Top 5 MySQL Query Tools

Are you looking for a software solution that will make working with the MySQL database even easier? In this article, I’ll tell you about five highly recommended query tools that will save you time.

MySQL may already be familiar to you as the most popular open-source relational database management system (DBMS). It works in most applications, which is why the last Stack Overflow report rated MySQL as the most used database. It’s a component of the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, Perl/PHP/Python) web application software stack; you’ll find it in WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Facebook (now Meta), Twitter, YouTube, and many other companies’ tech stacks. And, of course, it’s used by numerous smaller businesses.

As great as MySQL is, you need more than a knowledge of SQL to work with it. That’s why there are specialized environments and tools that make querying a MySQL database faster and easier. In this article, we’ll examine some of the top MySQL query tools.

If you’re an absolute beginner, you may want to check out our SQL Basics in MySQL course or our more comprehensive three-course SQL Fundamentals in MySQL track. If you’re feeling really ambitious, our complete SQL from A to Z track will teach you everything MySQL has to offer.

Ok, back to MySQL tools that will make your life easier.

Our Picks for the Best MySQL Query Tools

Once you are ready to develop your MySQL skills, you need a place to write queries and interact with databases – you need an IDE, or Integrated Development Environment. There are a lot to choose from, so we’ve picked the 5 MySQL tools we like using the most.

1.   MySQL Workbench

This is a great visual tool, one that’s widely used by developers, database architects, and database administrators (DBAs). MySQL Workbench offers a wide range of functionalities, including comprehensive tools for server configuration, user administration, SQL backup, data modeling, SQL development, and more.

Source: mysql.com

From a design perspective, the MySQL Workbench environment is an excellent place to visually design, model, generate, and manage databases. A data modeler will find everything needed to create complex models. This tool also has features to smoothly perform change management and documentation tasks.

MySQL Workbench can also optimize the writing of SQL queries, thanks to its useful visual tools. They include color syntax highlighting, auto-complete, snippet reuse, and SQLexecution history.

Developers can profit from visual tools for configuring servers, administering users, and performing backup and recovery. MySQL Workbench also has a complete and easy to use solution for database migration, migrating Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Sybase ASE, PostgreSQL, and other DBMS’ tables, objects, and data to MySQL.

2.   dbForge Studio for MySQL

dbForge Studio is another universal IDE for MySQL. Its rich set of features and increased performance make it a good alternative to MySQL Workbench. These include intelligent code completion, formatting, MySQL prompts, and code snippets. In fact, dbForge Studio boasts that its MySQL code editor will double your coding speed.

Source: devart.com

Among its many helpful functionalities is the database compare and sync option. This is especially handy when you need to analyze differences between databases. With dbForge Studio, you can compare and synchronize data and schemas, schedule database sync tasks, and generate a comparison report.

There’s also a ‘Copy Database’ tool that makes transferring MySQL Server databases from one server instance to another much easier. You can customize copying settings, copy databases with their data, or drop a database if it already exists on a target server.

This MySQL IDE also provides important functions like the self-explanatory Data Generator, Query Profiler, and Visual Query Builder.The Debugger will execute your code step-by-step, while the Table Designer lets you gain control over changes you have made.

dbForge Studio has also Database Backup, Administration, and Database Projects; these help organize SQL scripts and query files in one place and in an offline mode. Last but not least, you can easily generate reports in 9 formats and migrate the database within the same instance or between different instances.

3.   phpMyAdmin

Let me introduce to you another free software tool, this one written in PHP. phpMyAdmin is designed to manage the administration of MySQL via the Internet. It helps with many MySQL operations, such as managing databases, tables, columns, relations, indexes, and more. You can handle it from the user interface level and still directly execute any SQL statement at the same time.

phpMyAdmin has a stable and flexible code base. It has been developed since 1998, so it is a trustworthy and mature MySQL IDE. As you’d expect, phpMyAdmin has a lot of features to offer: an intuitive interface, support for most MySQL functionalities, importing data from CSV and SQL, exporting to various formats, administering multiple servers, creating graphics of your database layout in various formats, creating complex queries, searching globally in a database, and many more.

The documentation of phpMyAdminis extremely helpful. And all users are welcome to contribute and update phpMyAdmin wiki pages, sharing their best practice and ideas on how to work with various operations. The team is also there for you if you need any help; you can use a variety of support channels.

If you are learning MySQL via online courses and you want an offline knowledge source to supplement your skills, I recommend the book Mastering phpMyAdmin 3 for Effective MySQL Management.

4.   HeidiSQL

This is another popular software, used widely when it comes to dealing with databases. Heidi presents itself as an easy-to-learn, friendly tool.

Like other tools presented in this article, Heidi is free to use and open source. It supports many database systems, like MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL, PostgreSQL and SQLite. It can connect to servers using a command line and can connect to different servers in one window.

HeidiSQL offers a lot of interesting features. You’ll find it easy to create and edit tables, views, triggers, stored routines, and scheduled events. There are useful export and import options, too: importing text files, exporting from one server/database directly into another, and exporting table rows as CSV, HTML, SQL, XML or other formats. There are also features that will keep your queries in order, such as customizable syntax-highlighting, code auto-completion, and code auto-formatting.

Source: heidisql.com

Before deciding to use HeidiSQL, you can learn more on their website. The most important info is on the main page, where you get to know what Heidi is and browse news. Using the menu at the top of the page, you can download the software, go to the forum to discuss topics you are interested in, and do other interesting and helpful things.

5.   DBeaver

This free multi-platform tool is another good choice for data administrators, developers, analysts or anyone who works with data. It supports all popular databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, Sybase, MS Access, Phoenix, etc. or any database having a JDBC driver.

Source: dbeaver.io

DBeaver is based on an open-source framework, which means it supports plugins and various extensions. You will find plugins for different database management utilities, e.g. ERD, data transfer, compare, data export/import, and mock data generation.

DBeaver also has a GitHub page packed with a huge amount of information. It will guide you step-by-step through installation, functionalities,and best practices as well as troubleshooting. For technical issues, feature suggestions, or anything else, you can use a GitHub user tracker and tackle your problem with the help of other users.

Use MySQL Tools to Improve Your Querying Skills

I hope that this short list of MySQL tools will help you to choose the one that suits you. Remember, iit is never too late to learn MySQL. If you need more information or motivation, try to reach for different sources of knowledge. If you are taking a MySQL course now, complete your knowledge by reading useful articles about MySQL data types, window functions or any other SQL topic you are interested in.

If you already have a favorite MySQL query tool, we encourage you to share your experience in the comment section.