10 Best MySQL GUI Clients of 2026

1. 1

   DBeaver

   An open source universal database tool whose free Community edition connects to MySQL, MariaDB and many other engines, with paid PRO editions for teams.

   9.4overall

   An open source universal database tool whose free Community edition connects to MySQL, MariaDB and many other engines, with paid PRO editions for teams.

   Best forDevelopers and DBAs who want one free desktop IDE for MySQL, MariaDB and the other databases in their stack.

   Adoption data

   10 millionDBeaver's commercial site says the tool has more than 10 million unique users across its editions.

   DBeaver, DBeaver, data management and SQL development (2026): “Over 10 million unique users”

   DBeaver is the most widely used free answer to the question of which IDE to use for MySQL. The Community edition, which is open source, lists MySQL and MariaDB among its supported databases and includes a SQL Editor, a Data Editor, task management, database maintenance tools and an AI Chat with an @ai command. Release 26.2.4 from November 2, 2026 added cross-statement variable tracking to SQL autocomplete and more than 200 CData drivers. The paid PRO line adds a Visual Query Builder, a Task Scheduler, performance visual tools and NoSQL sources such as MongoDB and Redis. DBeaver reports more than 10 million unique users, the largest reach published by any vendor here. The tradeoffs are that the vendor positions Community for personal projects, so companies may end up on PRO, and the PRO prices did not load in USD for us, so we only verified that Community is free. A 14-day PRO trial is offered.

   Strengths

   • +Free and open source, with MySQL and MariaDB listed as supported databases
   • +Same interface for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server and SQLite
   • +Largest published user count on this list

   Limitations

   • −The vendor recommends Community for personal projects
   • −Visual Query Builder and scheduler need PRO
   • −PRO prices were not shown in USD from our location

   SummaryDBeaver gives MySQL and MariaDB users a capable free IDE backed by the largest published user base. It is the safest first install for most developers.

2. 2

   MySQL Workbench

   Oracle's official visual tool for MySQL developers, DBAs and architects, rebuilt on MySQL Shell with SQL, JavaScript and TypeScript support.

   9.0overall

   Oracle's official visual tool for MySQL developers, DBAs and architects, rebuilt on MySQL Shell with SQL, JavaScript and TypeScript support.

   Best forMySQL-only teams who want the vendor's own free tool for queries, user management and performance analysis.

   MySQL Workbench is the official visual tool for MySQL and the default choice for teams that only run MySQL. Oracle has rebuilt it on MySQL Shell: the new version replaces earlier releases, which have reached end of life, and also absorbs MySQL Shell for VS Code, which was discontinued. Development happens in a Script Editor or in SQL Notebooks that also accept JavaScript and TypeScript, with auto-completion, SQL formatting and result editing. Administrators can view server status and configuration, manage users and grants and inspect client connections. Performance Reports cover slow queries, execution-time distribution, table sizes, memory use and waits, and the redesigned Visual Explain and Visual Explain Analyze compare planned and actual execution. The Community release is free. Oracle publishes no user count for Workbench, so we scored adoption on its status as the official client. MariaDB users should look elsewhere, and visual backups need the commercial MySQL Enterprise Backup.

   Strengths

   • +Free Community release from the team that builds MySQL
   • +Deep MySQL-specific administration and performance views
   • +Community release documented for Windows, macOS and Linux

   Limitations

   • −Built for MySQL, with no MariaDB support claimed on the product page
   • −The new version replaces older releases, so guides and plugins may be out of date
   • −Backup workflows rely on MySQL Enterprise Backup, a commercial product

   SummaryMySQL Workbench is the best free MySQL-only IDE, with performance reports and visual EXPLAIN that come straight from the MySQL team. Choose DBeaver instead if you also work with MariaDB or other engines.

3. 3

   DataGrip

   JetBrains' database IDE for relational and NoSQL databases, with schema-aware SQL completion and agent support, free for non-commercial use.

   8.8overall

   JetBrains' database IDE for relational and NoSQL databases, with schema-aware SQL completion and agent support, free for non-commercial use.

   Best forDevelopers who write a lot of SQL and want the strongest code completion and refactoring for MySQL and MariaDB.

   Adoption data

   630,000+JetBrains says DataGrip is trusted by more than 630,000 developers.

   JetBrains, DataGrip: The JetBrains IDE for relational and NoSQL databases (2026): “Trusted by 630,000+ developers at companies powering the world”

   DataGrip is the pick when the question is which IDE writes MySQL best. JetBrains builds it around schema-aware code completion, error detection and quick-fixes that work across SQL dialects, plus custom formatting rules so shared scripts stay consistent. It connects to more than 50 local and cloud databases, MySQL and MariaDB included, and can discover AWS, Google Cloud and Azure instances from your account. Query results open in interactive tables that you can filter, sort, edit and chart without code. Local history records every query run by you or by connected AI agents, and agents work under permissions and confirmation dialogs. JetBrains reports more than 630,000 developers. DataGrip is free for non-commercial use, but commercial work needs a subscription, and the buy page showed prices in EUR from our location, so we list the USD price as pending.

   Strengths

   • +Best SQL editing on this list
   • +Free for non-commercial use
   • +Same database tools are built into other JetBrains IDEs

   Limitations

   • −Commercial use needs a paid subscription
   • −Prices showed in EUR from our location, so the USD price is pending
   • −More IDE than a quick-look client needs

   SummaryDataGrip has the strongest SQL editor here and is free for non-commercial use. Teams pay for it, so it ranks below the two free leaders on value.

4. 4

   HeidiSQL

   A free, open source client created in 2002 for MariaDB and MySQL that also connects to SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite and more.

   8.7overall

   A free, open source client created in 2002 for MariaDB and MySQL that also connects to SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite and more.

   Best forWindows users who want a light, free MariaDB and MySQL client with strong export and bulk table tools.

   HeidiSQL has been a staple for MariaDB and MySQL users since its author, Ansgar Becker, created it in 2002, and it is still actively maintained: version 12.22 shipped on October 25, 2026. It connects to MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL and Redshift, over SSH tunnels or SSL. You can create and edit tables, views, stored routines, triggers and scheduled events, manage user privileges with roles and authentication plugins, and bulk edit tables to change engine or collation. Export options are broad, from compressed SQL dumps to CSV, JSON and Markdown, and you can copy data straight from one server to another. Admin helpers let you kill client processes and optimize or repair tables in batch. HeidiSQL is free with optional donations. The Windows build is the original, while Linux and macOS versions are compiled with Lazarus, and no user count is published.

   Strengths

   • +Free and open source
   • +Fast to install, with a portable Windows build
   • +Exports directly from one server to another

   Limitations

   • −Linux and macOS builds use a separate Lazarus codebase
   • −No AI features in the current release
   • −No published user count

   SummaryHeidiSQL is the best lightweight free client for MariaDB and MySQL on Windows. It lacks AI and modeling tools but covers daily admin work well.

5. 5

   dbForge Studio for MySQL

   Devart's IDE for MySQL and MariaDB, covering development, design, comparison, administration and AI assistance in four editions.

   8.6overall

   Devart's IDE for MySQL and MariaDB, covering development, design, comparison, administration and AI assistance in four editions.

   Best forTeams that want schema compare, debugging and source control for MySQL and MariaDB in one paid IDE.

   Adoption data

   500K+Devart, which makes dbForge, says more than 500,000 users trust its database tools.

   Devart, About Devart: Brief Information About Company (2026): “500K+ users trust our tools”

   dbForge Studio for MySQL is the most feature-dense paid IDE here for MySQL and MariaDB. Devart sells it in four editions. Express is free and covers the SQL formatter, visual data and object editors, the Database Designer, export and import, and the Security and Session managers. Standard, from $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year, adds the MySQL debugger, Query Profiler with execution plans, backup and recovery, the Visual Query Builder and SQL refactoring. Professional adds schema and data comparison and sync, CLI automation and data reports, and Enterprise adds source control, a data generator and a documenter. An AI Assistant handles natural language to SQL, error analysis and query optimization. Devart says more than 500,000 users trust its tools, a company-wide figure rather than one for this product. The main limits are that the richest features sit in the top editions and subscription licenses stop working once the period ends.

   Strengths

   • +Most complete feature set for MySQL-specific work
   • +Free Express edition for basic tasks
   • +Monthly billing available on paid editions

   Limitations

   • −Schema compare requires Professional and source control requires Enterprise
   • −Debugger and Query Profiler start at the paid Standard edition
   • −Subscriptions stop working when they lapse

   SummarydbForge Studio is the best paid all-in-one MySQL IDE for teams that need debugging, schema compare and source control. Budget for Professional or Enterprise to get those features.

6. 6

   Beekeeper Studio

   An open source, cross-platform SQL editor and database manager with a free Community edition and low-cost paid plans.

   8.5overall

   An open source, cross-platform SQL editor and database manager with a free Community edition and low-cost paid plans.

   Best forDevelopers who want a clean, modern MySQL and MariaDB client with a cheap paid tier and an AI shell.

   Adoption data

   2.5 millionBeekeeper Studio's pricing page says the app has passed 2.5 million downloads.

   Beekeeper Studio, Beekeeper Studio Pricing (2026): “Over 2.5 million downloads”

   Beekeeper Studio is a modern SQL editor that favors a clean interface over long admin menus. Its feature table lists MariaDB alongside MySQL, and the app gives you a SQL editor with auto-complete, saved queries, a spreadsheet-style table view where you can edit rows inline, and a table creator for columns, indexes and foreign keys. Connections can run through SSH tunnels. Paid plans add the AI Shell, cloud workspaces and extra connectivity options. The Community edition is free and open source, and the Indie plan costs $9 per user per month billed yearly or $18 billed monthly. The pricing page says the app keeps working with the Community feature set after a trial ends, and the 14-day trial needs no credit card. Beekeeper reports more than 2.5 million downloads. It does not try to match MySQL Workbench on performance reports or user management.

   Strengths

   • +Indie plan is $9 per month billed yearly
   • +Open source Community edition
   • +No credit card needed for the 14-day trial

   Limitations

   • −Fewer MySQL admin tools than Workbench or HeidiSQL
   • −AI Shell and some databases are paid features
   • −Indie covers a single user

   SummaryBeekeeper Studio is the friendliest cheap paid client for MySQL and MariaDB. Pick it for daily querying, not for deep server administration.

7. 7

   TablePlus

   A native database client for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS sold as a one-time license.

   8.4overall

   A native database client for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS sold as a one-time license.

   Best forDevelopers who prefer a fast native app and a one-time license over a subscription.

   Adoption data

   100k+TablePlus says more than 100,000 developers use the app.

   TablePlus, TablePlus, Modern, Native Tool for Database Management (2026): “Trusted by 100k+ developers worldwide”

   TablePlus is a native database client for people who want speed and a buy-once license. It supports MySQL, MariaDB and SingleStore, plus compatible databases such as Percona, alongside PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Redis and others. You can edit rows, table structure or query results inline, review your pending changes before they are committed, and turn on safe mode to avoid mistakes on production. The query editor includes instant autocomplete, split panes, a reformatter, favorites and history, and streaming results, and you can export or import SQL dumps to move a database between servers. The Basic license costs $99 one-time for one device and includes a year of updates; after that the app keeps working without limits. TablePlus says more than 100,000 developers use it. Admin depth, such as user management and performance reports, is lighter than in Workbench or dbForge.

   Strengths

   • +One-time purchase with no auto-renewal
   • +Supports MySQL, MariaDB, SingleStore and Percona among many others
   • +Safe mode for production connections

   Limitations

   • −Basic license covers one device
   • −Updates beyond the first year need renewal
   • −No free plan for full use

   SummaryTablePlus is the best native client for developers who dislike subscriptions. It is a query and data tool first, so DBAs may still need Workbench.

8. 8

   phpMyAdmin

   A free, web-based tool written in PHP for administering MySQL and MariaDB from a browser.

   8.3overall

   A free, web-based tool written in PHP for administering MySQL and MariaDB from a browser.

   Best forWeb hosts and developers who need browser-based MySQL and MariaDB administration on a server.

   phpMyAdmin brings MySQL and MariaDB administration to the browser, which is why it often comes preinstalled on hosting panels. Written in PHP, it lets you create, copy, drop, rename and alter databases, tables, fields and indexes, manage user accounts and privileges, handle stored procedures and triggers, and run, edit and bookmark SQL including batch queries. It imports CSV and SQL and exports to CSV, SQL, XML, PDF and office formats, and it adds query-by-example, global database search, schema visualization and multi-server administration. The project is free under GPL version 2, is translated into 98 languages and belongs to the Software Freedom Conservancy. The latest stable release listed is 5.2.3 from October 8, 2025, so releases are slower than the desktop tools here. Because it runs on a web server, you must secure it carefully. No user count is published.

   Strengths

   • +Runs in any browser, with nothing to install on client machines
   • +Free, mature and translated into 98 languages
   • +Covers MySQL and MariaDB administration end to end

   Limitations

   • −Must be installed and secured on a web server
   • −Latest stable release, 5.2.3, dates from October 2025
   • −Weaker SQL editing than desktop IDEs

   SummaryphpMyAdmin is the best free option when you need MySQL administration in a browser. For daily query writing, a desktop IDE is more comfortable.

9. 9

   Navicat for MySQL

   A commercial package for managing and developing MySQL and MariaDB with visual designers, data modeling, sync and BI.

   8.1overall

   A commercial package for managing and developing MySQL and MariaDB with visual designers, data modeling, sync and BI.

   Best forTeams that want polished visual designers, data sync and modeling for MySQL and MariaDB and can pay for a license.

   Adoption data

   180,000Navicat says more than 180,000 registered customers in 138 countries have chosen its products.

   Navicat, About Us, PremiumSoft Company History and Contact Information (2026): “over 180,000 registered customers across 7 continents and 138 countries have chosen Navicat”

   Navicat for MySQL is a commercial package for managing and developing MySQL and MariaDB, aimed at users who want visual tools for nearly every task. Object designers cover tables, views, functions, procedures and events without hand-written SQL, and the grid view supports foreign key dropdowns for lookup values. A drag-and-drop SQL Builder and code completion help with queries, while data transfer, data and structure synchronization, data generation, backup and restore, and automation handle routine jobs. Newer releases add modeling, BI, data masking and AI assistants. It connects over SSH or HTTP tunnels and supports Amazon RDS and Aurora, Azure Database for MySQL and Google Cloud SQL. Navicat reports more than 180,000 registered customers, and the product won DBTA's 2026 Readers' Choice award. The store did not show prices in USD from our location, so the price is pending, and there is no free edition.

   Strengths

   • +Very complete visual tooling for MySQL and MariaDB
   • +Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS
   • +Supports Amazon RDS, Aurora, Azure and Google Cloud SQL for MySQL

   Limitations

   • −Paid only, sold as perpetual licenses per user
   • −Store prices did not load in USD from our location
   • −No free edition of Navicat for MySQL

   SummaryNavicat for MySQL is the most polished visual suite for MySQL and MariaDB. Its cost puts it below free and cheaper tools that cover most daily work.

10. 10

    Sequel Ace

    A free, open source macOS app for MySQL and MariaDB, built as the successor to Sequel Pro.

    8.0overall

    A free, open source macOS app for MySQL and MariaDB, built as the successor to Sequel Pro.

    Best forMac users who want a free, native app for MySQL and MariaDB only.

    Sequel Ace is the free, open source successor to the long-running Mac app Sequel Pro, and it focuses only on MySQL and MariaDB. It needs macOS 13.5 or later, runs on Intel and Apple silicon, and supports MySQL 5.7 or later and MariaDB 10.0 or later; older releases remain available for older systems. You can install it from the Mac App Store, where it is free, or with the mas command line tool. The documentation covers opening connections from mysql:// URLs, moving saved connections over from Sequel Pro, running queries, keyboard shortcuts and bundles for repeated tasks. The project is community maintained and funded through Open Collective and GitHub Sponsors. It is a good fit for Mac developers who want a quick native client, but it has no Windows or Linux version and lacks the performance reports, modeling and schema compare tools found higher on this list.

    Strengths

    • +Free and open source
    • +Easy move for former Sequel Pro users
    • +Native Mac app from the App Store

    Limitations

    • −macOS only
    • −MySQL and MariaDB only
    • −Fewer admin and modeling tools than the IDEs above

    SummarySequel Ace is the simplest free MySQL and MariaDB client for the Mac. Choose a cross-platform IDE if you need more than browsing and querying.

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