Alternatives to Sequel Ace
The Mac MySQL classic, maintained
Sequel Ace ranks #9 of 9 in Database GUIs, with an Alt Score of 32. It is licensed under MIT, free and available on macOS. 4 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Developers, DBAs, and other technical users on macOS who need to inspect and manage MySQL or MariaDB databases directly from their desktop.
A native macOS GUI for connecting to MySQL/MariaDB servers, browsing and editing table data and structure, and writing and running SQL queries. It supports standard, SSH, and SSL/socket connections, plus quick-connect via mysql:// URLs. As a free, open-source continuation of Sequel Pro, it's actively maintained with community contributions and no license cost.
You set up a connection (host, socket, or SSH tunnel) to a MySQL/MariaDB server, then use the table/query interface to browse schemas, edit rows, and run SQL directly against the database.
Why people leave Sequel Ace
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Sequel Ace compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Database GUIs checklist | Sequel Ace | Beekeeper Studio | DbGate | TablePlus | pgAdmin | DataGrip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
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| Query editor & autocomplete | ||||||
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| Data editing safety | ||||||
| SSH tunneling | ||||||
| Import / export formats | ||||||
| Open source | ||||||
| One-time purchase option | ||||||
| Team sharing of connections | ||||||
| Performance on large tables |
Every fact and feature listed for Sequel Ace is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License MIT verified 2026-07-10
to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies
https://github.com/Sequel-Ace/Sequel-Ace/blob/main/LICENSE -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-10
Price: Free
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sequel-ace/id1518036000 -
Platforms macOS verified 2026-07-10
Requires macOS 12.0 or later
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sequel-ace/id1518036000 -
Status active verified 2026-07-10
5.3.0 (20102) released Jun 30
https://github.com/Sequel-Ace/Sequel-Ace/releases -
Databases supported Partial verified 2026-07-10
MySQL/MariaDB only.
a fast, easy-to-use Mac database management application for working with MySQL & MariaDB databases
https://github.com/Sequel-Ace/Sequel-Ace/blob/main/README.md -
SSH tunneling Yes verified 2026-07-10
Multiple connection types (SSH, socket, local)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sequel-ace/id1518036000 -
Open source Yes verified 2026-07-10
Sequel Ace is free and open-source software licensed under MIT
https://github.com/Sequel-Ace/Sequel-Ace/blob/main/README.md -
One-time purchase option No verified 2026-07-10
Price: Free
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sequel-ace/id1518036000
FAQ
Yes. Beekeeper Studio, DbGate and pgAdmin have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Beekeeper Studio, DbGate and pgAdmin — every license claim links its source.