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Head-to-head · Database Client Software

Oracle SQL Developer vs pgAdmin

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Oracle SQL Developer #5 in Database Client Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Oracle
pgAdmin #6 in Database Client Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit pgAdmin

Oracle SQL Developer leads on 0 checks, pgAdmin on 0, and 5 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 scoreOracle SQL Developer · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresOracle SQL Developer · 4 of 4

Oracle SQL Developer scores higher on our rubric for database client software: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

On deployment, pgAdmin gives you Both where Oracle SQL Developer offers Desktop.

Oracle SQL Developer is the better fit for oracle users seeking a free client. pgAdmin is the better fit for postgreSQL administrators.

  • Oracle SQL Developer fits best

    Oracle users seeking a free client

  • pgAdmin fits best

    PostgreSQL administrators

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Side by side

Feature Oracle SQL Developer 8.7/10 Visit ↗ pgAdmin 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #5 in Database Client Software #6 in Database Client Software
Best for Oracle users seeking a free client PostgreSQL administrators
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop, Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Oracle SQL Developer 4/4 · pgAdmin 3/4
SSH tunneling ✓ ✓
Data editing ✓ ✓
Visual query builder ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Query history ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment Desktop Both
Database support Oracle Database; MySQL; Microsoft SQL Server; Microsoft Access; selected third-party databases; Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database PostgreSQL; EDB Postgres Advanced Server
Result export formats XML; CSV; SQL Insert; SQL*Loader binary; csv; text
Our review
Pros
  • Free desktop IDE for Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • PL/SQL debugging, unit testing, and visual query building
  • Exports data to XML, CSV, SQL Insert, HTML, XLS, and more
  • Free and open source with desktop, web, and self-hosted options
  • Covers query plans, editing, backups, vacuum, restore, and analysis
  • Includes SSH tunneling, ERD tools, schema comparison, and exports
Cons
  • Its primary focus is Oracle Database work
  • Desktop deployment does not provide a browser-based client
  • Third-party database support is narrower than general-purpose clients
  • Verified database support is limited to PostgreSQL and EDB Postgres
  • A visual query builder is not part of the documented feature set
  • The broad feature set is focused on PostgreSQL rather than multiple engines
Our verdict

Oracle SQL Developer is a free graphical database IDE for developers and database administrators working with Oracle Database. The desktop application supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, with tools for SQL and PL/SQL editing and execution,…

Read the review →

pgAdmin is an open-source graphical administration, development, and monitoring tool for PostgreSQL and EDB Postgres Advanced Server. It is aimed at database administrators and developers who need to connect to database instances, manage…

Read the review →
  1. Oracle SQL DeveloperDatabase Client Software 8.7Free plan
  2. pgAdminDatabase Client Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Oracle SQL Developer — where it wins

    • Free desktop IDE for Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • PL/SQL debugging, unit testing, and visual query building
    • Exports data to XML, CSV, SQL Insert, HTML, XLS, and more

    Where it doesn't

    • Its primary focus is Oracle Database work
    • Desktop deployment does not provide a browser-based client
    • Third-party database support is narrower than general-purpose clients

  • pgAdmin — where it wins

    • Free and open source with desktop, web, and self-hosted options
    • Covers query plans, editing, backups, vacuum, restore, and analysis
    • Includes SSH tunneling, ERD tools, schema comparison, and exports

    Where it doesn't

    • Verified database support is limited to PostgreSQL and EDB Postgres
    • A visual query builder is not part of the documented feature set
    • The broad feature set is focused on PostgreSQL rather than multiple engines
  • Oracle SQL Developer8.7/10 · Free plan

    A capable free desktop client for Oracle SQL, PL/SQL, administration, and migration.

    Visit OracleFull verdict →
  • pgAdmin8.6/10 · Free plan

    A capable free PostgreSQL client for administration, development, and monitoring.

    Visit pgAdminFull verdict →

More comparisons

All database client software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update