Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

HeidiSQL VS SQL Server Management Studio

Compare HeidiSQL VS SQL Server Management Studio and see what are their differences

HeidiSQL logo HeidiSQL

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

SQL Server Management Studio logo SQL Server Management Studio

SSMS is a software application that is used for configuring, managing, and administering all...
  • HeidiSQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-15
  • SQL Server Management Studio Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14

HeidiSQL features and specs

  • Cost
    HeidiSQL is open-source and free to use, which makes it an affordable choice for individuals and organizations.
  • Multiple Database Support
    The tool supports a wide range of database systems including MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, providing flexibility for users.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    HeidiSQL offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Query Editor
    The integrated query editor includes syntax highlighting and autocompletion, which enhances productivity and reduces errors.
  • Data Export and Import
    Users can easily export and import data in various formats like CSV, SQL, and XML, facilitating data management tasks.
  • Active Community
    A strong community of users and developers provides support, plugins, and regular updates.
  • Session Management
    HeidiSQL offers advanced session management features, allowing users to handle multiple database connections simultaneously.

Possible disadvantages of HeidiSQL

  • Platform Limitation
    HeidiSQL is primarily designed for Windows, which can be a limitation for users on other operating systems like macOS and Linux.
  • Lacks Some Features
    Compared to some other database management tools, HeidiSQL may lack advanced features such as graphical execution plans and integrated SSH tunneling.
  • Performance Issues
    Users have reported occasional performance issues, especially when dealing with large datasets or complex queries.
  • Learning Curve
    While generally user-friendly, some features and configurations can still be complex for beginners, necessitating time to learn.
  • Limited Data Visualization
    The tool offers limited data visualization options, which may not be sufficient for users requiring advanced data analytics capabilities.
  • Dependency on Wine for Linux
    Running HeidiSQL on Linux typically requires using Wine, which can introduce compatibility issues and reduce performance.

SQL Server Management Studio features and specs

  • Comprehensive Interface
    SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) provides a comprehensive and user-friendly interface for managing SQL Server instances. It includes features like query execution, database design, and server management all in one tool.
  • Intelligent Code Completion
    SSMS has IntelliSense, which helps with code completion, syntax highlighting, and real-time error checking, improving developer productivity and reducing errors.
  • Integration with Azure
    SSMS seamlessly integrates with Azure SQL Database and Azure Synapse Analytics, enabling users to manage cloud-based databases and data warehouses effectively.
  • Built-in Performance Tuning Tools
    SSMS includes built-in tools for performance tuning and troubleshooting, such as Database Engine Tuning Advisor and Extended Events, helping DBAs optimize database performance.
  • Security Management
    The tool provides robust security management features, including user authentication, authorization, and activity monitoring to ensure data protection.
  • Free to Use
    SSMS is free to download and use, providing a cost-effective solution for managing SQL Server instances without additional software expenses.

Possible disadvantages of SQL Server Management Studio

  • Performance Issues
    Users sometimes report that SSMS can be slow or become unresponsive, especially when dealing with large databases or complex queries.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    While comprehensive, the extensive feature set of SSMS may require a significant investment of time and effort to learn, particularly for beginners.
  • Limited Support for Non-Microsoft Databases
    SSMS is primarily designed for SQL Server, which means it has limited support for other database management systems. This can be a drawback for users working in multi-DBMS environments.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-intensive, consuming considerable system memory and CPU, which can affect the performance of other applications running on the same machine.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Users have reported encountering bugs and glitches in SSMS, which can disrupt workflow and necessitate workarounds or waiting for updates from Microsoft.
  • Lack of Advanced Collaboration Features
    SSMS lacks advanced collaboration features found in other modern IDEs, such as real-time co-editing and built-in version control system integration, which could be beneficial for development teams.

HeidiSQL videos

[HeidiSQL] Main features review

More videos:

  • Review - Tutorial HeidiSQL with MariaDB and MySQL Part 5 Relation 2 tables and more
  • Tutorial - HeidiSQL Tutorial 05 :- How to Import and Export database in HeidiSQL

SQL Server Management Studio videos

SQL Server Management Studio Intro

More videos:

  • Review - Tips and Tricks for Using SQL Server Management Studio Effectively

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to HeidiSQL and SQL Server Management Studio)
Databases
83 83%
17% 17
Database Management
82 82%
18% 18
MySQL Tools
82 82%
18% 18
Database Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare HeidiSQL and SQL Server Management Studio

HeidiSQL Reviews

  1. Mark-Mercer
    · self emloyed dba at Shatz ·
    very good and handy tool

    There was a need to work with the MS SQL database, but I did not want to install and understand the complex SQL Management Studio program, and this product turned out to be very easy to install and use. For more then 2 month i've used the tool haven't came across any issues.

    🏁 Competitors: SQL Server Management Studio
    👍 Pros:    Lightweight|Simple yet powerful and efficient tool|Many built-in features
    👎 Cons:    Nothing, so far

TOP 10 IDEs for SQL Database Management & Administration [2024]
HeidiSQL is one of the most popular multidatabase IDEs for database developers and administrators. It is free and open-source, thus opening excellent customization possibilities for the users. Also, it offers decent functionality to perform standard tasks across diverse databases. Though it lacks some advanced options that might be found in more robust IDEs, HeidiSQL can...
Source: blog.devart.com
5 Free & Open Source DBeaver Alternatives for 2024
Created in 2002, HeidiSQL is a well respected and mature GUI for managing MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL, and PostgreSQL databases on Microsoft Windows. It offers a robust set of features including a graphical interface for managing databases and data visually.
Top Ten MySQL GUI Tools
Navicat for MySQL is a powerful graphical interface that synchronizes your connection settings, models, and queries to the Navicat Cloud for automatic saving and sharing at any given time. Just like HeidiSQL, Navicat for MySQL has the ability to connect to a MySQL database through an SSH tunnel. It also offers workable data migration by providing comprehensive data format...
Top 10 of Most Helpful MySQL GUI Tools
The existing database tools for MySQL are many, and you can always find the right solution. There are both free and paid solutions. While the freeware tools like HeidiSQL or the Workbench free edition provide the basic functionality to do quintessential jobs, database professionals often need additional options. In this aspect, we’d recommend turning to advanced toolsets...
Source: www.hforge.org
20 Best SQL Management Tools in 2020
HeidiSQL is another reliable SQL management tool. It is designed using the popular MySQL server, Microsoft SQL databases, and PostgreSQL. It allows users to browse and edit data, create and edit tables, views, triggers and scheduled events.
Source: www.guru99.com

SQL Server Management Studio Reviews

We have no reviews of SQL Server Management Studio yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SQL Server Management Studio seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. 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.

HeidiSQL mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of HeidiSQL yet. Tracking of HeidiSQL recommendations started around Mar 2021.

SQL Server Management Studio mentions (2)

  • What should I do?
    (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms) [AdventureWorks Sample Database ]. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Practicing with SQL for free
    Azure is unnecessary. You can use sql server (developer) together with sql server management studio. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing HeidiSQL and SQL Server Management Studio, you can also consider the following products

DBeaver - DBeaver - Universal Database Manager and SQL Client.

DataGrip - Tool for SQL and databases

Navicat - Powerful database management & design tool for Win, Mac & Linux. With intuitive GUI, user manages MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, SQLite, Oracle & PostgreSQL DB easily.

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

phpMyAdmin - phpMyAdmin is a tool written in PHP intended to handle the administration of MySQL over the Web.

DbVisualizer - DbVisualizer is the universal database tool for developers, DBAs and analysts.