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Head-to-head · Database Query Builders

JetBrains Exposed vs Drizzle ORM

  • 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
Drizzle ORM #8 in Database Query Builders 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Drizzle ORM

JetBrains Exposed leads on 0 checks, Drizzle ORM on 0, and 4 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

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 #8.

JetBrains Exposed is the better fit for kotlin teams wanting a type-safe SQL DSL. Drizzle ORM is the better fit for typeScript teams wanting queries and schema migrations.

  • JetBrains Exposed fits best

    Kotlin teams wanting a type-safe SQL DSL

  • Drizzle ORM fits best

    TypeScript teams wanting queries and schema migrations

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 ↗ Drizzle ORM 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 7.9
Ranking #3 in Database Query Builders #8 in Database Query Builders
Best for Kotlin teams wanting a type-safe SQL DSL TypeScript teams wanting queries and schema migrations
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features JetBrains Exposed 3/3 · Drizzle ORM 3/3
Async queries ✓ ✓
Raw SQL support ✓ ✓
Compile without execution ✓ ✓
Specs
Languages Kotlin TypeScript, JavaScript
SQL dialects H2, MariaDB, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Amazon Redshift, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Turso, SingleStore, MSSQL, CockroachDB
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
  • Static type inference connects query results to schema definitions.
  • Seven listed SQL dialects span PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and more.
  • Drizzle Kit supports schema introspection and SQL migration workflows.
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
  • Its TypeScript and JavaScript focus may not fit other language stacks.
  • It is self-hosted, so teams need to manage their own deployment.
  • Support is through documentation and community channels.
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 →

Drizzle ORM gives TypeScript developers a way to define database schemas and build and execute queries from application code. Its SQL-like query builder covers selecting, filtering, ordering, and pagination, while a relational API can…

Read the review →
  1. JetBrains ExposedDatabase Query Builders 9.0Free plan
  2. Drizzle ORMDatabase 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

  • Drizzle ORM — where it wins

    • Static type inference connects query results to schema definitions.
    • Seven listed SQL dialects span PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and more.
    • Drizzle Kit supports schema introspection and SQL migration workflows.

    Where it doesn't

    • Its TypeScript and JavaScript focus may not fit other language stacks.
    • It is self-hosted, so teams need to manage their own deployment.
    • Support is through documentation and community channels.

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