JetBrains Exposed review
A free, open-source Kotlin library with a type-safe SQL DSL and JDBC and R2DBC access.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
JetBrains Exposed is an open-source SQL library for Kotlin applications that work with relational databases. Its type-safe DSL lets developers build queries in Kotlin, while its Data Access Object API offers ORM-style access. It is suited to Kotlin teams that want to write database operations in their application code, rather than adopt a general-purpose query builder for multiple languages.
Exposed supports JDBC for blocking access and R2DBC for non-blocking, coroutine-based access. Developers can generate SQL without executing a query, inspect the generated SQL, or use direct SQL strings when needed. That combination gives teams a typed way to compose queries alongside an escape hatch for SQL that is better expressed directly. Database schema and CRUD operations, custom column types, and database dialect registration round out its relational database scope.
The published dialect list covers H2, MariaDB, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Amazon Redshift, Microsoft SQL Server, and SQLite. Spring Boot and Ktor integrations make Exposed relevant to teams using either framework, and the library is self-hosted rather than a hosted database service. It is free and open source, with community and documentation as its support channels. Choose Exposed if Kotlin is central to your application and you want typed SQL construction with both JDBC and R2DBC options. Teams working primarily in other languages or seeking a broader data platform should look elsewhere.
JetBrains Exposed pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Build SQL with a statically type-safe Kotlin DSL or Data Access Object API
- Supports blocking JDBC and non-blocking R2DBC database access
- Works with eight listed SQL dialects and integrates with Spring Boot and Ktor
- Where it doesn't
- Designed for Kotlin, so it is not a fit for teams using other languages
- The library focuses on relational database access rather than broader data workflows
- Support channels are community and documentation
JetBrains Exposed fact sheet, pricing and score →
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