pglens vs DBeaver
DBeaver is a universal database IDE. Its Community edition is free under the Apache 2.0 license, and its paid editions (Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate and Team) are annual subscriptions that add features such as a visual query builder, NoSQL support and, in the higher tiers, schema compare.
pglens works only with PostgreSQL and puts every feature in one free, MIT-licensed app. It runs as a local web app and focuses on point-and-click data work plus Postgres-specific tools such as an EXPLAIN visualizer, a live activity view and an index assistant. Pick DBeaver if you work across many database engines. Pick pglens if your stack is Postgres and you want those tools without a subscription.
Facts about DBeaver checked against its own site on October 10, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
At a glance
| DBeaver | pglens | |
|---|---|---|
| License and price | Community: free, Apache 2.0. Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate and Team: annual subscriptions with a 14-day trial | Free, MIT license; every feature is in the free app |
| Databases | Many relational databases; NoSQL and big-data sources are listed for the paid editions | PostgreSQL only |
| How it runs | Desktop app built on Eclipse; CloudBeaver and Team Edition for the web | Local web app bound to 127.0.0.1, installed with one command |
| Schema compare | Listed for Enterprise, Ultimate and Team; not for Lite | Schema diff with forward and backward migrations, free |
| Visual query builder | Listed for all paid editions | No visual join builder; multi-table queries use Advanced Mode |
| Query plans | Execution plan diagram listed for the paid editions | EXPLAIN visualizer with per-node self time, free |
| Postgres operations | General-purpose tooling across engines | Live sessions and blocking chains, a pg_stat_statements slow-query view, an index assistant, a JSONB explorer and an extensions panel |
Breadth vs depth
DBeaver's strength is breadth. It connects to many engines and gives you one consistent IDE across them. pglens goes the other way: it supports only PostgreSQL and builds on Postgres features directly, from jsonb operators in the filter bar to pg_stat_statements in the slow-query view.
What costs money
DBeaver Community is free and open source. According to DBeaver's edition comparison, schema compare and data compare are in Enterprise, Ultimate and Team, and the visual query builder and execution plan diagram are listed across the paid editions. pglens ships schema diff, the EXPLAIN visualizer and every other feature on this page in the free app.
Where DBeaver is ahead
DBeaver supports far more databases, has a visual query builder, and has years of plugins and polish behind it. pglens is a younger project focused on one engine. It has no SSH tunnel support yet, and multi-table joins need Advanced Mode.
Which one should you pick?
Pick DBeaver if
- You work with several database engines and want one IDE for all of them.
- You want a visual query builder for multi-table queries.
- You need NoSQL or big-data sources in the same tool.
Pick pglens if
- Your databases are PostgreSQL and you want tools built for it.
- You want schema diff and plan visualization without a subscription.
- You prefer a light local web app to a desktop IDE.
Questions
Is DBeaver free?
DBeaver Community is free under the Apache 2.0 license. DBeaver Lite, Enterprise, Ultimate and Team are paid annual subscriptions.
Does pglens support MySQL or other databases?
No. pglens is built for PostgreSQL only, which lets it use Postgres features such as JSONB operators, EXPLAIN ANALYZE and pg_stat_statements directly.
Can pglens generate migrations like DBeaver's schema compare?
Yes. pglens compares two connected databases and writes forward and backward migrations, ordered for dependency safety, with destructive statements flagged. It opens the SQL for review and never runs it on its own.
Sources
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