Top 10 MySQL GUI Tools for Windows

What is the best MySQL database tool? Different people will give different opinions, and only you can make the optimal choice for yourself. After all, no one else knows the exact tasks and goals these tools are supposed to help you accomplish. We can only help you by suggesting a few notable competitors on the market — and so we will give you brief overviews of the most popular database tools for MySQL and MariaDB.

What are MySQL GUI tools meant for?

First of all, the best MySQL tools are the ones that simplify and automate their users’ operations where possible. Their features may cover different aspects of database management, development, and administration — or everything at the same time — but the main thing is to do what’s required as quickly and effectively as possible.

Furthermore, beginners and seasoned developers alike will benefit from a GUI tool that is accompanied by detailed documentation, a rich set of tutorials, and responsive customer support. Extended platform coverage may be pretty important, too — while Windows is the obvious leader, some prefer their job done on macOS or Linux.

Finally, price matters as well. Free tools are obviously preferred over paid ones, yet in most cases they cannot deliver the same level of functionality and data security as that provided by commercial solutions. This is why free trial is a very common option — you have a precious chance to try before you buy.

With all this in mind, let us begin. Here is a list of top 10 MySQL GUI tools for Windows to consider.

1. dbForge Studio for MySQL
2. MySQL Workbench
3. phpMyAdmin
4. HeidiSQL
5. Toad Edge for MySQL
6. Navicat for MySQL
7. DataGrip
8. DBeaver
9. SQLyog
10. SQL Maestro for MySQL

dbForge Studio for MySQL

Easily one of the most advanced MySQL GUI tools on the market, dbForge Studio for MySQL has the goal of delivering an integrated environment that covers the absolute majority of database-related tasks. A number of surveys held by the vendor indicate easy-to-use interface, stability, cost-effectiveness, and comprehensive functionality as the top reasons why customers prefer dbForge Studio over its competition.

Key features:

• SQL editor with syntax highlighting, bookmarks, and text search
• Context-sensitive code completion
• Visual Query Builder
• MySQL stored procedure debugger
• Query Profiler
• SQL refactoring and formatting
• SQL snippets
• Database Designer
• Schema comparison and synchronization
• Data comparison and synchronization
• CRUD generation
• Security Manager for managing user accounts and privileges
• Session Manager
• Data import/export to multiple formats
• Generation of realistic test data via 200+ smart generators
• Data analysis and reporting tools
• Database documentation tools
• Compatibility with MariaDB
• Advanced connectivity options and cloud support
• CLI-based automation
• DevOps integration

dbForge Studio is available for 4 major database management systems (MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL) and comes in 4 editions. The simplest one (Express) contains all the essentials for MySQL development and management, and is available free of charge. Each of the gradually advancing commercial editions (Standard, Professional, and Enterprise) is designed to meet more and more versatile requirements.

The most advanced Enterprise edition is available for a free 30-day trial. It is more than enough to evaluate the product and see whether it is worth the subsequent investment. On top of that, you get comprehensive documentation, flexible purchasing options, and quick-to-respond support. All this makes dbForge Studio a top competitor on our list.

MySQL Workbench

No selection of top MySQL GUI tools can be complete without MySQL Workbench, an IDE developed by Oracle Corporation to combine SQL development, database design, administration, and maintenance in a single solution. The result is one of the most downloaded MySQL tools, whose rich functionality speaks for itself.

Key features:

• SQL code completion with syntax highlighting
• SQL code formatter
• SQL snippets
• Query execution history
• Visual database administration tools (server status, health, logs, and configuration)
• Performance tuning and reporting
• Use and session management tools
• Multiple connections and SSH tunneling
• Schema Inspector
• Object Browser and Object Editor
• Visual Data Editor
• Data import and export
• Visual data modeling tools
• Schema comparison and synchronization
• Database migration

As in the previous case, there is a free and open-source Community edition and more sophisticated commercial editions (Standard and Enterprise), available for a trial download.

If compared back to back with dbForge Studio, it may lack some of the functionality required for the most complex tasks. However, the variety of essentials in MySQL Workbench is top-notch, which undoubtedly makes it a more than worthwhile option to consider.

phpMyAdmin

phpMyAdmin is a free tool aiming to make MySQL administration over the Web as easy as possible. With its help, the most common operations — e.g. management of databases, tables, columns, relations, indexes, users, permissions — can be performed quickly and effectively. Let’s take a more detailed look.

Key features:

• Browsing and dropping of databases, tables, views, fields, and indexes
• CRUD operations with databases, tables, fields, and indexes
• Use of Query-by-example (QBE) for creating complex queries
• Management of stored procedures and triggers
• Maintenance of the server, databases, and tables
• Data import from CSV and SQL
• Data export to multiple formats
• Administration of multiple servers
• Management of user accounts and privileges
• 72 available languages
• Support for MySQL and MariaDB databases

Additionally, the tool is based on a flexible and stable code base and comes with well-written documentation. The proper coverage of the most common features along with the reliability noted by users helped phpMyAdmin gain a loyal following. And if your activities do not venture beyond the key features of this tool, you may go for it.

HeidiSQL

HeidiSQL is free and open-source MySQL management software for Windows with a focus on easy learning, which grew into one of the most popular examples of MySQL GUI tools around the world.

Key features:

• SQL code completion with syntax highlighting
• SQL formatting
• Table Editor
• View Editor
• Trigger Editor
• Event Editor
• Data import and export
• Export of table rows as CSV, HTML, XML, SQL, LaTeX, Wiki Markup and PHP Array
• Migration from one server/database directly to another server/database
• Connection to multiple servers
• Monitoring and management of processes
• Management of user privileges
• Support for MySQL, SQL Server, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite

Looks good, doesn’t it? Still, there are a couple of drawbacks worth mentioning. First, the execution speed leaves much to be desired. Second, reliability is not the quality to be proud of, since HeidiSQL is known to crash under large data amounts. If these issues are all right with you, HeidiSQL is one of the most convenient free options on the market.

Toad Edge for MySQL

Toad Edge is a database development tool for MySQL and PostgreSQL environments with a focus on simplicity and interface that is easy to get acquainted and work with — and succeeds at that.

Key features:

• SQL Worksheet
• Schema comparison and synchronization
• Advanced JSON editor
• Session browser (allows viewing running SQL and other attributes)
• Database object management
• Database snapshots
• Data import and export
• Management of user privileges
• DevOps integration (using the Jenkins plug-in)
• Support for MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL (support for Amazon Redshift is currently available at a beta stage)

As a tool with a short learning curve and high reliability, Toad Edge is definitely a keeper. And if you are a Mac user, it may be an optimal option along the likes of the previously mentioned MySQL Workbench.

Another good news is that it comes with a free 30-day trial. Afterwards, any number of required licenses can be bought for a 12-month period.

Navicat for MySQL

Navicat for MySQL is a commercial solution for MySQL and MariaDB administration, development, and maintenance. It is compatible with cloud databases such as Amazon RDS, Amazon Aurora, Oracle Cloud, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Navicat supports the idea of delivering an intuitive GUI for a multitude of purposes, available on the three major operating systems.

Key features:

• Visual SQL Builder with autocompletion and code snippets
• Database Designer
• Seamless data migration (including Data Transfer, Data Synchronization, and Structure Synchronization tools)
• Data visualization tools
• Data import and export
• Automated backup and script execution
• Advanced secure connection via SSH Tunneling and SSL
• Synchronization via Navicat Cloud for collaboration purposes

Navicat for MySQL is available in 3 editions (Non-Commercial, Standard, and Enterprise), with each open to monthly or yearly subscription, or perpetual license (which seems to be the most reasonable purchase price-wise).

Free trial is also available here — but this time it lasts 14 days, which forces you to scrutinize the product under a tighter schedule.

DataGrip

DataGrip is an IDE designed to fulfill the needs of professional SQL developers. It supports a truly wide array of 21 database management systems, and MySQL is only one of them.

Key features:

• SQL completion with a smart text editor
• Detection of probable bugs in SQL code and quick fix options
• Database object management
• Data editor
• Quick navigation
• Refactoring in SQL files and schemas
• Query console with local history and a diff viewer
• Import from CSV/DSV and export in various formats
• Database diagrams
• Version control integration

Similarly to what’s been said about DBeaver, DBMS coverage can become the key to choosing this tool. Yet when it comes solely to MySQL, there are far more effective counterparts to choose from.

DataGrip includes an evaluation license key for a free 30-day trial. Afterwards, it is available through monthly and yearly subscription.

DBeaver

Now let’s proceed to yet another household name in the world of database tools. DBeaver is a versatile tool that was designed for developers, database administrators, analysts, and virtually everyone who needs to work with databases.

The free and open-source Community Edition of DBeaver offers the following features:

• Data editor
• Spatial data viewer
• SQL editor
• Entity diagrams
• Data export and import
• Data migration between databases
• Database maintenance tools
• Support for a rich multitude of databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, Sybase, MS Access, Teradata, Firebird, Apache Hive, Phoenix, and Presto

The list of capabilities gets expanded in the 3 commercial editions: Lite, Enterprise, and Ultimate. The latter is the most feature-rich of these, and delivers all of the following benefits:

• Support for NoSQL databases
• AWS cloud integration
• Query History (with easy access, query search and recovery)
• Mock data generation
• Server health dashboards
• Visual Query Builder
• Schema comparison and migration
• Table data comparison
• Task scheduler

As you can see, the commercial editions give DBeaver a significant boost. Each of them comes with a free 14-day trial, which, again, is a little bit less than we would like it to be.

Apart from that, the universal nature of DBeaver is the main reason to choose it. If you are working with one of the lesser database management systems, you can give it a go. And if your DBMS is a major player — besides MySQL, the most obvious examples are SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL — there’s plenty of stronger and more cost-effective competition around. The rest depends on your exact requirements.

SQLyog

SQLyog Ultimate is a commercial MySQL GUI tool for Windows with an impressive selection of features and a focus on visual comparison and optimization of database schemas.

Key features:

• Intelligent code completion
• SQL formatting
• SQL templates
• Validation and scheduled execution of multiple SQL queries
• Profiling of SELECT queries and execution warnings
• Visual data comparison
• Scheduled/automatic data synchronization
• Comparison and synchronization of MySQL schemas
• Visual Schema Designer
• Visual Query Builder
• Import of external data from any ODBC-compliant source
• Export of databases as SQL scripts (also as scheduled backups)
• MySQL administration tools
• Advanced connectivity options

Good functionality comes at a good price. It is not the highest one on the market, yet you don’t have the option to pick a more affordable edition to match less sophisticated needs. Still, you can always check it out — SQLyog Ultimate is available for 14 days of free trial.

SQL Maestro for MySQL

Another commercial tool worth mentioning is SQL Maestro, designed for DBAs, data analysts, and developers of MySQL and MariaDB databases.

Key features:

• SQL Editor with code folding and multi-threading
• Visual Query Builder with support for subqueries and UNIONS
• Database Designer
• Database object management
• BLOB Viewer/Editor
• Database schema refactoring tools
• Data management and data analysis tools
• Data export and import
• Direct support for MariaDB-specific features

SQL Maestro for MySQL comes in 20 different editions with different combinations of licenses and included tools. The price range differs just as drastically — but before you buy, you have a handy 30-day trial to evaluate the product.

Afterword

Once you list and prioritize the features and criteria that matter most to you, the search will be narrowed down to 2–3 most suitable options. That’s when you will finally be able to check them in action. Since all of our competitors can be tried for free, it is not likely to be a problem.

Subjectively, I’d go with dbForge Studio for MySQL as a personal favorite. It can deal with the widest diversity of tasks. It has a viable edition policy (the cheapest edition is quite affordable and packs a punch feature-wise). Finally, it delivers well-written documentation along with lots of video tutorials on YouTube and articles on the vendor’s blog.