tpaw vs DataGrip
A free, native macOS alternative to DataGrip
DataGrip is JetBrains's database IDE — powerful, multi-database, and deeply integrated with the JetBrains ecosystem. It's the go-to choice for developers who already use IntelliJ, PyCharm, or WebStorm and want consistent IDE muscle memory. The tradeoff: it costs $99/year, starts slowly, and brings a full IDE's worth of complexity to what often just needs to be a query runner.
Why developers use DataGrip
DataGrip has real strengths. Here is why teams pick it.
- Already paying for JetBrains All Products Pack
- Supports 20+ database engines including Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL
- Advanced SQL intelligence and schema-aware refactoring
- Deep VCS integration and team collaboration features
Pricing at a glance
tpaw
Free
No license. No trial. No freemium tier. Everything included.
DataGrip
$99/yr
$99/year with JetBrains Toolbox subscription (individual). Team licenses scale up.
DataGrip pricing verified March 2026.
tpaw vs DataGrip — full comparison
Data verified March 2026.
| Feature | tpaw | DataGrip |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $99/year |
| Platform | macOS only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Runtime | Native (Rust/Tauri) | JVM (Java) |
| Cold start | < 1 second | 10–20 seconds |
| App size | ~50 MB | 400+ MB |
| PostgreSQL support | Yes | Yes |
| SQLite support | No | Yes |
| MySQL support | No | Yes |
| Oracle / SQL Server | No | Yes |
| Command Palette (Cmd+K navigation) | Yes | No |
| Real-time monitoring dashboard | Yes | No |
| Environment color coding | Yes | No |
| Safe (read-only) mode | Yes | No |
| SSH tunnel support | Yes | Yes |
| No account / no license key | Yes | No |
Where tpaw wins
Reasons developers switch from DataGrip to tpaw.
- Free — $0 vs $99/year
- Sub-second cold start vs 10–20 seconds for DataGrip
- Native macOS app (~50 MB) vs JVM binary (400+ MB)
- Clean, minimal UI — no IDE overhead
- No license management or subscription tracking
Where DataGrip wins
Be honest about trade-offs. DataGrip is better in these areas.
- Supports 20+ databases including Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL
- Advanced schema refactoring and SQL analysis
- Git integration and team collaboration features
- Works on Windows and Linux
- Part of the JetBrains ecosystem (shared keymap, plugins)
Switch to tpaw if you...
- PostgreSQL developers who find DataGrip too heavy
- Developers paying $99/year who mainly run queries and browse data
- Mac users who want a tool that launches instantly
- Individuals not on a JetBrains All Products subscription
Stick with DataGrip if you...
- Teams needing Oracle, SQL Server, or MySQL support
- Developers who rely on DataGrip's advanced schema refactoring
- Teams already on JetBrains All Products where DataGrip is bundled
- Developers needing Windows or Linux support
tpaw vs DataGrip — FAQ
Common questions about switching from DataGrip to tpaw.
- Is tpaw really free compared to DataGrip?
- Yes. tpaw is completely free with no license key, no account, and no paid tier. DataGrip costs $99 per year for an individual subscription, or is bundled with JetBrains All Products Pack. If you only use DataGrip for PostgreSQL work, tpaw gives you the core workflow at zero cost.
- Does tpaw support as many databases as DataGrip?
- No. tpaw is PostgreSQL-only by design. DataGrip supports 20+ engines including Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, and SQLite. If you regularly work across multiple database types, DataGrip is the better fit. If your day-to-day is Postgres, tpaw is optimized for it.
- Can I import DataGrip connections into tpaw?
- There is no direct import from DataGrip project files today. You re-enter connection details once in tpaw. To stay organized, tpaw offers environment tags and color coding so you can clearly distinguish production, staging, and dev connections without scripting or custom setups.
- Does tpaw integrate with AI assistants?
- Not today. tpaw focuses on keyboard-first navigation via a Cmd+K command palette (like Raycast, but for your database) and production safety features. AI Text-to-SQL is on the tpaw roadmap but not yet shipped. DataGrip has optional JetBrains AI Assistant as a paid add-on.
- Is tpaw faster to launch than DataGrip?
- Yes, noticeably. tpaw is a native macOS app built on Rust and Tauri and starts in under a second. DataGrip runs on the JVM and typically takes 10 to 20 seconds to cold start. For developers who open and close a database GUI many times a day, the difference compounds.
Try tpaw — it's free.
Download and connect to your database in under a minute. No license key, no account, no credit card. Just a fast, native Mac app.
Download tpaw FreemacOS 13 Ventura or later · Free forever · No account required
Last updated: March 2026 · Pricing verified March 2026