head to head · open source
DBeaver vs HeidiSQL
DBeaver has 52,273 GitHub stars, 4,442 forks, 3,334 open issues and last shipped yesterday. HeidiSQL has 6,313 stars, 600 forks, 324 open issues and last shipped yesterday. DBeaver leads on adoption by 728% (52,273 vs 6,313 stars). DBeaver is written in Java under Apache-2.0; HeidiSQL is written in Pascal under GPL-2.0. DBeaver has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, HeidiSQL 10%. HeidiSQL was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| DBeaver | HeidiSQL | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 52K | ★ 6.3K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Written in | Java | Pascal |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 4.4K | ⑂ 600 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick DBeaver if
- You weight community size — 52K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick HeidiSQL if
- You want the HeidiSQL feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Pascal
- You evaluated both and HeidiSQL fits your workflow better
About DBeaver
DBeaver Free multi platform database tool for developers, SQL programmers, database administrators and analysts. Has a lot of features including schema editor, SQL editor, data editor, AI chat, ER diagrams, data export/import/migration, SQL execution plans, database administration tools, database dashboards, Spatial data viewer, proxy and SSH tunnelling, custom database drivers editor, etc. Out of the box supports more than 100 database drivers . Supports any database which has JDBC or ODBC driver (basically almost all existing databases). Integrates AI tools for work with data, SQL and database structure…
read the full DBeaver overview →
About HeidiSQL
HeidiSQL HeidiSQL is a graphical interface for managing MariaDB or MySQL servers, Microsoft SQL databases, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase or Firebird. "Heidi" lets you browse and edit data, create and edit tables, views, procedures, triggers and scheduled events. Also, you can export structure and data, either to SQL file, clipboard or to other servers. Read about features or see some screenshots. Need help? Look at the online help page to learn how to use HeidiSQL. The forum is meant to ask questions. The issue tracker is the place to report bugs or request new features. Building For compiling on platforms other…
read the full HeidiSQL overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is DBeaver or HeidiSQL more popular?
DBeaver has 52,273 GitHub stars and HeidiSQL has 6,313. DBeaver has the larger community by that measure.
Are DBeaver and HeidiSQL free?
Both are open source. DBeaver is licensed under Apache-2.0 and HeidiSQL under GPL-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between DBeaver and HeidiSQL?
DBeaver is written in Java and HeidiSQL in Pascal. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, DBeaver or HeidiSQL?
Choose DBeaver if you want the larger community (52,273 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose HeidiSQL if its feature set, stack or GPL-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.