin, pgAdmin

phpMyAdmin and pgAdmin are classic SQL clients. phpMyAdmin is already an established tool for managing MySQL and MySQL-compatible databases (e.g. MariaDB), while pgAdmin is the PostgreSQL counterpart, which has now evolved to pgAdmin 4. Compared with CLI tools, phpMyAdmin and pgAdmin provide a UI for running and executing SQL queries, making them user friendlier.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/gui.webp)

### DBeaver

DBeaver's initial release came in 2010, this open-source SQL client supports a whole range of databases (SQL, NoSQL, and cloud DBs), and keeps up with the latest trends in the AI realm by incorporating OpenAI's GPT-capabilities, allowing natural language to be converted into SQL. In 2025, DBeaver has expanded its AI capabilities with more advanced schema optimization suggestions and enhanced query performance analysis.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/dbeaver.webp)

### DataGrip

DataGrip is another commercial SQL client developed by JetBrains. DataGrip has powerful code completion and refactoring tools for efficient database development. The AI Assistant, which became a standard feature in 2025, supports text2sql, schema optimization, code explanation, and automated migration script generation with backward compatibility analysis.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/datagrip.webp)

### Navicat

Navicat was first released back in 2001. It only supported MySQL back then, but later added more databases. Although Navicat's UI looks a bit outdated, it has complete functionality and provides a smooth overall experience when operating databases. In 2025, Navicat introduced a modernized interface with improved cloud integration features.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/navicat.webp)

GUI based SQL client is a good complementary to CLI based sql client. Fundamentally, they work in the same way. You connect to the database, and execute some SQL. Quick and convenient, on the flip side, lack of control, both in terms of database change management and data security. This [post](/blog/bytebase-vs-navicat/) goes into more details using Navicat as an example.

## GitOps / Database-as-Code

To better manage and source control database schema changes, several tools have introduced the code change process into database changes, known as Database-as-Code.

### Liquibase

Liquibase started out in 2006 as an open-source library for tracking, managing and applying database changes. Fun fact: Liquibase was acquired by a company called Datical in 2012 and rebranded to Datical, but then changed their name back to Liquibase in 2020 (wise move, have you seen anyone mention Datical on a forum?).

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/liquibase.webp)

Liquibase's main product is a Java-based CLI that allows developer teams to integrate database schema migration into their CI/CD workflows through the CLI. As of 2025, Liquibase has strengthened its enterprise offerings with enhanced security features and improved support for regulated industries requiring detailed change tracking.

### Flyway

Flyway shares similarities with Liquibase in many ways: they are both long-established, both have a customer base, and are open-source projects. Its core product is a CLI and a Java library.

The commercial entity behind Flyway is Redgate (acquired in 2019). It's got 3 editions: community, team and enterprise. You can tell that they have marked a clear boundary between the open-source and commercial offerings: Flyway's website feels more casual overall, while Redgate's way more professional.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/flyway-redgate.webp)

Liquibase and Flyway are neck and neck. The main difference lies in their respective positioning: Liquibase is more enterprise oriented, while Flyway is more developer oriented.

### Sqitch

Sqitch is a purely open-source project with no commercial offerings that's been on the market since 2012. It is pure CLI and does not have a UI.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/sqitch.webp)

Unlike Java-based Liquibase and Flyway, Sqitch is developed using Perl. In addition, Sqitch has its own philosophy on how to manage database schema changes: Liquibase and Flyway both use file naming conventions to order schema migrations (convention over configuration).

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/schema-migration.webp)

While Sqitch adopts an explicit approach to allow user to specify the order in the sqitch plan.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/appschema.webp)

### Atlas

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/atlas.webp)

Atlas is an open-source tool built by Ariga, and promotes the term "database schema-as-code".

You can tell that they have drawn lots of inspo from HashiCorp and dubbed itself "Terraform for Database Migrations" upon its first appearance on Hacker News. They also invented Atlas HCL based on HCL (HashiCorp Configuration Language).

Atlas uses the modern programming language Go (unlike Liquibase/Flyway, which uses Java), and centers around CLI (similar to Liquibase/Flyway/Sqitch), but it also has a lightweight UI. Atlas Cloud is a commercial offering of the open-source version.

## All in One: GUI + GitOps / Database-as-Code + Collaboration

### Prisma

ORMs like Prisma target the domain of how code interacts with data. Although this is more of a backend topic, Prisma is an ORM with frontend roots. Frontend engineers are probably not the most proficient in SQL. To lower the barrier for managing database schemas, Prisma invents their own DSL to define data models.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/prisma.webp)

DSL is state-based (declarative), which describes the end state of the database schema instead of incremental changes, which is different from Liquibase/Flyway/Sqitch. This way, Prisma is able to provide a more comprehensive view of database management throughout the entire application development cycle.

Prisma ORM is open source and free to use, and their Data Platform offers a cloud-based collaborative platform with some advanced features (it's clear that their ambition goes beyond just an ORM and schema migration tool).

### Bytebase

Bytebase is an open-source database DevSecOps tool, covering database management scenarios from changes, queries, security, to governance with a visual web-based collaboration workspace

**Visual change workflow**

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/bytebase-issue.webp)

Bytebase provides a web-based UI where developers and DBAs can collaborate to work on database changes through the same interface.

**Database-as-Code**

To better accommodate the working habits of developers, Bytebase has integrated capabilities into [code repositories such as GitLab and GitHub](/blog/integrate-sql-review-into-github/). With the GitOps workflow enabled, developers can submit database change files to familiar code repositories, and once review is completed and committed to the repo, the deployment will be automatically triggered by Bytebase. No need to switch between multiple tools!

**Team Collaboration & Management**

You can define different [roles](https://docs.bytebase.com/concepts/roles-and-permissions/) for members at two levels: Workspace and Project. You can assign different roles to your team members, so that they have different permissions for different projects; or configure approval workflows for each project, such as specifying specific DBAs or QA responsible for this specific project.

![_](/content/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/bytebase-roles.webp)

The difference between Prisma and Bytebase lies in the target audience. Prisma is mainly aimed at front-end/full-stack developers, while Bytebase is more focused on back-end and DBAs. Both products provide collaboration capabilities, with Prisma focusing on the collaboration between developers in a single project, while Bytebase targets the entire engineering organization, i.e. developers and DBAs / Platform Engineering / Ops teams. In 2025, Bytebase has enhanced its collaboration features and expanded its role-based permissions system to provide even more granular control for engineering organizations.

## To Sum Up

| Feature              | Liquibase | Flyway           | Atlas            | Prisma         | Bytebase |
| -------------------- | --------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | -------------- | -------- |
| Open Source          | ✅        | ✅               | ✅               | ✅             | ✅       |
| Commercial Offering  | ✅        | ✅               | ✅               | ✅             | ✅       |
| Web UI               | ❌        | ✅ (lightweight) | ✅ (lightweight) | ✅             | ✅       |
| Rollback Support     | ✅        | Limited          | ✅               | Limited        | ✅       |
| CI/CD Integration    | ✅        | ✅               | ✅               | ✅             | ✅       |
| Team Collaboration   | Limited   | Limited          | Limited          | ✅             | ✅       |
| Role-Based Access    | ❌        | ❌               | Limited          | Limited        | ✅       |
| Cloud-Native Support | Limited   | Limited          | ✅               | ✅ (expanding) | ✅       |

If you are operating the database as an individual, the classic CLI or GUI SQL clients like Navicat will suffice. If you prefer integration with code repos, there are solutions like Liquibase and Flyway. However, for a GUI and project collaboration capabilities similar to Jira or GitLab, your options are Prisma and Bytebase. And Bytebase is the only tool that offers organization-wide management capabilities to ensure data security and governance, in addition to making database changes more efficient and safer.

This wraps our database schema change series. Here at Bytebase, we are trying to deliver a schema change experience as close as to the code change experience, from both the individual perspective and the organization perspective. To give it a try, [start locally with a single command](https://docs.bytebase.com/get-started/deploy-with-docker/).



<HintBlock type="info">

This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database governance platform. We update the post every year.

</HintBlock>

This is a series articles about SQL Clients / SQL Editors:

1. Open Source SQL Clients (this one)
1. [Text-to-SQL Query Tools](/blog/top-text-to-sql-query-tools/)

---

The best free, open-source SQL clients and database management software in 2026 are **DBeaver**, **Beekeeper Studio**, **DbGate**, **HeidiSQL**, and **Bytebase**. DBeaver is the most versatile, supporting 80+ SQL and NoSQL databases. Beekeeper Studio and DbGate offer the cleanest cross-platform experience. HeidiSQL is the long-standing tool for MySQL and MariaDB. Bytebase is a server-side tool that adds team access control, audit logging, and data masking on top of the SQL editor. All of them are free database software with no license fee: DBeaver, Beekeeper Studio, and DbGate run on Mac, Windows, and Linux, HeidiSQL is Windows-first (Linux via Wine), and Bytebase runs in the browser. (This list is multi-database by design. Single-database tools live in their own posts: Postgres-only editors like pgconsole in [top pgAdmin alternatives](/blog/top-pgadmin-alternative/), MySQL-focused tools like phpMyAdmin in [top MySQL GUI clients](/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/).)

When database systems debuted about 40 years ago, the only way to access or modify a database was through the command line, which was not only unintuitive but also prone to errors that could lead to major problems. As a result, people began developing tools with graphical user interfaces (GUIs), which became what we now know as SQL clients — essentially front-end applications for database services. Whether you need a free database management software for Mac, Windows, or Linux, these open-source SQL GUI tools offer powerful alternatives to commercial database clients. In this post, we are taking a look at some of the best free SQL client options for you to try.

## What to look for in an open source SQL client

Not every SQL client fits every team. When comparing open-source SQL clients and database management software, weigh these criteria:

- **Open source.** The code should be freely available and modifiable, so you can audit it, self-host it, and avoid vendor lock-in.
- **Multi-database support.** A single tool that speaks MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, and NoSQL saves you from juggling one client per engine.
- **Cross-platform.** Native support for Mac, Windows, and Linux — or a browser-based UI — keeps the whole team on the same tool.
- **SQL editor quality.** Autocomplete, syntax highlighting, query history, and result export are the day-to-day features you actually live in.
- **Team collaboration and security.** For shared production access you need centralized credentials, access control, audit logging, and data masking — capabilities client-side desktop tools cannot provide.

## DBeaver

[DBeaver](https://github.com/dbeaver/dbeaver) is a veteran SQL client. In addition to basic visualization and management capabilities, it has a SQL editor, data and schema migration capabilities, monitor database connections, and more. It supports a full range of databases (both SQL and NoSQL). DBeaver is also hooked up with GPT-3, which converts your natural language to SQL.

![dbeaver](/content/blog/top-open-source-sql-clients/dbeaver.webp)

It's worth noting that DBeaver [announced](https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/11/dbeaver-takes-6m-seed-investment-to-build-on-growing-popularity/) a $6M seed round in April 2023 (the press release also mentions that DBeaver has over 8M users and 5,000+ paying subscribers), their first funding since the author built it in 2013.

The same team also maintains [CloudBeaver](https://github.com/dbeaver/cloudbeaver), a self-hosted web version of DBeaver — still a SQL workbench in the browser, without the team governance layer that Bytebase (covered below) provides.

## Beekeeper Studio

[Beekeeper Studio](https://github.com/beekeeper-studio/beekeeper-studio) is a modern (aesthetic) and lightweight SQL client that supports MySQL, Postgres, SQLite, SQL Server, etc. It is available on Linux, Mac and Windows.

![beekeeper](/content/blog/top-open-source-sql-clients/beekeeper.webp)

The author of Beekeeper Studio is an independent developer who started building this tool in 2019 because he couldn't find an easy-to-use cross-platform SQL client. After almost a year of hard work, the first version was released in early 2020.

## DbGate

[DbGate](https://github.com/dbgate/dbgate) works in Windows, Linux, Mac, and your web browsers without compromises in functionality. Both SQL and noSQL databases are supported, from MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, SQLite, to CockroachDB.

![dbgate](/content/blog/top-open-source-sql-clients/dbgate.webp)

The author of DbGate [says](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26899100) this was his passion project because he couldn't find a SQL client for Linux. He had built SQL clients for Windows in the past, so this was influenced by his own work experience.

## HeidiSQL

[HeidiSQL](https://github.com/HeidiSQL/HeidiSQL) is also a lightweight SQL client that supports a long list of databases including MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase and Firebird. In addition to basic SQL client functionalities, users can export structures and data to SQL files or copy them to the clipboard or other servers.

![heidisql](/content/blog/top-open-source-sql-clients/heidisql.webp)

The codebase for HeidiSQL [originally came from](https://www.heidisql.com/forum.php?t=20155) the author's own MySQL-Front 2.5 software, but he later sold the MySQL-Front brand and the author renamed his project HeidiSQL and has maintained it to this day.

## Bytebase

Aforementioned tools are all SQL editors built for individual use — even the browser-based ones mostly move the same single-user editor onto a server. What if you want a SQL client for team use? The individual-oriented SQL editors would not be sufficient because for team use, it would require:

- **Centralized access control**. Ideally you don't want to give away production database credentials to developers by default and only allow them to requst on demand.
- **Audit logging**. You want to capture all operations performed on the database.
- **Request and review workflow**. You want users to go through a ticketing process to request the access rights.
- **Data masking**. You may want to prevent users seeing sensitive data.
- **Policy as Code (GitOps)**. Permission control and masking policies can be codified with Terraform and integrated with your existing DevOps pipeline.

All above requirements call for a server-side solution. And that's what [Bytebase SQL Editor](/sql-editor/) provides.

![bytebase-sql-editor](/content/blog/top-open-source-sql-clients/sql-editor.webp)

## SQL Client Comparison Table

| Tool             | Platform                 | Database Support                                | Best For                                   |
| ---------------- | ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| DBeaver          | Mac, Windows, Linux      | 80+ databases (SQL & NoSQL)                     | Power users needing broad database support |
| Beekeeper Studio | Mac, Windows, Linux      | MySQL, Postgres, SQLite, SQL Server             | Developers wanting a clean, modern UI      |
| DbGate           | Mac, Windows, Linux, Web | MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, SQLite  | Cross-platform use including web browsers  |
| HeidiSQL         | Windows (Linux via Wine) | MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite  | Windows users managing multiple databases  |
| Bytebase         | Web-based (server-side)  | MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, and more | Team collaboration with access control     |

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the best open source SQL client?

DBeaver is the most widely used open-source SQL client because it supports 80+ SQL and NoSQL databases on Mac, Windows, and Linux. For a lighter, more modern interface, Beekeeper Studio and DbGate are strong alternatives. For team use with access control and audit logging, Bytebase is the server-side option.

### Are open source SQL clients really free?

Yes. DBeaver (Community Edition), Beekeeper Studio, DbGate, HeidiSQL, and Bytebase (Community Plan) are all free and open source. Some sell paid editions with extra features, but the core tools remain free — install the desktop clients directly, or self-host the web-based ones.

### What is the best free database management software for Mac?

DBeaver, Beekeeper Studio, and DbGate all run natively on macOS and are free to use. Beekeeper Studio is often preferred on Mac for its clean, native-feeling UI, while DBeaver wins on breadth of database support.

### What is the difference between a SQL client and database management software?

A SQL client is a desktop or browser GUI that an individual uses to run queries and browse data. Database management software is a broader category that also covers team-oriented capabilities — centralized access control, change review, audit logging, and data masking. Tools like DBeaver serve the individual; a server-side tool like Bytebase serves the team.

### Which open source SQL client is best for teams?

Client-side editors give every developer direct database credentials, which is risky for shared production databases. For teams, a server-side tool like Bytebase adds centralized access control, request-and-review workflows, audit logging, and data masking so you can grant query access without handing out production passwords.

## Summary

We briefly looked at the history of a handful of SQL Clients to understand some of the more famous open source solutions, rather than comparing the product or their functions (I mean, after 20 years of refinement those veteran SQL clients can't be too bad, right?). It seems that most of the authors began building because they were unable to find a product that fit their needs perfectly, but the story afterwards is very different: some tools were then commercialized, some continued on with a strong community, and some gradually faded out due to a change of focus.

And we wonder, with the popularity of ChatGPT, will there be more open source SQL clients like SQL Chat based on Chat interaction?

Beyond using the general SQL Client to interact with the databases, developers and DBAs also adopt more specialized tools for particular tasks:

- To perform schema migrations, go check out [Top Database Schema Migration Tools](/blog/top-database-schema-change-tool-evolution/).
- To compare and synchronize database schemas, go check out [Top MySQL Schema Compare Tool](/blog/top-mysql-schema-compare-tools/).
- For Postgres, go check out [Top Postgres GUI client](/blog/top-postgres-gui-client/).
- For MySQL, go check out [Top MySQL GUI client](/blog/top-mysql-gui-client/).


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