Access from anywhere
DataGrip is a desktop app. QueryGlow is a URL. Open it in a browser from whatever machine you are at.
Browser-Based Alternative
QueryGlow vs DataGrip:
A Browser GUI or a Full Database IDE?
DataGrip is an incredible engineering feat: a full IDE for databases. If you mostly browse data and run queries, QueryGlow opens in a browser tab and shows you the data you need, without an indexing step or the $259/year subscription.
DataGrip costs $109/year (individual) or $259 per user per year (organization). QueryGlow is $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 DataGrip
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 DataGrip differ
Introspection First
DataGrip introspects database metadata before completion and navigation work. QueryGlow has no indexing step: open the URL and start.
A Full IDE on Every Laptop
JetBrains lists 8 GB RAM, 3 GB free for the IDE, as the minimum. QueryGlow runs in a browser tab; the server side runs in Docker on your server.
$259/Year Subscription
DataGrip's organization license is $259 per user per year. That's $1,295 per seat over 5 years. QueryGlow is $79 once, every 1.x update included.
A Whole IDE to Learn
Editor, explorer, refactoring, VCS: a full IDE. Great for DBAs, more than some developers need to look at the data.
The Startup Difference
DataGrip
Starts the IDE and introspects database metadata. Completion and navigation rely on that introspection, so a large schema takes longer.
QueryGlow
No index to build. Open the URL: your last connection opens on load, and the Data Browser reopens the table you used last on it.
The Subscription Math
DataGrip is $259 per user per year for commercial use. QueryGlow is $79 once. Here's how that adds up per seat.
Fair warning before the math: DataGrip has been free for non-commercial use since late 2025. Hobby project? Take the free tier, it's excellent. For paid work you'll need a license: $109/yr if you pay it yourself, or $259 per user, per year, every year, when the company pays. That company rate is what the math below compares.
| Time | DataGrip (per seat) | QueryGlow | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $259 | $79 | $180 |
| 2 years | $518 | $79 | $439 |
| 3 years | $777 | $79 | $698 |
| 5 years | $1,295 | $79 | $1,216 |
DataGrip pricing: $259 per user per year for organizations, $109/year for individuals, free for non-commercial use (jetbrains.com, September 2026). QueryGlow: $79 total for your whole team, every 1.x update included.
What QueryGlow Adds
No Indexing Step
No index to build. Open the URL: your last connection opens on load, and the Data Browser reopens the table you used last on it.
Web-Based Access
Open it from any machine with a browser. DataGrip is a desktop app tied to wherever it's installed.
AI With Your Own Key
Ask AI with your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, entered in the app and stored encrypted on your server. No AI subscription from us.
AI That Never Sees Rows
Ask AI sends your database type, table and column names with their types, and your prompt. Never rows.
Every Agent Call on Record
Agent tokens are per connection and read-only by default, enforced by the database. The Activity tab lists every agent call, refused ones included, and you can pause one agent or all of them.
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 Index Hints
QueryGlow flags large sequential scans, suggests a CREATE INDEX and first checks whether a matching index already exists (PostgreSQL and MySQL family).
https://db.your-company.com
The Activity tab: every call your AI agents make through QueryGlow, with the outcome.
Full Feature Comparison
| Aspect | DataGrip | QueryGlow |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Year Cost (Commercial) | $1,295 per seat (organization) | $79 total |
| Startup | Introspects metadata first | No indexing step |
| System Requirements | JetBrains lists 8 GB RAM, 3 GB free for the IDE, as the minimum | Browser tab; the server needs 512 MB RAM minimum, 1 GB recommended |
| AI SQL Generation | Built-in AI Assistant (free tier with credits, paid tiers or your own key) | Ask AI with your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, entered in the app |
| Agent Access (MCP) | Integrated MCP server; read-only needs a restricted DB user you provision; AI agent skills since 2026.2 (as of Sept 2026) | Per-connection tokens, read-only by default and enforced by the database; dry run and row cap rollback for writes; Activity tab lists every call; pause any token |
| Query Guard | Read-only mode; warning before DELETE/UPDATE on a whole table | Safe Mode: DROP DATABASE always blocked; DROP TABLE, TRUNCATE, DELETE/UPDATE without WHERE blocked by default; asks before writes on production |
| Platform | Desktop only | Web-based (any modern browser) |
| Team Access | Each user needs a license | One install, one shared login for the whole team |
| Database Support | 20+ databases | 6 databases |
| Schema Refactoring | Yes | Column edits (add, rename, retype, drop; reorder on MySQL/MariaDB) with SQL preview, no reference-updating refactor |
| ER Diagrams | Yes | No |
| VCS Integration | Yes | No |
| SSH Tunnels | Yes | Yes (private key and passphrase; host key pinned on first use) |
| CSV Import/Export | Yes | Yes (INSERT, UPSERT or REPLACE) |
| Credential Encryption | Keychain integration | AES-256-GCM (connections and AI keys) |
| EXPLAIN Visualizer | Visual EXPLAIN plan (tables or diagrams) | Visual plans; CREATE INDEX hints that check for an existing index |
| SQL Autocomplete | Schema-aware, based on introspection | Tables, columns with types, dot notation |
| Interface | Full IDE: editor, explorer, refactoring, VCS | Data Browser, Query Editor and agent Activity |
5-Year Cost (Commercial)
DataGrip
$1,295 per seat (organization)
QueryGlow
$79 total
Startup
DataGrip
Introspects metadata first
QueryGlow
No indexing step
System Requirements
DataGrip
JetBrains lists 8 GB RAM, 3 GB free for the IDE, as the minimum
QueryGlow
Browser tab; the server needs 512 MB RAM minimum, 1 GB recommended
AI SQL Generation
DataGrip
Built-in AI Assistant (free tier with credits, paid tiers or your own key)
QueryGlow
Ask AI with your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, entered in the app
Agent Access (MCP)
DataGrip
Integrated MCP server; read-only needs a restricted DB user you provision; AI agent skills since 2026.2 (as of Sept 2026)
QueryGlow
Per-connection tokens, read-only by default and enforced by the database; dry run and row cap rollback for writes; Activity tab lists every call; pause any token
Query Guard
DataGrip
Read-only mode; warning before DELETE/UPDATE on a whole table
QueryGlow
Safe Mode: DROP DATABASE always blocked; DROP TABLE, TRUNCATE, DELETE/UPDATE without WHERE blocked by default; asks before writes on production
Platform
DataGrip
Desktop only
QueryGlow
Web-based (any modern browser)
Team Access
DataGrip
Each user needs a license
QueryGlow
One install, one shared login for the whole team
Database Support
DataGrip
20+ databases
QueryGlow
6 databases
Schema Refactoring
DataGrip
Yes
QueryGlow
Column edits (add, rename, retype, drop; reorder on MySQL/MariaDB) with SQL preview, no reference-updating refactor
ER Diagrams
DataGrip
Yes
QueryGlow
No
VCS Integration
DataGrip
Yes
QueryGlow
No
SSH Tunnels
DataGrip
Yes
QueryGlow
Yes (private key and passphrase; host key pinned on first use)
CSV Import/Export
DataGrip
Yes
QueryGlow
Yes (INSERT, UPSERT or REPLACE)
Credential Encryption
DataGrip
Keychain integration
QueryGlow
AES-256-GCM (connections and AI keys)
EXPLAIN Visualizer
DataGrip
Visual EXPLAIN plan (tables or diagrams)
QueryGlow
Visual plans; CREATE INDEX hints that check for an existing index
SQL Autocomplete
DataGrip
Schema-aware, based on introspection
QueryGlow
Tables, columns with types, dot notation
Interface
DataGrip
Full IDE: editor, explorer, refactoring, VCS
QueryGlow
Data Browser, Query Editor and agent Activity
DataGrip features as documented on jetbrains.com, 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 enter your GitHub username for the repo invite. No refunds, so try the read-only demo first.
When DataGrip is Worth the Subscription
We're not here to trash DataGrip. It's a powerful IDE for database professionals. Here's when it makes sense.
More Databases
Supports 20+ databases including Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, and more.
Schema Refactoring
Smart rename, move, and refactor operations that update all references automatically.
ER Diagrams
Generate entity-relationship diagrams from your database schema.
VCS Integration
Built-in Git integration, version history, and diff tools for SQL files.
Bottom line: If you're a full-time DBA who needs schema refactoring, ER diagrams, and support for 20+ databases, and your company pays the bill, DataGrip is excellent. For developers who mainly browse data and run queries, QueryGlow skips the indexing step and costs $1,216 less per seat over 5 years at the organization rate.
Which One Fits You?
Keep DataGrip If...
- You're a full-time DBA, not just a developer
- You need schema refactoring and ER diagrams
- You need Oracle, SQL Server, or MongoDB support
- Your company pays the $259/year subscription
- Your project is non-commercial: DataGrip has been free for non-commercial use since late 2025
- You like working inside a JetBrains IDE
Switch to QueryGlow If...
- You're a developer who mainly wants to see the data
- You want AI SQL generation, Safe Mode and a check before writes on production
- You want your team on one install instead of one license each
- You want your own shortcuts for run, explain, Ask AI and save
- You want to pay $79 once instead of $259/year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does DataGrip cost?
DataGrip is free for non-commercial use. A commercial license is $109/year for an individual or $259 per user per year for an organization; over 5 years at the organization rate that is $1,295 per seat. QueryGlow is $79 once for your whole team, no subscription.
Is QueryGlow a good DataGrip alternative?
For developers who mainly browse data and run queries, yes. QueryGlow has no indexing step, runs in the browser for the whole team, writes SQL with Ask AI using your own key, and has Safe Mode: DROP DATABASE is always blocked, and DROP TABLE, TRUNCATE and DELETE or UPDATE without WHERE are blocked by default. If you need schema refactoring or ER diagrams, DataGrip may be worth the subscription.
Does DataGrip introspect before completion works?
DataGrip is built on the IntelliJ platform, the same foundation as IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm. It introspects database metadata before completion and navigation work, and how long that takes depends on the size of your schema. QueryGlow is a web app with no indexing step: open the URL, your last connection opens on load, and the Data Browser reopens the table you used last on it.
What can DataGrip do that QueryGlow can't?
DataGrip supports 20+ databases (including Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB), has schema refactoring tools, ER diagrams, VCS integration and database diff tools. If you're a full-time DBA who needs these features daily, DataGrip may be worth the subscription.
What does QueryGlow do differently from DataGrip?
QueryGlow runs on your server and opens in the browser, so your whole team uses one install behind one shared login, with no per-user licensing and no indexing step. On a connection marked production, the Query Editor asks before any write. Agent tokens are read-only by default, enforced by the database, and every agent call shows up in the Activity tab. Ask AI sees your schema, never your rows.
Does DataGrip have AI features?
Yes. DataGrip has a built-in AI Assistant (free tier with credits, paid tiers or your own key). QueryGlow's Ask AI uses your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, entered in the app and stored encrypted on your server. It sends your database type, table and column names with their types, and your prompt. Never rows.
Can my whole team use QueryGlow with one license?
Yes. QueryGlow is $79 total for your whole team. Install it once on your server with ./queryglow install and everyone opens it in the browser with one shared login; there are no per-user accounts. With DataGrip, each team member needs their own license ($259/year each for organizations).
No Introspection Wait. No Subscription.
$79 once. No indexing step. AI with your own key. Safe Mode included.
Try the demo first. No subscription. No per-user fees. Deploy once, every 1.x update included.
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.