Access from anywhere
Navicat is a desktop app. QueryGlow is a URL. Open it in a browser from whatever machine you are at.
Save $1,920+ Per User
QueryGlow vs Navicat:
Do You Need the Whole Suite?
Navicat Premium Enterprise is $1,999 per user. It's enterprise-grade software: Navicat bundles modeling, BI and data sync, plus Oracle and SQL Server support. QueryGlow covers browsing, querying and CSV, for $79 once for your whole team.
Navicat Premium Enterprise costs $999.99 per user per year, $99.99 per month or $1,999 perpetual (navicat.com, September 2026). QueryGlow is $79 once for your whole team. 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 Navicat
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 Navicat differ
Navicat Premium (Enterprise): $1,999 Per User
Navicat Premium Enterprise is $1,999 per person. Team of 5? That's $8,496 even after the volume discount. QueryGlow is $79 for your whole team.
A Suite You May Not Need
Navicat bundles data modeling, BI dashboards, report builders and data sync. QueryGlow covers browsing, querying and CSV. Pick by what your team does every day.
Desktop Apps Only
Navicat ships desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, with no browser client. QueryGlow is web-based: open it from any browser, on a borrowed laptop or a second machine.
Per-User Licensing
Every new team member needs a new license. Onboarding a contractor? Another $1,999 for Navicat Premium Enterprise, or $999.99 a year. QueryGlow: one price, whole team, one shared login.
The Per-User Licensing Math
Navicat charges per user. QueryGlow doesn't. Here's how that adds up.
| Team Size | Navicat Premium (Enterprise) | QueryGlow | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $1,999 | $79 | $1,920 |
| 2 users | $3,998 | $79 | $3,919 |
| 3 users | $5,997 | $79 | $5,918 |
| 5 users | $8,496 | $79 | $8,417 |
| 10 users | $15,992 | $79 | $15,913 |
Navicat Premium 18 Enterprise pricing (navicat.com store, checked 2026-09-25): $1,999 per user perpetual license, 15% off for 5 to 9 licenses, 20% off from 10. The table applies those discounts. Subscriptions: $999.99 per user per year or $99.99 per month. QueryGlow: $79 total for your whole team.
What $79 buys over time: every 1.x update, installed with ./queryglow update, which backs up first and rolls back on its own if the new version does not come up.
What QueryGlow Adds
AI With Your Own Key
Describe queries in plain English. Your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, entered in the app and stored encrypted. The AI gets your schema and your prompt, never your rows.
Web-Based Access
Open it from any machine with a browser. Navicat ships desktop apps, with no browser client.
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. Safe Mode always blocks DROP DATABASE.
Agent Access (MCP)
Give AI agents like Claude Code or Cursor a token instead of a connection string. Tokens are per connection and read-only by default, enforced by the database. The Activity tab lists every call; pause one agent or all of them.
EXPLAIN Index Hints
QueryGlow's EXPLAIN view flags large sequential scans and suggests a specific CREATE INDEX, after checking whether a matching index already exists (PostgreSQL and MySQL family).
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.
https://db.your-company.com
The Activity tab: every call your AI agents make through QueryGlow, with the outcome.
Full Feature Comparison
| Aspect | Navicat Premium (Enterprise) | QueryGlow |
|---|---|---|
| Team of 5 Cost | $8,496 (perpetual, after 15% volume discount) | $79 total |
| Licensing Model | Per user | One price, whole team, one shared login |
| AI SQL Generation | AI Assistant and Ask AI (since 17.2) | Ask AI with your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key; schema and prompt only, never rows |
| Platform | Desktop apps (Windows, macOS, Linux); no browser client | Web-based (any modern browser) |
| Database Support | 9+ (including Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB) | 6 (Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB, TimescaleDB) |
| Data Modeling Tools | Yes | Column edits (add, rename, retype, drop; reorder on MySQL/MariaDB) with an exact SQL preview, no ER/modeling suite |
| BI / Report Builder | Yes | No |
| SSH Tunnels | Yes | Yes (private key and passphrase; host key pinned on first use) |
| Credential Encryption | Yes | AES-256-GCM (connections and AI keys) |
| CSV Import/Export | Yes | Yes (INSERT, UPSERT or REPLACE) |
| EXPLAIN Visualizer | Visual Explain (graphical plan, highlights costly steps) | Visual plans; CREATE INDEX hints on PostgreSQL and MySQL family |
| SQL Autocomplete | Schema-aware autocomplete | Tables, columns with types, dot notation |
| Themes | Dark mode | Light, dark or system; six accent colors or your own |
Team of 5 Cost
Navicat
$8,496 (perpetual, after 15% volume discount)
QueryGlow
$79 total
Licensing Model
Navicat
Per user
QueryGlow
One price, whole team, one shared login
AI SQL Generation
Navicat
AI Assistant and Ask AI (since 17.2)
QueryGlow
Ask AI with your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key; schema and prompt only, never rows
Platform
Navicat
Desktop apps (Windows, macOS, Linux); no browser client
QueryGlow
Web-based (any modern browser)
Database Support
Navicat
9+ (including Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB)
QueryGlow
6 (Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB, TimescaleDB)
Data Modeling Tools
Navicat
Yes
QueryGlow
Column edits (add, rename, retype, drop; reorder on MySQL/MariaDB) with an exact SQL preview, no ER/modeling suite
BI / Report Builder
Navicat
Yes
QueryGlow
No
SSH Tunnels
Navicat
Yes
QueryGlow
Yes (private key and passphrase; host key pinned on first use)
Credential Encryption
Navicat
Yes
QueryGlow
AES-256-GCM (connections and AI keys)
CSV Import/Export
Navicat
Yes
QueryGlow
Yes (INSERT, UPSERT or REPLACE)
EXPLAIN Visualizer
Navicat
Visual Explain (graphical plan, highlights costly steps)
QueryGlow
Visual plans; CREATE INDEX hints on PostgreSQL and MySQL family
SQL Autocomplete
Navicat
Schema-aware autocomplete
QueryGlow
Tables, columns with types, dot notation
Themes
Navicat
Dark mode
QueryGlow
Light, dark or system; six accent colors or your own
Navicat features and prices as listed on navicat.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 Navicat is Worth the Premium
We're not here to trash Navicat. It's genuinely powerful enterprise software. Here's when it makes sense.
More Databases
Supports Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, Redis and Snowflake, databases QueryGlow doesn't support.
Data Modeling
Built-in ER diagram designer and data modeling tools for database architects.
BI & Reporting
Chart generators, report builders, and data visualization tools.
Data Sync
Schema and data synchronization between databases.
Bottom line: If you need Oracle, SQL Server, or MongoDB support, or if you're a DBA who uses data modeling and synchronization tools daily, Navicat Premium Enterprise at $1,999 may be justified. For everyone else, QueryGlow does the daily work for $79.
Which One Fits You?
Use Navicat If...
- You need Oracle, SQL Server, or MongoDB support
- You're a DBA who uses data modeling tools daily
- You need built-in BI dashboards and reporting
- Your company already has Navicat licenses
Switch to QueryGlow If...
- You mainly use PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite
- Your daily work is browsing data and running queries
- You want Safe Mode and a check before writes on production
- You run many connections: search, sort and group them by host
- You need web-based access from any browser
- You don't want to pay per user
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Navicat Premium actually cost?
Navicat Premium 18 Enterprise costs $1,999 per user for a perpetual license, $999.99 per user per year, or $99.99 per month (navicat.com, September 2026). The Standard edition costs $1,499 perpetual or $749.99 per year. For a team of 5, perpetual licenses cost $8,496 after the 15% volume discount (list price $9,995; 20% off from 10 licenses). QueryGlow is $79 total for your whole team, with every 1.x update included.
Is QueryGlow a good Navicat alternative?
For most web development teams, yes. QueryGlow covers the daily tasks: browsing data, running queries, importing and exporting CSV, column-level schema edits with an exact SQL preview, plus Ask AI with your own key and Safe Mode. If you need Oracle, SQL Server or MongoDB support, or data modeling, Navicat may be worth the premium.
What can Navicat do that QueryGlow can't?
Navicat supports more databases (Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, Redis, Snowflake), has data modeling and ER diagram tools, BI dashboards, report builders and data synchronization. If you need these enterprise features, Navicat may be worth the premium.
What does QueryGlow do differently from Navicat?
QueryGlow writes SQL with AI from your own key and sends only your schema, never rows. It always blocks DROP DATABASE and by default blocks DELETE or UPDATE without WHERE, asks before writes on production connections, runs in any browser, and costs $79 once for the whole team. Agent tokens for AI tools are read-only by default, and every agent call shows up in the Activity tab.
Is there a free version of Navicat?
Yes. Navicat Premium Lite is free, allows commercial use, supports up to 5 users per organization and includes core features only. QueryGlow has no free tier; try the live demo before you buy.
Should I switch from Navicat to QueryGlow?
If you mainly use PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, or SQLite and your daily tasks are browsing data, running queries, importing and exporting, and column-level schema edits, QueryGlow covers that for $79. If you need Oracle, SQL Server or MongoDB support or data modeling, stick with Navicat.
Does QueryGlow have SSH tunnel support like Navicat?
Yes. QueryGlow has built-in SSH tunnel support. Paste your private key into the connection form and reach databases in private networks without exposing ports. The server's host key is pinned on first use; a changed key is refused.
Keep the $1,920. Get the UI.
$79 for your whole team. AI with your own key. Safe Mode included. Every 1.x update included.
Try the demo first. One-time payment. No subscription.
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.