--- title: pgAdmin canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/pgadmin/ category: Database Client Software points: 71 rank: 8 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # pgAdmin Free, open-source administration and development tool for PostgreSQL, as a desktop app or a web server. 71 points out of 100. #8 of 12 database clients. Vendor: pgAdmin Development Team. Website: https://www.pgadmin.org/ - pgAdmin is free and released under the PostgreSQL licence, which allows use for any purpose without fee [1][11]. - Desktop packages exist for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus a container and a server mode [1][2]. - It works with PostgreSQL only; the site names no other database [1][3]. - Version 9.18 was announced on September 17, 2026 [1]. - It includes a graphical EXPLAIN view, an ERD tool, Schema Diff, SSH tunnels and an AI assistant [5][6][8][9][10]. Verdict: pgAdmin suits anyone who works with PostgreSQL and wants a free, open-source tool with ERD, Schema Diff, graphical query plans and SSH tunnels [5][6][9][10]. The catch: it is a single-engine tool, with no JDBC or ODBC route to other databases in the docs, and its results export is CSV only [1][12]. Best for: PostgreSQL developers and administrators who want a free, open-source tool. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | macOS, Linux | 6/6 | Runs in desktop or server mode on Windows, macOS and Linux; the download page offers macOS and Linux packages [1][2]. | | Databases | Main SQL engines | PostgreSQL | 3/15 | The site describes pgAdmin as a PostgreSQL tool and names no other engine [1][3]. | | Databases | NoSQL and cloud engines | None | 0/8 | No MongoDB, Redis, BigQuery or Snowflake support is named on the vendor's pages [1][3]. | | Databases | JDBC or ODBC drivers | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the docs index or home page [1][3]. | | Connections and trust | SSH tunnel | Yes | 8/8 | The Server dialog has an SSH Tunnel tab with host, port, username and password or identity file [5]. | | Connections and trust | Open-source apps | Yes | 6/6 | Released under the PostgreSQL licence, an OSI-approved open-source licence; source is public on GitHub [4][11]. | | Connections and trust | Recent release | Yes | 3/3 | Version 9.18 was announced on September 17, 2026 [1]. | | Tools | SQL code completion | Yes | 4/4 | The SQL editor features syntax colouring and autocompletion; press Control+Space for suggestions [6]. | | Tools | Visual query builder | Not published | 0/3 | Not published in the Query Tool docs, which describe only a SQL editor [6]. | | Tools | ER diagrams | Yes | 4/4 | The ERD tool generates a diagram for an existing database, with foreign key links [9]. | | Tools | Schema or data compare | Yes | 4/4 | Schema Diff compares objects between two databases or two schemas [10]. | | Tools | Import from CSV or Excel | Yes | 4/4 | The Import/Export dialog imports data from a CSV file into a table [7]. | | Tools | Export formats | CSV | 1/3 | Results save as a delimited text file, CSV with a comma separator; no JSON or Excel is documented [12]. | | Tools | Query plan viewer | Yes | 4/4 | The Explain panel has a Graphical tab showing the plan as a diagram [6]. | | Tools | AI assistant | Yes | 3/3 | Query Tool chat writes SQL from a natural-language description; docs show no beta label, and a provider must be configured [6][8]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 6/6 | The whole app is free, and the licence permits use for any purpose without fee [1][11]. | | Price | Perpetual licence | Yes | 5/5 | The app is entirely free under an open-source licence [11]. | | Price | Cheapest paid plan | $0 | 10/10 | No paid plan exists; the app is entirely free [1][11]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | pgAdmin | Free [1][11] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free, open source under the PostgreSQL licence, with no paid tier [1][11]. - SSH Tunnel tab connects through an intermediary host with password or identity file [5]. - Generates an ER diagram from an existing database, schema or table [9]. - Schema Diff compares objects between two databases or two schemas [10]. - Query Tool has autocomplete, a graphical Explain tab and an AI assistant that writes SQL from a description [6]. ## Limits - Names only PostgreSQL; no other database engine is listed [1][3]. - Saving query results is documented as CSV or delimited text only [12]. - The AI assistant needs an AI provider set up; none is enabled by default [8]. - Import and export dialog offers csv, text and binary, with no Excel or JSON [7]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - The pgAdmin team describes the tool as administration, development and monitoring for PostgreSQL [1]. ## Sources 1. [pgAdmin: PostgreSQL Tools](https://www.pgadmin.org/), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [pgAdmin download](https://www.pgadmin.org/download/), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [pgAdmin 4 documentation](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/index.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [pgadmin-org/pgadmin4](https://github.com/pgadmin-org/pgadmin4), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Server Dialog](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/server_dialog.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Query Tool](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/query_tool.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Import/Export Data Dialog](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/import_export_data.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [AI Tools](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/ai_tools.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [ERD Tool](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/erd_tool.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Schema Diff](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/schema_diff.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Licence](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/licence.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Query Tool toolbar](https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/latest/query_tool_toolbar.html), pgAdmin, accessed 2026-10-08