dotConnect review
A provider-focused toolkit for .NET database access, Visual Studio workflows, and ORM integrations.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
dotConnect is a suite of Devart ADO.NET data providers for .NET applications and websites that access databases and cloud services. It is aimed at developers who need direct database connectivity, SQL commands, stored procedures, transactions, connection pooling, and data editing within application development workflows. Database support includes SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, DB2, InterBase, Microsoft Access, and Firebird. The suite is available for Windows, Linux, macOS, and API-based use cases.
Its strongest fit is the Microsoft development ecosystem. Provider editions integrate with Microsoft Visual Studio and include a visual database explorer, Visual Studio Query Builder, Dataset Wizard, Dataset Manager, and Dataset Editor. dotConnect also connects with ADO.NET, Entity Framework, LinqConnect, NHibernate, Entity Developer, and ASP.NET. Security and connectivity options include SSL, SSH, and HTTP tunneling, while caching, connection pooling, and optimized query execution support application data access. Choose dotConnect when database access needs to sit close to .NET code, Visual Studio, and ORM workflows rather than in a separate general-purpose client.
The pricing structure is freemium. Express editions provide a free provider edition with basic connectivity features. Developer editions start at $219.95 USD as a one-time license and add a fully featured ADO.NET provider, design-time support, tools, and integration capabilities. A 30-day free trial is also available. Pricing differs by provider, so teams supporting several database engines should review each edition separately. dotConnect is less suitable for buyers seeking only a standalone desktop database client or a single uniform price across all providers. For .NET teams that need provider-level control and Visual Studio tooling, its focused approach is a strong match.
dotConnect pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Broad database and cloud connectivity through ADO.NET providers
- Visual Studio explorers, query building, and dataset tools
- SSL, SSH, HTTP tunneling, pooling, and ORM integrations
- Where it doesn't
- Primarily developer libraries rather than a standalone database client
- Express editions provide only basic connectivity features
- Pricing differs by provider edition
dotConnect fact sheet, pricing and score →
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