Access from anywhere
Beekeeper Studio is a desktop app. QueryGlow is a URL. Open it in a browser from whatever machine you are at.
The Pricing Reality Check
QueryGlow vs Beekeeper Studio:
Per-User Plans or $79 Once for the Team?
Beekeeper Studio is excellent software. But for teams, per-user pricing adds up. QueryGlow is $79 once for your whole team: one install on your server, one shared login, no seats to count.
Beekeeper paid plans start at $9 per user per month billed yearly (as of September 2026). QueryGlow: $79 once, every 1.x update included.
Try the live demo first: the real app on a sample database, read-only, AI switched off, no signup.
“Beautiful interface and very intuitive.”
Jean-Francois, Mildor Violon, verified customer
https://db.your-company.com
Where QueryGlow differs from Beekeeper Studio
Your rows stay on your server
QueryGlow runs on your infrastructure. Your rows never leave your server. No cloud account. No telemetry, no tracking.
AI writes your SQL
Describe what you need in plain English. Your schema is sent, never your rows. Use your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, entered in the app.
Where QueryGlow and Beekeeper Studio differ
Per-User Pricing
Beekeeper Studio charges per user, and teams of 3 or more need the Professional plan. Every new team member is another seat. QueryGlow is $79 once for everyone.
Install on Every Machine
Beekeeper is a desktop app. You install it on every laptop. QueryGlow runs in the browser. Deploy it once, open it from any machine.
Lifetime Covers Paid Versions
Beekeeper's lifetime license covers the versions released while you pay: right away on a yearly plan, after 12 months on a monthly plan. QueryGlow is one payment with every 1.x update included.
AI Can Read Rows
Beekeeper's AI Shell can run SQL, with your permission, to "check its work with real data." QueryGlow's AI sees your schema, never your rows.
Desktop App vs. Team Server
DESKTOP APP
Beekeeper Studio
The "Per-Seat" Model
- Desktop app built on Electron
- Works offline
- Free Community Edition available
- Per-user pricing, billed yearly or monthly
- Installed on every laptop
- Indie plan: up to 2 users, 1 device each
TEAM SERVER
QueryGlow
The "One Install, Whole Team" Model
- Web UI in any modern browser
- No desktop app to install: access via browser
- $79 once for your whole team
- One shared login, no per-user accounts
- Bring your connections: paste a URL or pick databases from a server
- Safe Mode plus a check before writes on production
- Self-hosted: rows and credentials stay on your server
The Team Math (1 Year)
Beekeeper Indie is $9 per user per month billed yearly, for up to 2 users. Teams of 3 or more need Professional at $14 per user per month billed yearly.
| Team Size | Beekeeper (1 Year) | QueryGlow | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $108 (Indie) | $79 | $29 |
| 2 users | $216 (Indie) | $79 | $137 |
| 3 users | $504 (Professional) | $79 | $425 |
| 5 users | $840 (Professional) | $79 | $761 |
| 10 users | $1,680 (Professional) | $79 | $1,601 |
Beekeeper prices from beekeeperstudio.io/pricing, billed yearly, as of September 2026. QueryGlow: $79 total for your whole team, every 1.x update included.
The 3-Year Cost for a 5-Person Team
$2,520
Beekeeper Studio
(Professional, $14/mo x 5 users x 36 months)
$79
QueryGlow
(One payment. Every 1.x update included.)
That's $2,441 saved over 3 years.
The updates come with it: ./queryglow update backs up first, checks that the new version is serving and rolls back on its own if it is not.
What QueryGlow Adds
Whole Team, One Price
$79 once for your whole team. No per-seat fees, no counting heads. Everyone uses the same install behind one shared login.
Web-Based Access
Open it from any machine with a browser. Beekeeper Studio is a desktop app tied to wherever it's installed.
AI That Never Sees Rows
Ask AI sends your database type, table and column names with their types, and your prompt. Never rows. Your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, stored encrypted on your server.
A Check Before Writes on Production
Mark a connection as production and the Query Editor shows you the statement and asks before any INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE or DDL runs. On by default.
EXPLAIN Visualizer
Visual query plans for all six engines, color coded by cost or time, with CREATE INDEX hints on PostgreSQL and MySQL family databases.
Updates With a Way Back
./queryglow update backs up first, checks that the new version is serving and rolls back on its own if it is not. Every 1.x update is included.
Full Feature Comparison
| Aspect | Beekeeper Studio | QueryGlow |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per user, from $9/month billed yearly | $79 once, whole team |
| 5-User Team (1 Year) | $840 (Professional) | $79 total |
| Platform | Desktop app (Electron) | Web-based (any modern browser) |
| Team Access | Each user installs locally | One install on your server, one shared login |
| AI SQL Generation | AI Shell (all paid plans) | Ask AI with your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, entered in the app |
| What the AI Sees | AI Shell can run SQL to check its work, with your permission | Schema and your prompt, never rows |
| Query Guard | Read-only connection mode | Safe Mode: DROP DATABASE always blocked; DELETE/UPDATE without WHERE blocked by default; asks before writes on production |
| Free Version | Community Edition | No (free live demo) |
| Database Support | 25+ databases (some on paid plans) | 6 databases |
| Open Source | GPLv3 (Community Edition) | No (source code included with the license) |
| Offline Use | Yes | Needs network to your server |
| SSH Tunnels | Yes | Yes (private key and passphrase; host key pinned on first use) |
| CSV Import/Export | Yes (all paid plans) | Yes (INSERT, UPSERT or REPLACE) |
| Credential Encryption | Yes | AES-256-GCM (connections and AI keys) |
| Connection Sharing | Cloud workspaces (paid) | Shared by default: one install, one connection list |
| EXPLAIN Visualizer | No visual plan viewer documented (Sept 2026) | Visual query plans; index hints on PostgreSQL and MySQL family |
| SQL Autocomplete | Tables and columns | Tables, columns with types, dot notation |
Pricing Model
Beekeeper
Per user, from $9/month billed yearly
QueryGlow
$79 once, whole team
5-User Team (1 Year)
Beekeeper
$840 (Professional)
QueryGlow
$79 total
Platform
Beekeeper
Desktop app (Electron)
QueryGlow
Web-based (any modern browser)
Team Access
Beekeeper
Each user installs locally
QueryGlow
One install on your server, one shared login
AI SQL Generation
Beekeeper
AI Shell (all paid plans)
QueryGlow
Ask AI with your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, entered in the app
What the AI Sees
Beekeeper
AI Shell can run SQL to check its work, with your permission
QueryGlow
Schema and your prompt, never rows
Query Guard
Beekeeper
Read-only connection mode
QueryGlow
Safe Mode: DROP DATABASE always blocked; DELETE/UPDATE without WHERE blocked by default; asks before writes on production
Free Version
Beekeeper
Community Edition
QueryGlow
No (free live demo)
Database Support
Beekeeper
25+ databases (some on paid plans)
QueryGlow
6 databases
Open Source
Beekeeper
GPLv3 (Community Edition)
QueryGlow
No (source code included with the license)
Offline Use
Beekeeper
Yes
QueryGlow
Needs network to your server
SSH Tunnels
Beekeeper
Yes
QueryGlow
Yes (private key and passphrase; host key pinned on first use)
CSV Import/Export
Beekeeper
Yes (all paid plans)
QueryGlow
Yes (INSERT, UPSERT or REPLACE)
Credential Encryption
Beekeeper
Yes
QueryGlow
AES-256-GCM (connections and AI keys)
Connection Sharing
Beekeeper
Cloud workspaces (paid)
QueryGlow
Shared by default: one install, one connection list
EXPLAIN Visualizer
Beekeeper
No visual plan viewer documented (Sept 2026)
QueryGlow
Visual query plans; index hints on PostgreSQL and MySQL family
SQL Autocomplete
Beekeeper
Tables and columns
QueryGlow
Tables, columns with types, dot notation
Beekeeper Studio features and prices as listed on beekeeperstudio.io, September 2026.
See it on a real database before you decide
$79 once for your whole team, every 1.x update included.
Try the live demo
Stripe checkout. You'll need a GitHub account for the repo invite. No refunds, so try the read-only demo first.
When Beekeeper Studio Shines
We respect Beekeeper Studio. It's a well-made tool. Here's when it makes sense.
Free Community Edition
A free, open source version with core features. Beekeeper says it is intended for students, individuals, non-profits and small businesses with fewer than 10 employees and/or annual revenue below $1m.
More Databases
Supports 25+ databases including MongoDB, DuckDB, ClickHouse, Redis, Trino, and SurrealDB (some on paid plans).
Open Source (GPLv3)
Core code is open source. You can inspect, contribute, or fork it.
Works Offline
As a desktop app, it works without a server. QueryGlow needs network access to the server it runs on.
Bottom line: If you're a solo developer who wants a free, offline-capable desktop app, Beekeeper Community Edition is excellent. For teams who want one install for everyone, Safe Mode and a one-time price, QueryGlow fits better. Looking at other paid options? See our Navicat comparison for the enterprise tier.
Which One Fits You?
Use Beekeeper Studio If...
- You're a solo developer (the free edition is great)
- You need offline access with no network
- You need MongoDB, DuckDB, ClickHouse, or Redis
- You value open-source code (GPLv3)
- You prefer desktop apps over web apps
Switch to QueryGlow If...
- You have a team (one price for everyone, $79)
- You want browser-based access (no installing on laptops)
- You want Safe Mode and a check before writes on production
- You want AI that never sees your rows
- You'd rather pay once than every year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Beekeeper Studio cost for a team?
Beekeeper Studio's paid plans start at $9 per user per month billed yearly (Indie: up to 2 users, 1 device). Teams of 3 or more need Professional, $14 per user per month billed yearly: $840 a year for 5 people, $2,520 over 3 years (as of September 2026). QueryGlow is $79 once for your whole team, with every 1.x update included.
Is there a free version of Beekeeper Studio?
Yes. Beekeeper Studio has a free, open source Community Edition. Beekeeper says it is intended for students, individuals, non-profits and small businesses with fewer than 10 employees and/or annual revenue below $1m. The AI Shell, import and export, backup and restore and cloud workspaces come with the paid plans.
Does Beekeeper Studio have AI features?
Yes. All paid Beekeeper plans include the AI Shell, which works with Claude, OpenAI and Gemini. The shell can run SQL, with your permission, to "check its work with real data," so it may see row data when you allow it. QueryGlow's Ask AI sends your database type, table and column names with their types, and your prompt. Never rows. It puts the SQL into the editor and you decide whether to run it.
What does QueryGlow do differently from Beekeeper Studio?
QueryGlow runs on your server and opens in the browser, so your whole team uses one install behind one shared login for $79 once. Safe Mode always blocks DROP DATABASE and by default blocks DROP TABLE, TRUNCATE and DELETE or UPDATE without WHERE. On a connection marked production, the Query Editor asks before any write. Updates run with ./queryglow update, which backs up first and rolls back on its own if the new version does not come up.
What does Beekeeper have that QueryGlow doesn't?
More databases (25+ including MongoDB, DuckDB, ClickHouse and Redis, some on paid plans), a free open source Community Edition, and offline use as a desktop app that needs no server.
Which is better for a small team?
Two people fit Beekeeper's Indie plan at $216 a year. From three people, Beekeeper needs Professional: $504 a year for 3, $840 a year for 5. QueryGlow is $79 once however many people use it, and nobody installs anything: they open a URL and log in with the shared password. If you work alone and offline, Beekeeper Community may be all you need.
Stop Counting Seats. Start Shipping.
$79 once. Your whole team. Safe Mode. AI with your own key. Every 1.x update included.
Try the live demo first: the real app on a sample database, read-only, AI switched off, no signup.
Compare QueryGlow with Others
See how we stack up against the alternatives.
Prefer nothing to install on your laptop? QueryGlow is a web-based SQL client: installed on your server with one command, then Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB and TimescaleDB from any browser.