Comparing RazorSQL, dbForge Studio, and Toad for SQL Server

By making an informed comparison of tools that work with SQL databases, DBAs can make a confident decision about which tool to use for their particular tasks.

We would like to analyze and compare the features of three tools for working with SQL databases: dbForge Studio for SQL Server, RazorSQL, and Toad for SQL Server. Upon reading this, you will gain a clear understanding of how the feature-rich Studio is the superior choice, streamlining your work with database-related tasks.

dbForge Studio is a versatile IDE available for Microsoft, macOS, and Linux. The tool has a vast range of features and capabilities that make it a supreme alternative to RazorSQL:

  • Version-control SQL Server databases and static data in Azure DevOps Server, Apache Subversion (SVN), TFVC, Git (including GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket), Mercurial (Hg), Perforce (P4), and SourceGear Vault
  • Ensure code quality with an automatic SQL syntax checker and code completion tools
  • Compare and analyze schemas and data with the powerful Compare Bundle tools
  • Generate random test data with 200+ generators in a single tool
  • Document SQL databases in HTML, PDF, and Markdown formats
  • Monitor SQL Server performance and tune slow queries visually with Query Profiler
  • Take database development to a higher level with database Continuous Integration (CI)

dbForge Studio vs RazorSQL vs Toad:
feature-by-feature comparison

The following table provides a detailed comparison of dbForge Studio v6.4.7, RazorSQL v10.1.1, and Toad v7.4.1.
For quick navigation, use the side menu.

SQL Editing & Execution

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Automatic SQL syntax check
Yes
Yes
Yes
Code outlining
Yes
No
Yes
Code snippets
Yes
No
Yes
Customizable SQL formatting and code beautifier
Yes
Yes
Yes
Wide range of SQL formatting options and profiles
Yes
No
Yes
Execute current statement
Yes
No
Yes
SQL editor with syntax coloring
Yes
No
Yes
Incremental search
No
Yes
Yes
Quick access to favorite templates from the SQL editor
Yes
No
Yes
Bookmarks
Yes
Yes
Yes
Text search
Yes
Yes
Yes
Document Outline window for quick navigation through large scripts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Execution of scripts, selected SQL fragments, and statements
Yes
Yes
Yes
T-SQL Code Analyzer
Yes
No
Yes
One-step access to the database object editor from the code (go to definition)
Yes
No
No
SQL Query History window
Yes
Yes
Yes
Execution warnings
Yes
Yes
No
Command-line interface for script execution
Yes
Yes
No
Command-line interface for code formatting
Yes
No
No

Code Completion

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Context-sensitive code completion
Yes
Yes
Yes
Keyword suggestion
Yes
No
Yes
One-click access to schema object definitions
Yes
No
Yes
on-the-fly renaming database objects in a script
Yes
No
No
Auto-generation of table aliases
Yes
No
Yes
Quick information about database objects
Yes
No
No
SQL refactoring with automatic correction of references to renamed objects
Yes
No
No

T-SQL Debugger

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Debugger framework for embedded stored routines
Yes
No
Yes
Step Into, Step Over, and Step Out commands for step-by-step execution
Yes
No
Yes
Set breakpoints for procedures, functions, triggers, and scripts
Yes
No
Yes
Breakpoints window
Yes
No
Yes
Call Stack window with navigation
Yes
No
Yes
Watches window for variable evaluation
Yes
No
Yes

Visual Query Builder

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Support for the SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements
Yes
Yes
Yes
Common table expression
Yes
Yes
No
State-of-the-art diagram
Yes
No
Yes
Zoom in and out
Yes
No
Yes
Keyboard support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Diagram preview
Yes
No
Yes
Diagram printing
Yes
No
Yes
Visual addition of sub-queries to any part of the main query
Yes
No
Yes
Query outline (displayed in the Document Outline window)
Yes
No
No
Visual editing of sub-queries
Yes
No
Yes
Expression builder for creating complex conditions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Move tables uisng the drag-and-drop feature
Yes
No
Yes
Copy/Paste for tables on the diagram
Yes
No
No
Undo/Redo support
Yes
No
No

Database Designer

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Visual Database Designer
Yes
No
Yes
Visualization of tables
Yes
No
Yes
Visualization of stored procedures and functions
Yes
No
No
Visualization of views
Yes
No
Yes
Easy access to database objects for viewing their properties
Yes
No
Yes
Support for IDEF1X and IE notations
Yes
No
No
Customizable diagram look and feel with skin support
Yes
No
Yes
Smart ER Diagram layout
Yes
No
Yes
Diagram export to different image formats
Yes
No
No
Arrangement of diagram shapes using containers
Yes
No
No
Customizable diagram printing with a rich set of options
Yes
No
No
Optional display of table constraints, indexes, and triggers
Yes
No
No
Integration with the Document Outline window
Yes
No
No
Diagram navigation with the Diagram Overview window
Yes
No
No
Notes for adding comments to a diagram
Yes
No
No
Export to image only
Yes
No
No
Zoom in and out
Yes
No
Yes
Save/Load a diagram
Yes
No
Yes
Forward engineering of physical database designs
Yes
No
No

Data Editor

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Data copying with column headers for quick pasting to a spreadsheet
Yes
No
Yes
Custom data filters of any complexity
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data Viewer window for browsing images, RTF, and binary cell values
Yes
Yes
No
Date/Time editor with a visual interface
Yes
No
No
Foreign key lookup editor for easy editing of fields referencing other tables
Yes
No
No
Free copying of any block of data to the clipboard
Yes
Yes
Yes
Full-text search (Ctrl+F) in the data grid
Yes
Yes
Yes
Single-row value view
Yes
Yes
Yes
Graphical card view
Yes
No
Yes
Grouping by arbitrary columns
Yes
No
Yes
Incremental search (Ctrl+I) through the data grid
Yes
No
Yes
Large objects (LOB) editor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multi-table query result set editing
Yes
No
No
Paginal data browsing for large result sets
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data printing
Yes
Yes
Yes
Quick filter available for each data cell
Yes
No
Yes
Record numbering option
Yes
Yes
Yes
Read-only state indication
Yes
Yes
Yes
Report and pivot building directly from the data editor
Yes
No
Yes
Server-side sorting and filtering for large data sets
Yes
No
Yes
Visible columns dialog
Yes
No
Yes
Editing of multiple execution results of one script on separate tabs
Yes
No
Yes
Autocommit mode
Yes
Yes
Yes
Export of the selected data to CSV, HTML, and XML
Yes
Yes
Yes
Export of the selected data to JSON
Yes
Yes
No
Export of the selected data to SQL
Yes
Yes
Yes
Export of the selected data to a file
Yes
Yes
Yes

Database Explorer

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Multiple database connections
Yes
Yes
Yes
Filter objects in the objects folder
Yes
Yes
No
Browse and navigate through objects
Yes
No
Yes
Detailed object properties and data browsing in the Object Viewer window
Yes
No
No
Dependency tree browsing for each object
Yes
No
No
Quick template script generation for the selected objects: SELECT, INSERT, etc.
Yes
Yes
Yes
The 'Send To' command for quick sending of tables to Query Builder, Data Report, and other tools
Yes
No
Yes
Objects Filter
Yes
Yes
Yes
Duplicate objects (tables, views)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Duplicate structure/structure and data
Yes
No
No
Duplicate objects (procedures, functions)
Yes
No
Yes

Table Designer

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Flat table editor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Convenient editor for foreign keys
Yes
No
Yes
Partitioning support
Yes
No
Yes
Preview of schema changes before updating a database
Yes
Yes
Yes
Heuristics that helps define data types of new columns
Yes
No
No

Object Editor

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Visual editor for database objects
Yes
Yes
Yes
Undo option for the Object Editor
Yes
Yes
Yes

Schema & Data Comparison

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Comparison and synchronization of data in databases of almost any size
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comparison of assemblies, procedures, functions, triggers, user types, sequences, synonyms, rules, defaults, and plan guides
Yes
No
Yes
Comparison of external resources: tables, data sources, and file formats
Yes
No
No
Service broker comparison (service, route, remote service binding, queue, message type, event notification, contract, and broker priorities)
Yes
No
No
Storage comparison (full-text catalogs, partition schemes, partition functions, full-text stoplist, and search property list)
Yes
No
Yes
Comparison of tables and views
Yes
No
Yes
Custom comparison keys
Yes
No
Yes
Comparison results filtering
Yes
No
Yes
Data synchronization script generation
Yes
Yes
Yes
Viewing of data differences per record
Yes
No
Yes
Exclusion of tables and records from synchronization
Yes
No
Yes
Saving and loading of comparison settings
Yes
No
Yes
Command-line interface for data comparison and synchronization
Yes
Yes
No
Generation of accurate comparison reports in HTML and Excel
Yes
No
Yes
Generation of comments
Yes
No
Yes
Specific options for tables, script objects, triggers, indexes, and constraints
Yes
No
Yes
Include\Exclude objects by mask in Data Compare
Yes
No
No
Include\Exclude objects by mask in Schema Compare
Yes
No
No
Schema comparison with script folders
Yes
No
No
Scheduled data synchronization
Yes
No
No
Save as Command Line
Yes
Yes
No
Comparison of tabs
Yes
No
No

Data Export

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
CSV
Yes
No
Yes
XML
Yes
Yes
Yes
Text
Yes
Yes
Yes
XLS
Yes
Yes
Yes
XLSX
Yes
Yes
Yes
PDF
Yes
No
No
DBF
Yes
No
No
HTML
Yes
Yes
Yes
RTF
Yes
No
No
JSON
Yes
Yes
No
Google Sheets
Yes
No
No
MDB (Microsoft Access)
Yes
No
No
ODBC
Yes
No
No
SQL
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data export from the command-line interface
Yes
Yes
No

Data Import

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
CSV
Yes
Yes
Yes
Text
Yes
No
Yes
XML
Yes
No
Yes
JSON
Yes
No
No
XLS
Yes
No
Yes
XLSX
Yes
Yes
Yes
Google Sheets
Yes
No
No
DBF
Yes
No
No
MDB (Microsoft Access)
Yes
No
No
ODBC
Yes
No
No
Data import from the command-line interface
Yes
Yes
No

Backup/Restore

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Copy database
Yes
No
Yes
Database snapshots
Yes
No
Yes
Native backup
Yes
Yes
Yes
Native restore
Yes
No
Yes
Scheduled backup
Yes
No
Yes
Database scripts folders
Yes
No
No
Generation of database scripts
Yes
Yes
Yes

Source Control

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Integration with Azure DevOps (Git, TFVC)
Yes
No
Yes
Integration with Git (GitHub, GitLab, BitBucket)
Yes
No
Yes
Integration with SVN
Yes
No
Yes
Working folder with SQL scripts
Yes
No
Yes
Shared and dedicated database development models
Yes
No
No
Commit, Get Latest, Undo Changes
Yes
No
Yes
Resolve conflicts: Get Local and Get Remote
Yes
No
No
Preview changes and differences before committing
Yes
No
Yes
Version-control static data
Yes
No
No
View the history of changes (who, when and why made each change)
Yes
No
No

Administration

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Server Event Profiler
Yes
No
No
Server Monitor
Yes
No
Yes
Index fragmentation management
Yes
No
Yes

User & Session Management

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Visual editors for users, logins, and roles
Yes
No
Yes
Visual editors for schemas
Yes
No
Yes
Visual editors for object level permissions
Yes
No
Yes

Data Analysis

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Display of table data representing parent-child dependencies (Master-Detail Browser)
Yes
No
Yes
Data report generation wizard
Yes
No
Yes
Data report designer
Yes
No
Yes
Pivot table designer
Yes
No
Yes
Chart availability
Yes
No
Yes
Chart building wizard
Yes
No
Yes
Data search on a live database
Yes
Yes
No
Automated report generation and distribution from the command line
Yes
No
No

Test Data Generation

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Support for all SQL Server column data types
Yes
No
Yes
Multiple generators with data customization
Yes
No
Yes
SQL data integrity support
Yes
No
Yes
Multiple ways to populate data
Yes
No
Yes
Meaningful generators
Yes
No
Yes
User-defined generators
Yes
No
No
Real-time preview of generated data
Yes
No
Yes
CLI wizard
Yes
No
No

Database Documenter

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Broad picture of database structure
Yes
No
No
Rich customization features
Yes
No
No
HTML format
Yes
No
No
PDF format
Yes
No
No
Markdown format
Yes
No
No
Text format
Yes
No
No
Documentation customization with style templates
Yes
No
No
View inter-object and inter-database dependencies
Yes
No
No
Command-line interface
Yes
No
No

Performance Tuning

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Visual SQL explain plan
Yes
No
Yes
Query plan displayed in the tree view for easy review
Yes
Yes
No
Profiling history that can be saved for further analysis
Yes
No
Yes
Comparison of profiling results with the highlighting of differences
Yes
No
No
Printing of profiling results
Yes
No
Yes
Top performance reports
Yes
No
No
Query Profiler with comparison results
Yes
No
No

Search

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Search for database objects
Yes
Yes
Yes
Search for table data
Yes
Yes
No
Preview of found pieces
Yes
Yes
No
Navigate to the object in Database Explorer
Yes
No
No

Unit Testing

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Unit testing based on the tSQLt framework
Yes
No
No
Command-line interface
Yes
No
No

DevOps Automation

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
PowerShell cmdlet collection
Yes
No
No
Jenkins plugin for SQL Server
Yes
No
No
TeamCity plugin for SQL Server
Yes
No
No
Azure DevOps plugin for SQL Server
Yes
No
No
Bamboo plugin for SQL Server
Yes
No
No

User Interface

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Start Page with quick access to main features
Yes
No
No
Rich user settings
Yes
Yes
Yes
UI skins
Yes
Yes
Yes
Customizable window layout
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tool windows with the auto-hide mode
Yes
No
Yes
Tool windows with the float mode
Yes
No
Yes
Multiple shortcut schemes with full shortcut customization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Syntax highlighting customization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tabbed groups for documents
Yes
No
Yes
Toolbar customization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Wizard for sharing common code standards and templates
Yes
No
Yes
GUI font
Yes
No
Yes

Database Connectivity

dbForge Studio
RazorSQL
Toad
Connection coloring
Yes
No
Yes
Connection categories
Yes
No
Yes
Read-only connection
Yes
No
Yes
Multiple sessions for one connection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Export/Import of connections
Yes
No
Yes
SQL Server 2000 or later
Yes
Yes
Yes
Microsoft Azure SQL
Yes
Yes
Yes

Price comparison

dbForge Studio
for SQL Server

One year of access to the product with support and upgrades included.

from $199.95

RazorSQL

RazorSQL is licensed per user, meaning the more users the higher the price. You can also start with a free 30-day trial.

from $99.95

Toad for SQL Server

Toad for SQL Server offers many editions for users to choose from. A free 30-day trial is also available.

from $451.20

What is RazorSQL?

RazorSQL is a cross-platform database administration solution that works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris. Its built-in visual tools allow creating, modifying, inserting, and deleting SQL queries, as well as browsing database objects. In addition, RazorSQL allows for data import/export in multiple formats and data comparison across databases.

What is Toad for SQL Server?

Toad for SQL Server is a management and administration software that helps database professionals to efficiently manage, develop, and administer their SQL Server databases. Toad supports visual tools for comparison and synchronization of SQL Server schemas, objects and data, and SQL scripts execution across multiple databases, as well as data import and export. Whether dealing with complex database development or administration tasks, the tool enables users to maintain high-quality code and speed up SQL and T-SQL development.

Conclusion

All three tools offer their unique set of features and capabilities. The one which is the best fit for you will be based on your particular needs and requirements. If you are searching for an all-in-one solution with extensive and advanced features, dbForge Studio for SQL Server is the ideal choice over RazorSQL and Toad for SQL Server. dbForge Studio provides a wide range of visual tools to make database development more efficient and enhance the productivity of developers.

Your ultimate IDE for SQL Server databases

dbForge Studio for SQL Server is a versatile IDE that has proved to be an exceptional assistant for SQL developers, administrators, and data analysts alike. Moreover, the Express Edition is an excellent free alternative to RazorSQL, suitable for beginners, non-profit organizations, and generally for anyone who needs a basic toolset at hand.

Get dbForge Studio for SQL Server today!

Download dbForge Studio for a FREE 30-day trial
to evaluate all of its powerful capabilities
hidden under a sleek user interface.
Download

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