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A TablePlus alternative
that skips the second app.

TablePlus is a fast native database app with a one-time license. DBCode does the same work inside VS Code, with more engines and AI built in.

The short version

TablePlus earns its fans: it is a fast, clean, native app with a one-time license and no subscription. If you want a standalone tool for a handful of mainstream databases, it is a solid pick.

DBCode plays a different game. It lives inside VS Code, Cursor, or Windsurf (and browser-based VS Code like code-server and vscode.dev), covers 80+ database engines instead of 14, and ships AI end to end: Copilot tools that read your schema, an MCP server for agents, and local LLM support. The free tier has no tab or window limits, just unlimited connections. And the buy-once model isn't unique to TablePlus: DBCode Pro becomes a perpetual license after 12 months, and there's a lifetime license up front if you prefer.

At a glance

DBCode vs TablePlus.

DBCode TablePlus
What it is VS Code extension Native desktop app
Runs in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS
Price Free tier, Pro $36/year or $120 lifetime $99-129 one time, per device
Free tier Unlimited connections 2 tabs, 2 windows, 2 advanced filters
License model Perpetual after 12 months, or lifetime up front Perpetual, with 1 year of updates
Databases 80+ 14
AI Copilot, MCP, local LLMs None
Feature by feature

What's in the box.

DBCode TablePlus
Runs in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf
Runs in the browser (code-server, vscode.dev)
Native standalone app
Native iOS app Browser-based VS Code works on iPad
SQL editor with autocomplete
Data grid editing
SQL notebooks (SQL + markdown)
Schema ERD
Data explore (charts, stats, drill-down)
AI natural language queries
MCP server (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.)
Local LLMs / BYOK (Ollama, OpenAI)
SSH tunnels (built-in)
Real-time streaming (LISTEN/NOTIFY, change streams)
Secure sharing (encrypted links)
Perpetual license After 12 months, or lifetime up front Yes (updates for 1 year)
Free tier Yes, unlimited connections 2 tabs, 2 windows

Verified July 2026 against tableplus.com. TablePlus pricing: Basic $99 (1 device), Standard $129 (2 devices), 1 year of updates included. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know. Want the wider picture? See the full comparison table.

Why switch

Why TablePlus users move to DBCode:

  • The editor is already open. Query results land in a tab next to your code instead of a separate app you switch to and arrange windows around.
  • Engine breadth. When a project adds Snowflake, ClickHouse, DuckDB, or Kafka, DBCode already speaks it. TablePlus supports 14 databases.
  • AI is part of the workflow. Ask Copilot to write and run the query through DBCode's tools, or wire agents in over MCP. TablePlus has no AI features.
To be fair

When TablePlus is the better fit.

  • You want a native app, full stop. TablePlus feels like a Mac (or Windows) app because it is one. If working inside an editor isn't your thing, that matters more than any feature list.
  • You want a purpose-built mobile app. TablePlus ships a native iOS app. DBCode's answer on a tablet is browser-based VS Code (code-server or vscode.dev), which works, but it is an editor in a browser, not an app designed for touch.
  • Your 14 databases are its 14 databases. If TablePlus covers your stack and you already own a license, the switching payoff is smaller.
FAQ

Common questions.

TablePlus is a one-time purchase. Is DBCode subscription only?
No, and both end up perpetual. TablePlus is $99-129 up front with a year of updates. DBCode Pro is $36 for the year and the license becomes perpetual after 12 months, or take the $120 lifetime license up front. Either way you stop paying and keep the product.
Is TablePlus faster because it is native?
TablePlus is a genuinely fast native app and that is a fair reason to like it. DBCode runs inside your editor, so there is no second app to launch at all: for most workflows the fastest tool is the one already open.
What does DBCode support that TablePlus does not?
The big ones: 80+ database engines against 14, AI features (Copilot tools, MCP, local LLMs), SQL notebooks, ER diagrams, real-time streaming, and encrypted result sharing.
How do I move my connections over?
DBCode imports connections from CSV and JSON files with custom field mappings, plus Azure Data Studio and pgAdmin formats. Run "DBCode: Import Connections" from the command palette.

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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