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Head-to-head · Database Client Software

pgAdmin vs Adminer

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score pgAdmin #6 in Database Client Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit pgAdmin
Adminer #8 in Database Client Software 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Adminer

pgAdmin leads on 0 checks, Adminer 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 scorepgAdmin · 8.6/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featurespgAdmin · 3 of 4

pgAdmin scores higher on our rubric for database client software: 8.6 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #8.

On deployment, pgAdmin gives you Both where Adminer offers Web.

pgAdmin is the better fit for postgreSQL administrators. Adminer is the better fit for simple free browser-based administration.

  • pgAdmin fits best

    PostgreSQL administrators

  • Adminer fits best

    Simple free browser-based administration

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Side by side

Feature pgAdmin 8.6/10 Visit ↗ Adminer 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 8.4
Ranking #6 in Database Client Software #8 in Database Client Software
Best for PostgreSQL administrators Simple free browser-based administration
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Web
Support Community, Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features pgAdmin 3/4 · Adminer 2/4
SSH tunneling ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Data editing ✓ ✓
Visual query builder Not checked yet Not checked yet
Query history ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment Both Web
Database support PostgreSQL; EDB Postgres Advanced Server 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 binary; csv; text SQL, CSV
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

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 →

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. pgAdminDatabase Client Software 8.6Free plan
  2. AdminerDatabase Client Software 8.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • 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 Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update