HeidiSQL

A lightweight, free and open-source client for MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL and SQLite.

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About HeidiSQL

HeidiSQL is a long-running free database client, started in 2002 by Ansgar Becker and still actively maintained. It is best known among MySQL and MariaDB users on Windows, and also connects to SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase and Firebird. It is small and quick, with a tree of databases and tables, a grid for browsing and editing data, a table designer, a SQL editor with highlighting and autocomplete, user and privilege management, SQL export and import of CSV files, and SSH tunnelling. A portable version runs without installation. The Windows build is written in Delphi; Linux and macOS builds compiled with Lazarus have arrived more recently and are catching up on features. It is free and open source under the GPL-2.0, supported by donations. The interface looks dated and it lacks NoSQL support and advanced modelling, but for quick MySQL and MariaDB work on Windows it remains a favourite.

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

What works

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

Why people leave

Dated Windows-style interface
macOS and Linux builds are newer and less complete
No NoSQL databases

Top HeidiSQL alternatives

See all 5

1
DBeaver
Free and cross-platform with many more databases and features.
66.5
2
MySQL Workbench
MySQL's official tool, with modelling and performance reports.
62.6
3
SQLyog
A commercial Windows MySQL client with stronger sync and backup tools.
59.6
4
DbGate
Free and open source with a modern interface on all platforms.
57.2
5
Beekeeper Studio
A cleaner modern interface for MySQL, Postgres and SQLite.
55.3

Why people left HeidiSQL

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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HeidiSQL: common questions

Is HeidiSQL free?

Yes. HeidiSQL is free, open-source software.

Is HeidiSQL open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at HeidiSQL/HeidiSQL.

What platforms does HeidiSQL run on?

HeidiSQL is available for Windows, Linux and macOS.

What are the best alternatives to HeidiSQL?

The highest-ranked HeidiSQL alternatives right now are DBeaver, MySQL Workbench and SQLyog. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 HeidiSQL alternatives

HeidiSQL facts

5 of 5 verified

License: GPL-2.0; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: GPL-2.0 (GNU General Public License v2.0).”
Price: Free; Checked Oct 25, 2026heidisql.com(opens source in a new tab); “HeidiSQL is free software for people who work with databases, and aims to be intuitive to use.”
Supported databases: MariaDB, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird; Checked Oct 25, 2026heidisql.com(opens source in a new tab); “"Heidi" lets you connect to a variety of databases, like MariaDB, MySQL, Microsoft SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase and Firebird.”
Founded: 2002; Checked Oct 25, 2026heidisql.com(opens source in a new tab); “Invented in 2002 by Ansgar”
Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS; Checked Oct 25, 2026heidisql.com(opens source in a new tab); “Lazarus v4.4 is used for compiling the Linux and macOS releases.”