DBeaver SQL Client: Features, Setup & Pricing Guide 2026 (Free vs Pro vs Enterprise)

DBeaver has 48.5k GitHub stars and three editions with wildly different price tags. The Community version costs nothing. Enterprise runs $250 per user per year. Somewhere in between sits Pro.

Which one do you actually need? That depends on your databases, your team, and whether you can live with the trade-offs. This guide breaks down each edition, the real costs, how to get running, and when you might want something else entirely.

What Is DBeaver SQL Client?

DBeaver is a universal database management tool that connects to over 100 databases through JDBC and proprietary drivers. It's built on the Eclipse platform and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

The tool ships in three main editions: Community (free and open-source under Apache License), Pro, and Enterprise. Companies like Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Walmart use it—though which editions they run isn't public.

Quick Facts:

- Databases supported: 100+ (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and more)

- Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

- License: Apache 2.0 (Community), Commercial (Pro/Enterprise)

- GitHub stars: 48.5k+

- First release: 2010

DBeaver Editions Compared: Free vs Pro vs Enterprise

The gap between editions isn't just features—it's entire categories of databases and workflows. Here's what you get at each tier, useful when comparing DBeaver editions to alternatives.

Community Edition (Free)

Community covers SQL databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, and dozens more. You get the SQL editor with syntax highlighting, a data editor with filtering, ER diagrams, and SSH tunneling.

For personal projects and standard relational databases, Community is genuinely sufficient. The catch: no NoSQL, no cloud-native databases, no Visual Query Builder.

Pro Edition

Pro unlocks NoSQL support—MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, InfluxDB. It adds cloud databases like Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, and Snowflake. The Visual Query Builder lets you construct queries by dragging tables instead of writing SQL.

AI features get an upgrade too. Pro supports OpenAI, GitHub Copilot, Azure OpenAI, and Gemini for SQL generation.

Enterprise Edition

Enterprise is the DBA toolkit. You get database dashboards, performance monitoring, execution plan analysis, and advanced authentication: IAM, Kerberos, LDAP, and OAuth.

If your company requires SSO or you need to monitor database performance at scale, Enterprise is the only option.

Team Edition & CloudBeaver

Team Edition adds real-time collaboration and role-based access control. Pricing ranges from $80 to $800 per user per year depending on the feature set.

CloudBeaver is DBeaver in the browser—no installation required. It runs $200 per user per year and makes sense for teams that need web access without managing desktop installations.

DBeaver Pricing Breakdown 2026

Free Tier Limitations

Community Edition costs nothing and stays that way—no trial period, no feature gates that expire. The Apache License means you can use it commercially without restrictions.

The limitations are functional, not artificial. No NoSQL. No cloud databases. No advanced authentication. For many developers, those limits never matter.

Pro & Enterprise Costs

Enterprise Edition: $250 per user per year. That's the list price from DBeaver's official site.

Pro pricing requires contacting sales—DBeaver doesn't publish it publicly. Based on the feature set, expect it to sit between $100-200 per user annually.

CloudBeaver: $200 per user per year for web-based access.

Team Edition: $80-800 per user per year, scaling with collaboration features.

Hidden Costs to Consider

The sticker price misses a few things:

• •Corporate requirements: Many companies mandate SSO or Kerberos authentication. That forces Enterprise even if you only need Community features.
• •Database growth: Start with PostgreSQL, add MongoDB later, and suddenly Community isn't enough.
• •Per-user scaling: A 10-person team on Enterprise runs $2,500/year. That compounds quickly.

All paid editions offer a 14-day free trial. Test the features you actually need before committing.

Key Features That Matter for SQL Development

SQL Editor & Autocomplete

DBeaver's editor is built on Eclipse's text framework. You get syntax highlighting for every supported database dialect, code completion that reads your schema, and execution plan visualization.

The autocomplete is context-aware—it suggests table names, columns, and functions based on your connection. Not as polished as JetBrains' implementation, but functional. For a deeper look at how DBeaver compares to DataGrip, the editor experience is a key differentiator.

Data Editor & Visualization

The data editor supports multiple view modes: grid, plain text, and record view. Custom filters work across any column, and you can edit cells inline without opening forms.

ER diagrams generate automatically from your schema. Useful for understanding unfamiliar databases or documenting existing structures.

Database Administration Tools

Schema editing, user management, session monitoring, and backup/restore tools ship with all editions. The depth varies—Enterprise gets performance dashboards and advanced monitoring.

Data transfer handles CSV, JSON, XML, XLSX, and Parquet. Import and export work through a wizard that maps columns and handles type conversions.

AI-Powered Features

Community gets basic AI assistance. Pro and Enterprise unlock integrations with OpenAI, GitHub Copilot, Azure OpenAI, and Google Gemini.

The AI reads your schema and generates SQL from natural language prompts. Quality depends on your schema complexity and the model you connect.

DBeaver Setup: Installation Guide by Platform

Download from dbeaver.io/download—avoid third-party sources. DBeaver bundles Java in recent versions, so you won't need to install it separately.

Windows Installation

Download the installer (.exe) or portable ZIP. The installer adds DBeaver to your Start menu and handles file associations. The portable version runs from any folder without installation—useful for USB drives or restricted environments.

Run the installer, accept defaults, and launch. Total time: under two minutes.

macOS Installation

Download the DMG package. Drag DBeaver to Applications. On first launch, macOS may block it—open System Preferences > Security & Privacy and click "Open Anyway."

Apple Silicon Macs get a native ARM build. Check the download page for the correct version.

Linux Installation

Choose your package format:

• •DEB (Debian, Ubuntu): sudo dpkg -i dbeaver-ce_*.deb
• •RPM (Fedora, RHEL): sudo rpm -i dbeaver-ce-*.rpm
• •Snap: sudo snap install dbeaver-ce
• •Flatpak: flatpak install flathub io.dbeaver.DBeaverCommunity

Snap and Flatpak handle dependencies automatically. DEB and RPM may require installing missing libraries.

First Connection Setup

Launch DBeaver. The New Connection wizard appears automatically. Select your database type—DBeaver downloads the required JDBC driver on first use.

Enter your connection details: host, port, database name, username, password. Click "Test Connection" to verify. If it works, save and connect.

DBeaver Alternatives: How It Compares to Other Database Tools

DBeaver isn't the only option. Depending on your priorities, these alternatives might fit better.

DBeaver vs DataGrip

DataGrip is JetBrains' database IDE. The editor experience is noticeably more polished—better autocomplete, smarter refactoring, tighter IDE integration.

The catch: DataGrip is subscription-only at $199/year (or $89/year after three years of continuous use). No free tier. If you're already in the JetBrains ecosystem, the integration might justify the cost. See the detailed DataGrip vs DBeaver breakdown for specifics.

DBeaver vs pgAdmin

pgAdmin is PostgreSQL-specific and free. If you only work with Postgres, pgAdmin offers deeper functionality: better PG-specific tooling, web-based interface, active development by the PostgreSQL community.

DBeaver wins on breadth—pgAdmin loses the moment you need MySQL or MongoDB. For more options, see PostgreSQL GUI tools compared.

DBeaver vs TablePlus

TablePlus uses native UI components instead of Eclipse. The result: faster startup, lower memory usage, and an interface that feels modern rather than 2010.

TablePlus is paid ($89 one-time for personal, subscriptions for teams) and less feature-rich. It's the choice when you value speed and simplicity over DBeaver's everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach.

When DBeaver Isn't the Right Choice

DBeaver's Eclipse foundation shows its age. Startup takes several seconds. Memory usage runs high. The interface feels cluttered compared to modern tools.

If you need self-hosted database management, web-based access, or a lighter footprint, desktop-only DBeaver may not fit. Teams wanting to avoid per-user pricing should explore one-time license alternatives.

Which DBeaver Edition Should You Choose?

Choose Community if:

• •You work exclusively with SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server)
• •Budget is zero or minimal
• •You don't need Visual Query Builder or advanced AI features
• •Personal projects or small teams without SSO requirements

Choose Pro if:

• •You need NoSQL support (MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis)
• •You work with cloud databases (Redshift, BigQuery, Snowflake)
• •Visual Query Builder would speed up your workflow
• •Advanced AI integration matters

Choose Enterprise if:

• •Your organization requires SSO, Kerberos, or LDAP authentication
• •You need database performance monitoring
• •Compliance or security policies mandate specific auth methods

Consider alternatives if:

• •You want a lighter, faster tool (→ TablePlus)
• •You only use PostgreSQL (→ pgAdmin)
• •You prefer JetBrains IDEs (→ DataGrip)
• •You need self-hosted web access or one-time pricing
• •Per-user subscription costs don't fit your team budget

For MySQL-specific workflows, check MySQL GUI tool recommendations to compare options.

The 14-day trial works for all paid editions. Test with your actual databases and workflows before deciding. Community Edition has no trial because it has no expiration—download it and see if the limitations actually affect you.