Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SQL Server Management Studio VS Navicat

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

SQL Server Management Studio logo SQL Server Management Studio

SSMS is a software application that is used for configuring, managing, and administering all...

Navicat logo Navicat

Powerful database management & design tool for Win, Mac & Linux. With intuitive GUI, user manages MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, SQLite, Oracle & PostgreSQL DB easily.
  • SQL Server Management Studio Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14
  • Navicat Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-09

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.

Navicat features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Navicat offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies database management tasks for users of all levels.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Navicat supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users to work on their preferred platform.
  • Comprehensive Database Support
    Navicat supports a wide range of database systems such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite, SQL Server, and MariaDB, making it versatile for different projects.
  • Advanced Data Manipulation
    Navicat provides robust data import and export options, data synchronization, and backup capabilities to manage data efficiently.
  • Collaboration Features
    Navicat offers features like Navicat Cloud, which enables team collaboration, project sharing, and real-time access to projects.
  • Powerful SQL Editing
    Navicat includes an advanced SQL editor with features such as code completion, syntax highlighting, and query building tools, which enhance the SQL writing experience.
  • Data Visualization
    Navicat provides various data visualization tools, including charts and dashboards, to help users analyze their data graphically.

Possible disadvantages of Navicat

  • Cost
    Navicat is a premium tool and can be relatively expensive, particularly for individual users or small teams, compared to some free alternatives.
  • Resource Intensive
    Navicat can be resource-intensive and may require significant system resources, which might affect performance on lower-end machines.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, mastering Navicat's advanced functionalities may take time and effort, especially for newcomers.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free trial version of Navicat is limited in functionality and time, which might not be sufficient for thorough evaluation by potential users.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Some users have reported occasional crashes or stability issues, especially when handling large datasets or complex operations.
  • No Built-in Query Optimization Tool
    Navicat lacks a dedicated query optimization tool, which may necessitate the use of additional resources for performance tuning.
  • Version-Specific Documentation
    The documentation and tutorials are sometimes version-specific, which may cause confusion when navigating updates or differences between versions.

Analysis of SQL Server Management Studio

Overall verdict

  • SQL Server Management Studio is considered a good tool for SQL Server database administration due to its wide range of features, ease of use, and integration with other Microsoft products and services. It is regularly updated, ensuring compatibility and access to the latest features.

Why this product is good

  • SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a comprehensive and user-friendly tool designed for managing SQL Server databases. It provides a robust interface for database administrators and developers, featuring capabilities such as query editing, database design, and performance tuning. The integration with SQL Server ensures smooth management of relational databases with support for T-SQL, essential debugging tools, and advanced analysis services.

Recommended for

  • Database Administrators seeking efficient database management tools.
  • Developers requiring a comprehensive environment for SQL query design and execution.
  • Organizations leveraging Microsoft SQL Server for data management.
  • Data Analysts who need to perform complex queries and extract insights from SQL Server databases.

Analysis of Navicat

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Navicat is highly regarded among database professionals and organizations for its comprehensive set of tools and ease of use, making it a worthwhile investment for those who frequently interact with various database systems.

Why this product is good

  • Navicat is considered a good database management tool because it provides a user-friendly interface and robust features that support a wide range of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, Oracle, and more. It offers advanced functionalities such as data modeling, data synchronization, import/export, and automation through scripts and scheduling. For developers, it provides a convenient SQL editor and supports advanced database design and management features.

Recommended for

  • Database administrators who manage multiple database types
  • Developers who need a powerful SQL editor and database management tools
  • Organizations looking for a unified tool to handle different database systems
  • Teams that require collaboration features for database tasks
  • Professionals who need to perform advanced data modeling and synchronization

SQL Server Management Studio videos

SQL Server Management Studio Intro

More videos:

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

Navicat videos

How can Navicat help you?

More videos:

  • Review - Software Reviews 105 Navicat Premium 12
  • Review - Software Reviews 105 Navicat Premium 12

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SQL Server Management Studio and Navicat)
Databases
27 27%
73% 73
Database Management
23 23%
77% 77
MySQL Tools
27 27%
73% 73
Database Tools
16 16%
84% 84

User comments

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Reviews

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

SQL Server Management Studio Reviews

We have no reviews of SQL Server Management Studio yet.
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Navicat Reviews

Top pgAdmin Alternatives 2023
Navicat is another long-established database GUI tool, which supports a long list of databases. It is a great single-user SQL client that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, it has a serious limitation in multi-user scenarios where team collaboration and centralized control are needed. Navicat is not open-source, nor does it offer a free version, it operates on a...
15 Best MySQL GUI Clients for macOS
Navicat is a universal database development and administration solution that supports most of the popular database management systems and cloud platforms. With its help, you can easily design and manage entire databases and specific database objects, migrate data, compare and synchronize your databases, build queries, and perform reverse engineering.
Source: blog.devart.com
Best MySQL GUI Clients for Linux in 2023
The Navicat users can design and handle databases and database objects, migrate the data between tables and different databases, compare and synchronize databases (both the data and schemas), and deploy changes. The reverse engineering module and a powerful query builder with graphical interfaces and drag-and-drop functionality let you perform the most complicated tasks faster.
Source: blog.devart.com
9 Best Database Software For Mac [Reviewed & Ranked]
Navicat is a premium, multi-connection database development and administration tool for professional developers who work with databases. It works with database systems like MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, and SQL Server.
Source: alvarotrigo.com
Best Database Tools for 2022
You can install Navicat on Windows, Linux, or Mac OS for modeling data in SQL Server, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and many other major DBMSs. Navicat comes with three standard notations – Crow’s Foot, UML, and IDEF1X – and has many automated features for creating logical models, physical models, and physical databases.
Source: vertabelo.com

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.

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

Navicat mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

DBeaver - DBeaver - Universal Database Manager and SQL Client.

SQL Developer - Oracle SQL Developer is a free, development environment that simplifies the management of Oracle Database in both traditional and Cloud deployments.

DataGrip - Tool for SQL and databases

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

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

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