5 Free & Open Source DBeaver Alternatives for 2024

May 8, 2024 By Matthew Rathbone

DBeaver is a popular database GUI due to its extensive database support and robust feature set, but it’s not for everyone.

Thankfully the open source ecosystem of SQL GUIs is strong and healthy, so there are plenty of alternative choices.

Beekeeper Studio Community Edition

Available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux - download here

Beekeeper Studio’s strong focus on usability and design is unique among open source database GUIs and makes it an excellent alternative to DBeaver.

I switched to Beekeeper Studio when I found DBeaver too frustrating to use: design not great, difficult to manage my queries - Long

Download Beekeeper Studio

Beekeeper Studio supports multiple databases including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, and more. What sets Beekeeper Studio apart is its clean, intuitive interface combined with powerful features like auto-complete, query formatting, native-tabs, and a privacy-first policy with no telemetry or tracking.

Beekeeper Studio also has a commercial ‘ultimate’ edition with more features like full import/export, backup & restore, and support for more databases like Oracle and Cassandra.

Plus - All of Beekeeper Studio’s code is made available through the GPLv3 license, so it’s truly free (libre) and free (gratis).

If you find DBeaver’s UI hard to stomach, Beekeeper Studio is the GUI for you. Obviously we’re biased, but try it yourself and we think you’ll agree.

Beekeeper Studio Links

HeidiSQL

Windows Only

Created in 2002, HeidiSQL is a well respected and mature GUI for managing MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL, and PostgreSQL databases on Microsoft Windows. It offers a robust set of features including a graphical interface for managing databases and data visually.

HeidiSQL allows for connecting to multiple servers, managing user permissions, and executing SQL queries directly, making it a practical choice for engineers who need a reliable and versatile tool.

HeidiSQL Links

Sequel Ace (formerly Sequel Pro)

MacOS Only

Sequel Ace is a fork of Sequel Pro. It shines as a simple macOS database management tool for MySQL (and MariaDB).

Sequel Ace is specifically built for macOS and continues the legacy of Sequel Pro as a straight up and easy to use database management app.

Features like query autocompletion, syntax highlighting, and direct import/export with CSV and Excel make Sequel Ace an excellent choice for Mac users looking for a powerful yet straightforward database management solution for MySQL.

Sequel Ace Links

SQuirreL SQL

Available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux

SQuirreL SQL is an open-source Java-based SQL client that provides an UI to connect to databases via the JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) interface.

Like DBeaver, it is compatible with a lot of database engines such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQL Server, among others. Being based on Java and JDBC is a benefit for driver compatibility.

It has a bunch of similar features to DBeaver, and has a very similar interface, thanks to similar underpinnings (Java).

SQuirreL SQL Links

Adminer

Web based

Adminer stands out with its unique approach to database management by being delivered as a single PHP file.

It provides support for managing MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MS SQL, and Oracle databases, plus more via community plugins.

Adminer is simple to deploy and has a bunch of community plugins that provide extras like new database compatibility, and custom theming.

Adminer is really positioned as an alternative to PHPMyAdmin, which is also a web-based SQL GUI based on PHP.

Adminer Links

Wrap-up

Beekeeper Studio was created out of frustration with other open source tools and their lack of focus on usability. We think that this makes Beekeeper Studio the best open source SQL GUI on the market, although obviously we’re biased 🙃.

Regardless of what you want out of an open source GUI, all of the projects listed are mature, quality pieces of software built by passionate and talented developers. You can’t really go wrong.