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Head-to-head · Database Client Software

DBeaver vs Adminer

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score DBeaver #1 in Database Client Software 9.0/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit DBeaver
Adminer #8 in Database Client Software —/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Adminer

DBeaver leads on 2 checks, Adminer on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreDBeaver · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresDBeaver · 4 of 4

Our editors rank DBeaver at #1 and Adminer at #8 for database client software; Adminer has no rubric score yet (facts researched, not yet scored), so the checks below decide.

On deployment, Adminer gives you Web where DBeaver offers Desktop. DBeaver offers ssh tunneling; Adminer doesn't publish it. DBeaver offers visual query builder; Adminer doesn't publish it.

DBeaver is the better fit for broad, free desktop database work. Adminer is the better fit for simple free browser-based administration.

  • DBeaver fits best

    Broad, free desktop database work

  • Adminer fits best

    Simple free browser-based administration

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Side by side

Feature DBeaver 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Adminer —/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 —
Ranking #1 in Database Client Software #8 in Database Client Software
Best for Broad, free desktop database work Simple free browser-based administration
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web
Support Tickets, Docs, Community Docs
Integrations 12 integrations 15 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features DBeaver 4/4 · Adminer 2/4
SSH tunneling ✓ (best) Not published
Data editing ✓ ✓
Visual query builder ✓ (best) Not published
Query history ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment Desktop Web
Database support MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, SQLite, Firebird, MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, DynamoDB, BigQuery, Snowflake, ClickHouse MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, CockroachDB, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle; additional plugin drivers include Elasticsearch, SimpleDB, MongoDB, Redis, Firebird, ClickHouse, IGDB and IMAP
Result export formats CSV, HTML, XML, JSON, XLS, XLSX, Markdown, SQL, TXT, Parquet SQL, CSV
Our review
Pros
  • Free, open-source Community edition for Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Supports relational, NoSQL, cloud, and analytics data sources
  • Includes SQL tools, data editing, diagrams, SSH, exports, and scheduling
  • Free, open-source distribution under the Apache License or GPL
  • Edits data, schemas, permissions, routines and database objects
  • Supports multiple databases with SQL and CSV export
Cons
  • Community query history is cleared after restart
  • Desktop deployment does not cover browser or mobile workflows
  • Administration, support, and persistent history require commercial editions
  • Runs as a web-based PHP application rather than a native desktop client
  • SSH tunneling is outside its stated feature set
  • No visual query builder is included in its stated feature set
Our verdict

DBeaver is a desktop database management and SQL development tool for technical and business users. Its broad connection coverage spans MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, DB2, SQLite, Firebird, H2, MongoDB,…

Read the review →

Adminer is a web-based database administration interface distributed as a single PHP file. It is designed for developers and database administrators who need a compact browser-based way to connect to database servers, create or select…

Read the review →
  1. DBeaverDatabase Client Software 9.0Free plan · 14-day trial
  2. AdminerDatabase Client Software —Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • DBeaver — where it wins

    • Free, open-source Community edition for Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Supports relational, NoSQL, cloud, and analytics data sources
    • Includes SQL tools, data editing, diagrams, SSH, exports, and scheduling

    Where it doesn't

    • Community query history is cleared after restart
    • Desktop deployment does not cover browser or mobile workflows
    • Administration, support, and persistent history require commercial editions

  • Adminer — where it wins

    • Free, open-source distribution under the Apache License or GPL
    • Edits data, schemas, permissions, routines and database objects
    • Supports multiple databases with SQL and CSV export

    Where it doesn't

    • Runs as a web-based PHP application rather than a native desktop client
    • SSH tunneling is outside its stated feature set
    • No visual query builder is included in its stated feature set

More comparisons

All database client software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026