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Sequel Ace alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Sequel Ace: mySQL and MariaDB only, and macOS only and needs a recent version. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Sequel Ace, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. TablePlus currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1MySQL Workbench logoMySQL WorkbenchOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 459.6
2DBeaver logoDBeaverOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux5 of 557.2
3HeidiSQL logoHeidiSQLOpen sourceYesWindows, Linux, macOS5 of 555.3
  1. MySQL Workbench logo

    1. MySQL WorkbenchTop pick

    Best for: MySQL developers and DBAs who want the official, free tool from Oracle

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sequel Ace

    The official MySQL tool, with modelling and performance analysis.

    Pros

    • Official tool with deep MySQL administration and performance views
    • Free and open source Community edition
    • SQL notebooks and modelling in one app

    Cons

    • MySQL only
    • Recent rewrite changed familiar workflows
    • Some features depend on paid MySQL Enterprise products
    Visit MySQL Workbench Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is MySQL Workbench a good Sequel Ace alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL (Community edition)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dev.mysql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dev.mysql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Foundation
    Built on MySQL Shell
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mysql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Notebooks
    SQL, JavaScript and TypeScript
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mysql.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. DBeaver logo

    2. DBeaver

    Best for: Developers and analysts who work with many different SQL databases and want one free tool

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sequel Ace

    Free and cross-platform for MySQL and many other databases.

    Pros

    • Free and open source, with support for a huge range of databases
    • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • ER diagrams, data editor and export tools included

    Cons

    • Java/Eclipse interface feels heavy and cluttered
    • NoSQL and cloud databases need a paid PRO edition
    • Slower to start than native clients
    Visit DBeaver Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is DBeaver a good Sequel Ace alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free (Community edition)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dbeaver.io(opens source in a new tab)
    NoSQL support
    PRO editions only (MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dbeaver.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dbeaver.io(opens source in a new tab)
    AI chat
    Included in Community
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dbeaver.io(opens source in a new tab)
  3. HeidiSQL logo

    3. HeidiSQL

    Best for: Windows users who manage MySQL or MariaDB and want a small, free tool

    Open sourceWindows, Linux, macOS

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sequel Ace

    A free, lightweight MySQL client, now with Mac and Linux builds.

    Pros

    • Free, open source and very lightweight
    • Portable version needs no installation
    • Good table designer and user management for MySQL

    Cons

    • Dated Windows-style interface
    • macOS and Linux builds are newer and less complete
    • No NoSQL databases
    Visit HeidiSQL Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is HeidiSQL a good Sequel Ace alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026heidisql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Supported databases
    MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird
    Checked Oct 25, 2026heidisql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2002
    Checked Oct 25, 2026heidisql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026heidisql.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Sequel Ace alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

TablePlus logo

Best Sequel Ace alternative for most people

TablePlus

A polished paid native client that also handles Postgres, Redis and more.

MySQL Workbench logo

Best Sequel Ace alternative for a free option

MySQL Workbench

The official MySQL tool, with modelling and performance analysis.

TablePlus logo

Best Sequel Ace alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

TablePlus

A polished paid native client that also handles Postgres, Redis and more.

DBeaver logo

Best Sequel Ace alternative for open source

DBeaver

Free and cross-platform for MySQL and many other databases.

Querious logo

Best Sequel Ace alternative for Mac

Querious

A more feature-rich commercial MySQL app for the Mac.

HeidiSQL logo

Best Sequel Ace alternative for Windows

HeidiSQL

A free, lightweight MySQL client, now with Mac and Linux builds.

TablePlus logo

Best Sequel Ace alternative for Linux

TablePlus

A polished paid native client that also handles Postgres, Redis and more.

Sequel Ace alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Sequel Ace?

TablePlus ranks first right now. A polished paid native client that also handles Postgres, Redis and more. Querious and MySQL Workbench follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Sequel Ace?

Yes. TablePlus (free plan + paid), MySQL Workbench (open source), DBeaver (open source) and HeidiSQL (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Sequel Ace?

Yes: MySQL Workbench, DBeaver and HeidiSQL.

Which Sequel Ace alternatives work on Linux?

TablePlus, MySQL Workbench, DBeaver and HeidiSQL run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Sequel Ace?

The complaints we hear most: mySQL and MariaDB only; macOS only and needs a recent version; volunteer-run, so features arrive slowly.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Sequel Ace, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.