In this post, we are going to have a quick review of three database tools: DbVisualizer, DataGrip, and TablePlus; along with pros and cons of each tool to see which is the one that matches your needs for database management tasks.

1. DbVisualizer

It is a universal solution for both the development and maintenance of your databases.

  • Supported platforms: DbVisualizer runs on all the major platforms, Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • Supported Drivers: DbVisualizer supports a lot of widely used databases: Amazon Redshift, DB2 LUW, Exasol, H2, Informix, JavaDB/Derby, Microsoft SQL Server, Mimer SQL, MySQL, Netezza, NuoDB, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Sybase ASE, and Vertica.

  • Pricing: DbVisualizer has a free version. The paid version costs $197 per user and comes with one-year updates and 60-day email support, and extends the Free edition with a collection of features such as:

    • Edit Table Data
    • Auto Completion support in the SQL editor
    • Visual Create/Alter Table support
    • Charting of data
    • Import/Export
    • Query Builder

DbVisualizer

Pros:

  • Comprehensive database & OS support
  • Full featured table data and database object management
  • Export database objects and table data
  • Dynamic JDBC driver management (no CLASSPATH editing)
  • SSH support with known_hosts and private key support

Cons:

  • The interface doesn’t feel native and friendly. Sometimes users have to struggle to get to the correct place.
  • The license pricing is costly.

2. DataGrip

DataGrip provides robust tools that streamline SQL code writing and make the entire process more efficient.

  • Supported platforms: DataGrip is cross-platform too. It works well on macOS, Linux, and Windows.

  • Supported Drivers: DataGrip supports a lot of databases: Postgres, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, Azure, Redshift, SQLite, DB2, H2, Sybase, Exasol, Derby, MariaDB, HyperSQL, Clickhouse.

  • Pricing: DataGrip doesn’t have a community version. You can download and use the free trial for 30 days, then you need to pay for a subscription service. It costs $8.9/mo for an individual and $19.9/mo/user for business.

DataGrip

Pros:

  • It supports multiple drivers.
  • It has smart context-sensitive and schema-aware code completion.
  • A visual table editor lets you add, remove, edit, and clone data rows. 
  • It has version control support.
  • Refactoring support.

Cons:

  • It’s not user-friendly. It takes time to learn how to use it.
  • It doesn’t run fast, compared to similar tools. It will be very sluggish when working with high-volume databases.
  • It can use up to several GB’s of memory.
  • The cost is relatively high.

3. TablePlus

With a native build and a lightweight size, TablePlus offers a powerful tool for managing multiple databases on Mac and Windows.

  • Supported platforms: TablePlus is built native for each platform. It started out with a native version for Mac, then another version for Windows, and a version for Linux was introduced recently as an alpha release. It also has an iOS version.

  • Supported Drivers: TablePlus supports a handful of relational databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server, Amazon Redshift, MariaDB, CockroachDB, Vertica, Oracle; and two popular NoSQL databases: Cassandra and Redis.

  • Pricing: TablePlus has a free version with full set of features which you can download and use forever, but there are some usage limitations. If you use it heavily, the license costs $59 to remove all those limitations.

TablePlus

Pros:

  • Native build for each platform so it’s fast, lightweight, and stable.
  • Clean and simple interface.
  • Multiple drivers support
  • Multiple conditions data filter
  • Queries history and keyword binding favorite.
  • Streaming results and async loading to show queries results faster and doesn’t block the UI.
  • Very quick inline editing for table data and structure, you also can edit query results directly.
  • Smart query editor with highlight syntax, instant autocomplete, SQL reformat.
  • Multiple carets
  • A plugin system to extend the app.
  • Quick support. TablePlus releases new updates regularly and responds to users’ requests almost immediately.

Cons:

It currently lacks of some advanced features such as ER Diagram, database compare tool to Diff and Sync, etc.

4. Conclusion

Go with DbVisualizer if you:

  • Just want to get the job done and don’t mind the UX or performance
  • Need a tool that is more focused on visualization

Go with DataGrip if you:

  • Work with multiple databases
  • Are comfortable with the cost
  • Don’t mind the slugginess

Go with TablePlus if you:

  • Are a fan of native experience
  • Work with multiple databases
  • Want a modern design with better usability
  • Want quick support & development cycle.