A visual SQL client for 30+ databases. Write SQL with autocomplete, edit rows in the grid, build joins from foreign keys, read EXPLAIN as a plan, and chart the results. MongoDB and Redis connect in the same app when you need them.
DBeaver is the default universal database client for good reasons. The Community edition is free and open source, it connects to almost anything that has a JDBC driver, and its SQL editor and ER diagrams are mature.
The friction usually starts past the editor. In DBeaver, the visual query builder, charts, data compare, the task scheduler and MongoDB support are part of the paid PRO editions, and the Eclipse-based interface takes time to learn.
VisuaLeaf is built around the everyday SQL loop: connect, browse tables, edit rows, write SQL, and understand the result. Around that it adds a visual layer: a query builder that suggests joins from your foreign keys, ER diagrams drawn from the live schema, EXPLAIN rendered as a plan, JSON and JSONB columns shown as a tree, and charts on query results.
It also connects to MongoDB and Redis, so if part of your stack is NoSQL you do not need a second tool or a PRO licence to reach it.
Choose DBeaver if you need its driver breadth, plugins, or a free open-source tool. Choose VisuaLeaf if you want a visual query builder, EXPLAIN plans, charts, data compare and scheduled transfers in one app, with one-time licences instead of a PRO subscription.
The features SQL developers ask about most, including the ones where DBeaver is ahead.
| Feature | VisuaLeaf | DBeaver |
|---|---|---|
| SQL editor with autocomplete Dialect-aware completion, formatting, run selection | ||
| Inline grid editing Edit cells, insert and delete rows | ||
| ER diagrams Generated from foreign keys in the live schema | ||
| Visual EXPLAIN plan Read execution plans as a plan, not text | ||
| Table and DDL management Create and alter tables, views, procedures | ||
| User and role management Create users, assign roles, grant privileges | ||
| SSH tunnels and SSL Reach databases behind a bastion host | ||
| Visual query builder Pick columns, filters and joins; get SQL | ||
| Charts and dashboards Chart query results and pin them to dashboards | ||
| Table data compare Diff rows between tables across connections | ||
| Scheduled import, export and transfer Run jobs between SQL databases on a schedule | ||
| JSON and JSONB as a tree Browse result rows and nested values as an expandable tree | ||
| MongoDB and Redis NoSQL in the same app | ||
| SQL to MongoDB transfer Move data between SQL and MongoDB both ways | ||
| Custom JDBC drivers and plugins Bring your own driver or extension | ||
| Free edition Use it without paying |
DBeaver column reflects DBeaver Community. Features that DBeaver only offers in its paid PRO editions are marked partial. Checked October 2026. Partial means the feature exists but is limited or needs a paid edition; hover a partial mark for details.
DBeaver is a good tool used by many teams. Here is the fair read.
The same workspace adapts to each engine you connect.
Expand jsonb, json and array columns as a tree and edit nested values without writing jsonb_set. Browse every schema, read EXPLAIN as a plan, and connect to Supabase, Neon, RDS or Aurora over SSL or an SSH tunnel. PostgreSQL GUI
Draw an ER diagram from your InnoDB foreign keys, build joins with a live SQL preview, open JSON columns as a tree, and manage users by user@host with GRANT and REVOKE from a form. MySQL GUI · MariaDB
Open a .sqlite or .db file directly, with no connection string, and run PRAGMA, JSON1 and FTS5 queries. Work with SQL Server and Azure SQL on Windows, macOS or Linux. SQLite GUI · SQL Server GUI
Where VisuaLeaf goes further, in more detail.
Open a table, tick the columns you want, add filters from dropdowns and accept the join VisuaLeaf suggests from your foreign keys. Aggregates, GROUP BY, HAVING, ORDER BY and LIMIT are point-and-click, and the generated SQL updates live so you can copy it into the editor and keep going.
Switch a result to the tree view and each row becomes an expandable document, with nested objects and arrays laid out the way they are stored. This works for PostgreSQL json and jsonb, MySQL JSON and SQL Server JSON data, and you can edit nested values without writing jsonb_set.
Turn the result of a query into a chart and pin it to a dashboard, without exporting to a BI tool.
Export tables to CSV, JSON or SQL dump files, restore dumps, copy data from one SQL database to another, or move it into MongoDB, and schedule any of it from the Task Manager.
DBeaver Community does not connect to MongoDB; MongoDB support is part of the paid PRO editions. If MongoDB is the reason you are looking, VisuaLeaf started as a MongoDB GUI and connects to it in every edition, including the free Community Edition (up to three saved MongoDB connections).
You get collection browsing in tree, table and BSON views, an interactive MongoDB shell, index management and JSON schema validation. Paid plans add the visual query and aggregation builders, schema diagrams, GridFS and collection compare, and SQL Mode lets you query collections with SELECT, WHERE and ORDER BY. MongoDB-compatible Amazon DocumentDB and Azure Cosmos DB connect too.
Because SQL and MongoDB live in the same app, you can copy tables into collections or collections back into tables, transform rows on the way, and run the job on a schedule. See the MongoDB GUI page for the full MongoDB feature set.
If you rely on a database VisuaLeaf does not support, need to load your own JDBC driver, depend on DBeaver plugins, or want a free open-source tool, stay with DBeaver. VisuaLeaf supports over 30 SQL databases plus MongoDB and Redis, not every JDBC source.
Practical migration notes.
Create each connection from the connection form with host, port, database and credentials; SSL and SSH tunnels are supported. Most teams keep DBeaver installed for a while and move day-to-day work across once their main databases are connected.
VisuaLeaf has a free Community Edition that includes the SQL databases. The visual query builder and EXPLAIN plans come with Basic ($79), and charts, dashboards and user management with Pro ($149), each a one-time licence with a year of updates (monthly billing is also offered). Every Pro feature is free for 14 days, no credit card required.
The questions we hear most often from teams evaluating VisuaLeaf against DBeaver.
Yes. VisuaLeaf connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, DuckDB, ClickHouse and many compatible cloud databases, with a SQL editor, inline editing, table management, ER diagrams, EXPLAIN plans and a visual query builder.
No. DBeaver connects to a wider range of databases and accepts custom JDBC drivers. VisuaLeaf supports over 30 SQL databases plus MongoDB and Redis, and does not load custom drivers.
Only in its paid PRO editions. DBeaver Community has no MongoDB connection. VisuaLeaf connects to MongoDB in every edition, alongside your SQL databases; the free Community Edition allows up to three saved MongoDB connections.
DBeaver keeps a JSON or JSONB value inside a single grid cell. VisuaLeaf can show result rows and nested values as an expandable tree, and lets you edit nested values without writing jsonb_set by hand.
VisuaLeaf includes a visual query builder, charts and dashboards, table data compare, scheduled import and export tasks, and MongoDB support. The visual tools are in the paid plans, sold as one-time licences, and MongoDB connects in every edition.
There is a free Community Edition that includes SQL databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite and SQL Server. Basic ($79) adds the visual query builder and EXPLAIN plans, and Pro ($149) adds charts, dashboards and user management. Both are one-time licences with a year of updates, and every Pro feature can be tried free for 14 days.
If you like DBeaver's reach but want the visual tools without a PRO subscription, connect your SQL databases to VisuaLeaf and try both side by side.
Free Community Edition, plus every Pro feature free for 14 days. No credit card required.