# Beekeeper Studio vs TablePlus

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

Beekeeper Studio and TablePlus are both Database tools on a Mac, so the pick depends on workflow. Beekeeper for free, open, and friendly. TablePlus for fast, deep, and protective. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask beekeeper-studio and brew install --cask tableplus.

Both tools are strong in August 2026; the split is clear. Beekeeper Studio wins when openness, cross-platform consistency, and unlimited free use matter. TablePlus wins when Mac power users need raw speed, more drivers, and production-grade safety rails. Neither traps your SQL in a proprietary format, so the low-risk path is installing both via Homebrew and letting a week of real queries decide. If budget is zero or auditability is mandatory, start with Beekeeper. If you hop production databases all day and care about milliseconds plus safe-mode, TablePlus earns the license.

## Head to head

| Factor | Beekeeper Studio | TablePlus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Paid |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | TablePlus ($99) | — |
| Best for | database, sql, mysql | database, sql, management |
| Install | brew install --cask beekeeper-studio | brew install --cask tableplus |
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |

## Beekeeper Studio

Cross platform SQL editor and database management app

Install: `brew install --cask beekeeper-studio`

[Beekeeper Studio on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/beekeeper-studio)

## TablePlus

Modern, native database management tool

Install: `brew install --cask tableplus`

[TablePlus on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/tableplus)

## Features

- **Database coverage.** TablePlus wins on sheer driver breadth; Beekeeper covers the relational core most developers need.
- **Performance on macOS.** TablePlus is measurably faster for high-frequency database work on Apple Silicon.
- **Query editing and productivity.** Beekeeper is simpler and more approachable; TablePlus offers more power features for heavy SQL authors.
- **Safety and workflow guards.** TablePlus's layered safety features make accidental data loss harder.
- **Pricing and licensing.** Beekeeper wins on generosity for individuals; TablePlus charges for power-user ergonomics.
- **Openness and privacy.** Beekeeper's open source transparency is its differentiator for privacy-conscious teams.
- **Platform and system integration.** TablePlus feels more at home on macOS; Beekeeper trades some nativity for cross-platform consistency.
- **Support and community.** Both are actively maintained in 2026 with healthy user bases; Beekeeper leans community, TablePlus leans vendor.

## FAQ

### Is Beekeeper Studio really free in 2026?

Yes. The Community Edition is MIT open source and free with unlimited connections. The paid Ultimate tier around $99 per year adds dashboards and magics but does not gate core querying or table browsing.

### What does TablePlus cost in 2026?

TablePlus is free with limits (two tabs and two workspaces). The paid perpetual license is $109 with one year of updates ($39 per subsequent year), or roughly $89 per year as a subscription. All paid tiers unlock unlimited use and plugins.

### Which is faster on Apple Silicon?

TablePlus is faster, sub-second launch, lower memory (120-200 MB idle) and snappier tab switching than Beekeeper's Electron-based shell, though Beekeeper remains comfortably fast for typical development.

### Do both support Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe 26.x?

Both are notarized, Apple Silicon-native and tested on Tahoe 26.x. They install via Homebrew casks beekeeper-studio and tableplus and receive regular compatibility updates.

### Which has better safety for production databases?

TablePlus has stronger guards: safe-mode blocks WHERE-less updates and deletes, diff previews show pending writes, and history with restore helps recover mistakes. Beekeeper offers read-only toggles and transaction awareness but is less granular.

### Can I self-host or audit either tool?

Beekeeper Studio is fully open source on GitHub, so you can audit, build and even fork it. TablePlus is proprietary but privacy-respecting with license-key activation and no mandatory cloud sync.

### Which should I choose if I only use Postgres and MySQL?

If Postgres and MySQL are your world and you value cost and openness, Beekeeper is the natural fit. If you frequently jump between multiple database types including Redis or need inline data editing at speed, TablePlus repays its license quickly.

### How easy is it to switch between them?

Very easy, both store connections as standard URIs and queries as .sql. Moving saved queries is copy-paste, and neither app imposes export taxes or proprietary formats that trap your work.

## Sources

- [Beekeeper Studio, Pricing](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/pricing/)
- [beekeeper-studio/beekeeper-studio, GitHub](https://github.com/beekeeper-studio/beekeeper-studio)
- [TablePlus, Pricing](https://tableplus.com/pricing)
- [TablePlus, Documentation](https://tableplus.com/blog)
- [Beekeeper Studio Blog, MySQL Workbench Alternatives](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/blog/mysql-workbench-alternatives-free)
- [G2, Beekeeper Studio vs DBeaver](https://www.g2.com/compare/beekeeper-studio-vs-dbeaver)
- [TrustRadius, TablePlus Pricing](https://www.trustradius.com/products/tableplus/pricing)
- [MyAppleGuide, TablePlus Review 2026](https://myappleguide.com/tableplus-review/)

## Related

- [Beekeeper Studio vs DBeaver Community](https://bundl.run/compare/beekeeper-vs-dbeaver)
- [TablePlus vs DBeaver Community](https://bundl.run/compare/tableplus-vs-dbeaver)
- [Sequel Pro vs TablePlus](https://bundl.run/compare/sequel-pro-vs-tableplus)
- [Postico vs TablePlus](https://bundl.run/compare/postico-vs-tableplus)

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