Two modern database clients with clean interfaces. Here's how they compare on features, databases, and pricing.
| Feature | SQLPro Studio | Beekeeper Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Native (Swift/Obj-C) | Electron |
| MySQL / MariaDB | ✓ | ✓ |
| PostgreSQL | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microsoft SQL Server | ✓ | ✓ |
| SQLite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oracle | ✓ | ✓ |
| Snowflake | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Redshift | ✓ | ✓ |
| CockroachDB | ✗ | ✓ |
| Apache Cassandra | ✗ | ✓ |
| macOS | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS / iPadOS | ✓ | ✗ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux | ✗ | ✓ |
| SSH tunneling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Syntax highlighting & autocomplete | ✓ | ✓ |
| Import from CSV / JSON / SQL | ✓ | ✓ |
| Export to CSV / JSON / XML | ✓ | ✓ |
| Table structure editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Feels like a Mac app | Yes (native) | No (Electron) |
| Plan | SQLPro Studio | Beekeeper Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free trial | Community Edition (limited) |
| Paid plans | Monthly / Yearly / Lifetime | From $9/month |
| Lifetime / perpetual license | Available | After 12 months |
| Student discount | Yes (free) | Not available |
Choose SQLPro Studio if you want a truly native Mac experience. Beekeeper Studio is built on Electron, which means it's essentially a web app wrapped in a browser shell — it works, but it doesn't feel like a Mac app and uses more memory. SQLPro Studio is built with Swift and Objective-C, so it integrates with macOS naturally: proper keyboard shortcuts, native scroll behavior, and lower resource usage. Plus, SQLPro Studio works on iOS.
Choose Beekeeper Studio if you need Linux support, work with CockroachDB or Cassandra, or want a free community edition for basic use. Beekeeper Studio's open-source community edition is a reasonable option for hobbyists.