TL;DR
Sequel Ace vs Sequel Pro: For most Mac users in 2026, Sequel Ace is the better choice for Database tools because it ranks higher in Homebrew install popularity (#28). Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Sequel Pro instead if you are moving off Navicat Premium.
Which is better: Sequel Ace or Sequel Pro?
Sequel Ace is the top pick for most Mac users looking at Database tools. It is free and installs in one Homebrew command. Sequel Pro is the stronger choice if you are moving off Navicat Premium. As of September 2026, both install with brew install --cask sequel-ace and brew install --cask sequel-pro.
Sequel Ace vs Sequel Pro
Which is the better Database tools for Mac in 2026?
We compared Sequel Ace and Sequel Pro across 6 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Read our full breakdown below.
Sequel Ace
MySQL and MariaDB database manager for macOS
Sequel Pro
Fast, easy-to-use Mac database management application for working with MySQL databases.
Our Verdict
For most Mac users in 2026, Sequel Ace is the better choice for Database tools because it ranks higher in Homebrew install popularity (#28). Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Sequel Pro instead if you are moving off Navicat Premium.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Sequel Ace | Sequel Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | TablePlus ($99) | Navicat Premium ($1,299) |
| Best for | database, mysql, mariadb | database, mysql, sql |
| Install | brew install --cask sequel-ace | brew install --cask sequel-pro |
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
Quick Install
brew install --cask sequel-acebrew install --cask sequel-proLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is Sequel Ace?
Sequel Ace is the community fork of Sequel Pro for MySQL and MariaDB database management on macOS. Launched in 2019 when Sequel Pro stalled, it is maintained by the Sequel Ace organisation on GitHub and distributed free via the Mac App Store and direct builds. Ace keeps the beloved Sequel Pro UI — fast table browsing, query editor, import/export and connection manager — while adding Apple Silicon support, notarisation, MySQL 8 caching_sha2_password and sha256 auth, modern SSH, and fixes for crashes that broke Pro on Big Sur and later. Releases are regular (5.x line in 2025-2026) and the app is fully compatible with macOS Tahoe 26.x.
What is Sequel Pro?
Sequel Pro was the long-running free MySQL GUI for macOS, loved for its speed and clean design in the 2010s. The last meaningful maintenance was around 2019-2020; since then issues about MySQL 8 authentication failures, connection crashes and Apple Silicon incompatibility have gone unaddressed. The app still launches on older systems but is unstable on recent macOS, lacks notarisation, and has known query and export bugs. The community formally recommends Sequel Ace as its successor. As of August 2026 Sequel Pro is tracked as abandoned in the intel ledger.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Maintenance and viability
CriticalActively maintained. Regular releases on GitHub and Mac App Store, responsive to MySQL/MariaDB changes, and patched for each macOS release. Community fork with multiple maintainers.
Effectively abandoned. No release addressing MySQL 8 auth or Apple Silicon. Open issues from 2019 remain. Listed as abandoned in programme intel since 2020-06.
Verdict: Ace is the only viable option for ongoing work. Pro is unmaintained preservationware.
macOS Tahoe and Apple Silicon support
CriticalUniversal binary, Apple Silicon native, notarised, and tested on Tahoe 26.x. Installs cleanly via Mac App Store or Homebrew and respects current code-signing requirements.
Intel-only legacy build, not notarised, Gatekeeper warnings, crashes on Tahoe and Sonoma. Requires workarounds and still hits auth and socket edge cases.
Verdict: On modern Macs, only Ace is a native, supported citizen.
MySQL 8 and MariaDB compatibility
CriticalSupports caching_sha2_password, sha256_password and modern TLS. Works with MySQL 8.x and current MariaDB. Handles new defaults without plugin hacks.
Fails with MySQL 8 default auth unless server is downgraded to mysql_native_password. Often cannot connect at all to new instances.
Verdict: If your server is on MySQL 8, Pro cannot reliably connect; Ace can.
UI familiarity and speed
HighSame fast table UI Sequel Pro users love — quick filtering, inline editing, history and favourite connections. No relearning required.
The original beloved UI that Ace copied. Still pleasant when it launches, but speed is moot when it cannot connect.
Verdict: Ace preserves Pro's UX strengths while fixing its engine.
Security and signing
HighNotarised, sandboxed Mac App Store build, regular security fixes. SSH and TLS paths updated for current libraries.
No recent security patches, unsigned legacy build, outdated vendored libraries. Not suitable for production credential handling.
Verdict: Ace is the only defensible choice for handling production credentials.
Import/export and tooling
MediumCSV, SQL dump, and custom export with fixed crashes around query copy/paste and large tables. Active bug triage.
Original import/export is solid but has long-standing crashes (e.g. paste regressions) that were never fixed in Pro.
Verdict: Ace fixed the crashes that remained open in Pro's tracker for years.
Pricing and distribution
MediumFree. No paid tier. Mac App Store and free GitHub builds. No account, no subscription, no nag.
Also free, when you can find a working download. No ongoing cost, but total cost is high when it fails.
Verdict: Both are free; only Ace is free and functional.
Community and support
MediumGitHub org with issues, PRs and brew cask. Docs at sequel-ace.com. Community directs all new questions to Ace, not Pro.
Community has migrated. Most guides now say 'use Sequel Ace instead'. Pro's tracker is archive-grade.
Verdict: Support lives where the maintainers are — on Ace.
Who Should Choose Which?
1The Rails or Laravel developer on Tahoe
You need a quick visual table edit and fast query iteration with MySQL 8. Ace launches natively and connects without auth downgrades.
2The team standardising MySQL tooling
You need one install that works for every teammate on Apple Silicon and Intel, distributed via Mac App Store or brew install sequel-ace. Pro cannot be that standard.
3The contractor revisiting a 2016 project
If you already have a verified working Pro install frozen beside MySQL 5.7 and just need to look once, leaving it alone is harmless. Do not install fresh.
4The security-minded DBA
You cannot hand production credentials to an unsigned, unpatched GUI. Ace is the only auditable choice.
5The student following a modern tutorial
Every current tutorial for MySQL on Mac points to Ace. Following Pro will lead to an auth error on first connect.
Migration Guide
Sequel Pro → Sequel Ace
Install Sequel Ace from the Mac App Store or brew install --cask sequel-ace. Ace reads your Sequel Pro favourites — open Connections, export favourites from Pro as .spf if needed and import. Verify MySQL 8 connections now use caching_sha2_password without changing my.cnf. Keep Pro installed until you confirm favourites migrated, then remove it.
Sequel Ace → Sequel Pro
Not recommended. If you must run Pro for archival reasons, keep Ace as primary and run Pro only for the legacy host. Do not downgrade server auth plugins to accommodate Pro — use an SSH tunnel to a legacy bastion instead.
Final Verdict
sequel-ace
Winner
Runner-up
Scores are Bundl.run editorial ratings out of 10 across 8 criteria (the feature comparison above), last reviewed August 2026.
In August 2026 Sequel Ace is the unequivocal successor. It preserves everything people loved about Pro — speed, simplicity, native macOS feel — and fixes everything that broke after 2019: MySQL 8 auth, Apple Silicon, notarisation, Tahoe compatibility, and crash bugs. Sequel Pro's story ended around 2020; Ace is its maintained continuation under a new name.
Bottom Line: Install Sequel Ace. Keep Sequel Pro only as a museum piece beside a frozen legacy stack.
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Sources & References
Key Verified Facts
- Sequel Ace is the community fork of Sequel Pro[cite-sequel-ace-official, cite-sequel-ace-github]
- Sequel Pro has been abandoned since around 2019-2020 with no modern MySQL 8 or Apple Silicon support[cite-sequel-pro-github, cite-sequel-pro-beekeeper]
- Sequel Ace provides Apple Silicon native and notarised builds via Mac App Store and GitHub[cite-sequel-ace-mac-app-store, cite-sequel-ace-release]
- Sequel Ace supports MySQL 8 caching_sha2_password while Sequel Pro requires downgrade[cite-sequel-ace-github, cite-sequel-pro-beekeeper]
- Both apps are free with no paid tier for core use[cite-sequel-ace-mac-app-store, cite-sequel-ace-official]
- 1Sequel Ace - official site
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Sequel Ace is a fast, easy-to-use Mac database management application for working with MySQL and MariaDB, the community fork of Sequel Pro."
- 2Sequel-Ace/Sequel-Ace on GitHub
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Active fork with 5.x releases, Apple Silicon support and MySQL 8 compatibility fixes."
- 3Sequel Ace releases - 5.0.0
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Sequel Ace production releases including 5.0 and subsequent patches for macOS."
- 4sequelpro/sequelpro on GitHub - issue 3705
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Long-running issue documenting stalled maintenance and the move to Sequel Ace as successor."
- 5Beekeeper Studio - Sequel Pro alternatives
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Beekeeper Studio overview listing Sequel Ace as the maintained drop-in replacement for abandoned Sequel Pro."
- 6Sequel Ace on the Mac App Store
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Sequel Ace listing on the Mac App Store — free download with native Apple Silicon support."
- 7TablePlus - Database GUI comparisons
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Independent database client comparisons noting Sequel Ace as the Sequel Pro successor on Mac."
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
MySQL GUIs for macOS
Native Mac applications for visual MySQL and MariaDB management, query editing and import/export
Abandoned software and forks
How community forks sustain beloved tools when upstream stalls, and how to migrate safely