pglens vs TablePlus
TablePlus is a polished native database app for macOS, Windows and Linux, with an iOS companion. It supports many database engines and is sold as a perpetual license: $99 for one device with a year of updates.
pglens is free and MIT licensed, works only with PostgreSQL, and runs as a local web app in your browser. It adds Postgres-specific tools such as schema diff with migrations, an EXPLAIN visualizer and a live activity view. Pick TablePlus for a native app across many engines. Pick pglens if you work in Postgres and want those tools free and open source.
Facts about TablePlus checked against its own site on October 10, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
At a glance
| TablePlus | pglens | |
|---|---|---|
| License and price | Proprietary perpetual license: Basic $99 (1 device), Standard $129 (2 devices), Team $79 per seat from 3 seats; 1 year of updates, renewal $59 per device | Free, MIT license |
| Free version | Trial limited to 2 open tabs, 2 windows and 2 advanced filters at a time; filters are unavailable in the free Windows version | Every feature, no limits |
| Databases | Many engines, including PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite | PostgreSQL only |
| How it runs | Native desktop app; iOS app included with a license | Local web app bound to 127.0.0.1, installed with one command |
| Source code | Closed source | Open source on GitHub |
The free experience
TablePlus's free trial caps you at two open tabs, two windows and two advanced filters at a time, and its pricing page notes that filters are unavailable in the free Windows version. A license costs $99 for one device and includes a year of updates. pglens has no paid tier for the app itself, so every feature is available on every install.
Postgres-specific tools
pglens is built only for PostgreSQL, so it goes deeper into it. It diffs two databases and writes forward and backward migrations, draws EXPLAIN plans heat-mapped by each node's own time, shows live sessions and blocking chains, ranks slow statements from pg_stat_statements, and infers the key set of a jsonb column so you can filter on it with a click.
Where TablePlus is ahead
TablePlus is a native app with years of polish, supports many engines, and has a mobile companion. pglens runs in your browser against a local server, supports one engine, and has no SSH tunnel support yet.
Which one should you pick?
Pick TablePlus if
- You want a native desktop app and its speed and feel.
- You work across several database engines.
- You want a mobile app for checking data on the go.
Pick pglens if
- You work in PostgreSQL and want its specific tools: EXPLAIN plans, pg_stat_statements, JSONB.
- You want unlimited tabs and filters without buying a license.
- You want a tool whose source you can read and audit.
Questions
Is TablePlus free?
TablePlus has a free trial with limits: 2 open tabs, 2 windows and 2 advanced filters at a time. Full use requires a license, starting at $99 for one device.
Is pglens a native app?
No. pglens runs a small local server and opens in your browser. It binds to 127.0.0.1 only, gates every route with a per-install token and stores passwords in your OS keychain.
Does pglens work on Windows?
Yes. pglens runs on macOS, Linux and Windows, with a PowerShell install command for Windows.
Sources
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