head to head · open source
DBeaver vs Instant
DBeaver has 52,273 GitHub stars, 4,442 forks, 3,334 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Instant has 10,564 stars, 421 forks, 19 open issues and last shipped 15 days ago. DBeaver leads on adoption by 395% (52,273 vs 10,564 stars). DBeaver is written in Java under Apache-2.0; Instant is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. DBeaver has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, Instant 4%. DBeaver 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.
← all 20902 open source comparisons
Side by side
| DBeaver | Instant | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 52K | ★ 11K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Java | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-10-19 |
| Forks | ⑂ 4.4K | ⑂ 421 |
| 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 Instant if
- You want the Instant feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Instant 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 Instant
Get Started · Examples · Try the Demo · Docs · Discord Instant is the best backend for AI coded apps. You get auth, permissions, storage, presence, and streams — everything you need to ship apps your users will love. You write relational queries in the shape of the data you want and Instant handles all the data fetching, permission checking, and offline caching. When you change data, optimistic updates and rollbacks are handled for you as well. Plus, every query is multiplayer by default. We also support ephemeral updates, like cursors, or who's online. Currently we have SDKs for Javascript, React, and React…
read the full Instant overview →
More in Infrastructure & Operations
Related comparisons
More Databases projects
Compare either of these against the rest of the Databases field.
Frequently asked questions
Is DBeaver or Instant more popular?
DBeaver has 52,273 GitHub stars and Instant has 10,564. DBeaver has the larger community by that measure.
Are DBeaver and Instant free?
Both are open source. DBeaver is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Instant under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between DBeaver and Instant?
DBeaver is written in Java and Instant in TypeScript. 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 Instant?
Choose DBeaver if you want the larger community (52,273 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Instant if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.