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DBeaver VS Apache Drill

Compare DBeaver VS Apache Drill and see what are their differences

DBeaver logo DBeaver

DBeaver - Universal Database Manager and SQL Client.

Apache Drill logo Apache Drill

Schema-Free SQL Query Engine for Hadoop and NoSQL
  • DBeaver Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-12
  • Apache Drill Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-17

DBeaver features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    DBeaver is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Multi-database Support
    Supports a wide range of databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, SQLite, and many others, enabling users to manage multiple database types within a single tool.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Offers a clean and intuitive UI that helps users to easily navigate and manage their databases with minimal effort.
  • Open Source
    DBeaver Community Edition is open source and free to use, making it cost-effective for individual developers and small teams.
  • Advanced Features
    Includes features like ER diagrams, SQL editor, data transfer tools, and data visualization, which enhance productivity and data analysis.
  • Extensibility
    Supports plugins and extensions, allowing users to add new features or customize existing ones to suit their specific needs.
  • Regular Updates
    Active development and frequent releases ensure that users have access to the latest features and security patches.

Possible disadvantages of DBeaver

  • Performance Issues
    For large datasets or complex queries, users might experience slower performance compared to other high-end database tools.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, new users may still face a learning curve to fully utilize all the advanced features.
  • Limited Support for Community Edition
    The support for the free Community Edition is limited to community forums and online documentation, which might not be sufficient for some users.
  • Resource Intensive
    Can consume a significant amount of system resources, especially when running multiple queries or managing large databases.
  • Feature Limitations in Community Edition
    Certain advanced features and plugins are only available in the Enterprise Edition, limiting the full capabilities for users of the free version.

Apache Drill features and specs

  • Schema-Free JSON Querying
    Apache Drill is designed to handle schema-less data, allowing users to query JSON and other flexible schemas without needing pre-defined structures. This flexibility makes it ideal for exploring semi-structured data on the fly.
  • SQL Interface
    Drill offers a user-friendly SQL interface, making it accessible for users familiar with traditional SQL databases. This allows professionals to leverage their existing SQL skills to interact with big data ecosystems.
  • High Performance
    With its ability to efficiently process queries on large datasets, Apache Drill is optimized for high-performance analytics and interactive queries, making it suitable for rapid insights and data exploration.
  • Integration with Multiple Data Sources
    Apache Drill can natively connect to a wide variety of data sources, including Hadoop, NoSQL databases, and cloud storage systems. This integration provides a unified view of diverse datasets without extensive ETL processes.
  • Dynamic Query Optimization
    Drill performs on-the-fly query optimization based on the available data and resource conditions, helping ensure efficient query execution and reduced latency.

Possible disadvantages of Apache Drill

  • Memory Intensive
    Apache Drill can be memory-intensive, especially when handling complex queries or very large datasets. This requires substantial hardware resources for optimal performance, which can be cost-prohibitive.
  • Lack of Mature Support and Community
    Compared to some other open-source projects, Apache Drill does not have as extensive a support network or community. This can make troubleshooting and finding community-driven solutions more challenging.
  • Limited Built-in Security Features
    While Apache Drill supports authentication and encryption, it lacks more granular access controls and advanced security features found in some competing platforms, posing potential risks in highly regulated environments.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Modifications
    For users wanting to extend or modify Apache Drill's capabilities beyond its core functions, the learning curve can be steep due to its architecture and the need for in-depth technical knowledge.
  • Updates and Active Development
    Although Apache Drill is actively developed, the pace of updates may not be as rapid or extensive as newer systems, which might delay the adoption of the latest data processing features and technologies.

Analysis of DBeaver

Overall verdict

  • Yes, DBeaver is generally regarded as a highly effective and robust tool for database management, suitable for both beginners and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

  • DBeaver is considered a good tool because it provides a comprehensive and user-friendly interface for database management. It supports a wide range of databases including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, and many more. DBeaver offers features like a visual query builder, ER diagrams, data export/import, and SQL editor with auto-complete functions. Its open-source nature allows for continuous community-driven improvements.

Recommended for

  • Database administrators looking for a versatile management tool.
  • Developers needing a cross-platform database IDE.
  • Data analysts and those working extensively with SQL databases.
  • Anyone looking for a free or open-source database management solution with premium support available.

DBeaver videos

Dbeaver | Best Database Client Tool | An Overview.

More videos:

  • Review - Hello, SQL DBeaver style
  • Review - Awesome Free SQL Client for Database Developer | Dbeaver Community Edition

Apache Drill videos

Using Apache Drill

More videos:

  • Review - Drilling into Data with Apache Drill
  • Review - Apache Drill and the Coolness of Big JSON - Jonathan Janos (MapR)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DBeaver and Apache Drill)
Databases
97 97%
3% 3
MySQL Tools
98 98%
2% 2
Relational Databases
0 0%
100% 100
Database Management
98 98%
2% 2

User comments

Share your experience with using DBeaver and Apache Drill. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare DBeaver and Apache Drill

DBeaver Reviews

Top 5 Dynobase alternatives you should know about - March 2025 Review
Pricing: DBeaver Community is free and open-source but doesn’t include DynamoDB support. DBeaver Lite (with NoSQL support) starts at approximately $10 per month per user. CloudBeaver has both free community and paid enterprise editions.
Source: www.dynomate.io
TOP 10 IDEs for SQL Database Management & Administration [2024]
DBeaver is one of the most popular multi-database solutions designed for performing various types of database tasks across all the popular database management systems. Extensive customization options allow the users to adjust the software precisely to their needs. The robust functionality of the software and a neat graphical user interface suit the requirements of database...
Source: blog.devart.com
5 Free & Open Source DBeaver Alternatives for 2024
Like DBeaver, it is compatible with a lot of database engines such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQL Server, among others. Being based on Java and JDBC is a benefit for driver compatibility.
Top pgAdmin Alternatives 2023
DBeaver is a universal database tool that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers both open-source (free) and commercial products (subscription-based). The open-source version provides essential support for relational databases such as MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, etc.; while the commercial one offers further support for NoSQL and cloud databases.
15 Best MySQL GUI Clients for macOS
Now let’s get back to more familiar titles. DBeaver is a multiplatform IDE with the support for multiple database management systems. It is highly functional, user-friendly, and its Community Edition is available free of charge. The most popular features of DBeaver are the SQL query editor, visual query builder, database comparison tools, test data generator, and ER...
Source: blog.devart.com

Apache Drill Reviews

We have no reviews of Apache Drill yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DBeaver seems to be a lot more popular than Apache Drill. While we know about 104 links to DBeaver, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Apache Drill. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DBeaver mentions (104)

  • The History and Legacy of Visual Basic
    I agree! I still sometimes use LibreOffice Base for quick prototyping [0] or Microsoft Access if I am on Windows. It uses HSQLDB by default but you can connect to several external JDBC, ODBC and ADO compatible databases, though I often use DBeaver for that purpose. [1] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreOffice_Base [1] https://dbeaver.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 22 days ago
  • How to Connect to PostgreSQL and Create a Database, User, and Tables
    Install DBeaver if you haven't already (available at dbeaver.io). - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • RisingWave Turns Four: Our Journey Beyond Democratizing Stream Processing
    By making RisingWave compatible with PostgreSQL, we ensured that any developer familiar with SQL could immediately start writing streaming queries. This wasn't just about syntax; it meant RisingWave could plug seamlessly into existing data workflows and connect easily with a vast ecosystem of familiar tools like DBeaver, Grafana, Apache Superset, dbt, and countless others. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Dockerization or How to deploy app (Next.js + Nest.js + PostgreSQL) using Docker and Nginx
    ❔ We may also connect to our DB, for example, via Database Tool: DBeaver And we see our DB with the name yuit-chart-db. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Show HN: Outerbase Studio – Open-Source Database GUI
    > browser based For whatever reason, this is the main limiting factor, because local software can be really good, for example: DBeaver - pretty nice and lightweight local tool for a plethora of databases https://dbeaver.io/ DataGrip - commercial product, but you'll feel right at home if you use other JetBrains products https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/ DbVisualizer - really cool tool that helps you explore messy... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
View more

Apache Drill mentions (3)

  • Git Query Language (GQL) Aggregation Functions, Groups, Alias
    Also are you familiar with apache drill . The idea is to put an SQL interpreter in front of any kind of database just like you are doing for git here. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Roapi: An API Server for Static Datasets
    Looks super interesting and potentially useful. Curious how it compares with Apache Drill (https://drill.apache.org/). - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Does Java have an open source package that can execute SQL on txt/csv?
    Check out Apache Drill: https://drill.apache.org/. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DBeaver and Apache Drill, you can also consider the following products

DataGrip - Tool for SQL and databases

Apache Doris - Apache Doris is an open-source real-time data warehouse for big data analytics.

HeidiSQL - HeidiSQL is a powerful and easy client for MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL. Open source and entirely free to use.

Open PostgreSQL Monitoring - Oversee and Manage Your PostgreSQL Servers

MySQL Workbench - MySQL Workbench is a unified visual tool for database architects, developers, and DBAs.

ReactiveMongo - Non-blocking, Reactive MongoDB Driver for Scala