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SQL Server Management Studio logo

SQL Server Management Studio

Microsoft's free Windows tool for managing and developing SQL Server and Azure SQL.

FreeDatabase clients
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About SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio, usually called SSMS, is Microsoft's main graphical environment for SQL Server and related platforms, including Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL database in Microsoft Fabric and SQL Server on Azure VMs. It combines Object Explorer for browsing and configuring every server object, a T-SQL query editor with IntelliSense and execution plans, wizards for backups, restores, imports and exports, security and agent job management, performance tools such as Activity Monitor and Query Store views, and in recent versions GitHub Copilot assistance. Current releases are built on the Visual Studio shell and installed through the Visual Studio installer. SSMS is free to download and use. It runs only on Windows, so Mac and Linux users usually turn to the MSSQL extension for VS Code or third-party clients. It is the standard tool for SQL Server DBAs, though its depth makes it heavier than needed for casual querying.

Best for: SQL Server and Azure SQL administrators working on Windows.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Complete SQL Server administration in one free tool
  • Strong T-SQL editor with execution plans
  • Official support from Microsoft

Why people leave

  • Windows only
  • Large install and heavy for simple queries
  • Focused only on Microsoft's SQL platforms

Top SQL Server Management Studio alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1MSSQL extension for VS Code logo
    MSSQL extension for VS Code

    Microsoft's cross-platform option for querying SQL Server from VS Code on Mac or Linux.

    66.5
  2. 2dbForge Studio logo
    dbForge Studio

    A commercial SQL Server IDE with stronger compare, sync and refactoring tools.

    62.6
  3. 3DataGrip logo
    DataGrip

    Cross-platform IDE with excellent T-SQL completion, free for non-commercial use.

    59.6
  4. 4DBeaver logo
    DBeaver

    Free, cross-platform, and connects to SQL Server alongside other databases.

    57.2
  5. 5SQLPro Studio logo
    SQLPro Studio

    A native client for Mac and Windows users who want lighter SQL Server access.

    55.3

Why people left SQL Server Management Studio

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

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Reviews

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SQL Server Management Studio: common questions

Is SQL Server Management Studio free?

Yes, SQL Server Management Studio is free to use.

Is SQL Server Management Studio open source?

No, SQL Server Management Studio is not open source. Open-source alternatives include DBeaver.

What platforms does SQL Server Management Studio run on?

SQL Server Management Studio is available for Windows.

What are the best alternatives to SQL Server Management Studio?

The highest-ranked SQL Server Management Studio alternatives right now are MSSQL extension for VS Code, dbForge Studio and DataGrip. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 SQL Server Management Studio alternatives