DataGrip vs DBeaver

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

DataGrip

JetBrains' database IDE with deep SQL completion and refactoring, free for non-commercial use.

Free plan + paid

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DBeaver

A free, open-source universal database tool that connects to almost any SQL database, with paid PRO editions.

Open source

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The short answer

Pick DBeaver if you want a free, open-source client that connects to almost any SQL database, with ER diagrams and export tools included. Pick DataGrip if you write a lot of SQL and want JetBrains-grade completion, inspections and refactoring, and can pay for commercial use. The biggest difference is focus: DBeaver offers the broadest free coverage, while DataGrip offers the smartest SQL editor.

DataGrip or DBeaver: our take

DBeaver's free Community edition connects to nearly any database with a JDBC driver, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, ClickHouse and DuckDB. It offers a SQL editor with autocomplete and formatting, a spreadsheet-style data editor, ER diagrams, import and export, SSH tunnelling and AI chat. DataGrip is JetBrains' database IDE, connecting to more than 50 relational and NoSQL databases and bringing the company's code intelligence to SQL: schema-aware completion, on-the-fly error highlighting, inspections, quick-fixes, refactorings that rename objects across scripts, and query history with local recovery. JetBrains AI Assistant can write and explain SQL with knowledge of your schema.

Pricing is where they differ most. DBeaver Community is free and open source under Apache-2.0; PRO editions on annual subscriptions add NoSQL and cloud databases such as MongoDB, Cassandra and Redis, visual query building, more AI and commercial support. DataGrip is free for non-commercial use, but commercial use needs a per-user subscription, either alone or in the All Products Pack. The same database tools are also built into other paid JetBrains IDEs, so some teams already have them.

Both run on Windows, macOS and Linux, and both are heavy apps. DBeaver is built on Java and Eclipse, and its interface feels dense and slow to start. DataGrip uses a lot of memory and takes time to learn, and it can feel like too much for quick lookups.

For anyone who needs a capable client at no cost, works across many SQL databases, or wants an open-source tool, DBeaver is the obvious starting point. For developers and analysts who spend much of their day writing and refactoring SQL, DataGrip's editor often justifies its subscription, especially for teams already paying for JetBrains tools.

Choose DataGrip if…

Developers who write a lot of SQL and want IDE-grade completion and refactoring
Best-in-class SQL completion, inspections and refactoring
Connects to 50+ databases in one tool

Choose DBeaver if…

Developers and analysts who work with many different SQL databases and want one free tool
You want open-source software
Free and open source, with support for a huge range of databases
Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux

What is DataGrip?

DataGrip is the database IDE from JetBrains, the company behind IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm. It connects to more than 50 relational and NoSQL databases and brings JetBrains' code intelligence to SQL: context-aware completion that understands your schema, on-the-fly error highlighting, inspections, quick-fixes, refactorings that rename objects across scripts, and a query history with local recovery. The data editor, schema navigation, diff tools and query plan views are all strong, and JetBrains AI can write and explain SQL with schema awareness. The same database tooling is built into other paid JetBrains IDEs. DataGrip runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is free for non-commercial use; commercial use needs a per-user subscription, either for DataGrip alone or as part of the All Products Pack. It is a heavier app than many clients and the interface takes time to learn, but people who write a lot of SQL often find the editor worth it.

What is DBeaver?

DBeaver is one of the most widely used database clients because its free Community edition connects to nearly any database with a JDBC driver: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, ClickHouse, DuckDB and many more. It offers a SQL editor with autocomplete and formatting, a spreadsheet-style data editor, ER diagrams, data export and import, schema comparison in some editions, and SSH tunnelling. It is built on the Eclipse platform in Java and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Community is open source under the Apache 2.0 licence. The company behind it sells PRO editions (Lite, Enterprise and Ultimate) on annual subscriptions that add NoSQL and cloud databases such as MongoDB, Redis and Cassandra, advanced AI features, visual query building and commercial support, plus CloudBeaver for browser access and a Team edition. The interface is dense and can feel slow to start, but few tools match its breadth for free.

Side by side

Attribute	DataGrip	DBeaver
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Open source
Open source	No	Yes
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Best for	Developers who write a lot of SQL and want IDE-grade completion and refactoring	Developers and analysts who work with many different SQL databases and want one free tool
Status	Active	Active