Best Alternative to
MySQL Workbench

What is the most convenient and feature-rich tool to develop and manage MySQL databases and handle your data? The answer depends on your particular goals and needs.

The obvious solution is the well-known MySQL Workbench. However, there is another candidate that we'd like to present in comparison with the Workbench - our own dbForge Studio for MySQL (Enterprise Edition). It was designed to fill in many gaps of the Workbench when it comes to developing, administering, and managing MySQL and MariaDB databases. dbForge Studio proves that it is easy to boost the performance of developers and enhance the structure of databases.

The latest features include support for MySQL Server 5.5-5.7, 8.0, MariaDB 10.1-10.5, MariaDB Galera Cluster 10.0 Series, Google Cloud Platform, Alibaba Cloud, Azure MySQL, and Tencent Cloud.

dbForge Studio for MySQL - MySQL Query Builder tool

Query Builder

dbForge Studio for MySQL sports a powerful query building tool that helps you draw the most complex queries on a diagram visually. It has rich customization operations and facilitates sophisticated data retrieval.

The Studio covers the query builder functionality, absent from MySQL Workbench, and helps you to:

Construct the most complex queries within seconds
Combine a number of queries into a sub-query
Easily make JOINs between tables
Calculate totals for a dataset
Apply grouping and/or ordering
Export data in any required format

Copy Database

Users often face situations when they need to migrate several MySQL and MariaDB databases between servers. To copy a database in MySQL Workbench, you need to export a copy file to a folder, switch to a new server, and only then import it from the self-contained file.

The Copy Database functionality of dbForge Studio for MySQL is a viable and far less time-consuming alternative to the Import/Export Wizard of MySQL Workbench. It helps you directly manage and configure the database migration process, monitor its duration and progress, as well as avoid duplication.

dbForge Studio for MySQL is alternative to Workbench - Copy Database

dbForge Studio for MySQL vs MySQL Workbench - Data Compare

Data Compare

While MySQL Workbench allows to compare and sync databases via Shell for MySQL Utilities only, the Data Compare tool that comes with dbForge Studio for MySQL features much richer functionality that helps you to:

Generate data synchronization scripts
View data differences per record
Save and load comparison settings
Run command-line operations
Generate reports in CSV, HTML, and Excel formats
Automate comparison and synchronization tasks
Include/exclude objects by mask

Schema Compare

Although MySQL Workbench offers schema comparison and sync utilities, the dbForge Studio Schema Compare tool goes further. It comprises schema comparison and deployment features under a user-friendly interface.

Additionally, you get such options as Save Command Line, which helps you save comparison and/or sync configurations as a batch file to automate or schedule corresponding tasks.

Best alternative to MySQL Workbench - Schema Compare

dbForge Studio for MySQL vs MySQL Workbench - Data Generator

Data Generator

dbForge Studio Data Generator was designed to get large volumes of realistic test data in just a few clicks. It comes with a rich set of features:

Support for all MySQL column data types
Meaningful generators with data customization
SQL data integrity support
Real-time preview of generated data
Save Command Line option

Data Generator corrects the drawbacks of the Workbench and removes the time-consuming need to generate data manually, thus improving your productivity and simplifying the entire workflow.

Documenter

The Documenter functionality of dbForge Studio for MySQL helps you create database documentation in HTML, PDF, and Markdown.

Just a couple of clicks, and this tool will generate your documentation quickly and effortlessly. All the information will be clearly structured, enabling you to easily find a required object and navigate through the entire document.

Documenter offers a slew of additional features, which are absent from the Workbench:

Command line support
Documentation style templates
Viewing inter-object and inter-database dependencies

dbForge Studio for MySQL vs MySQL Workbench - Documenter

Feature comparison table

The following table contains a detailed feature comparison of dbForge Studio for MySQL v9.0 (Enterprise Edition) and MySQL Workbench v 8.0.20. For quick navigation, please use the side menu.

Database Connectivity

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Support for SSH

Support for SSL

Support for HTTP

Support for embedded DB

Support for Pipe

Connection color and category

SQL Mode

Encoding

Support for MySQL 8.0 and MariaDB

Support for Sphinx

Support for Percona

Cleartext authentication

planned

Remote management

System profile settings

SQL Editing and Execution

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Automatic SQL syntax check

Code outlining

Code snippets

Customizable SQL formatting and code beautifier

Execute current statement

Parameter information for stored routines

Quick access to favorite templates from SQL Editor

SQL editor with syntax coloring

Bookmarks

Select block

Text searching

Document Outline window for quick navigation through large scripts

Execution of scripts, selected SQL fragments, and statements

One-step access to the database object editor from the code ("Go to definition")

SQL history window for the document

Execution warnings

GUI transaction support

Code Completion

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Code snippets and Snippet Manager

Context-sensitive code completion

Automatic SQL syntax check

One-click access to definitions of schema objects

On-the-fly renaming of database objects

Extended options for code formatting

Auto-generation of table aliases

Quick information about database objects

Support in the body of triggers and events

Visual Query Builder

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Support for the SELECT statement

Support for the INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements

State-of-art diagram with zooming and keyboard support

Preview and printing of the diagram

Visual addition of sub-queries to any part of the main query

Query outline (displayed in the Document Outline window)

Visual editing of sub-queries

Expression builder for creating complex conditions

Drag-and-drop required tables

Copy/Paste for tables on the diagram

Undo/Redo support

Database Design

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Visual Database Designer

Visualization of tables, views, stored procedures, and functions

Easy access to database objects for viewing their properties

Support for IDEF1X and IE notations

Customizable diagram view with skin support

Smart ER Diagram layout

Diagram export to different image formats

Search for database objects on the diagram

Organizing diagram shapes with containers

Customizable diagram printing with a rich set of options

Optional displaying of table constraints, indexes, and triggers

Integration with the Document Outline window

Diagram navigation with the Diagram Overview window

Notes for adding your comments to the diagram

Export to image

Zooming in/out

Save/Load diagram

Forward engineering of physical database designs

Table Designer

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Flat table editor

Convenient editor for foreign keys

Partitioning support

Full-text search on the column grid

Schema changes can be viewed before updating the database

Heuristics that helps define the data type of new columns

Data type groups

Copy column

Object Editor

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Check constraint

Foreign key

Index

Stored function

Stored procedure

Table

Trigger

View

Events

Undo option for the object editor

Multicolumns in property grids

planned

MySQL Debugger

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Script debugging

Step Into, Step Over, and Step Out commands for step-by-step execution

Breakpoints support for procedures, functions, triggers, and scripts

Breakpoints window

Call Stack window with navigation

Watches window for variable evaluation

Database Explorer

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Multiple database connections allowed

Browse and navigate through objects

Detailed object properties and data browsing in the Object Viewer window

Dependency tree browsing for each object

Quick template script generation for selected object: SELECT, INSERT, etc.

Send To command for quick sending of tables to Query Builder, Data Report, and other tools

Quick access to object privileges (GRANT) from the pop-up menu

Refactoring of database objects

Data Editor

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Copying data with column headers for quick pasting to spreadsheet

Custom data filters of any complexity

Data Viewer window for browsing images, rtf, and binary cell values

Date time editor with visual interface

Foreign key lookup editor for easy editing of fields referencing other tables

Free copying of any block of data to clipboard

Full-text search (Ctrl+F) in data grid

Single row values view

Graphical card view

Grouping by arbitrary columns

Incremental search (Ctrl+I) through data grid

Large objects (LOB) editor

Multi-table query result set editing

Paginal data browsing for large result sets

Printing of data

Quick filter feature available for each data cell

Record numbering option

Read-only state indication

Report, chart, and pivot building directly from the data editor

Server-side sorting and filtering to help deal with large data sets

Visible columns picking dialog box

Editing of multiple execution results of one script on separate tabs

Schema/Data Comparison and Synchronization

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Comparing and synchronizing data in databases of virtually any size

via Shell for MySQL utilities only

Comparing tables, views, procedures, functions, triggers, and events

via Shell for MySQL utilities only

Support for custom comparison keys

via Shell for MySQL utilities only

Filtering of comparison results

Generation of data synchronization script

Viewing data differences per record

Excluding tables and records from synchronization

Saving and loading comparison settings

Command line interface for data comparison and synchronization

via Shell for MySQL utilities only

Generating accurate comparison reports in HTML and Excel formats

Generation of comments

Specific options for tables, script objects, triggers, indexes, and constraints

Data Compare: include\exclude objects by mask

Schema Compare: include\exclude objects by mask

Schema Compare support for PACKAGE and PACKAGE BODY

Schema comparison with the scripts folder

Schema/Data Compare: Save as Command Line

Data Export

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

CSV

XML

Text

XLS

XLSX

PDF

DBF

HTML

RTF

JSON

Google Sheets

MDB (Access)

ODBC

SQL

Export data from multiple tables at once

Export data from command line interface

Templates for exporting

Data Import

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

CSV

XML

Text

XLS

XLSX

DBF

JSON

Google Sheets

MDB (access)

ODBC

SQL

Import data from command line interface

Templates for importing

Database Projects

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

New project wizard with import from an existing database

Project Explorer window for managing project files

Schema View window for browsing logical project structure

Project export into one of multiple scripts

Multiple build configurations

Single-click project deployment on the server

Workspace saving

Compare a live database with a project

Compare projects with each other

Data Analysis

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Display table data representing Parent-Child dependencies (Master-Detail Browser)

Data report generation wizard

Data report designer

Pivot table designer

Chart building wizard

Data search on a live database

Automate report generation and distribution (command line support)

Report: Save Command Line

Database diagram

Display query results as a chart

Performance Tuning

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Visual SQL explain plan

Session statistics displayed in a UI

Plan of the query displayed in the tree view for easy review

Profiling history that can be saved for further analysis

Compare profiling results with differences highlighted

Printing of profiling results

Performance dashboard

Top performance reports

Data Generation

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Support for all MySQL column data types

Multiple generators with data customization

SQL data integrity support

Multiple ways to populate data

Meaningful generators

User-defined generators

Real-time preview of generated data

Data Generation: Save Command Line

Database Documenter

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Broad picture of database structure

Rich customization features

HTML format

PDF format

Markdown format

Text format

Documentation customization with style templates

View inter-object and inter-database dependencies

Database Documenter: Save Command Line

Administration

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Service control for starting and stopping MySQL servers

Server status and health

Server Variables window

Server logs

Table maintenance

Flush objects (tables, locks, query cache, etc.)

Copy databases

Backup (data export)

Restore (data import)

Server and replication configuration

Database snapshot

Database backup

Database backup to SQL and ZIP

Database backup as a scripts folder

Backup: Save Command Line

User and Session Management

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Comprehensive Security Manager to administer user accounts and privileges

Session manager for monitoring active MySQL server connections and tracing user sessions

Application roles

Server monitor

User Interface

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench

Start page providing easy access to main product features

Rich user settings

UI skins

Customizable window layout

Tool windows with 'auto-hide' and 'float' modes

Multiple shortcut schemes with full shortcut customization

Syntax highlight customization

Tabbed groups for documents

Toolbar customization

Wizard for sharing common code standards and templates

dbForge Studio for MySQL

MySQL Workbench Best Alternative

A powerful integrated development environment for MySQL management, administration, development, data reporting, and analysis.

Your ultimate MySQL IDE

MySQL GUI tool by Devart is an advanced IDE, whose unique features make it your perfect choice for MySQL database development and management. With smart data generation, SQL development, and comprehensive administration tools, our Studio is a viable alternative to MySQL Workbench.

dbForge Studio for MySQL

Get a free 30-day trial of dbForge Studio to evaluate all of its capabilities hidden under a sleek user interface.

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