# Sequel Ace

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

MySQL and MariaDB database manager for macOS

Category: Developer Tools · Free · Replaces TablePlus ($99) · [Official website](https://sequel-ace.com)

## Install with Homebrew

`brew install --cask sequel-ace`

## Quick take

Sequel Ace remains the default free MySQL/MariaDB client for Mac developers in August 2026. MySQL 8 support, native performance, and the new opt-in MCP server keep it relevant while Sequel Pro stays abandoned. Switch only when you need multi-database breadth or heavier SQL intelligence.

Best for: Mac developers on MySQL or MariaDB only, WordPress and Laravel local debugging, Users migrating off dead Sequel Pro installs, Engineers wiring AI agents to local DB connections carefully

## What is Sequel Ace?

Sequel Ace is a native macOS database manager for MySQL and MariaDB—the community-maintained successor to Sequel Pro. When Sequel Pro’s development stalled around 2019–2020 and modern MySQL 8 authentication broke the old app, contributors forked the codebase, modernised it for current macOS, added Apple Silicon support, and shipped Sequel Ace free on the Mac App Store and via Homebrew.

In August 2026 Sequel Ace remains actively maintained. The App Store line is on the 5.3.x series (5.3.1 noted in July 2026 release notes) and requires macOS 12 or later. The headline addition since mid-2026 is a built-in Model Context Protocol (MCP) server—off by default, localhost-only, read-only unless you disable that safeguard—so AI agents such as Claude Code or Cursor can query databases through Sequel Ace’s existing connections. Other recent work includes vault connection UI polish, SSH keychain handoff fixes, and safer query-routing behaviour across multiple connections.

The tool still does exactly what MySQL/MariaDB developers need: connect, browse tables, run queries, edit grid data, inspect structure, export CSV/SQL, and tunnel over SSH. It does not pretend to be DataGrip for every engine. If you only live in MySQL on a Mac, Sequel Ace is still the best free native client; multi-database teams should look at TablePlus, Beekeeper Studio, DBeaver, or DataGrip.

## Features

- **Native Cocoa MySQL Client.** Built with Cocoa/AppKit for a true Mac feel: Dark Mode, Keychain passwords, standard shortcuts, and fast launch on Apple Silicon without Electron or Java bloat.
- **MySQL 8 and MariaDB Support.** Handles modern authentication (including caching_sha2_password scenarios that broke Sequel Pro), targeting MySQL ≥5.7 and MariaDB ≥10 on current releases.
- **SSH Tunneling and Connection Favorites.** Configure SSH tunnels in the connection dialog, save favorites, and migrate Sequel Pro favorites. Keychain integration keeps secrets out of plaintext config files.
- **Query Editor and Content Grid.** Syntax-highlighted SQL editor with query favorites, plus a spreadsheet-like content browser for inline edits, filters, and exports to CSV, JSON, XML, or SQL dumps.
- **Structure Editing.** Inspect and alter tables visually—columns, indexes, keys—with SQL previews before execution so schema changes are reviewable.
- **Built-in MCP Server for AI Agents.** Added in the 5.3 line (July 2026): optional Model Context Protocol server under Preferences → MCP Server. Localhost-only, disabled by default, read-only unless you opt out—lets Claude Code, Cursor, and other agents query through existing connections safely.

## How to Install Sequel Ace on Mac

Sequel Ace is available both as a Homebrew cask and on the Mac App Store. The Homebrew installation is the most common for developers.

1. **Install via Homebrew.** Run `brew install --cask sequel-ace`. This installs the latest version directly. Alternatively, download it for free from the Mac App Store.
2. **Launch and Add a Connection.** Open Sequel Ace and you'll see the connection manager. For a local MySQL instance, enter Host: 127.0.0.1, Username: root, Password: (your password), and Port: 3306. Click 'Connect.'
3. **Select a Database.** Once connected, the left sidebar shows your databases. Select one to browse its tables. Click a table to see its structure, or switch to the 'Content' tab to browse data.
4. **Open the Query Editor.** Click the 'Query' tab to open the SQL editor. Write your query and hit Cmd+R to execute. Results appear in the lower pane.

## Pros

- Completely free and open source under the MIT License
- Native Mac app—fast, lightweight, Keychain-aware
- MySQL 8 authentication that Sequel Pro never fixed
- SSH tunneling built into the connection UI
- Apple Silicon native without Rosetta
- New MCP server for AI agent database access (opt-in)
- App Store and Homebrew distribution paths
- Familiar Sequel Pro workflows for migrants

## Cons

- MySQL and MariaDB only—no PostgreSQL, SQLite, or MongoDB
- SQL intelligence is lighter than DataGrip or even DBeaver
- No ER diagramming suite
- Small volunteer maintainer base versus commercial tools
- MCP is powerful but must stay disabled on shared production admin Macs unless policy allows

## From Sequel Pro nostalgia to MCP-era MySQL

Sequel Pro taught a generation of Mac developers that database clients could feel native. Its abandonment left a hole Sequel Ace filled without abandoning the original UX grammar. The 2026 MCP addition is the first feature that clearly points beyond pure GUI nostalgia: databases are now part of agent workflows, and Ace is meeting that shift carefully with defaults that refuse to open the network or allow writes until a human opts in.

Limitations remain intentional. There is no Postgres. There is no cloud collaboration layer. That focus is why the app stays fast and free. Teams that outgrow it usually do so because their stack diversified—not because Ace failed at MySQL.

For Mac teams standardising tooling in 2026, document whether MCP is allowed in your security policy. Pair Sequel Ace with proper secret management (1Password, env files outside git) and prefer read-only database users for day-to-day browsing. Keep Homebrew or App Store auto-updates enabled so authentication and keychain fixes land promptly after OS upgrades to macOS Tahoe.

## FAQ

### Is Sequel Ace free in 2026?

Yes. App Store and Homebrew builds are free; the project is MIT open source with optional donations.

### Does Sequel Ace support MySQL 8?

Yes. Supporting modern MySQL authentication is a primary reason the fork exists versus abandoned Sequel Pro.

### What is the MCP server in Sequel Ace?

An optional Model Context Protocol endpoint (5.3.x) so AI agents can query through your saved connections. It is off by default, localhost-only, and read-only unless you change that.

### Can I migrate connections from Sequel Pro?

Yes. Sequel Ace documents migrating saved connections/favorites from Sequel Pro on first-run and in its docs.

### Does it run on Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe?

Yes. Current builds are universal for Intel and Apple Silicon and require macOS 12+. Tahoe 26.x users should run the latest App Store or GitHub release.

### When should I choose TablePlus instead?

When you need PostgreSQL/SQLite/multiple engines, richer UX polish, or commercial support in one client.

## Sources

- [Sequel Ace on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sequel-ace/id1518036000?mt=12)
- [Sequel-Ace/Sequel-Ace on GitHub](https://github.com/Sequel-Ace/Sequel-Ace)
- [Sequel Ace official site](https://sequel-ace.com/)
- [5 Free Sequel Pro & Sequel Ace Alternatives for 2026 — Beekeeper](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/blog/sequel-pro-alternatives-free)
- [Sequel Ace MCP server guide](https://sequel-ace.com/get-started/mcp-server.html)
- [SQLPro vs Sequel Ace comparison notes](https://www.mysqlui.com/compare/sequel-ace)

## Related

- [Cursor](https://bundl.run/apps/cursor)
- [Claude Code](https://bundl.run/apps/claude-code)
- [ChatGPT](https://bundl.run/apps/chatgpt)
- [Claude](https://bundl.run/apps/claude)
- [Codex](https://bundl.run/apps/codex)
- [Windsurf](https://bundl.run/apps/windsurf)
- [Sequel Ace vs Sequel Pro](https://bundl.run/compare/sequel-ace-vs-sequel-pro)
- [Free alternative to TablePlus](https://bundl.run/https:/)

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