What is the difference between QueryGlow and Prisma Studio?

Prisma Studio is a visual database browser that requires Prisma ORM to work. QueryGlow is a standalone database GUI that works with any PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, CockroachDB, or TimescaleDB database without requiring any ORM. QueryGlow also includes AI SQL generation, Safe Mode protection, SSH tunnels, and CSV import/export.

Does Prisma Studio have Safe Mode to prevent dangerous queries?

No. Prisma Studio has no Safe Mode or query protection. QueryGlow includes Safe Mode that blocks DROP DATABASE, prevents DELETE/UPDATE without WHERE clauses, and auto-limits SELECT queries to 1000 rows.

Does Prisma Studio support raw SQL queries?

No. Prisma Studio is a data browser only—you can view and edit records, but you cannot write or execute raw SQL queries. QueryGlow includes a full Monaco-based SQL editor with AI assistance.

Honest Comparison

QueryGlow vs Prisma Studio:
ORM-Free Database GUI

Prisma Studio is beautiful—but it requires Prisma ORM. QueryGlow gives you a modern database GUI that works with any database, no ORM required.

ORM Lock-in

Prisma Studio only works if your project uses Prisma ORM. No Prisma? No Studio. QueryGlow works with any database, ORM or not.

Localhost Only

Prisma Studio runs on localhost—you can't access it remotely. QueryGlow is self-hosted via Docker with web access from anywhere.

No SQL Editor

Prisma Studio is a data browser only. No way to write or execute raw SQL queries. QueryGlow has a full Monaco editor with AI assistance.

No AI Features

Prisma Studio has no AI assistance. QueryGlow generates SQL from plain English using OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini.

The Core Difference

It comes down to one question: Do you want to tie your database tools to an ORM?

Prisma Studio

ORM-Dependent Tool

Prisma Studio is a visual database browser that comes free with Prisma ORM. It reads your prisma.schema file and lets you browse and edit data through a clean UI.

# Requires Prisma setup first
npx prisma studio

Only works with Prisma ORM projects
Localhost only—no remote access
No SQL editor, no AI, no Safe Mode

NO ORM

QueryGlow

Independent Database GUI

QueryGlow connects directly to your database using standard credentials. No ORM, no schema files, no project setup. Just enter your host, port, username, and password.

# Works with any database
docker-compose up -d

Works with any database, ORM or not
Web-based—access from anywhere
Full SQL editor, AI, Safe Mode included

Features Prisma Studio Doesn't Have

Safe Mode

Blocks DROP DATABASE, prevents DELETE without WHERE, auto-limits SELECTs to 1000 rows. Prisma Studio has no query protection.

AI SQL Generation

Describe queries in plain English. Works with OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini using your own API key (BYOK).

AI Data Privacy

AI only sees your schema (table/column names). Your actual row data never leaves your server.

SSH Tunnels

Connect to databases in private VPCs without exposing ports. Paste your private key text, connect securely.

Full SQL Editor

Monaco editor (same engine as VS Code) with syntax highlighting, autocomplete, and keyboard shortcuts.

Remote Web Access

Self-hosted via Docker. Access from any device with a browser. Fix issues from your phone.

Full Feature Comparison

A detailed look at what each tool offers.

Feature	Prisma Studio	QueryGlow
ORM Required	Yes (Prisma ORM) ❌	No ORM needed ✨
Raw SQL Queries	No ❌	Full Monaco SQL editor ✨
AI SQL Generation	No ❌	OpenAI, Claude, Gemini ✨
AI Data Privacy	N/A	Schema only—data never sent ✨
Safe Mode	No ❌	Blocks DROP, limits queries ✨
SSH Tunnel Support	No ❌	Built-in (paste private key)
Remote Access	Localhost only	Self-hosted, access anywhere ✨
Credential Encryption	N/A (no stored credentials)	AES-256-GCM
CSV Import/Export	No ❌	INSERT/UPSERT/REPLACE
Databases Supported	Prisma-supported only	6 databases native
Query History	No ❌	Persistent (up to 1000)
Saved Queries	No ❌	Yes, with organization
Inline Cell Editing	Yes ✓	Yes ✓
Dark Mode	Yes ✓	Yes ✓
Price	Free (requires Prisma)	$79 lifetime

Price

Prisma Studio

Free (requires Prisma)

QueryGlow

$79 lifetime

When Prisma Studio is the Better Choice

We're not here to trash competitors. Prisma Studio is great for certain use cases.

Free

Prisma Studio is included free with Prisma ORM. No cost if you're already using Prisma.

Type-Safe Editing

Data is validated against your Prisma schema types before saving.

Zero Setup (if using Prisma)

Already using Prisma? Just run `npx prisma studio`. It's already installed.

Beautiful UI

Clean, modern interface that developers love. Great for quick data browsing.

Bottom line: If you're committed to Prisma ORM and only need basic data browsing, stick with Prisma Studio—it's free. If you want flexibility, raw SQL, AI, Safe Mode, or work with databases outside of Prisma, QueryGlow is the better investment.

Which One Fits You?

Use Prisma Studio If...

You already use Prisma ORM in your project
You only need basic data browsing and editing
You don't need to write raw SQL queries
Localhost-only access is fine for you
Free is your top priority

Switch to QueryGlow If...

You want ORM-free database access
You need raw SQL queries + AI assistance
You want Safe Mode to prevent dangerous queries
You need SSH tunnels for private databases
You want web access from anywhere

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between QueryGlow and Prisma Studio?

Prisma Studio requires Prisma ORM to work—you need a prisma.schema file and Prisma set up in your project. QueryGlow connects directly to any database using standard credentials. No ORM, no schema files, no setup beyond Docker.

Can I run SQL queries in Prisma Studio?

No. Prisma Studio is a visual data browser only. You can view, filter, and edit records through the UI, but there's no way to write or execute raw SQL queries. QueryGlow includes a full Monaco-based SQL editor with AI assistance.

Does Prisma Studio have Safe Mode?

No. Prisma Studio has no query protection or Safe Mode. QueryGlow's Safe Mode blocks dangerous operations like DROP DATABASE, prevents DELETE/UPDATE without WHERE clauses, and auto-limits SELECT queries to 1000 rows to prevent runaway queries.

Is Prisma Studio really free?

Yes, but with a catch. Prisma Studio is free, but you must adopt the entire Prisma ORM ecosystem to use it. If you're not using Prisma (or don't want to), you can't use Prisma Studio. QueryGlow works with any database for a one-time $79 payment.

Which should I choose if I already use Prisma?

If you're happy with Prisma and only need basic data browsing, Prisma Studio is fine—it's free and already installed. But if you need raw SQL queries, AI assistance, Safe Mode protection, SSH tunnels, CSV import/export, or want to access your database from anywhere, QueryGlow is worth the $79.

Can QueryGlow work alongside Prisma?

Absolutely. QueryGlow connects directly to your database, independent of Prisma. You can use Prisma for your application code and QueryGlow for database management. They don't conflict.

Ready for a Database GUI Without ORM Lock-in?

$79 once. Works with any database. No Prisma required.

Get QueryGlow – $79 Lifetime Try Live Demo

Compare QueryGlow with Others

See how we stack up against the alternatives.

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QueryGlow vs Prisma Studio:ORM-Free Database GUI

Common Prisma Studio Limitations

ORM Lock-in

Localhost Only

No SQL Editor

No AI Features

Prisma Studio

QueryGlow

Features Prisma Studio Doesn't Have

Safe Mode

AI SQL Generation

AI Data Privacy

SSH Tunnels

Full SQL Editor

Remote Web Access

ORM Required

Raw SQL Queries

AI SQL Generation

AI Data Privacy

Safe Mode

SSH Tunnel Support

Remote Access

Credential Encryption

CSV Import/Export

Databases Supported

Query History

Saved Queries

Inline Cell Editing

Dark Mode

Price

Free

Type-Safe Editing

Zero Setup (if using Prisma)

Beautiful UI

Which One Fits You?

Use Prisma Studio If...

Switch to QueryGlow If...

Ready for a Database GUI Without ORM Lock-in?

ORM-Free Alternatives

QueryGlow vs Prisma Studio:
ORM-Free Database GUI