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Outgrown SQLTools?
Here's the upgrade path.

SQLTools is the long-standing free query runner for VS Code. DBCode is a full database IDE in the same editor. Both have their place.

The short version

SQLTools deserves its install count. It is free, MIT licensed, and for years it was the way to run SQL inside VS Code. If all you need is a query runner with autocomplete and history, it still does that.

The limits show when database work gets real: there is no editable data grid, no ER diagrams, no execution plans, and only seven official drivers, with the rest maintained by the community. Core updates have been infrequent since late 2025. DBCode covers that entire surface, 80+ engines with first-party drivers, visual editing, diagrams, notebooks, AI, while staying inside the same editor.

At a glance

DBCode vs SQLTools.

DBCode SQLTools
What it is Full database IDE in VS Code Lightweight query runner in VS Code
Price Free tier, Pro $36/year Free
Open source No MIT
Installs 180K+ (marketplace) 6.7M+ (marketplace)
Marketplace rating 4.7 (71 reviews) 3.5 (144 reviews)
Databases 80+ first party 7 official drivers + community drivers
Feature by feature

What's in the box.

DBCode SQLTools
Query runner with history
Schema-aware autocomplete
Connection explorer
Data grid editing
Visual query builder
Schema ERD
SQL notebooks (SQL + markdown)
Data explore (charts, stats, drill-down)
AI natural language queries
MCP server (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.)
Execution plans
SSH tunnels (built-in)
Real-time streaming (LISTEN/NOTIFY, change streams)
Secure sharing (encrypted links)
Open source MIT
First-party drivers 80+ 7 (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, SQLite, CockroachDB, TiDB)

Verified July 2026 against the VS Code Marketplace and vscode-sqltools docs. Install and rating figures fetched July 2, 2026. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know. Want the wider picture? See the full comparison table.

Why switch

What you gain moving from SQLTools to DBCode:

  • Editing, not just reading. Change a value in the grid and apply it with a preview of the exact statement, instead of hand-writing UPDATEs.
  • First-party drivers for 80+ engines. MongoDB, Snowflake, ClickHouse, DuckDB, Kafka, and the rest are built and maintained by the same team, not a mix of community drivers.
  • The 2026 feature set. AI queries through Copilot tools, an auto-registered MCP server, ER diagrams, notebooks, charts, and real-time streaming.
To be fair

When SQLTools is the better fit.

  • You need open source. SQLTools is MIT: auditable, forkable, and free for any use. DBCode is not open source.
  • A community driver you rely on works well. If your exact stack is covered and you only run queries, the simpler tool may be enough.
  • Zero budget, full stop. DBCode's free tier is generous, but a few conveniences sit behind Pro. SQLTools has no paid anything.
FAQ

Common questions.

SQLTools has millions of installs. Why consider anything else?
Install count reflects a long head start and a genuinely useful free tool. The marketplace ratings tell the more current story: SQLTools sits at 3.5 stars, and its core extension last shipped in September 2025. DBCode is updated continuously and rated 4.7.
Is SQLTools still maintained?
It is not abandoned: drivers still get occasional updates and the docs are live. But core releases have been infrequent, and many drivers (Oracle, Snowflake, BigQuery) are community maintained with varying depth.
Can I edit table data in SQLTools?
No. SQLTools is a query runner: it can generate INSERT statements, but there is no editable data grid. In DBCode you click a cell, change the value, and apply, with a preview of exactly what will run.
Is DBCode free like SQLTools?
DBCode has a free tier with unlimited connections, querying, autocomplete, ERDs, notebooks, and charts. Some features (visual data editing, import, streaming) are Pro. SQLTools is entirely free and MIT licensed.

DBCode is rated 4.7 ★ from 71 reviews on the VS Code Marketplace, with 790,000+ installs across the VS Code Marketplace and Open VSX.

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