Sleek review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Sleek is an open-source SQL formatting tool for developers who want consistent style across SQL files and queries. Its Rust-based command-line interface formats files, glob patterns, or standard input, while check-only mode verifies formatting without changing files. Sleek supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server, and Oracle, making it a practical fit for teams working across several common SQL dialects. Windows, macOS, and Linux are supported, and the VS Code extension adds document and selection formatting.

The strongest part of Sleek is its formatting control without a large configuration surface. Developers can set indentation, keyword casing, spacing between queries, and trailing-newline behavior. Glob support helps apply formatting across multiple files, while check-only mode provides a non-modifying workflow for reviewing consistency. These capabilities suit individual developers and small teams that want predictable SQL presentation without adopting a broader linting system. Sleek has no custom rules, so it is less suitable when a project needs organization-specific checks beyond its built-in formatting options.

VS Code users get the most complete experience. The extension supports format-on-save and format-on-paste, status indicators, and automatic CLI downloading and update checking. That combination reduces the setup work required to bring command-line formatting into an editor workflow. Sleek remains a narrow tool: it focuses on formatting rather than providing a full SQL linting feature set, and it has no CI integration. Choose it for straightforward multi-dialect formatting in VS Code or scripted file workflows; choose an alternative when custom rules, broader linting, or CI-focused enforcement is required.

Sleek pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Formats six SQL dialects from the CLI or VS Code
  • Supports glob patterns, standard input, and check-only mode
  • Offers format-on-save and format-on-paste in VS Code
• Where it doesn't
  • No custom rules for project-specific formatting standards
  • No CI integration
  • Primarily a formatter rather than a full SQL linter

Sleek fact sheet, pricing and score →

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update