tpaw vs TablePlus
A free, native macOS alternative to TablePlus
TablePlus is one of the most polished database GUIs available — fast, native, and well-designed. It built a loyal following by being the antidote to DataGrip's JVM weight and DataGrip's price tag. The catch: TablePlus costs $99 for a full license, has a restrictive free tier, and doesn't include a monitoring dashboard, a command palette, or environment safety features. tpaw is the free, PostgreSQL-focused answer to exactly that gap.
Why developers use TablePlus
TablePlus has real strengths. Here is why teams pick it.
- Clean, polished native UI that doesn't feel like an IDE
- Supports many databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Redis, and more
- Fast startup and responsive feel
- One-time purchase (not a recurring subscription)
Pricing at a glance
tpaw
Free
No license. No trial. No freemium tier. Everything included.
TablePlus
$99+
$99 one-time purchase for a lifetime license (2 device limit). Annual updates subscription required for new major versions. Free tier available with limited open tabs and connections.
TablePlus pricing verified March 2026.
tpaw vs TablePlus — full comparison
Data verified March 2026.
| Feature | tpaw | TablePlus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $99 one-time (+ update subscription) |
| Free tier | Full — no limits | Limited (2 tabs, 2 connections) |
| Platform | macOS only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS |
| Runtime | Native (Rust/Tauri) | Native (C++) |
| Cold start | < 1 second | 1–2 seconds |
| PostgreSQL support | Yes | Yes |
| SQLite support | No | Yes |
| MySQL support | No | Yes |
| Redis support | No | Yes |
| Command Palette (Cmd+K navigation) | Yes | No |
| Real-time monitoring dashboard | Yes | No |
| Environment color coding | Yes | No |
| Mutation Mode / 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 TablePlus to tpaw.
- Completely free — no license fee, no limited free tier
- Command Palette (Cmd+K) for instant table, view, and saved query navigation
- Built-in real-time PostgreSQL monitoring dashboard
- Environment color coding to distinguish production from dev
- Mutation Mode and Safe (read-only) mode to prevent accidental writes
- Open source Tauri + Rust stack — no closed-source binary
Where TablePlus wins
Be honest about trade-offs. TablePlus is better in these areas.
- Supports MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, and more databases
- Available on Windows, Linux, and iOS
- Longer track record and larger user community
- More customization options in the connection editor
- Established, actively maintained with frequent updates
Switch to tpaw if you...
- PostgreSQL developers who want a free, full-featured alternative
- Developers who want built-in production safety (Mutation Mode, environment tags, Safe Mode)
- Mac developers who hit TablePlus's free tier tab/connection limits
- Teams wanting a monitoring dashboard without a separate tool
Stick with TablePlus if you...
- Developers who need MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, or other databases tpaw doesn't support
- Teams using TablePlus on Windows or Linux
- Developers who prefer a one-time purchase over a free open-source tool
- Teams relying on TablePlus iOS
tpaw vs TablePlus — FAQ
Common questions about switching from TablePlus to tpaw.
- How is tpaw different from TablePlus if both are native Mac apps?
- Both are native, but tpaw is fully free with no tab or connection limits, while TablePlus costs $99 for a lifetime license and restricts its free tier to 2 tabs and 2 connections. tpaw also adds a Cmd+K command palette for navigation, a real-time PostgreSQL monitoring dashboard, environment color coding, and Mutation Mode / safe read-only mode out of the box.
- Can I import TablePlus connections into tpaw?
- There is no direct import from TablePlus today. You re-enter connection details once per database in tpaw. To make that painless, tpaw uses environment tags and color coding so production and staging connections are clearly distinguished, and SSH tunnel configuration is supported natively.
- Does tpaw have a multi-tab query interface like TablePlus?
- Yes. tpaw supports a multi-tab query editor and multiple workspace windows, so you can keep several queries, tables, and connections open simultaneously. Unlike TablePlus's free tier, there is no artificial cap on tabs or open connections, so you can work across as many contexts as you need.
- Does tpaw support the same databases as TablePlus?
- No. TablePlus supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB, and more. tpaw is PostgreSQL-only by design. If you need a single GUI across multiple engines, stay with TablePlus. If you are PostgreSQL-focused, tpaw gives you a Postgres-native experience without the license fee.
- What does tpaw include that TablePlus charges for or lacks?
- tpaw bundles a Cmd+K command palette for instant navigation, a real-time PostgreSQL monitoring dashboard, environment color coding, and Mutation Mode / safe read-only mode for production. TablePlus has no command palette and no monitoring dashboard, and several features require a paid license. tpaw provides these features at no cost.
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