Building databases with MariaDB means navigating complex syntax and deprecated features during version upgrades. MariaDB also poses security challenges. Any error in configuring user permissions can create a threat of unauthorized access.
Moreover, it’s difficult to implement a scalable architecture with MariaDB, especially when handling large volumes of data.
A good Graphical User Interface (GUI) software can make life easy when working with MariaDB.
MariaDB GUI tools can simplify data management and optimize performance. The result? Higher efficiency and a scalable architecture.
First, we’ll break down the key factors to consider when evaluating MariaDB GUI tools. Then, check out our 10 best recommendations.
5 key factors to look for in MariaDB GUI tools
Here’s a handy checklist of features to consider for choosing the ideal GUI tool for your needs:
- Ease of use: GUI tools help manage databases more intuitively. Pick tools that support drag-and-drop functionality with forms for data entry. These capabilities will make the database management process more efficient and reduce errors.
- Data management: A good GUI tool offers quick customization options like adding, deleting, and editing rows. These tools also offer functions to search, filter, and sort your database. You can conveniently manage your database in a few clicks instead of writing SQL queries for every action.
- Multiple data source management: Does your company have data outside of MariaDB, or will it ever in the future? Ensure your GUI tool allows data from multiple sources with seamless integration.
- Visual query building: Look for tools with a built-in query builder to create and edit your SQL queries without writing code manually. This capability will save time when building complex queries for creating tables and other elements.
- Design and modeling: You need a tool to visualize your database with a graphical schema easily. Look for design features that allow you to intuitively create relationships, tables, and indexes without writing SQL scripts.
- Permission management: A good GUI software tool for MariaDB also simplifies the process of managing multiple user accounts. Grant or restrict access for different users with checkboxes and use forms to collect more data.
Lastly, look for tools that support cross-platform functionality. This makes it easier to collaborate with your team members with a consistent user experience on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices.
Top 10 MariaDB GUI tools to simplify database management
Now, let’s look at our 10 best picks for MariaDB GUI tools with the key features and workflows explained for each tool.
Softr
Pricing: Free plan, paid plans start at $49/month
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux
Softr is a no-code GUI platform that connects your MariaDB database in seconds without manual imports.
With Softr, you can build internal tools or apps by integrating your databases and designing the user interface effortlessly. You can go from zero to one and launch a data-driven app in just three steps:
- Choose MariaDB as your data source from all the different options available.
- Use custom queries to visualize your data and customize your interface design.
- Test and make iterations before sharing it with your entire team or clients.
Put simply, Softr makes it easy to share data with different stakeholders—both internal and external. Moreover, you can maintain data privacy and maximize security with permission management settings.
What makes Softr a good GUI tool
Softr is a versatile GUI platform to build powerful apps. Whether you’re using a simple spreadsheet or a complex database like MariaDB, Softr makes it easy to design and develop data-driven platforms.
Here are a few factors that make Softr the best GUI tool for MariaDB databases:
- Make it easy for anyone to build data-driven apps without coding skills.
- No limits to the number of records added for building scalable databases.
- Short learning curve and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor to design the layout.
MySQL Workbench
Pricing: Community Edition available for free, Enterprise edition licensed through Oracle
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux
MySQL Workbench is a unified visual tool for developers and database architects working with MariaDB. It offers a suite of tools for SQL development, data modeling, and server configuration.
You can visually design and manage your databases. The platform also lets you build complex ER models and implement change management operations.
What makes MySQL Workbench a good GUI tool
Database architects can execute SQL queries with multi-node analytics, single-node transactions, and replicated transitions. Moreover, MySQL Workbench provides a comprehensive performance dashboard to identify high-cost SQL statements and IO hotspots. It’s great for optimizing queries quickly.
phpMyAdmin
Pricing: Free
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
phpMyAdmin is an open-source software that is purpose-built to manage the MySQL database. The browser-based platform simplifies database management, including browsing and dropping databases and creating tables, columns, indexes, and relations.
You can also manage users, privileges, and access permissions easily. phpMyAdmin lets you execute any SQL statement and run batch queries as well.
What makes phpMyAdmin a good GUI tool
One of phpMyAdmin’s unique value propositions is that it’s available in 72 languages and supports LTR and RTL languages. The software allows you to export data in multiple formats, such as SQL, CSV, XML, PDF, and more.
With the query-by-example (QBE) approach, you can create complex queries. The tool also allows you to work conveniently on the maintenance server and configurations.
HeidiSQL
Pricing: Free
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
HeidiSQL is another one of the free MariaDB GUI tools on our list. You can use this tool to edit and customize data structures running on MariaDB.
The tool lets you connect to several servers in one window with the option to connect via command line, SSH tunnel, or pass SSL settings. You can also execute MariaDB queries with distributed transitions, replicated transitions, multi-node analytics, and more.
What makes HeidiSQL a good GUI tool
HeidiSQL lets you export one server or database directly into another database. You can export table rows in different formats, including HTML, CSV, XML, SQL, and more. The tool offers the option to bulk edit tables and customize your databases—regardless of their size—quickly.
Navicat
Pricing: Paid plans start at $14.99/month
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Navicat is a native GUI tool for MariaDB database management. Database architects can connect to MariaDB servers locally or in a remote setting.
The platform offers features like virtual columns, object designer, and storage engines to effectively develop and manage your database. You’ll also find the option to build a data dictionary with ready-made templates to consolidate different documents related to a database.
DBeaver
Pricing: Paid plans start at $11/month
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
DBeaver is compatible with multiple database tools, including MariaDB. Developers can use this platform to work with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle.
DBeaver’s advanced SQL editor lets you highlight syntax, execute multiple queries, and work more efficiently with auto-completion. It also minimizes errors when creating and running queries seamlessly.
What makes DBeaver a good GUI tool
DBeaver supports complex authorization processes, like single sign-up, multi-factor authentication, and Kerberos. This high level of security makes it a good choice for keeping your data secure.
The platform also offers various data visualization capabilities to capture patterns and present relationships.
DbSchema
Pricing: Free
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
DbSchema reverse engineers your database structure to visualize data well without writing SQL queries. The platform lets you create tables, add columns, design indexes, and manage data relationships.
Its interactive layout can handle large databases with over 10,000 tables. The tool simplifies database design and helps developers organize their work with diagrams, query results, SQL editors, and similar tools.
What makes DbSchema a good GUI tool
DbSchema works well with multiple MariaDB databases. It also makes it easy to track and apply changes incrementally. The platform also lets you generate migration scripts to ensure two or more versions have the same schema.
Moreover, you can design schemas for any database offline. DbSchema’s data explorer also saves time with quick functions to update records.
Forest Admin
Pricing: Free trial, paid plans start at $48/month
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Forest Admin is another one of MariaDB's GUI tools worth exploring. Purpose-built for designing internal apps, the platform offers a fully-featured admin panel to operationalize your data.
Integrate your MariaDB database and customize the admin panel to best fit your needs. You can also connect other databases like PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, MongoDB, etc. Its architecture ensures that nobody except your designated users has access to your user data.
What makes Forest Admin a good GUI tool
Forest Admin offers an intuitive platform to edit, search, and filter your databases. You can also build automated workflows using trigger-based logic rules.
The tool offers various visualization options to monitor your data accurately and simplify interpretation.
Beekeeper Studio
Pricing: Paid plans start at $7/month
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Beekeeper Studio is a cross-platform GUI software to neatly visualize your MariaDB databases. The platform offers a user-friendly tabbed interface to design your databases by opening multiple queries and tables in different tabs.
Besides, you can pin the frequently used tables for quick access. Developers can also save SQL queries in the built-in storage function and access them anytime in the future.
What makes Beekeper Studio a good GUI tool
Beekeeper Studio supports several database platforms and makes it easy to work with different types of servers. It’s also easy to track your SQL queries and access any queries you recently executed.
The easy creation and customization capabilities also make Beekeeper a good GUI tool for visualizing your database.
DataGrip
Pricing: Free
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
DataGrip is another cross-platform tool for different databases, including MariaDB. The platform offers an intelligent query console to track all the changes and ensure you don’t lose any progress.
Developers can also write code faster by completing context-sensitive code. DataGrip will automatically analyze your table structure and database objects to edit or complete your code.
What makes DataGrip a good GUI tool
DataGrip’s multi-engine database environment is powerful enough to generate SQL queries based on a simple conversation. You just need to explain your data in simple language, and the AI assistant will create SQL commands in seconds.
Moreover, the platform can analyze two or more versions simultaneously to highlight key differences and track changes easily.
You’re all set to choose the perfect MariaDB GUI tool
MariaDB databases can be difficult to handle due to complicated configurations and several restrictions.
However, a good GUI tool can streamline data management and improve performance when writing and running SQL queries. Plus, you can also build a scalable and secure architecture for your database with reliable GUI software.
Take your time to explore and evaluate our 10 best recommendations. If you want to get started quickly with a user-friendly GUI software, Softr is the right choice. Sign up for free to see how Softr works with MariaDB (and other data sources).
What is Softr
Softr is the easiest way to turn your data into powerful business apps—no code required. Connect to your spreadsheet or database, customize layout and logic, and share with your team or clients.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
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Shreelekha Singh
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