apgdiff review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

apgdiff is a free, open-source command-line utility for comparing PostgreSQL schema dump files and generating SQL differences for upgrading an older schema. It is intended for PostgreSQL developers and database teams that need file-based schema comparisons rather than a broader, multi-engine comparison platform. The project is implemented as a Java/Maven project and dates to 2006, with distribution under the MIT license.

Its strongest area is PostgreSQL object coverage. apgdiff compares tables, views, sequences, functions, triggers, rules, extensions, types, and foreign tables, while also handling grants, revokes, and object ownership changes. Options can ignore Slony triggers or schema-creation statements, and the tool can output statements that it otherwise ignores. These capabilities make it suited to migration workflows where the desired result is SQL that can support a schema upgrade, rather than only a visual comparison.

The trade-off is a narrow scope and limited maintenance signal. The category specification identifies a single-engine focus, and the project is mainly unmaintained, although bug fixes and pull requests may still be considered. That combination makes apgdiff a sensible choice for teams working specifically with PostgreSQL dump files and comfortable with a command-line Java/Maven project. Teams needing broader database coverage, a wider platform ecosystem, or a more actively maintained product should choose another database schema comparison tool.

apgdiff pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Free and open source under the MIT license
  • Covers tables, views, functions, triggers, rules, and more
  • Produces SQL differences suitable for schema upgrades
• Where it doesn't
  • Focused on PostgreSQL rather than multiple database engines
  • Command-line Java/Maven project with no stated platform coverage
  • The project is mainly unmaintained

apgdiff fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update