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Head-to-head · Database Query Builders

JetBrains Exposed vs Doma

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score JetBrains Exposed #3 in Database Query Builders 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit JetBrains
Doma #7 in Database Query Builders 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Doma

JetBrains Exposed leads on 1 check, Doma on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreJetBrains Exposed · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresJetBrains Exposed · 3 of 3

JetBrains Exposed scores higher on our rubric for database query builders: 9.0 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

JetBrains Exposed offers async queries; Doma doesn't.

JetBrains Exposed is the better fit for kotlin teams wanting a type-safe SQL DSL. Doma is the better fit for java or Kotlin teams wanting generated, type-safe queries.

  • JetBrains Exposed fits best

    Kotlin teams wanting a type-safe SQL DSL

  • Doma fits best

    Java or Kotlin teams wanting generated, type-safe queries

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature JetBrains Exposed 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Doma 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 7.9
Ranking #3 in Database Query Builders #7 in Database Query Builders
Best for Kotlin teams wanting a type-safe SQL DSL Java or Kotlin teams wanting generated, type-safe queries
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 2 integrations 2 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features JetBrains Exposed 3/3 · Doma 2/3
Async queries ✓ (best) —
Raw SQL support ✓ ✓
Compile without execution ✓ ✓
Specs
Languages Kotlin Java, Kotlin
SQL dialects H2, MariaDB, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Amazon Redshift, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite DB2, H2, HSQLDB, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle Database, PostgreSQL, SQLite
Type safety Static Static
Our review
Pros
  • Build SQL with a statically type-safe Kotlin DSL or Data Access Object API
  • Supports blocking JDBC and non-blocking R2DBC database access
  • Works with eight listed SQL dialects and integrates with Spring Boot and Ktor
  • Compile-time checks and generated metamodels catch query issues during compilation.
  • Criteria and SQL builder APIs cover search, insert, update, and delete.
  • Eight SQL dialects plus Spring Boot and Quarkus integrations.
Cons
  • Designed for Kotlin, so it is not a fit for teams using other languages
  • The library focuses on relational database access rather than broader data workflows
  • Support channels are community and documentation
  • Self-hosted library, not a managed database service.
  • Asynchronous queries are not supported.
  • Kotlin projects use the separate doma-kotlin library.
Our verdict

JetBrains Exposed is an open-source SQL library for Kotlin applications that work with relational databases. Its type-safe DSL lets developers build queries in Kotlin, while its Data Access Object API offers ORM-style access. It is suited…

Read the review →

Doma is an open-source database access framework for Java and Kotlin teams that want DAO-oriented mapping and query construction with static type safety. It provides a Unified Criteria API and SQL builders for search, insert, update, and…

Read the review →
  1. JetBrains ExposedDatabase Query Builders 9.0Free plan
  2. DomaDatabase Query Builders 7.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • JetBrains Exposed — where it wins

    • Build SQL with a statically type-safe Kotlin DSL or Data Access Object API
    • Supports blocking JDBC and non-blocking R2DBC database access
    • Works with eight listed SQL dialects and integrates with Spring Boot and Ktor

    Where it doesn't

    • Designed for Kotlin, so it is not a fit for teams using other languages
    • The library focuses on relational database access rather than broader data workflows
    • Support channels are community and documentation

  • Doma — where it wins

    • Compile-time checks and generated metamodels catch query issues during compilation.
    • Criteria and SQL builder APIs cover search, insert, update, and delete.
    • Eight SQL dialects plus Spring Boot and Quarkus integrations.

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted library, not a managed database service.
    • Asynchronous queries are not supported.
    • Kotlin projects use the separate doma-kotlin library.
  • JetBrains Exposed9.0/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source Kotlin library with a type-safe SQL DSL and JDBC and R2DBC access.

    Visit JetBrainsFull verdict →
  • Doma7.9/10 · Free plan

    A self-hosted database framework for teams that want generated, type-safe queries.

    Visit DomaFull verdict →

More comparisons

All database query builders comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update