Best Open Source SQL Clients for Database Management

Managing a Database efficiently requires the right tools, and open-source SQL clients are one such powerful, cost-effective solution. This makes interacting with various databases, executing queries, and managing data quite seamless. This article will explore some of the best open-source SQL clients for database management, and highlight their features.

BestOpen Source SQL Clients for Database Management

If you are looking for SQL Clients for Database Management, check out the list we have curated below.

1. DBeaver
2. Beekeeper Studio
3. DBgate
4. Sqlectron
5. SQuirrel SQL client
6. SQL Chat
7. OmniDB
8. HeidiSQL
9. Falcon
10. pgAdmin

Let’s get started.

1] DBeaver

DBeaver is a free, open-source, cross-platform SQL client and database administration tool. It is designed to support a wide variety of SQL and NoSQL databases, including MySQL and PostgreSQL. Its key features include an SQL editor that allows code completion, syntax highlighting, data, and schema migration capabilities. Moreover, it allows the users to create ER diagrams if there’s a need for visualizing relationships between tables.  And the best part is that users can add or tweak features with plug-ins to customize it.

2] Beekeeper Studio

Just like the first option, Beekeeper Studio is a free, open-source, cross-platform, SQL editor and database manager. It supports various databases such as MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL. The platform offers a user-friendly interface with a long list of features like SQL auto-completion, syntax highlighting, data sorting/ filtering, and saving queries for later purposes. Moreover, users can edit tables directly, and export data in formats such as CSV, JSON, or SQL.

3] DBgate

Next, DBgate. It is another free open-source database that offers support for both SQL and NoSQL databases. This includes MySQL, Oracle, MongoDB, SQLite, PostgreSQL, and more. It offers a user-friendly interface, with features like SQL query generation with auto-completion, and schema editing. The platform also provides data import/ export capabilities for Excel, CSV, and JSON formats,  and supports connection through SSH tunnel. Moreover, it is cross-platform, so apart from Windows, users can access it on Linux, macOS, as well as web browsers.

4] Sqlectron

Sqlectron is a lightweight open-source platform that comes in both a graphical (GUI) and terminal-based version. It supports multiple relational databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Cassandra, Microsoft SQL Server, and more. The platform features a user-friendly interface with SQL query execution, syntax highlighting, table data/ viewing, and editing, and cross-platform support. Moreover, for secure connections, Sqlectron supports SSH tunneling. However, it’s necessary to keep in mind that the project has not been maintained.

5] Squirrel SQL client

Squirrel SQL client is a free open-source SQL client, written in JAVA that supports any JDBC-compliant database. It offers a range of features which include a database structure viewer, SQL query editor with syntax editing, and a plugin system for extra functionality. More importantly, it supports various databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQL Server. And the best part is that it’s completely free, and easy to use due to its user-friendly interface.

6] SQL Chat

As the name suggests, SQL Chat is an innovative open-source SQL client that utilizes a chat-based interface to interact with databases. It supports databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and TiDB Cloud. To make SQL operations more intuitive, the platform allows users to query, modify, and manage databases using natural languages.

7] OmniDB

OmniDB is an open-source, browser-based tool designed for database management. Its simple interface advocates ease of use. OmniDB offers a single-page interface and a unified workspace where users can manage multiple database systems within a single platform. It supports various databases, including PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, MySQL, SQLite, Firebird, and many more. Moreover, it allows the exporting of query results to CSV or XLSX files.

8] HeidiSQL

HeidiSQL is a free lightweight SQL client for Windows that makes working with databases a breeze. It supports MariaDB, MySQL, SWL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and more. With a clean easy-to-use interface, users can browse, edit data, manage tables, create views, and handle stored procedures and triggers. It also supports SSH tunneling and SSL Connections for secure connection.

Read: How to install and configure SQL Server Management Studio

9] Falcon

Falcon is another option that is a free open-source SQL editor with inline data visualization. It supports multiple databases like Redshift, MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM DB2, Impala, MS SQL, and more. Users can run queries, visualize results, and export data as CSV. Moreover, it is cross-platform so apart from Windows users, Linux and MAC can also check it out.

10] pgAdmin

pgAdmin is a popular open-source management tool for PostgreSQL. It offers a graphical interface for managing, creating, and editing tables, running queries, and managing user permissions. Furthermore, the platform supports multiple PostgreSQL versions and provides tools for backup, restore, and routine maintenance.

Read: How to install Oracle Database on Windows 11

Which SQL database is open source?

There are various SQL databases that are open source, offering powerful features. Some of them are HeidiSQL, SQL Chat, DBeaver, and more. To know about them in detail, check out the list mentioned above.

Read: How to install SQL Developer in Windows 11

What is the most lightweight SQL client?

There are various opinions about the lightweight SQLclient, however, the three options that got the most reviews are Beekeeper Studio, Sqlectron, and Heidi SQL. Each client offers a balance between functionality and minimal resource usage.

Also Read: How to Install PostgreSQL on Windows.