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Head-to-head · SQL Linters and Formatters

pgFormatter vs Prettier SQL

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score pgFormatter #3 in SQL Linters and Formatters 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit pgFormatter
Prettier SQL #8 in SQL Linters and Formatters 8.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Prettier SQL

pgFormatter leads on 0 checks, Prettier SQL 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 scorepgFormatter · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featurespgFormatter · 4 of 5

pgFormatter scores higher on our rubric for sql linters and formatters: 8.8 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #8.

pgFormatter is the better fit for postgreSQL teams needing dependable formatting. Prettier SQL is the better fit for prettier users formatting SQL and embedded code.

  • pgFormatter fits best

    PostgreSQL teams needing dependable formatting

  • Prettier SQL fits best

    Prettier users formatting SQL and embedded code

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Side by side

Feature pgFormatter 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Prettier SQL 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.0
Ranking #3 in SQL Linters and Formatters #8 in SQL Linters and Formatters
Best for PostgreSQL teams needing dependable formatting Prettier users formatting SQL and embedded code
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Browser extension Self-hosted
Support Docs, Community Community, Docs
Integrations 5 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features pgFormatter 4/5 · Prettier SQL 2/5
Automatic fixes ✓ ✓
Custom rules Not checked yet Not checked yet
Editor extensions ✓ (best) Not checked yet
CI/CD integration ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Configuration file ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported SQL dialects SQL-92, SQL-99, SQL-2003, SQL-2008, SQL-2011, PostgreSQL; works with other databases sql, bigquery, db2, db2i, hive, mariadb, mysql, n1ql, postgresql, plsql, redshift, singlestoredb, snowflake, spark, sqlite, transactsql, tsql, trino, clickhouse; node-sql-parser databases: bigquery, db2, hive, mariadb, mysql, postgresql, transactsql, flinksql, snowflake
Our review
Pros
  • Supports PostgreSQL, PL/pgSQL, and multiple SQL standard keyword sets
  • Offers CLI, CGI, web, API, text, HTML, and JSON workflows
  • Integrates with editors, pre-commit, configuration files, and CI/CD
  • Free, open-source formatting across many SQL dialects
  • Formats SQL-in-JS tagged template literals through prettier-plugin-embed
  • Detailed controls for casing, indentation, spacing, and layout
Cons
  • Its strongest coverage is PostgreSQL and related SQL standards
  • Configuration may require project or user configuration files
  • Does not include AI features
  • No verified linting or custom-rule support
  • No verified CI features
  • Requires a self-hosted local Prettier setup
Our verdict

pgFormatter is an open-source SQL formatter and beautifier focused on PostgreSQL and PL/pgSQL. It is suited to teams that want consistent SQL formatting across command-line workflows, web or CGI usage, editor environments, and automated…

Read the review →

Prettier SQL is an open-source plugin for formatting SQL files through Prettier, with support for SQL embedded in JavaScript tagged template literals. It is aimed at developers and teams already using Prettier who want SQL formatting…

Read the review →
  1. pgFormatterSQL Linters and Formatters 8.8Free plan
  2. Prettier SQLSQL Linters and Formatters 8.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • pgFormatter — where it wins

    • Supports PostgreSQL, PL/pgSQL, and multiple SQL standard keyword sets
    • Offers CLI, CGI, web, API, text, HTML, and JSON workflows
    • Integrates with editors, pre-commit, configuration files, and CI/CD

    Where it doesn't

    • Its strongest coverage is PostgreSQL and related SQL standards
    • Configuration may require project or user configuration files
    • Does not include AI features

  • Prettier SQL — where it wins

    • Free, open-source formatting across many SQL dialects
    • Formats SQL-in-JS tagged template literals through prettier-plugin-embed
    • Detailed controls for casing, indentation, spacing, and layout

    Where it doesn't

    • No verified linting or custom-rule support
    • No verified CI features
    • Requires a self-hosted local Prettier setup

More comparisons

All SQL linters and formatters comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update