Jam SQL Studio A Full SQL Server IDE Instead of the
VS Code MSSQL Extension
After Azure Data Studio's retirement, Microsoft points you to the VS Code MSSQL extension. It's a capable editor extension — but it lives inside VS Code and leaves out schema compare, data compare, charts, and notebooks. Jam SQL Studio is a standalone SQL Server IDE that ships all of those, works on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and imports your Azure Data Studio connections in one click.
Free for personal use • No account required • Mac, Windows, Linux
“As an abandoned user of Azure Data Studio, I was left looking for a good replacement. I tried multiple options and JamSQL is my new go-to tool for SQL. It has everything I need and the development team at JamSQL has been super responsive to feedback with consistent product improvements!”
Coming from Azure Data Studio? Import in One Click
Switching editors usually means re-typing every server, database, and login. Jam SQL Studio skips that. It reads Azure Data Studio's settings.json directly and lists your saved SQL Server and PostgreSQL connections for one-click import — from the start page, the command palette, or Manage Connections.
- Your connection groups come across as folders, so the layout you built in ADS is preserved.
- Auth types are mapped for you — SQL login, Windows auth, and Microsoft Entra ID (interactive browser).
- Because Azure Data Studio never stored passwords, you re-enter them inline during import or on first connect — nothing is read from ADS's credential store.
See the full walkthrough in the migrate from Azure Data Studio guide.
Jam SQL Studio vs the VS Code MSSQL Extension
How a standalone SQL Server IDE compares to Microsoft's official VS Code extension.
| Feature | Jam SQL Studio | VS Code + MSSQL extension |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | ✓ Standalone desktop IDE | VS Code extension |
| Price | ✓ Free (Personal) | ✓ Free |
| Requires VS Code | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Platforms | ✓ Mac/Win/Linux | ✓ Mac/Win/Linux |
| One-click Azure Data Studio import | ✓ Reads settings.json | ✗ |
| SQL Server & Azure SQL | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-database (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQLite) | ✓ 6 engines | ✗ SQL Server only |
| Object explorer | ✓ | ✓ |
| IntelliSense / T-SQL editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Table designer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Execution plan visualization | ✓ Tree + graph | ✓ |
| Table Explorer (browse + edit data) | ✓ Dedicated grid | Basic edit |
| Schema compare | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data compare | ✓ | ✗ |
| Built-in charts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Visual schema overview (ER graph) | ✓ | ✗ |
| SQL notebooks (.ipynb) | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI agent support (MCP) | ✓ Built-in local MCP server | Copilot agent mode |
| Enum column dropdowns | ✓ Native + CHECK + Sampled | ✗ |
Why a Dedicated SQL Server IDE Still Matters
The VS Code MSSQL extension is a solid editor add-on. But an extension inside a code editor is not a full database development and administration environment — and that's exactly the gap Azure Data Studio used to fill.
Move Your Connections in Minutes
Jam SQL Studio imports your Azure Data Studio connections straight from settings.json — SQL Server and PostgreSQL, with connection groups preserved as folders. The VS Code MSSQL extension has no ADS importer, so you'd re-create each connection by hand. See the migration guide.
Real IDE Surfaces, Not Editor Panels
A full-window object explorer, a dedicated Table Explorer for browsing and editing rows, and a visual schema overview graph — instead of everything squeezed into a VS Code side panel. The tools have room to work the way a database IDE should.
Schema Compare, Data Compare, and Charts
Compare two SQL Server databases, diff and sync table data, and chart a result set — all built in. The MSSQL extension ships none of these, so today they mean SqlPackage, SQL Database Projects, or a separate tool. Schema compare · data compare · charts.
Multi-Engine and AI-Native
The same app connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQLite alongside SQL Server, and exposes a built-in local MCP server so Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and other agents can safely query your database with a read-only default. The MSSQL extension is SQL Server only, and its AI story is scoped to GitHub Copilot inside VS Code.
Bring Your Connections With You
Already using the VS Code mssql or PostgreSQL extensions? Import your saved connections in one click. See how import works →
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing between the VS Code MSSQL extension and Jam SQL Studio.
What is the VS Code MSSQL extension?
The MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code (ms-mssql.mssql) is Microsoft's official extension for connecting to SQL Server and Azure SQL from VS Code. It provides connection management, an object explorer, a schema-aware T-SQL editor with IntelliSense, a table designer, a query results grid, and query plan visualization. After Azure Data Studio was retired on February 28, 2026, Microsoft recommends the VS Code MSSQL extension as one of its two successors, alongside SQL Server Management Studio.
Is Jam SQL Studio a good VS Code MSSQL extension alternative?
Yes. Jam SQL Studio is a standalone SQL Server IDE rather than an editor extension. It ships the pieces the MSSQL extension doesn't have — schema compare, data compare, built-in charts, a visual schema overview graph, a dedicated Table Explorer, and SQL notebooks — plus PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and SQLite in the same app, and a built-in local MCP server for AI agents.
Do I need VS Code to use Jam SQL Studio?
No. Jam SQL Studio is a standalone desktop application for Mac, Windows, and Linux. You do not need VS Code or any editor extension. It ships its own Monaco-based editor, IntelliSense, object explorer, table designer, and admin tooling in full-window surfaces rather than side panels.
Can I import my Azure Data Studio connections into Jam SQL Studio?
Yes. Jam SQL Studio reads Azure Data Studio's settings.json directly and imports your saved SQL Server and PostgreSQL connections in one click — from the start page, the command palette, or Manage Connections. Your ADS connection groups are preserved as folders. Because Azure Data Studio never stored passwords, you re-enter them inline during import or on first connect.
Does the VS Code MSSQL extension have schema compare or data compare?
No. The VS Code MSSQL extension does not include schema compare or data compare. Comparing two SQL Server databases or syncing table data typically means SqlPackage, SQL Database Projects, or a separate tool. Jam SQL Studio has both schema compare and data compare built in, and generates the sync scripts for you.
Does Jam SQL Studio support databases besides SQL Server?
Yes. Jam SQL Studio connects to SQL Server (including Azure SQL Database and Managed Instance), PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQLite from a single application. The VS Code MSSQL extension is SQL Server and Azure SQL only; PostgreSQL in VS Code needs a separate Microsoft extension.
Can AI coding assistants use my database through Jam SQL Studio?
Yes. Jam SQL Studio runs a built-in local MCP server (Model Context Protocol) so assistants like Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and Codex CLI can safely query your database with a read-only default and token authentication. The VS Code MSSQL extension exposes database context to GitHub Copilot's agent mode inside VS Code, but does not ship a general-purpose MCP server usable by other agents.
Does Jam SQL Studio work with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)?
Yes. Jam SQL Studio supports Microsoft Entra ID authentication for Azure SQL Database using interactive browser sign-in, which is MFA-friendly and caches tokens for seamless reconnection. Azure SQL and Windows authentication are both supported, and imported ADS connections keep their original auth type.
Try a Full Desktop SQL Server IDE
Download Jam SQL Studio free. A standalone SQL Server IDE for Mac, Windows, and Linux — no VS Code required, and your Azure Data Studio connections import in one click.
Comparing Other SQL Server Tools?
See how Jam SQL Studio compares to the other tools Microsoft points ADS users toward.
Further reading: ADS retirement 2026 status · Which ADS replacement to pick · Migrate from Azure Data Studio · Export ADS connections