Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login

dbForge SQL Tools VS ApexSQL Refactor

Compare dbForge SQL Tools VS ApexSQL Refactor and see what are their differences

Tabidoo
A simple way to keep all your data under control. Build your own business applications in just 4 minutes. featured
Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

dbForge SQL Tools logo dbForge SQL Tools

SQL Server tools for SQL database development

ApexSQL Refactor logo ApexSQL Refactor

ApexSQL Refactor is a free SQL formatter and database refactoring tool for SQL Server.
  • dbForge SQL Tools Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-17

SQL Tools is a tool pack that provides many essential features for any Microsoft SQL Server developer and is designed not only to boost productivity but also to reduce expenses while performing routine tasks, and automate database development and deployment with dbForge DevOps Automation.

  • ApexSQL Refactor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

dbForge SQL Tools features and specs

  • Comprehensive Suite
    dbForge SQL Tools offers a comprehensive suite of tools for SQL Server development, management, and administration. This integration enhances productivity by providing all necessary tools in one package.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The tools are designed with an intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies complex database tasks, making them accessible even to less experienced users.
  • Advanced Code Completion
    Advanced code completion and syntax check features help in reducing errors and speeding up the SQL coding process for developers.
  • Efficient Data Management
    Tools for data comparison, synchronization, and data import/export allow for efficient management of large volumes of data across databases.
  • Collaboration Features
    Offers excellent collaboration features, enabling team members to work seamlessly on database projects, improving efficiency and teamwork.
  • Customization and Integration
    Provides customization options and integrates well with other Devart tools and external applications, enhancing its usability and flexibility.

ApexSQL Refactor features and specs

  • Improved Code Readability
    ApexSQL Refactor formats SQL code, helping to improve readability and maintainability by ensuring consistent styling.
  • Productivity Enhancements
    The tool automates repetitive refactoring tasks, allowing developers to focus on more complex issues and speeding up the development process.
  • Code Analysis
    It includes features for analyzing code to ensure it adheres to best practices, potentially reducing bugs and improving performance.
  • Integration
    Seamlessly integrates with SQL Server Management Studio, which is familiar to many developers, requiring less time to adapt.

Possible disadvantages of ApexSQL Refactor

  • Learning Curve
    Initial setup and learning to use all features can be time-consuming for new users unfamiliar with the tool.
  • Potential Overhead
    Some users might find the addition of another tool into their workflow adds complexity and overhead, depending on the current environment.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running the tool can be resource-intensive, possibly affecting performance, especially on systems with limited resources.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While useful for basic refactoring, advanced users might find it lacks certain deep refactoring capabilities compared to other specialized tools.

Analysis of ApexSQL Refactor

Overall verdict

  • ApexSQL Refactor is a solid, free SQL code formatting and refactoring tool that integrates directly into SQL Server Management Studio and Visual Studio, making it a valuable productivity add-in for T-SQL developers and DBAs.

Why this product is good

  • It's completely free, offering excellent value for teams and individuals working with SQL Server
  • Integrates seamlessly with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Visual Studio
  • Provides extensive code formatting options with over 160 customizable formatting rules
  • Includes useful refactoring capabilities like safe object renaming, splitting tables, and encapsulating code as stored procedures
  • Helps enforce consistent coding standards across development teams
  • Offers features like adding surrogate keys, replacing one-to-many relationships, and object dependency tracking

Recommended for

  • SQL Server developers who want to standardize and clean up T-SQL code
  • Database administrators managing schema changes and refactoring tasks
  • Development teams needing consistent SQL formatting and coding conventions
  • Users of SSMS or Visual Studio looking for a free formatting add-in
  • Organizations wanting to improve code readability and maintainability without extra cost

dbForge SQL Tools videos

+ Add

dbForge SQL Tools โ€“ 15 essential SQL Server development tools in one package

ApexSQL Refactor videos

+ Add

An introduction to ApexSQL Refactor

More videos:

  • Review - ApexSQL Refactor - Using the "Convert to code" feature

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to dbForge SQL Tools and ApexSQL Refactor)

dbForge SQL Tools

ApexSQL Refactor

Database Management
72 72%
Database Management
28% 28
Databases
67 67%
Databases
33% 33
Database Tools
100 100%
Database Tools
0% 0
SQL
50 50%
SQL
50% 50

User comments

Share your experience with using dbForge SQL Tools and ApexSQL Refactor. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare dbForge SQL Tools and ApexSQL Refactor

dbForge SQL Tools Reviews

Best SQL Server Development Tools for Developers and DBAs (2026)
Devartโ€™s dbForge SQL Tools is a professional solution built to cover SQL Server work end-to-end inside one ecosystem. Itโ€™s designed for developers and DBAs who spend time writing complex queries, comparing schemas and data across environments, and deploying changes without turning every release into a manual checklist.
Source: quickref.me
Top Free SQL Database Software and GUI Tools
A significant advantage of SSMS lies in its extensibility through specialized add-ins. In addition to its own collection of plugins, SSMS supports third-party add-ins, offering the opportunity to enhance the standard functionality. Notably, the dbForge SQL Tools package stands out as a comprehensive suite of 15 add-ins for SSMS, introducing a plethora of new options to the...
Source: www.devart.com

ApexSQL Refactor Reviews

We have no reviews of ApexSQL Refactor yet.
Be the first one to post

What are some alternatives?

When comparing dbForge SQL Tools and ApexSQL Refactor, you can also consider the following products

SQL Admin Toolset - Database Administration for SQL Server - Database administrators need simple and quick ways to manage their SQL Server environment.

dbForge SQL Complete - Try Intellisense functionality and Improved SQL Formatter in SQL Server Management Studio and Visual Studio using SQL Complete!

dbForge Documenter for SQL Server - dbForge Documenter for SQL Server is a new database documentation tool

SQL Prompt - SQL Prompt Pro strips away the repetition of coding by making writing, formatting, and refactoring...

dbForge Monitor - dbForge Monitor is a FREE add-in for Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio that allows you to track and analyse SQL server performance.

ApexSQL Diff - SQL compare - Compare SQL schemas from databases, backups, scripts and source control

Loading...