Jam SQL Studio Best SQL Client for Mac in 2026
Compare the top SQL IDEs and database clients for macOS. Find the right tool for SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and more — with native Apple Silicon support.
Free for personal use • No account required • Mac, Windows, Linux
Mac SQL Client Comparison: 2026 Edition
A side-by-side comparison of the most popular SQL clients available for macOS.
| Feature | Jam SQL Studio | DBeaver | DataGrip | TablePlus | Azure Data Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | ✓ Active | ✓ Active | ✓ Active | ✓ Active | ✗ Retiring Feb 2026 |
| AI-Native (MCP + Workspace) | ✓ Built-in | ✗ | Limited | ✗ | ✗ |
| Claude Code CLI Integrated | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Apple Silicon Native | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Execution Plans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Schema Compare | ✓ | Pro only | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Data Compare | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Built-in Charting | ✓ | Pro only | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| IntelliSense / Autocomplete | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Basic | ✓ |
| SQL Server Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PostgreSQL Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MySQL / MariaDB Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Modern Dark Mode | ✓ Native | Partial | ✓ | ✓ Native | ✓ |
| Free Tier | ✓ Full features | ✓ Community | ✗ 30-day trial | Limited | ✓ |
| Cross-platform (Win/Linux) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Why Developers Choose Jam SQL Studio on Mac
Built from the ground up for modern database development workflows, with first-class macOS support and AI agent integration.
AI-Native Database Tooling
The only Mac SQL client with a built-in MCP server (Model Context Protocol). Use Claude Desktop, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or any AI coding assistant to safely query your databases through policy-controlled, read-only access.
Professional Features, Free Tier
Unlimited connections, IntelliSense, query execution, table explorer, and charting — free forever with no account required. Pro features like execution plans and schema compare are available through affordable subscriptions.
Azure Data Studio Replacement
With Azure Data Studio retiring in February 2026, Mac users need a new SQL IDE. Jam SQL Studio carries forward the features that made ADS popular — execution plans, schema compare, modern UI — plus AI agent support.
Native Apple Silicon Performance
Native builds for M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs deliver fast startup, low memory usage, and smooth scrolling through large result sets. No Java runtime or Rosetta translation required.
Key Features for Mac SQL Development
Everything you need for productive SQL work on macOS.
Smart IntelliSense
Context-aware code completion for tables, columns, functions, and keywords across SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite.
Execution Plans
Visualize query execution plans with tree and graph views. Compare plans side-by-side and identify performance bottlenecks.
Schema Compare
Compare database schemas across connections. Generate ALTER/CREATE/DROP sync scripts with side-by-side DDL diffs.
Data Compare
Compare table data between databases. See added, modified, and deleted rows with INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE sync scripts.
Built-in Charts
Create bar, line, pie, area, and scatter charts directly from query results. Export as SVG or PNG.
AI Agent Support
MCP server for AI coding assistants. AI Workspace with file-backed tabs and auto-generated database context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about SQL clients for Mac.
What is the best SQL client for Mac in 2026?
The best SQL client for Mac depends on your needs. Jam SQL Studio is ideal for developers who want AI agent support (MCP server), execution plans, and schema compare in a free, modern IDE. DBeaver is great for working with many different database types. DataGrip suits JetBrains ecosystem users. TablePlus offers a lightweight native macOS experience.
Is there a free SQL client for Mac?
Yes! Jam SQL Studio offers a free Personal tier with unlimited connections, IntelliSense, query execution, table explorer, and charting. DBeaver Community Edition is free and open-source. TablePlus has a limited free tier.
What happened to Azure Data Studio for Mac?
Microsoft announced that Azure Data Studio will be retired on February 28, 2026. Mac users who relied on Azure Data Studio should migrate to an alternative SQL client before the deadline. Jam SQL Studio is designed as a direct replacement with all the key features.
Can I use SSMS on Mac?
No. SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) only runs on Windows. Mac users need a cross-platform SQL client like Jam SQL Studio, DBeaver, or DataGrip to work with SQL Server databases. Jam SQL Studio provides many SSMS features (execution plans, schema compare, IntelliSense) in a native macOS application.
Which Mac SQL client supports AI coding assistants?
Jam SQL Studio is the first SQL IDE for Mac with built-in AI agent support. It includes a local MCP server (Model Context Protocol) that works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, OpenCode, Codex CLI, and other AI tools. It also provides an AI Workspace with auto-generated context files for coding assistants.
Does Jam SQL Studio run natively on Apple Silicon?
Yes. Jam SQL Studio provides native builds for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) Macs and Intel Macs. The app runs natively without Rosetta translation, delivering fast startup times and low memory usage.
What databases can I connect to from a Mac SQL client?
Jam SQL Studio supports Microsoft SQL Server (including Azure SQL), PostgreSQL (including Amazon RDS), MySQL, MariaDB, and SQLite. DBeaver supports additional databases through JDBC drivers. DataGrip supports most popular databases including Oracle, Cassandra, and MongoDB.
Download Jam SQL Studio for Mac
Start your free trial. Native support for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Comparing Other SQL Tools?
See how Jam SQL Studio compares to other popular database tools.