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Select Star SQL VS PopSQL

Compare Select Star SQL VS PopSQL and see what are their differences

Grapple
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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Reviews
  3. ยป Alternatives

Select Star SQL logo Select Star SQL

Education & Reference

PopSQL logo PopSQL

Modern SQL editor for teams
  • Select Star SQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-05-03
  • PopSQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-28

Select Star SQL features and specs

  • Completely Free
    Select Star SQL is entirely free to use with no paywalls, subscriptions, or hidden costs. This makes it accessible to anyone who wants to learn SQL regardless of their financial situation.
  • Interactive Hands-On Learning
    The platform provides an interactive SQL environment directly in the browser where learners can write and execute real SQL queries against actual datasets, reinforcing concepts through practice rather than passive reading.
  • Real-World Dataset
    The course uses a compelling real-world dataset about Texas death row executions, which makes the learning experience more engaging and meaningful compared to abstract or contrived examples.
  • Well-Structured Progressive Curriculum
    The course is organized in a logical progression from basic SELECT statements to more advanced concepts like aggregations, joins, and subqueries, allowing learners to build knowledge incrementally without feeling overwhelmed.
  • No Setup Required
    There is no need to install any software, set up a database, or configure an environment. Learners can start writing SQL queries immediately in their web browser, removing a significant barrier to entry for beginners.

Possible disadvantages of Select Star SQL

  • Limited Scope
    The course covers only fundamental SQL concepts and does not address more advanced topics like window functions, CTEs, indexing, database design, or performance optimization, which are essential for professional SQL usage.
  • Single Database Dialect
    The platform teaches SQL using SQLite, and does not cover syntax differences or features specific to other popular database systems like PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, or Oracle, which learners may encounter in real jobs.
  • No Certificate or Credential
    Completing the course does not provide any formal certificate, badge, or credential that learners could use to demonstrate their SQL skills to potential employers or on professional profiles.
  • Limited Practice Exercises
    While the course includes some exercises, the total number of practice problems is relatively small compared to dedicated SQL practice platforms, which may not be sufficient for learners who need extensive repetition to solidify their skills.
  • Single Dataset Can Feel Restrictive
    Using only one dataset throughout the entire course means learners do not get experience working with diverse data schemas, table relationships, or different types of data, which limits exposure to varied real-world scenarios.

PopSQL features and specs

  • Collaborative work environment
    PopSQL offers a collaborative feature that enables teams to work together on database queries in real-time, improving efficiency and communication.
  • Multiple database support
    The tool supports various database systems such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, making it versatile for different projects and workflows.
  • Shareable query templates
    Users can create and share query templates with their team, making it easy to standardize and reuse common queries, saving time.
  • User-friendly interface
    PopSQL provides an intuitive and clean user interface that simplifies the process of writing, organizing, and executing SQL queries.
  • Version control
    The platform offers version control for query history, allowing users to track changes and revert to previous versions if needed.

Possible disadvantages of PopSQL

  • Subscription cost
    PopSQL operates on a subscription model which can be costly for small teams or individual users compared to some open-source alternatives.
  • Limited offline functionality
    The tool primarily functions as a cloud-based service, which can limit its usability in environments with restricted or no internet access.
  • Performance constraints
    PopSQL may experience performance issues when handling very large datasets or complex queries, potentially slowing down workflows.
  • Dependence on third-party authentication
    The platform relies on third-party services for authentication, which could lead to integration issues or security concerns for some organizations.
  • Learning curve for advanced features
    While basic queries are straightforward, leveraging advanced features may require additional learning and expertise, which could be a barrier for new users.

Analysis of Select Star SQL

Overall verdict

  • Select Star SQL is an excellent free, interactive online book for learning SQL, praised for its engaging, hands-on approach that lets you write and run queries directly in the browser while working through a compelling real-world dataset.

Why this product is good

  • It's completely free and accessible online with no signup required
  • Features an interactive interface where you can write and execute SQL queries directly in the browser
  • Uses a compelling, thought-provoking dataset (Texas death row executions) that keeps learners engaged
  • Teaches SQL through active problem-solving rather than passive reading
  • Progresses logically from basic concepts to more advanced topics like window functions and self-joins
  • Includes exercises with solutions to reinforce learning
  • Well-written and clearly explained, making complex concepts approachable for beginners

Recommended for

  • Complete beginners who want to learn SQL from scratch
  • Self-taught learners who prefer hands-on, interactive practice
  • Students and professionals looking to build a solid foundation in querying databases
  • Aspiring data analysts and data scientists
  • Anyone wanting a free alternative to paid SQL courses
  • People who learn best by doing rather than just reading theory

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Select Star SQL and PopSQL)

Select Star SQL

PopSQL

Online Education
100 100%
Online Education
0% 0
Data Dashboard
0 0%
Data Dashboard
100% 100
Online Courses
100 100%
Online Courses
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
Developer Tools
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Select Star SQL and PopSQL

Select Star SQL Reviews

We have no reviews of Select Star SQL yet.
Be the first one to post

PopSQL Reviews

A Comprehensive Guide to SQL Server Data Tools
Tools like dbForge Studio, Aqua Data Studio, DbVisualizer, Valentina Studio, and PopSQL offer collaborative editing, data visualization, and multi-DB support. They can complement SSDT when you need richer ERDs, profiling, or cross-platform workflows. If your stack spans many engines, a universal tool may simplify daily operations. Keep SSDT for declarative deployments and...
Source: hevodata.com
DBeaver v. MySQL Workbench v. POPSQL v. Visual Studio Code.
PopSQL is a modern, collaborative SQL editor for teams that lets you write queries, visualize data, and share your results.
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PopSQL seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 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.

Select Star SQL mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Select Star SQL yet. Tracking of Select Star SQL recommendations started around May 2026.

PopSQL mentions (5)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (March 2022)
    PopSQL (YC S19) | Head of Engineering, Product Engineers | San Francisco or Remote | https://popsql.com PopSQL is a collaborative SQL editor for teams. It's like Figma, but for data teams. We just raised a $14m Series A[1] and it's time to scale engineering like crazy from 3 to 15+ We need a Head of Engineering[2] to help us with that, and we need product engineers[3] that want to build delightful products like... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Ask HN: Tools to visualize data in SQL database?
    Couple of tools not yet mentioned: PopSql - https://popsql.com Trevor - https://trevor.io. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (May 2021)
    PopSQL (YC S19) | Founding Engineers, Head of Engineering | REMOTE | https://popsql.com Hi HN, I'm the founder of PopSQL, a collaborative SQL editor for teams. Our mission is to help teams collaborate using data. We graduated from Y Combinator in 2019, raised a seed round from Google's AI fund, and have an impressive list of customers[1] with a small but mighty team. I'm looking for founding engineers[2] that want... - Source: Hacker News / about 5 years ago
  • Show HN: DbGate โ€“ open-source, cross-platform SQL+noSQL database client
    Copying from an earlier comment of mine, as it might be useful. Competition: - DataGrip ($89 first year, $71 second year, $53/year after that, Clunky, Powerful) - TablePlus ($50, Pretty, Useful) - DBeaver (Free version, Clunky, Powerful) - SQuirrel (Free, Clunky, Usable) - Heidi (Free, Clunky, Usable) - Postico ($40, Pretty, Mac + Postgres only) - http://sequeljoe.ohwg.net (Free, beta) - Azure (Free, Pretty, SQL... - Source: Hacker News / about 5 years ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2021)
    PopSQL (YC S19) | Head of Engineering | REMOTE | https://popsql.com Hi HN, I'm the founder of PopSQL, a collaborative SQL editor for teams. We just had our best month ever at PopSQL, and it's time for us to hire a Head of Engineering to own the function. The ideal candidate is hands on enough that they can spend 50% of their time contributing to our Rails and React code, and the rest of their time leading a high... - Source: Hacker News / over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Select Star SQL and PopSQL, you can also consider the following products

SQLBolt - SQLBolt provides a set of interactive lessons and exercises to help you learn SQL

DBeaver - DBeaver - Universal Database Manager and SQL Client.

SQLZOO - SQLZoo includes tutorials and reference to support people learning SQL. It features:

DataGrip - Tool for SQL and databases

PostgreSQL Exercises - Education & Reference

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

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