database client · pgAdmin Development Team

pgAdmin

Free, open-source administration and development tool for PostgreSQL, as a desktop app or a web server.

71/100

#8 of 12 database clients
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

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, 2026¹.
It includes a graphical EXPLAIN view, an ERD tool, Schema Diff, SSH tunnels and an AI assistant^5,6,8,9,10.

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.

Where the points come from

Systems6 of 6

Databases3 of 27

Connections and trust17 of 17

Tools24 of 29

Price21 of 21

Systems 6 of 6 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Other systems	macOS, LinuxRuns in desktop or server mode on Windows, macOS and Linux; the download page offers macOS and Linux packages^1,2.	6 / 6

Databases 3 of 27 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Main SQL engines	PostgreSQLThe site describes pgAdmin as a PostgreSQL tool and names no other engine^1,3.	3 / 15
NoSQL and cloud engines	NoneNo MongoDB, Redis, BigQuery or Snowflake support is named on the vendor's pages^1,3.	0 / 8
JDBC or ODBC drivers	Not publishedNot published on the docs index or home page^1,3.	0 / 4

Connections and trust 17 of 17 points

Rule	What is published	Points
SSH tunnel	YesThe Server dialog has an SSH Tunnel tab with host, port, username and password or identity file⁵.	8 / 8
Open-source apps	YesReleased under the PostgreSQL licence, an OSI-approved open-source licence; source is public on GitHub^4,11.	6 / 6
Recent release	YesVersion 9.18 was announced on September 17, 2026¹.	3 / 3

Tools 24 of 29 points

Rule	What is published	Points
SQL code completion	YesThe SQL editor features syntax colouring and autocompletion; press Control+Space for suggestions⁶.	4 / 4
Visual query builder	Not publishedNot published in the Query Tool docs, which describe only a SQL editor⁶.	0 / 3
ER diagrams	YesThe ERD tool generates a diagram for an existing database, with foreign key links⁹.	4 / 4
Schema or data compare	YesSchema Diff compares objects between two databases or two schemas¹⁰.	4 / 4
Import from CSV or Excel	YesThe Import/Export dialog imports data from a CSV file into a table⁷.	4 / 4
Export formats	CSVResults save as a delimited text file, CSV with a comma separator; no JSON or Excel is documented¹².	1 / 3
Query plan viewer	YesThe Explain panel has a Graphical tab showing the plan as a diagram⁶.	4 / 4
AI assistant	YesQuery Tool chat writes SQL from a natural-language description; docs show no beta label, and a provider must be configured^6,8.	3 / 3

Price 21 of 21 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free edition	YesThe whole app is free, and the licence permits use for any purpose without fee^1,11.	6 / 6
Perpetual licence	YesThe app is entirely free under an open-source licence¹¹.	5 / 5
Cheapest paid plan	$0No paid plan exists; the app is entirely free^1,11.	10 / 10

The rule behind each line: how we score database clients.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
pgAdminAnyone	Free^1,11	$0	Open source, PostgreSQL licence; no paid plan

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 file⁵.
Generates an ER diagram from an existing database, schema or table⁹.
Schema Diff compares objects between two databases or two schemas¹⁰.
Query Tool has autocomplete, a graphical Explain tab and an AI assistant that writes SQL from a description⁶.

Limits

Names only PostgreSQL; no other database engine is listed^1,3.
Saving query results is documented as CSV or delimited text only¹².
The AI assistant needs an AI provider set up; none is enabled by default⁸.
Import and export dialog offers csv, text and binary, with no Excel or JSON⁷.

What pgAdmin Development Team says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

The pgAdmin team describes the tool as administration, development and monitoring for PostgreSQL¹.

Other database clients

1
DBeaverDevelopers and analysts who work with many database engines
91/100
$113/yrcheapest paid plan
2
DbVisualizerDevelopers who connect to many engines and want a free edition for basic work
84/100
$199/yrcheapest paid plan
3
Beekeeper StudioDevelopers who want a multi-engine client with a free open-source edition
81/100
$108/yrcheapest paid plan
4
DataGripDevelopers who write a lot of SQL and want an IDE-style editor
81/100
$121.93/yrcheapest paid plan

All 12 database clients

Sources

pgAdmin: PostgreSQL Tools, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
pgAdmin download, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
pgAdmin 4 documentation, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
pgadmin-org/pgadmin4, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Server Dialog, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Query Tool, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Import/Export Data Dialog, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
AI Tools, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
ERD Tool, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Schema Diff, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Licence, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Query Tool toolbar, pgAdmin. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.pgadmin.org · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with pgAdmin Development Team.