Jam SQL Studio Jam SQL Studio for macOS
System requirements
| Operating system | macOS 11 Big Sur or later. That is the minimum system version recorded in the app bundle, and it follows the Electron 34.3.0 runtime Jam SQL Studio 1.4 is built on. Catalina and earlier are not supported. |
|---|---|
| CPU architecture | Apple Silicon (arm64) and Intel (x64) ship as two separate downloads, not a universal binary. Pick the one that matches your Mac. |
| Runtimes | None to install. Chromium, Node.js and every database driver are bundled — including the Oracle Thin driver, so no Oracle Client is needed. |
| Disk space | About 220 MB to download; roughly 700 MB once the app is in Applications. |
| Security | Signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple, with the notarization ticket stapled into the build. |
| Account | Not required. Jam SQL Studio is free for personal, non-commercial use and works offline. |
Installing on macOS
Open the .dmg and drag Jam SQL Studio into Applications. There is no package installer and nothing runs with elevated privileges. Because the build is notarized and the ticket is stapled, Gatekeeper clears it the first time you open it — no “unidentified developer” dialog, and no need to be online.
Finish the drag before you launch it. Run straight from the mounted disk image, or from a Gatekeeper translocation path, and the app is sitting on a read-only volume where it can never install its own updates. Jam SQL Studio detects that on startup and offers a one-click move into Applications, then relaunches itself from there.
Apple Silicon or Intel?
Open Terminal and run uname -m. arm64 means Apple Silicon; x86_64 means Intel. The Intel build does run on Apple Silicon through Rosetta 2, but on an M-series Mac the Apple Silicon build is the one you want.
Downloading a specific version
Every release keeps a permanent versioned URL next to the rolling latest one, so you can pin a build or roll back without hunting for a mirror:
- Latest:
https://downloads.jamsql.com/downloads/JamSQLStudio-latest-mac-arm64.dmg - Versioned:
https://downloads.jamsql.com/downloads/JamSQLStudio-1.4.20-mac-arm64.dmg
Swap arm64 for x64 for the Intel build.
How updates work
Jam SQL Studio updates itself. It checks the release feed about a minute after launch and then once an hour, downloads a newer version in the background, and installs it when you quit — so the next launch is already up to date. A manual check lives in Settings → Updates. Two macOS-specific notes: an update cannot be written when the app is running from a read-only location such as a mounted disk image, and releases are rolled out in stages, so a brand-new version does not always reach every Mac on the first day.
What is in the download
- Six engines in one app: SQL Server and Azure SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL and MariaDB, Oracle, SQLite, and Azure Data Explorer (Kusto).
- Query editor with IntelliSense, execution plans, SQL notebooks, table explorer, charts, schema compare and data compare.
- A local MCP server so AI agents can work against your databases under your rules.
- Free for personal, non-commercial use, with no account and no sign-in. Pro is $9.99/month or $99/year, adds a commercial-use licence and lifts the caps on a handful of bulk operations, and comes with a 14-day trial that you start by signing in inside the app (no card required).
New here? Start with the getting started guide, then set up your first server in connections.
Frequently asked questions
Should I download the Apple Silicon or the Intel build?
Run uname -m in Terminal: arm64 means Apple Silicon, so take the Apple Silicon build, and x86_64 means Intel. The Intel build also runs on Apple Silicon through Rosetta 2, but on an M-series Mac the Apple Silicon build is the one to use.
Will macOS block Jam SQL Studio as an unidentified developer?
No. The app is code-signed and notarized by Apple, and the notarization ticket is stapled into the build, so Gatekeeper clears it on first launch even on a Mac that has no internet connection.
Why does Jam SQL Studio ask to move itself to Applications?
Because it cannot update itself from where it is running. Launched straight from the mounted disk image, or from a Gatekeeper translocation path, the app sits on a read-only volume and every update fails. When Jam SQL Studio detects that, it offers a one-click move into Applications and relaunches from there. Running it from your Downloads folder is fine and never triggers the prompt.
How do updates work on macOS?
Jam SQL Studio checks for updates about a minute after launch and then once an hour, downloads the new version in the background, and installs it when you quit the app. You can force a check from Settings → Updates. Keep the app in Applications: from a mounted disk image or a translocated path it sits on a read-only volume and the update cannot be written. Releases are rolled out in stages, so a brand-new version does not always reach every Mac on the first day.
Which macOS versions are supported?
macOS 11 Big Sur and later, on both Apple Silicon and Intel. That is the minimum system version recorded in the app bundle and it follows the Electron 34.3.0 runtime the app is built on. There is no build for macOS 10.15 Catalina or earlier.