# pgAdmin 4 vs DBeaver Community

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

DBeaver Community is the top pick for most Mac users looking at Database tools. It is free and installs in one Homebrew command. pgAdmin 4 is the stronger choice if you are moving off TablePlus. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask pgadmin4 and brew install --cask dbeaver-community.

For most Mac users in 2026, DBeaver Community is the better choice for Database tools because it ranks higher in Homebrew install popularity (#27). Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose pgAdmin 4 instead if you are moving off TablePlus.

## Head to head

| Factor | pgAdmin 4 | DBeaver Community |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | TablePlus ($99) | TablePlus ($99) |
| Best for | database, postgresql, admin | database, sql, gui |
| Install | brew install --cask pgadmin4 | brew install --cask dbeaver-community |
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |

## pgAdmin 4

PostgreSQL administration and management tool

Install: `brew install --cask pgadmin4`

[pgAdmin 4 on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/pgadmin4)

## DBeaver Community

Universal database tool and SQL client

Install: `brew install --cask dbeaver-community`

[DBeaver Community on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/dbeaver-community)

## Features

- **Engine coverage.** Polyglot teams choose DBeaver; Postgres-only specialists can choose either.
- **PostgreSQL depth.** pgAdmin 4 is deeper for pure Postgres administration.
- **Pricing and licence.** Both are $0 for the comparison; paid DBeaver tiers are optional.
- **SQL editing and visualisation.** DBeaver offers broader visual editing across engines.
- **Backup, restore and data transfer.** pgAdmin 4's PostgreSQL maintenance dialogs are more opinionated and complete.
- **macOS experience and performance.** Both run well on Apple Silicon; neither is the lightest native Mac client.
- **Active development and community.** Both are actively maintained in August 2026.
- **Extensibility and automation.** DBeaver is more extensible across engines and drivers.

## FAQ

### Is pgAdmin 4 free?

Yes. pgAdmin 4 is free and open source under the PostgreSQL licence, with no paid tier or subscription.

### Is DBeaver Community free?

Yes. DBeaver Community is free and open source under Apache 2.0. You only pay if you upgrade to Lite, Pro or Team for advanced commercial features.

### Can pgAdmin 4 connect to MySQL?

No. pgAdmin 4 is PostgreSQL-only. For MySQL or SQLite you need a multi-engine client such as DBeaver Community, TablePlus or Beekeeper Studio.

### Which is better for pure PostgreSQL administration?

pgAdmin 4, because it exposes PostgreSQL-specific objects, roles, extensions and pg_dump/pg_restore workflows that generic clients approximate.

### Which should I pick if I use multiple databases?

DBeaver Community. One free workspace for Postgres, MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server and 80+ other engines avoids juggling three apps.

### Do both run on Apple Silicon Macs with Tahoe 26?

Yes. Both ship macOS builds compatible with Apple Silicon on current macOS. DBeaver provides Apple Silicon DMGs; pgAdmin 4 desktop runs on Tahoe 26.x via its bundled runtime.

### Can I install both at no cost?

Yes and many Postgres teams do, pgAdmin 4 for deep admin days and DBeaver Community for cross-database work. Both are $0 to try.

### Does DBeaver Community include ER diagrams?

Yes. ER diagrams, visual query builder and data transfer wizards are included in Community. Some export and enterprise collaboration extras are Pro/Team-only.

## Sources

- [pgAdmin, Administration platform for PostgreSQL](https://www.pgadmin.org/)
- [pgAdmin 4 download, pgAdmin](https://www.pgadmin.org/download/)
- [pgAdmin 4 v9.14 Released, PostgreSQL news](https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/pgadmin-4-v914-released-3267/)
- [pgAdmin 4 v9.12 Released, PostgreSQL news](https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/pgadmin-4-v912-released-3229/)
- [DBeaver, Universal Database Tool](https://dbeaver.io/)
- [DBeaver, GitHub releases (25.1.x)](https://github.com/dbeaver/dbeaver/releases)
- [DBeaver, Pricing and editions](https://dbeaver.com/buy/)
- [DBeaver documentation, macOS installation](https://dbeaver.com/docs/dbeaver/)

## Related

- [TablePlus vs DBeaver Community](https://bundl.run/compare/tableplus-vs-dbeaver)
- [DataGrip vs DBeaver Community](https://bundl.run/compare/datagrip-vs-dbeaver)
- [Beekeeper Studio vs DBeaver Community](https://bundl.run/compare/beekeeper-vs-dbeaver)

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