Top 5 database GUIs for SQL databases 2024

Working as a web developer or database administrator often needs to deal with SQL statements to explore the database for various reasons.

1. Query the database
2. Build & execute the SQL code
3. Generating report
4. Taking a Backup
5. Diagnosing the application problem related to the database

Having the right tool can speed up database-related tasks and make you more productive. The following tools give you the flexibility to manage, develop, and easily administer databases.

1. DronaHQ

DronaHQ is a web-based tool for building internal tools and applications on top of your data. Developers use the tool to connect to all modern databases (Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, and even Firebase) and any REST API, as well as third-party APIs like Stripe, Slack, and Twilio. 

Use this tool to go from query to a table, list, chart, search, and button with the drag-and-drop builder and create full-featured database GUIs that support CRUD operations, data visualizations, and much more. DronaHQ is commonly used by developers and database admins to create good-looking CRUD applications with advanced features that go beyond basic CRUD operations, like sending emails, generating PDF reports, running an approval workflow, and updating the CRM. 

The platform is not exactly focused on any SQL database, still has a lot of helpful features.  For example, DronaHQ connects to pretty much anything, which is useful if you’ve got more than one data source to work with. You can access and work with your Postgres DBs and your MongoDB collections in the same GUI, all from your browser. Another helpful feature is a visual query builder to query your SQL/NoSQL databases. If you need to share the tool/app with more end-users, you can grant role-based access permissions to control who has view rights, edit rights, delete permissions, and so on.

The platform supports multiple pricing plans, starting from as low as $10 per user per month for the starter plan and a 30-day free trial for the business plan. 

Pros:

1. Rapid Application Development: DronaHQ’s low-code approach allows for faster development cycles, as it provides pre-built components, templates, and visual interfaces that streamline the application development process.

2. Cross-Platform Capabilities: DronaHQ supports the creation of applications that are compatible with multiple platforms, including web, mobile, and desktop, enabling developers to reach a wider user base.

3. Seamless integration: DronaHQ integrates with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, and many others allowing direct interaction and operations such as data retrieval, insertion, updates, and SQL queries within your applications.

Cons:

1. DronaHQ is primarily a low code app development platform rather than a dedicated GUI tool for database management but offers as many as features required to build GUI on top of SQL databases.

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2. DbVisualizer

DB Visualizer is a universal tool for developers, database analysts & application analysts to browse through a database, edit and compile procedures, etc. 

DB Visualizer is not a language-specific client and can support a variety of languages including – SQLite, Sybase, Redshift, Oracle, NuoDB, Vertica, H2, Derby, and many more. You can also specify your JDBC drivers to get support for additional platforms.

Its query build tool is extremely easy to use. It allows you to drag, drop, click, etc., to create complicated, beautiful queries.

DbVisualizer is compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems. It offers both a free version and a paid Pro version, with an initial cost of $197 per user for the first year and subsequent years at $69 per user. Additionally, a trial is available for users to assess the tool before making a decision on the preferred version.

Pros:

1. Versatility: Supports a wide range of database platforms, allowing unified management.

2. User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive and easy to navigate for users of all levels.

3. Comprehensive Feature Set: Offers extensive functionalities for database management and development.

Cons:

1. Cost: Advanced features may require purchasing a license.

2. Steep Learning Curve: Requires time to learn and effectively utilize all features.

3. Limited Advanced Database-Specific Functionality: May lack certain platform-specific optimizations and functionalities.

3. DBeaver

DBeaver is another open-source cross-platform GUI tool popularly used for PostgreSQL by both developers and database administrators. 

DBeaver supports all the popular databases like MySQL, MariaDB, Sybase, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, MS Access, Firebird, Teradata, Apache Hive, Phoenix, Presto, and Derby – any database which has a JDBC driver. You can run DBeaver on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

In addition to an easy to use query builder, you can also create multiple data views to support a variety of user needs. 

The GUI allows you to navigate easily through your data and perform full-text searches to create filtered tables and views.

This tool also supports the import and export of data with many file formats such as CSV, HTML, XML, JSON, XLS, XLSX. You can also use this tool to generate ER diagrams for a database/schema.

It can be a bit slow when dealing with large data sets compared to some expensive GUI tools like Navicat and DataGrip.

It has a free open-source edition as well as an enterprise edition. You can buy the standard license for the enterprise edition at $199. 

DBeaver runs as a desktop application. The process of connecting it to your local database is very intuitive and you don’t need to have CLI experience to get started with this tool.

DBeaver has both free and paid options. Being a desktop application, it only has as much power as your machine. To unlock the productivity levels you need in distributed development situations, you’ll have to turn to its enterprise option.

Pros: 

1. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

2. Extensive Database Support: Supports various database platforms.

3. Robust Feature Set: Offers comprehensive database management features.

Cons:

1. Steep Learning Curve: This can be challenging for new users.

2. Performance Issues with Large Datasets: Some users report performance problems with big data.

3. Occasional Stability Issues: Users have experienced occasional crashes or stability problems.

4. OmniDB

OmniDB is an open-source SQL GUI to add, edit, and manage data and all other necessary features in a unified workspace. It supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and MariaDB. 

OmniDB runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.

Despite being open-source, OmniDB retains a lot of the SQL development features like an SQL editor that helps write SQL codes through autocomplete and syntax highlighting features. You can also monitor dashboards in real-time using customizable charts that show information about your database. 

Other highlights include debugging capabilities and access from multiple computers with encrypted personal information.

Being a lightweight tool, it works great for one or a few SQL developers who need a free option for fundamental database work. 

OmniDB lacks community support in comparison to DBeaver. So, you might find it difficult to learn this tool and could feel a bit alone when you face an issue.

Pros:

1. User-Friendly Interface: OmniDB offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.

2. Multi-Platform Support: It is compatible with multiple operating systems.

3. Advanced Features: OmniDB provides a range of advanced features for database management.

Cons:

1. Limited Database Support: OmniDB supports a relatively smaller number of database platforms compared to some other tools.

2. Learning Curve: Users may need some time to familiarize themselves with the tool’s functionalities.

3. Potential Performance Issues: Some users have reported performance problems when working with complex queries.

5. DataGrip

DataGrip is a full-featured IDE that supports multiple database environments. Developed by JetBrains, there are many exciting features to like in the DataGrip SQL GUI. DataGrip supports all three major operating systems, Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. 

Built from the ground up for power and customizability, DataGrip supports a tremendous list of database management systems, including SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, SQLite, Azure Database, DB2, H2, MariaDB, Cassandra, HyperSQL, Apache Derby, and many more. It is not a web application and can run as a local application like Spotify, VSCode, or RStudio.

It has a beautiful and customizable UI along with an intelligent query console that keeps track of all your activities. You can easily add, remove, edit, and clone data rows using the editor.

There are many ways to navigate schema between tables, views, and procedures. The tool also helps in detecting bugs in your code and suggests the best options to fix them.

DataGrip is not built to be an administrator web application that you can deploy on any cloud server. It’s made for querying. It has a big learning curve making it a bit overwhelming for beginner developers.

DataGrip is more than enough for many small businesses because a desktop application can help them solve most of their urgent database problems on one or a few computers.

Pros:

1. Comprehensive Features: DataGrip offers a wide range of tools and features for efficient database management, SQL development, and data analysis.

2. Cross-Platform Compatibility: It is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

3. Integration and Productivity: DataGrip integrates well with other JetBrains IDEs and provides intelligent code assistance, version control integration, and database exploration features for enhanced productivity.

Cons:

1. Steep Learning Curve: Due to its extensive feature set, DataGrip may have a learning curve, especially for users who are new to JetBrains IDEs.

2. Resource Intensive: Running DataGrip may require a relatively high amount of system resources, which can impact performance on less powerful machines.

3. Price: DataGrip is a commercial tool and may require a paid license for full access to all features, which can be a drawback for users looking for free or more budget-friendly options.

Summing Up 

While some tools mentioned above are ideal for database administrators to query and visualize the data, others are suitable for teams that need to perform CRUD operations using a frontend. 

If you are an analyst who is going to be the sole user of the solution, tools like DataGrip or DBeaver are your best bet for greater visibility over your database.

If you are part of a larger team, however, then paying for Dbvisualizer may be the best option as that would also open up more advanced features that team projects require. 

DronaHQ would work best if you are working with multiple data sources and need to create GUIs that will be shared with end-users to access, view, or update the data. Most developers have more than just one database in use. As the work, the organization, and the scope of the project grow, more end users would need quick access to insights from various data sources and in real-time. A low-code database GUI solution is a reliable method to manipulate your data as it drastically minimizes developer time and maximizes domain-specific knowledge about your data.

DronaHQ offers a complete set of powerful building blocks to design custom internal tools. You can create a frontend app in under a minute visually  by  dragging and dropping UI controls from a library of over 100+ pre-built controls. Bind the UI controls to SQL database of choice or pick from over 50 data integrations or any other data source with a REST or GraphQL API. Get started for free >