Best free official
Oracle’s free MySQL Workbench for modeling, reverse engineering, and administration.
MySQL
11 Best MySQL GUI Clients
Side-by-side comparison of free and commercial MySQL / MariaDB GUI clients.
Last reviewed: July 10, 2026
Disclosure: We make Nexoxa Bridge. It is included here because it is a genuine fit for this comparison — clearly labeled so you can weigh it accordingly.
Editor's picks
Best lightweight
Fast free Windows-first client with deep MySQL/MariaDB heritage and solid Postgres support.
Best multi-tool
Nexoxa BridgeOur productMySQL beside Postgres, Redis, SSH, and SFTP in one Windows vault — MCP-ready for Cursor.
ToolPricingGitHubNative UIBest for
- Nexoxa BridgeOur product
Windows
Pricing
Free (5 connections)$9/mo ProStars: —NativeWindows developers who want databases, SSH, SFTP/S3, and SMTP in one local-first studio — with optional Cursor MCP by connection name
Windows · macOS · Linux
Pricing
FreeStars: —NativeMySQL developers who need official modeling, reverse engineering, and administration
Windows · Linux
Pricing
FreeStars: 6.2kNativeDevelopers who want a free, lightweight client for MySQL, MariaDB, and other major SQL databases
Windows · macOS · Linux
Pricing
FreeFree trial (14d)$113/yrStars: 50.9kNativeDevelopers and DBAs who manage many heterogeneous databases and want a single client for SQL and select NoSQL engines
Windows · macOS · Linux · Web
Pricing
Free$99 lifetimeStars: —NativeDevelopers who want a fast, native desktop GUI across SQL and a handful of NoSQL engines
Windows · macOS · Linux
Pricing
Free trial (30d)$109/yrStars: —NativeDevelopers who want an IDE-grade SQL editor with refactoring, navigation, and Git integration
Windows · macOS · Linux
Pricing
FreeFree trial (21d)$199/yrStars: —NativeDatabase professionals working across many SQL engines who want visual explain plans and schema diagrams
Windows · macOS · Linux
Pricing
FreeFree trial (14d)$108/yrStars: 23.2kNativeDevelopers who want a clean, modern SQL editor with an open-source free edition
Windows · macOS · Linux
Pricing
Free trial (14d)$799.99/yr$1299 lifetimeStars: —NativeDevelopers and DBAs who want modeling, BI, and backup tooling across SQL and NoSQL
Web
Pricing
FreeStars: 7.5kWebDevelopers who need a deployable web-based DB manager that fits in a single PHP file
Windows · macOS · Linux · Web
Pricing
FreeFree trial (30d)$120/yrStars: 7.1kNativeDevelopers who want one open-source GUI for SQL and NoSQL across desktop and self-hosted web
Deep dives
1
Nexoxa Bridge
Since 2025FeaturedLocal-first database and infrastructure studio for Windows
Best for: Windows developers who want databases, SSH, SFTP/S3, and SMTP in one local-first studio — with optional Cursor MCP by connection name
Key differentiator: One Windows workbench for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, LibSQL, SSH, S3, SFTP/FTP, and SMTP — credentials encrypted on-device; Cursor talks via nexoxa-mcp using saved names, never raw URLs.
Pros
- Multi-engine databases plus SSH, SFTP/S3, and SMTP in one app
- Local encrypted vault — credentials stay on your machine
- FK knowledge graph and schema-aware Copilot (BYOK)
- Cursor MCP connects by saved connection name only
- Free tier with up to 5 saved connections on Microsoft Store
Cons
- Windows desktop today (not macOS/Linux yet)
- Desktop app is proprietary; public npm packages (nexoxa-mcp) are open for integration
Supported
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- MariaDB
- MongoDB
- Redis
- LibSQL
- Turso
- SSH
- S3
- SFTP
- FTP
- SMTP
Pricing: Free (5 connections)$9/mo Pro
Download2
MySQL Workbench
Official MySQL IDE
Best for: MySQL developers who need official modeling, reverse engineering, and administration
Key differentiator: Oracle’s official MySQL design and admin tool.
Pros
- Free official tool
- ER modeling
- Deep MySQL admin
Cons
- MySQL-focused
- Heavier UI
- No Redis/SSH/SFTP studio
Supported
- MySQL
Pricing: Free
Visit website3
HeidiSQL
Lightweight free SQL client
Best for: Developers who want a free, lightweight client for MySQL, MariaDB, and other major SQL databases
Key differentiator: Fast, free Windows-first SQL client with broad MySQL heritage.
Pros
- Free and lightweight
- Strong MySQL/MariaDB workflows
- Postgres support
Cons
- Windows-centric history
- Less polished multi-NoSQL UX
Supported
- MySQL
- MariaDB
- PostgreSQL
- SQL Server
- SQLite
Pricing: Free
Visit website4
DBeaver
Since 2011Universal database tool
Best for: Developers and DBAs who manage many heterogeneous databases and want a single client for SQL and select NoSQL engines
Key differentiator: Broad JDBC coverage with a free Community edition and paid Enterprise features.
Pros
- Free Community edition covers daily SQL work well
- Wide engine support via JDBC
- ER diagrams and compare utilities
- Active community and frequent releases
Cons
- Dense UI until customized
- Not a full SSH/SFTP/SMTP infrastructure studio
- Schema load can be slow on huge catalogs
Supported
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- MariaDB
- SQL Server
- Oracle
- MongoDB
- Redis
- SQLite
Pricing: Free · Free trial (14d)$113/yr
Visit website5
TablePlus
Native database management
Best for: Developers who want a fast, native desktop GUI across SQL and a handful of NoSQL engines
Key differentiator: Polished native client with multi-tab workflow and lifetime licensing.
Pros
- Fast native UI
- Multi-tab and split view
- Lifetime license option
- Supports several SQL and NoSQL engines
Cons
- Free tier capped (tabs/windows)
- No integrated SSH server dashboard or SFTP dual-pane studio
Supported
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- SQLite
- SQL Server
- MongoDB
- Redis
- Cassandra
Pricing: Free · $99 lifetime
Visit websiteFrequently asked questions
Ready to try Nexoxa Bridge?
Free on the Microsoft Store for up to 5 connections. Credentials stay on your machine.