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Most buyers should pick Beekeeper Studio.
Choose Beekeeper Studio for a general SQL-client workflow: its free Community plan includes unlimited connections, queries, and tabs, and its listed annual paid plans start at $9 per user monthly. Choose DataGrip for JetBrains’ multi-database tool or if you qualify for non-commercial use. Its listed individual commercial rate starts at $9.08 monthly on annual billing, while its free plan is limited to non-commercial development. Beekeeper lists AI Shell and cloud workspaces on Professional and above.
01Side by side
| Beekeeper Studio | DataGrip | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/user/month annually; $18 monthly | $9.08/month annually; $10.90 monthly |
| Free plan | Yes; unlimited connections, queries, and tabs | Yes, non-commercial only; telemetry collected by default |
| Best for | SQL editing, table work, and shared workspaces | Multi-database development in JetBrains’ toolset |
| Core strength | SQL client, table editing, and cloud workspaces | Tool for working with multiple databases |
| Learning curve | Not published; presented as a SQL client | Not published; presented as a database tool |
| Integrations/data | Common databases; CSV, JSON, JSONL, and SQL export | Multiple databases; specific coverage not published |
| Team/seat costs | Professional $14; Business $18/user/month annually | Organizations: $21.58/user/month annually |
| Support | Email support on Professional | Support details not published |
Beekeeper Studio Choose Beekeeper Studio if
- Choose Beekeeper Studio if you want a free plan without tab limits.
- Choose Beekeeper Studio if you need table editing and data export.
- Choose Beekeeper Studio if you want listed team workspace features.
DataGrip Choose DataGrip if
- Choose DataGrip if you need a JetBrains multi-database tool.
- Choose DataGrip if your development is non-commercial.
- Choose DataGrip if you want its 30-day commercial trial.
02Pricing compared
Beekeeper Studio has a free Community plan with unlimited connections, queries, and tabs. Its paid annual plans start at $9 per user per month for Indie; Professional is $14 and Business is $18. Monthly billing is $18, $28, and $35, respectively. Beekeeper lists a 14-day free trial. Check the license details: Indie includes two users per license, while Professional includes 20 and Business includes unlimited users.
DataGrip is free for non-commercial development, not commercial work. Its individual commercial plan is $9.08 per month with annual billing or $10.90 monthly, and includes a 30-day trial. Organization licensing is $21.58 per user per month annually or $25.90 monthly. So Beekeeper’s entry paid rate is slightly lower, but DataGrip’s free tier may be enough if your use is strictly non-commercial.
03Features and depth
Beekeeper Studio is a general SQL client with a spreadsheet-like table editor, a table creator for structures, indexes, and foreign keys, and import/export options for CSV, JSON, JSONL, and SQL. Its editor supports syntax highlighting and table-aware autocomplete, and you can organize saved queries and connections into folders. The free plan supports common databases, though the published pricing details do not name them individually.
DataGrip is described by JetBrains as a tool for working with multiple databases. The available product information does not specify its database list or provide a feature-by-feature comparison with Beekeeper. JetBrains describes its IDEs as offering code navigation, relevant suggestions, built-in tools to run, debug, and test applications, and customization through configuration and extensions; those are broader IDE claims, not a detailed DataGrip feature list.
For Beekeeper, AI Shell and cloud workspaces are listed on Professional and Business, not Community or Indie. AI Shell works with a connected AI model to explore schemas, run SQL with permission, and check results.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Beekeeper’s interface is aimed at common database tasks: browse and edit tables in a spreadsheet-like view, build tables without writing SQL, and keep queries and connections organized in folders. Its free Community plan also lets you start without a paid license, with no tab limit listed.
DataGrip belongs to JetBrains’ developer-tool lineup. JetBrains says its IDEs offer navigation, relevant suggestions, and built-in tools, but the published information does not spell out DataGrip’s setup steps or learning curve. If you already work in JetBrains tools, its conventions may be familiar; otherwise, we can’t establish from these sources how quickly a new user will adjust. Choose based on workflow: a focused SQL client or a multi-database JetBrains tool.
Questions people ask
Is Beekeeper Studio free?
Yes. Beekeeper Studio’s Community plan is free and lists unlimited connections, queries, and tabs, with support for common databases. Paid plans add features such as JSON import/export, AI Shell, and cloud workspaces. The listed free trial is 14 days.
Is DataGrip free for commercial use?
No. The free DataGrip Non-Commercial plan is limited to learning and non-commercial development. For commercial individual use, the listed annual rate is $9.08 per month, or $10.90 with monthly billing. Commercial plans include a 30-day free trial.
Which is cheaper for commercial individual use?
On annual billing, Beekeeper’s Indie plan is listed at $9 per user per month, compared with DataGrip’s individual commercial rate of $9.08 per month. The difference is small; compare the included features and license terms, including Beekeeper’s two-user Indie license.
Does Beekeeper Studio include AI features on its free plan?
The published plan details list AI Shell on Beekeeper’s Professional and Business plans, not Community or Indie. Professional costs $14 per user per month annually or $28 monthly. AI Shell uses a connected AI model to explore schemas, run SQL with permission, and check results.