Compare

A maintained Azure Data Studio successor
inside VS Code.

Azure Data Studio retired on February 28, 2026. DBCode is a database IDE that lives in VS Code, still shipping, with SQL Server support and 80+ other engines. Here's an honest look at where each one stands.

The short version

Azure Data Studio was a good tool, and it was built on the same VS Code codebase DBCode runs in. That era is over: Microsoft retired it on February 28, 2026. It no longer gets features or security patches, and Microsoft now points people to VS Code.

DBCode is the in-editor path forward. It keeps the parts people liked about Azure Data Studio, the SQL editor and SQL notebooks, and adds what it never had: 80+ database engines instead of a SQL-Server-first set, a visual query builder, ERDs, and AI wired into the editor through Copilot and MCP. It runs in the VS Code, Cursor, or Windsurf window you already have open.

At a glance

DBCode vs Azure Data Studio.

DBCode Azure Data Studio
What it is VS Code extension Standalone app (built on VS Code)
Maintained Yes, active releases No, retired 28 Feb 2026
Runs in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf Its own window
Price Free tier, Pro $36/year Free
Databases 80+, all editions SQL Server, Azure SQL, PostgreSQL
AI Copilot, MCP, local LLMs Copilot (frozen at 1.52)
Feature by feature

What's in the box.

DBCode Azure Data Studio
Actively maintained and patched
Security updates after Feb 2026
Runs inside VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf
SQL editor with autocomplete
SQL notebooks (SQL + markdown)
Data grid editing
Schema ERD
Visual query builder
NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra)
Cloud warehouses (Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks)
AI natural language queries Copilot
AI data grid (filter, sort, chart via NL)
MCP server (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.)
Local LLMs / BYOK (Ollama, OpenAI)
SQL Server and Azure SQL
Secure sharing (encrypted links)
Free tier Yes, unlimited connections Free, but unmaintained

Verified July 2026 against Microsoft's Azure Data Studio retirement notice (retired February 28, 2026, frozen at 1.52.0) and learn.microsoft.com. SQL Server and Azure SQL support verified against the DBCode docs. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know. Want the wider picture? See the full comparison table.

Why switch

What you get moving off a retired tool:

  • Updates and security patches again. DBCode ships releases regularly. A frozen app stops getting fixes the day support ends.
  • The same notebooks, more databases. SQL notebooks carry over, and your SQL Server and Azure SQL connections sit next to Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, Snowflake, and 80+ more.
  • AI that's already wired up. Copilot gets tools to read your schema and run queries, an MCP server registers automatically, and you can point inline completion at local models via Ollama.

Moving over is quick: DBCode imports connections from CSV and JSON files, plus Azure Data Studio and pgAdmin formats.

To be fair

When Azure Data Studio is the better fit.

  • You only work with SQL Server or Azure SQL. Microsoft's own MSSQL extension for VS Code is the official migration path for Azure Data Studio, and it is a natural fit if a single engine is all you need.
  • You rely on a frozen ADS feature set. If a specific Azure Data Studio extension is core to your work and has no equivalent elsewhere, you may keep the retired app around, with the caveat that it will not be patched.
FAQ

Common questions.

Is Azure Data Studio still supported?
No. Microsoft retired Azure Data Studio on February 28, 2026. It is frozen at version 1.52.0 and no longer receives feature updates or security patches. Microsoft points users to VS Code for continued support.
What is the best replacement for Azure Data Studio?
It depends on your work. If you only touch SQL Server or Azure SQL, Microsoft recommends the MSSQL extension for VS Code. If you work across more than one database, DBCode covers 80+ engines including SQL Server, Azure SQL, and PostgreSQL, with SQL notebooks and AI, all inside the editor you already use.
Does DBCode support SQL Server like Azure Data Studio did?
Yes. SQL Server and Azure SQL are first-class connections in DBCode, in every edition. You can browse objects, query, edit data, and view execution plans.
Does DBCode have SQL notebooks like Azure Data Studio?
Yes. DBCode has SQL notebooks that mix SQL, markdown, and results in one file, so the notebook workflow carries over.
Does DBCode work in Cursor or Windsurf?
Yes. DBCode publishes every release to Open VSX, so it installs in Cursor, Windsurf, and other VS Code forks the same way it does in VS Code.

DBCode is rated 4.7 ★ from 73 reviews on the VS Code Marketplace, with 810,000+ installs across the VS Code Marketplace and Open VSX.

Get started

A real database IDE.
Right where you code.

810,000+ installs 4.7 ★ rating free forever
Install Replacing DataGrip?

No credit card needed · No signup · Works offline