Alternative to Navicat:
An in-depth comparison with dbForge Edge

Without a doubt, Navicat (especially in its Premium incarnation) is a proven solution that helps simplify quite a few database development tasks—and what's more, it is compatible with a really wide spectrum of database systems. But here and now we'd like to suggest a more than viable alternative to Navicat that's definitely capable of expanding your toolset and augmenting your skills. It's called dbForge Edge, and it is a high-end multidatabase suite of four IDEs that covers, among other systems, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle Database.

dbForge Edge is designed to help you handle a wide range of database-related tasks:

  • Effective SQL coding via context-aware code completion, object suggestions, flexible formatting options, smart refactoring, and advanced debugging
  • Visual building of complex queries without writing a single line of code
  • Query performance tuning
  • Quick identification of differences in database schemas and table data
  • Easy database migration and synchronization
  • Variegated data management, analysis, and reporting
  • Generation of column-intelligent test data
  • Generation of comprehensive database documentation
  • Database administration

Overview of Navicat Premium

Let's begin with a very brief glimpse at Navicat Premium. It's an application that provides you with a number of tools for effective, completion-aided SQL coding, manipulations with data, database design and management. You can explore all of its features firsthand during a free 14-day trial.

The benefits of Navicat

  • Lots of supported databases
  • Windows + macOS + Linux
  • Powerful SQL Editor & Debugger
  • Visual Query Builder
  • Schema Analyzer
  • Test Data Generator
Navicat Premium

Navicat Premium vs dbForge Edge

But what if you need more in-depth features at hand? What if you need an enterprise-grade solution for the most popular database systems? Well, take a look at dbForge Edge, a bundle of four all-in-one IDEs called Studios, each dedicated to one of the most popular database management systems: SQL Server, MySQL (plus MariaDB, of course), Oracle Database, and PostgreSQL (plus Amazon Redshift, among others). These Studios are native Windows applications; however, you can run them on Linux and macOS using a compatibility solution called CrossOver.

What else do you get with dbForge Edge? First, there's a huge documentation center and an abundance of helpful tutorials on our blog and YouTube channel. Second, you can always consult our support service. Finally, there is a hefty 30-day free trial that can be effectively used to explore all the features available in each Studio.

dbForge Edge vs Navicat Premium

Key features of dbForge Edge

Each Studio included in dbForge Edge delivers tools that help you handle a rich variety of tasks in the easiest way.
These tasks include database design, development, testing, and administration, as well as data analysis and management.

SQL Coding Assistance

Make your routine SQL coding twice as fast and completely faultless with an excellent selection of coding assistance tools.

  • Context-aware code completion
  • Instant syntax check
  • Predefined and custom code snippets
  • Variegated formatting options
  • Smart refactoring with automatic correction of references to renamed objects
  • Quick and efficient debugging of T-SQL scripts, functions, triggers, and stored procedures

Database Comparison and Synchronization

With dbForge Edge, you get all the necessary tools to help you keep database schemas and table data in sync at all times.

  • Identify differences in schemas and table data
  • Check data differences per record
  • Save and load comparison settings
  • Auto-generate data synchronization scripts
  • Retrieve comparison reports in CSV, HTML, and XLS formats
  • Automate comparison and synchronization tasks

Database Designer

Visualize database structures and logical relations between tables on entity-relationship diagrams, edit your objects directly on these diagrams, and group logically related objects with containers.

  • Build ER diagrams of any complexity
  • Design and modify database structures visually
  • Add and view foreign key relationships between tables
  • Inspect database objects and their properties
  • Run the reverse engineering of ER diagrams

Data Import and Export

It has never been easier to import and export your data with 10+ most widely used formats, flexible settings, handy templates, and effective automation options.

  • HTML
  • TXT
  • XLS
  • XLSX
  • Google Sheets
  • MDB
  • RTF
  • PDF
  • JSON
  • XML
  • CSV
  • ODBC
  • DBF
  • SQL

Query Profiler

Scrutinize and optimize the performance of your SQL queries most effortlessly using the integrated Query Profiler.

  • Find and eliminate query performance bottlenecks
  • View the EXPLAIN plan
  • Examine query profiling results
  • Trace queries and diagnose performance issues

Data Generator

Since it's not recommended to test databases with production data, you most likely wouldn't mind having a robust generator of column-intelligent dummy data for populating your databases. That's what you get with dbForge Edge.

  • Generate large volumes of realistic test data
  • Maintain the consistency of your data across multiple tables
  • Preserve inter-column data dependencies
  • Customize and share custom generators with fellow users
  • Fill your databases with test data in a few clicks
  • Automate recurring tasks

Feature comparison table

The following table contains a detailed feature-by-feature comparison of dbForge Studio for SQL Server 6.5.16 (Enterprise Edition), dbForge Studio for MySQL 10.0.60 (Enterprise Edition), dbForge Studio for Oracle 4.5.117 (Enterprise Edition), and dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL 3.1.789 (Professional Edition), and Navicat Premium 16.3.3. For quick navigation, please use the side menu.

SQL Editing & Execution

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
SQL editor with syntax coloring
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Automatic SQL syntax check
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Code outlining
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Customizable SQL formatting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Execute current statement
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Quick access to favorite templates from the SQL editor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Bookmarks
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Text search
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Document Outline window for quick navigation through large scripts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
One-step access to the database object editor from the code ('Go to definition')
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
SQL history
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Execution warnings
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
GUI transaction support
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

Code Completion

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Context-aware code completion
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Code snippets and Snippets Manager
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Automatic SQL syntax check
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
One-click access to schema object definitions
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
On-the-fly renaming of database objects
No
Yes
No
No
No
Auto-generation of table aliases
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Quick information about database objects
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Parameter information for stored routines
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Auto-generation of JOIN clauses
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Visual Query Builder

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Support for the SELECT statement
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Support for the INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
State-of-the-art diagrams with zooming and keyboard support
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Diagram preview and printing
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Visual addition of sub-queries to any part of the main query
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Query outline (displayed in the Document Outline window)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Visual editing of sub-queries
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Expression builder for creating complex conditions
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Drag-and-drop tables
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Copy/Paste tables to diagrams
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Undo/Redo
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No

Database Design

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Visual Database Designer
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Visualization of tables and views
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Visualization of stored procedures and functions
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Easy access to database objects for viewing their properties
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Support for IDEF1X notations
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Support for IE notations
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Customizable diagram view with skin support
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Smart ER diagram layout
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Diagram export to different image formats
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Search for database objects on the diagram
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Reorganization of diagram shapes with containers
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Customizable diagram printing with a rich set of options
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Optional display of table constraints, indexes, and triggers
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Integration with the Document Outline window
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Diagram navigation with the Diagram Overview window
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Notes for adding comments to the diagram
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Zoom in/out
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Save/Load diagrams
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

Table Designer

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Flat table editor
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Convenient editor for foreign keys
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Partitioning
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Full-text search on the column grid
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Preview of changes in schemas
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Heuristics that helps define the data types of new columns
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

Object Editor

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Check constraints
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Foreign keys
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Indexes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Stored functions
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Stored procedures
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Tables
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Triggers
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Views
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Undo option for the object editor
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

Debugger

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Script debugging
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Step Into, Step Over, and Step Out commands for step-by-step execution
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Breakpoints for procedures, functions, triggers, and scripts
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Breakpoints window
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Call Stack window with navigation
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Watches window for the evaluation of variables
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

Database Explorer

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Multiple database connections
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Browse and navigate through objects
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Detailed object properties and data browsing in the Object Viewer window
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dependency tree browsing for each object
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Quick template script generation for selected objects: SELECT, INSERT, etc.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
'Send To' command for quick sending of tables to Query Builder, Data Report, and other tools
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Refactoring of database objects
No
Yes
No
No
No

Data Editor

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Copying of data with column headers for quick paste to spreadsheets
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom data filters of any complexity
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data Viewer window for browsing images, RTF, and binary cell values
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Date/time editor with a visual interface
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Foreign key lookup editor for easy editing of fields referencing other tables
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Free copying of any block of data to the clipboard
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Full-text search (Ctrl+F) in the data grid
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Graphical card view
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Grouping by arbitrary columns
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Incremental search (Ctrl+I) through the data grid
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Large objects (LOB) editor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multi-table query result set editing
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Paginal data browsing for large result sets
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data printing
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Quick filter available for each data cell
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Record numbering option
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Read-only state indication
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Report, chart, and pivot building directly from the data editor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Visible column picker
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Schema & Data Comparison

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Comparison and synchronization of data in databases of virtually any size
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comparison of tables, views, procedures, functions, triggers, and events
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom comparison keys
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Filtering of comparison results
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Generation of data synchronization scripts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Viewing of data differences per record
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Exclusion of tables and records from synchronization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Saving and loading of comparison settings
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Command-line interface for data comparison and synchronization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Generation of accurate comparison reports in HTML and Excel formats
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Generation of comments
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Specific options for tables, script objects, triggers, indexes, and constraints
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Inclusion\exclusion of objects by mask
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Schema & Data Compare: Save Command Line
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Data Export

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
CSV
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
XML
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
TXT
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
XLS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
XLSX
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
PDF
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
DBF
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
HTML
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
RTF
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
JSON
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Google Sheets
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
MDB (Microsoft Access)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
ODBC
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
SQL
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data export from multiple tables
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data export from the command line
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Data export templates
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Data Import

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
CSV
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
XML
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
TXT
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
XLS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
XLSX
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
DBF
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
JSON
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Google Sheets
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
MDB (Microsoft Access)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
ODBC
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data import from the command line
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Data import templates
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Database Projects

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
New project wizard with import from an existing database
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Project Explorer window for managing project files
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Schema View window for browsing logical project structures
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Project export to one of the multiple scripts
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Multiple build configurations
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Single-click project deployment on the server
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Comparison of projects with live databases
No
Yes
No
No
No

Data Analysis

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Display of table data with parent-child dependencies in Master-Detail Browser
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Database diagrams
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Data report generation wizard
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Data report designer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Pivot table designer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Chart building wizard
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data search on a live database
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Automated generation and distribution of reports from the command line
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Data Reports: Save Command Line
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Source Control

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Integration with Git, GitHub, SVN
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Shared and dedicated database development models
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Conflict resolution: Get Local and Get Remote
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Version control of static data
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
History of changes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No

Performance Tuning

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Visual SQL EXPLAIN plan
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Session statistics
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Query plan displayed in the tree view
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Profiling history that can be saved for further analysis
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Comparison of profiling results with highlighted differences
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Printing of profiling results
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Test Data Generation

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Support for all column data types
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multiple generators with data customization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
SQL data integrity support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Multiple ways to populate databases with test data
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Meaningful generators
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User-defined generators
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Real-time preview of generated data
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data Generator: Save Command Line
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Database Documenter

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Broad picture of database structures
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Rich customization features
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Export of documentation to HTML
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Export of documentation to PDF
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Export of documentation to Markdown
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Customization of documentation with style templates
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
View inter-object and inter-database dependencies
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Documenter: Save Command Line
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No

Administration

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Copy databases
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Backup/Restore databases
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Database snapshots
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Database backup to SQL and ZIP
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Database backup as a scripts folder
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Backup: Save Command Line
No
Yes
No
No
No

User & Session Management

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Comprehensive Security Manager for handling user accounts and privileges
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Session Manager for monitoring active server connections and tracing user sessions
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Server Monitor
Yes
No
No
No
Yes

User Interface

dbForge Edge
Navicat Premium
Features
SQL Server
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Start Page with fast access to main product features
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Rich user settings
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
UI skins
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Customizable window layout
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tool windows with 'auto-hide' and 'float' modes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Multiple shortcut schemes with full shortcut customization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Syntax highlighting customization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tabbed groups for documents
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Toolbar customization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Wizard for sharing common code standards and templates
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Your ultimate multidatabase solution

dbForge Edge by Devart is a bundle of four advanced database IDEs, whose unique features make it invaluable for the most versatile users. So if you need to handle a diversity of tasks across multiple databases, dbForge Edge might be exactly what you are looking for.

Download dbForge Edge for a free trial today!

Get a free 30-day trial of dbForge Edge to evaluate all of its capabilities hidden under a sleek user interface.
Download

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