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Head-to-head · SQL Linters and Formatters

pgFormatter vs SQL Formatter

  • 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
SQL Formatter #6 in SQL Linters and Formatters 8.3/10 Open source ✓ 3 of 5 features Visit SQL Formatter

pgFormatter leads on 0 checks, SQL Formatter 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 planonly pgFormatter
  • Most featurespgFormatter · 4 of 5

pgFormatter scores higher on our rubric for sql linters and formatters: 8.8 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #6.

pgFormatter is the better fit for postgreSQL teams needing dependable formatting. SQL Formatter is the better fit for developers needing broad SQL formatting APIs.

  • pgFormatter fits best

    PostgreSQL teams needing dependable formatting

  • SQL Formatter fits best

    Developers needing broad SQL formatting APIs

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Side by side

Feature pgFormatter 8.8/10 Visit ↗ SQL Formatter 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.3
Ranking #3 in SQL Linters and Formatters #6 in SQL Linters and Formatters
Best for PostgreSQL teams needing dependable formatting Developers needing broad SQL formatting APIs
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Browser extension Cloud, Browser extension
Platforms Web, Linux Web
Support Docs, Community Docs, Community
Integrations 5 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features pgFormatter 4/5 · SQL Formatter 3/5
Automatic fixes ✓ ✓
Custom rules Not checked yet Not checked yet
Editor extensions ✓ ✓
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 Standard SQL, BigQuery, ClickHouse, IBM DB2, IBM DB2i, DuckDB, Apache Hive, MariaDB, MySQL, TiDB, Couchbase N1QL, Oracle PL/SQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon Redshift, SingleStoreDB, Snowflake, Spark, SQLite, SQL Server Transact-SQL, Trino/Presto
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
  • Supports 20 named SQL dialects, from Standard SQL to Trino/Presto
  • Offers JavaScript, CLI, browser, editor, and Prettier usage options
  • Supports autofix, project configuration, and prepared-statement placeholders
Cons
  • Its strongest coverage is PostgreSQL and related SQL standards
  • Configuration may require project or user configuration files
  • Does not include AI features
  • Focuses on formatting rather than full SQL linting
  • Development is in maintenance mode, with new features unlikely
  • Some workflows require JavaScript, CLI, or editor integration 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 →

SQL Formatter is an open-source JavaScript library and command-line tool for pretty-printing SQL queries. It is aimed at developers who need consistent formatting across applications, scripts, editors, or browser-based workflows. The…

Read the review →
  1. pgFormatterSQL Linters and Formatters 8.8Free plan
  2. SQL FormatterSQL Linters and Formatters 8.3Open source

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

  • SQL Formatter — where it wins

    • Supports 20 named SQL dialects, from Standard SQL to Trino/Presto
    • Offers JavaScript, CLI, browser, editor, and Prettier usage options
    • Supports autofix, project configuration, and prepared-statement placeholders

    Where it doesn't

    • Focuses on formatting rather than full SQL linting
    • Development is in maintenance mode, with new features unlikely
    • Some workflows require JavaScript, CLI, or editor integration 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