sqlx-dsl review
A focused SQLx query builder for Rust teams working with PostgreSQL or MySQL.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
For Rust projects that already use SQLx with PostgreSQL or MySQL, sqlx-dsl offers chainable builders for composing parameterized SQL. Separate builder types cover each backend, with backend-specific placeholders and parameter binding. It targets teams that want a query-building layer without adopting a full ORM; row-to-struct mapping remains handled by SQLx's FromRow.
The library covers the common CRUD statements and adds joins, grouping, HAVING, DISTINCT, subqueries, LIMIT and OFFSET, conditional filters, and optional-value variants. Aggregate helpers include count, sum, average, minimum, and maximum. PostgreSQL and MySQL upsert operations are available, as are asynchronous execution and row-fetch methods. Transaction helpers support both backends. SQL logging is available through the optional tracing feature, which may suit teams that want query visibility within their Rust application. SQLx is the listed integration, so this is most relevant to codebases already centered on that library rather than projects seeking a database-agnostic abstraction.
sqlx-dsl is open source and has a free plan. Its scope stays deliberately focused: it builds and executes queries, but does not provide migrations or the broader modeling layer of an ORM. The listed dialects are PostgreSQL and MySQL, so teams using another database should look for a builder that supports that backend. Linux is the listed platform. Choose sqlx-dsl if a Rust team wants fluent SQL construction around SQLx and one of its supported databases; choose another tool if migrations, ORM features, or broader dialect coverage are requirements.
sqlx-dsl pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Fluent builders cover SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE
- Supports joins, grouping, subqueries, aggregates, and upserts
- Async execution and transaction helpers work with both listed backends
- Where it doesn't
- Backend support is limited to PostgreSQL and MySQL
- It is a query builder, not a full ORM
- It does not provide migrations
sqlx-dsl fact sheet, pricing and score →
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