SQLlyHow SQLly stacks up
Shopping for a SQL client? Good - you should. Here’s how SQLly compares with the tools you’re most likely weighing it against, including the parts where the other tool is the better call. The pig would rather you be happy than be his.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Pick a comparison
SQLly vs DBeaver
A native Rust workbench against the Java-based, open-source-core tool that connects to almost everything.
Read the comparison → // database IDESQLly vs DataGrip
A focused SQL workbench next to JetBrains’ full database IDE on the IntelliJ platform.
Read the comparison → // sql serverSQLly vs SSMS
SSMS is Windows-only. If you want a native SQL Server client on your Mac or Linux box, start here.
Read the comparison → // native clientsSQLly vs TablePlus
Two native apps: one minimal and broad, one deeper on fewer engines with DBA tools and guardrails.
Read the comparison →How we write these
Comparison pages are usually a victory lap. We’re trying to make these useful instead.
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Honest badges for SQLly
Every SQLly claim uses the same status as the features page and the docs. In-progress and planned work is labeled that way, never passed off as shipped.
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Only the basics about others
For other tools we stick to well-established facts: platforms, how they’re built, and how they’re licensed. No quoted prices, version numbers, or benchmarks - their own sites have the current details.
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A fair “choose them” section
Each page ends with the situations where the other tool is the better choice. If one of those describes you, go with it - no hard feelings.
SQLly in one breath
A native SQL workbench written in Rust and rendered on the GPU, for macOS, Windows, and Linux (macOS signed; Windows and Linux a supported beta). It connects to 20 engines today across the SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite families, with IntelliSense that knows your data, guardrails you set once, and script-first DBA tools. Free for hobbyists, with Annual and Lifetime licenses for everyone else.
Rather kick the tires first? The in-browser preview is a labeled demo against sample data - the desktop app is the real thing.
The best comparison is your own database
Download SQLly free for macOS, Windows, or Linux - no account required - and point it at something you know well.