Works on every OS
HeidiSQL is desktop-only with macOS in “early preview”. QueryGlow runs in the browser on any OS.
QueryGlow vs HeidiSQL:
Web-Based, Cross-Platform, Self-Hosted
HeidiSQL is fast and free on Windows. But its macOS build is officially “early preview”, it has no AI, and it's desktop-only. QueryGlow is web-based and self-hosted, with schema-only AI. It works in any browser, $79 once for your whole team.
Open it in a browser. No desktop app to install. Works on Mac, Linux and Windows.
Where QueryGlow differs from HeidiSQL
AI writes your SQL
HeidiSQL has no AI. QueryGlow generates queries from plain English using OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini. Your schema is sent, never your data.
Your data stays yours
QueryGlow is self-hosted. No cloud, no telemetry, no tracking. Centralized AES-256-GCM encrypted connections.
Where HeidiSQL Falls Short in 2026
Mac is "Early Preview"
HeidiSQL's macOS build is classified by the project itself as "early preview stage." A February 2026 forum post on the official HeidiSQL site reports the current build as "still unusable."
Zero AI Assistance
HeidiSQL's official feature list has no LLM or AI integration. You write every query by hand — no natural language to SQL, just code completion.
Single-User Desktop
Built for one developer, one machine. Connections are stored locally. Onboarding a teammate means another install. No shared connection management.
No Modern Postgres Extensions
HeidiSQL connects to vanilla PostgreSQL but does not support TimescaleDB (time-series) or CockroachDB (Postgres-compatible distributed). HeidiSQL has no dedicated CockroachDB or TimescaleDB mode; both are reached through its generic PostgreSQL connection, without engine-specific support.
Platform Reality Check
Current platform status for both tools. HeidiSQL classification verified at heidisql.com (May 2026).
| Platform | HeidiSQL | QueryGlow |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Native, stable | Any browser |
| Linux | Native, stable | Any browser |
| macOS | Early preview stage | Any browser including Safari |
The macOS classification “early preview stage” comes from HeidiSQL's own homepage. In a Feb 2026 post on the official HeidiSQL forum, a long-time user reported the current macOS build as “still unusable.”
Desktop App vs Web App
HeidiSQL (Desktop)
Native Delphi/Lazarus application
- Install per developer, per device
- Windows is primary; Mac in “early preview”
- Connections stored locally — not shared
- No mobile, no tablet access
- New teammate = new install + new setup
TEAM-READY
QueryGlow (Web)
Deploy once, access from any browser
- One server install covers your whole team
- Identical experience on Mac, Linux, Windows
- Connections centralized & AES-256-GCM encrypted
- Same URL from any browser
- New teammate = just share the URL
Features HeidiSQL Doesn't Have
AI SQL Generation
Describe what you want in plain English. Choose OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini. Use your own API key — no markup.
Web-Based Access
HeidiSQL is a desktop app. QueryGlow is a URL — open it in any browser, on any device, on any OS.
EXPLAIN Visualizer
Visual query plan analysis with color-coded execution times and actionable index suggestions.
TimescaleDB & CockroachDB
HeidiSQL has no dedicated CockroachDB or TimescaleDB support; QueryGlow lists both as first-class engines.
Safe Mode
Blocks DROP DATABASE, prevents DELETE/UPDATE without WHERE, auto-limits SELECT to 1000 rows.
Team Connection Sharing
Centralized encrypted connections accessible to your whole team via shared URL. No per-device setup.
Full Feature Comparison
| Aspect | HeidiSQL | QueryGlow |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Native desktop app | Web app (browser-native) |
| Platform Support | Windows stable · Linux stable · macOS early preview | Any browser, any OS |
| AI SQL Generation | None | OpenAI, Claude, Gemini (BYOK) |
| Pricing | Free, open source | $79 once, unlimited users |
| Team Access | Per-device install | Share a URL |
| Databases Supported | MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird | PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB, TimescaleDB |
| TimescaleDB | Via generic PostgreSQL mode | Supported |
| CockroachDB | Not officially supported | Supported |
| MS SQL Server | Supported | Not supported |
| SSH Tunnel | Built-in | Built-in (paste key + passphrase) |
| Connection Storage | Local per device | Centralized (AES-256-GCM encrypted) |
| Responsive Layout | Desktop window only | Responsive web layout |
| Safe Mode (blocks DROP, etc.) | None | Built-in |
| SQL Autocomplete | Customizable syntax-highlighting + code-completion | Schema-aware: tables, columns with types, dot-notation |
| Table Structure Editing | Full table designer (columns, indexes, keys) | Add, rename, retype, drop columns (drag-to-reorder on MySQL/MariaDB); exact SQL preview before execute |
| EXPLAIN Visualizer | None | Built-in visual query plans |
| Project Maturity | Created 2002 (22+ years) | Launched 2025 |
Architecture
HeidiSQL
Native desktop app
QueryGlow
Web app (browser-native)
Platform Support
HeidiSQL
Windows stable · Linux stable · macOS early preview
QueryGlow
Any browser, any OS
AI SQL Generation
HeidiSQL
None
QueryGlow
OpenAI, Claude, Gemini (BYOK)
Pricing
HeidiSQL
Free, open source
QueryGlow
$79 once, unlimited users
Team Access
HeidiSQL
Per-device install
QueryGlow
Share a URL
Databases Supported
HeidiSQL
MariaDB, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Interbase, Firebird
QueryGlow
PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB, TimescaleDB
TimescaleDB
HeidiSQL
Via generic PostgreSQL mode
QueryGlow
Supported
CockroachDB
HeidiSQL
Not officially supported
QueryGlow
Supported
MS SQL Server
HeidiSQL
Supported
QueryGlow
Not supported
SSH Tunnel
HeidiSQL
Built-in
QueryGlow
Built-in (paste key + passphrase)
Connection Storage
HeidiSQL
Local per device
QueryGlow
Centralized (AES-256-GCM encrypted)
Responsive Layout
HeidiSQL
Desktop window only
QueryGlow
Responsive web layout
Safe Mode (blocks DROP, etc.)
HeidiSQL
None
QueryGlow
Built-in
SQL Autocomplete
HeidiSQL
Customizable syntax-highlighting + code-completion
QueryGlow
Schema-aware: tables, columns with types, dot-notation
Table Structure Editing
HeidiSQL
Full table designer (columns, indexes, keys)
QueryGlow
Add, rename, retype, drop columns (drag-to-reorder on MySQL/MariaDB); exact SQL preview before execute
EXPLAIN Visualizer
HeidiSQL
None
QueryGlow
Built-in visual query plans
Project Maturity
HeidiSQL
Created 2002 (22+ years)
QueryGlow
Launched 2025
Which One Fits You?
Honest framing — there are real reasons to stay with HeidiSQL, and real reasons to switch. Both connect to MySQL and MariaDB — if MariaDB is your daily driver, our look at modern MariaDB GUI tools goes deeper — but they part ways on platforms, AI, and team access.
Stick with HeidiSQL If...
- You work solo on Windows — it's genuinely fast and free
- You need MS SQL Server, Interbase, or Firebird (QueryGlow does not support these)
- You strictly need a 22+ year mature project
- Free ($0) vs $79 is a hard line for you
- You don't need AI, web access, or team sharing
Switch to QueryGlow If...
- You're on Mac — or your team mixes operating systems
- You want AI to write and explain your SQL
- You share database access with a team
- You use TimescaleDB or CockroachDB
- You need to reach your DB from any browser, not one installed machine
- You want centralized, encrypted connection management
Your Database, From Any Browser.
Skip the preview builds. Skip the per-device installs. Skip the AI gap. One URL. Whole team. $79 once.
Live demo runs on real data. No signup, no credit card.
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: one container on your server, then Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB and TimescaleDB from any browser.