18 rules in 5 groups, worth 100 points in all. They were set before any product was scored and apply the same way to all 12.
Version 1, published 8 Oct 2026
In short
Each rule is a yes-or-no fact, a list (such as the systems with an app) or a number with published thresholds, read from the vendor's own pages.
A fact the vendor does not publish earns nothing. A feature in beta or preview does not count.
The list follows the points. A tie goes to the lower price on "cheapest paid plan", then to the name.
Desktop database GUIs that run on Windows, for developers and analysts. Browser-only and command-line clients are left out. Single-engine official tools are listed and score low on the Databases group by design. Feature lines count every edition; the price line counts the cheapest paid commercial plan for one person.
Systems 6 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Other systems
An official desktop app for each system besides Windows. Each one earns 3 points.
6
Databases 27 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Main SQL engines
The vendor's supported-databases page or docs name the engine, in any edition. MySQL and MariaDB count together. Each engine earns 3 points.
15
NoSQL and cloud engines
The vendor's supported-databases page or docs name the engine, in any edition. Each one earns 2 points.
8
JDBC or ODBC drivers
The docs say you can run queries against other databases by adding a JDBC driver or an ODBC data source. Import-only ODBC does not count.
4
Connections and trust 17 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
SSH tunnel
The app can connect to a database through an SSH tunnel, in at least one edition.
8
Open-source apps
The source code of the apps is public under an open-source licence. A free edition built from public open-source code counts.
6
Recent release
The vendor's release notes or changelog show a release dated within the last 12 months.
3
Tools 29 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
SQL code completion
The SQL editor suggests tables, columns or keywords as you type, in at least one edition.
4
Visual query builder
You can build a query by choosing tables and columns on screen, without typing SQL, in at least one edition.
3
ER diagrams
The app draws an entity-relationship diagram of tables and their links from a live database, in at least one edition.
4
Schema or data compare
The app compares two databases or schemas and shows the differences, in at least one edition.
4
Import from CSV or Excel
You can load a CSV or Excel file into a table from the app, in at least one edition.
4
Export formats
The docs say you can export query results or tables from the app to each format, in at least one edition. Each one earns 1 point.
3
Query plan viewer
The app shows the execution plan of a query in a graphical or tree view, in at least one edition.
4
AI assistant
A generally available assistant inside the app writes or explains SQL. Beta and preview features do not count.
3
Price 21 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Free edition
A free edition with no time limit, or an entirely free app. It does not count if a vendor page or the licence limits it to non-commercial, personal, student or non-profit use. A trial does not count.
6
Perpetual licence
A paid plan whose licence lets you keep using the versions you paid for after you stop paying, or the app is entirely free. Updates may stop.
5
Cheapest paid plan
The cheapest paid plan for one person's commercial work, in US dollars, regular price before tax, for the first 12 months. Monthly plans count 12 months. A one-time licence counts at its price. Student, non-commercial and promotional prices do not count. An entirely free product counts as $0. $0 earns 10 points, $100 or less 8, $150 or less 6, $250 or less 4, $400 or less 2.