Managing multiple databases at the same time? Chances are, you need a multi-driver database client to work with. Let’s take a quick look at three popular database tools: DBeaver, Navicat, and TablePlus, and compare the pros and cons to see which tool is the one you need.

1. DBeaver

DBeaver provides a powerful database client, but a bit overwhelming.

  • Supported platforms: DBeaver works on all platforms supported by Eclipse framework, previously Windows, Linux, MacOS, Solaris, AIX, HP-UX. Starting from version 4.2, it limited its support to Windows, MacOS, and Linux only.

  • Supported Drivers: DBeaver community version can work with any database server which has JDBC driver (which means a lot of databases): MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, SQLite, Oracle, to DB2, SQL Server, Sybase, MS Access, Teradata, Firebird, Derby, etc. The enterprise adds support for non-JDBC data sources (WMI, MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis).

  • Pricing: DBeaver has a community version (DBeaver CE) which is free and open source. There’s also an enterprise edition (DBeaver EE) with more driver support, more advanced features and dedicated customer support for enterprises.

DBeaver

Pros:

  • Cross-platform
  • Multiple drivers support
  • Assigning connection color
  • Entity-relationship diagrams are available
  • Built-in reformat SQL

Cons:

  • It runs on a Java virtual machine, eats up a lot of RAM while running.
  • Confusing icon design and somewhat unintuitive. Sometimes you don’t know where to look for what you need.
  • Autocomplete is slow, and not so smart.

2. Navicat

Navicat offers a powerful tool for both database development and administration.

  • Supported platforms: Navicat is cross-platform. It’s available on Mac, Windows, Linux. Navicat also has its iOS versions.

  • Supported Drivers: Navicat supports several popular databases: MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Oracle, SQLite, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server.

  • Pricing: Navicat is a commercial application with 14 days trial and it has many pricing schemes. You can either buy a special edition for MySQL with $119 for Non-Commercial Edition, $199 for Standard Edition, and $299 for Enterprise Edition; or you can buy Navicat Premium to work with all supported drivers at the price of $1299 for Enterprise Edition and $599 for Non-Commercial Edition.

Navicat

Pros:

  • It’s cross-platform and supports multiple drivers.
  • Data and structure synchronization
  • Visual query builder and report builder
  • Excellent import/export options
  • Supports many languages, including Polish, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, French, and English
  • Compatible with other Navicat products: Navicat Monitor, Navicat Data Modeler, Navicat Report Viewer, and Navicat Data Model Essentials.

Cons:

  • It’s expensive. A single machine license for the most standard version (MySQL) is already $299. If you work with more than one drivers, such as PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or SQLite, you will end up purchase the Navicat premium package at $1,299.
  • It’s one of the most resource-intensive tools. It’s heavy and will consume a large portion of memory to run.
  • Very few shortcut keys.
  • The development cycle is very long, a new version is released every one or two year.

3. TablePlus

With a native build and a lightweight size, TablePlus is a very handy tool for accessing, querying, editing, and managing multiple databases.

  • 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 Navicat if you:

  • Are comfotable with the cost
  • Need a full-featured tool
  • Don’t mind the slugginess

Go with DBeaver if you:

  • Work with all kinds of databases
  • Prefer a an old-fashioned design with all function buttons on the UI.
  • Need a tool to get the job done

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.