Navicat Premium vs HeidiSQL

Navicat Premium9.0Visit HeidiSQL8.5Visit

Higher score Navicat Premium #3 in Database Client Software 9.0/10 Free Lite edition · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Navicat

vs

HeidiSQL #7 in Database Client Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit HeidiSQL

• Navicat Premium fits best

  Enterprise users needing modeling and automation

• HeidiSQL fits best

  Free users of common SQL databases

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Side by side

Feature	Navicat Premium 9.0/10 Visit ↗	HeidiSQL 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.5
Ranking	#3 in Database Client Software	#7 in Database Client Software
Best for	Enterprise users needing modeling and automation	Free users of common SQL databases
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	$1,299 one-time	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	14 days	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Email, Live chat	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Navicat Premium 4/4 · HeidiSQL 3/4
SSH tunneling	✓	✓
Data editing	✓	✓
Visual query builder	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Query history	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Database support	MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, Snowflake	MariaDB, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL, Redshift
Result export formats	Excel, Access, CSV	CSV, HTML, XML, SQL, LaTeX, Textile, PHP, Markdown, JSON
Our review
Pros	Supports relational and NoSQL database connections Includes modeling, synchronization, backup, and scheduled automation Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with cloud integrations	Supports MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and more Combines data editing, administration, imports, and broad exports Includes SSH tunneling, SSL settings, and query history
Cons	The free Premium Lite edition covers basic database work only The perpetual license costs $1,299 per license The product is desktop software rather than a browser-based tool	Desktop deployment may not suit browser-based database workflows Its workflow centers on SQL rather than visual query building Database support is limited to the listed engines
Our verdict	Navicat Premium is a desktop database development and administration client for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It connects to relational and NoSQL systems including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, and… Read the review →	HeidiSQL is a free, open-source desktop database client for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is designed for people who work with MariaDB, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird, ProxySQL, or Redshift and want… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Navicat Premium — where it wins

  • Supports relational and NoSQL database connections
  • Includes modeling, synchronization, backup, and scheduled automation
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with cloud integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • The free Premium Lite edition covers basic database work only
  • The perpetual license costs $1,299 per license
  • The product is desktop software rather than a browser-based tool

• HeidiSQL — where it wins

  • Supports MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and more
  • Combines data editing, administration, imports, and broad exports
  • Includes SSH tunneling, SSL settings, and query history

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop deployment may not suit browser-based database workflows
  • Its workflow centers on SQL rather than visual query building
  • Database support is limited to the listed engines

• Navicat Premium9.0/10 · Free Lite edition · 14-day trial

  A broad desktop client for enterprise database modeling, automation, and administration.

  Visit NavicatFull verdict →
• HeidiSQL8.5/10 · Free plan

  A capable free desktop client for managing several major SQL databases.

  Visit HeidiSQLFull verdict →