DbGate — a modern alternative to Adminer

If you appreciate Adminer’s lightweight approach but need more powerful features, better UX, and desktop applications, meet DbGate. It’s a cross-platform database manager that goes beyond basic web-based administration — offering native desktop apps, advanced query tools, and support for both SQL and NoSQL databases.

Why teams choose DbGate over Adminer

Desktop and Web included. While Adminer is web-only, DbGate gives you native desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus a modern web interface. Choose the best tool for each task.

Advanced query tools. Powerful SQL editor with syntax highlighting, auto-completion, query history, and result visualization. Far beyond Adminer’s basic textarea input.

Modern, intuitive UX. Clean interface with smart defaults, keyboard shortcuts, and responsive design. No more cramped forms or basic HTML tables.

SQL and NoSQL support. DbGate handles MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, MongoDB, Redis, and more with a consistent interface. Adminer focuses primarily on SQL databases.

Built for collaboration. Share connections securely, co-edit queries and ER diagrams, and keep everyone in sync without shuffling files around using DbGate Cloud.

Enterprise-ready security. Single Sign-On (OAuth2/OIDC), external IdPs, Azure Managed Identity, AWS IAM, audit logs, and role-based access control give you enterprise-grade guardrails.

No PHP/Apache required for desktop. Run DbGate as a standalone desktop application without web server dependencies.

Developers point of view

Adminer is a remarkable single-file PHP application (around 470KB) that has been around since 2007, created by Czech programmer Jakub Vrána. Its minimalist approach and tiny footprint make it perfect for quick server-side database access, but this simplicity comes with limitations: basic UI, limited features, and web-only access. DbGate, also developed by Czech programmers, is built with modern JavaScript/TypeScript and Electron, offering a full-featured database management experience with native desktop apps, advanced editing capabilities, and a modern tech stack — while still providing web access when needed. Both tools share Czech engineering excellence, but take different approaches to solving database management challenges.

What makes DbGate feel better

• Native desktop apps: True applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux — not just web-based access.
• Advanced SQL editor: Syntax highlighting, auto-completion, query history, and result visualization.
• Modern interface: Clean, responsive design with intuitive navigation and keyboard shortcuts.
• Schema visualization: Interactive ER diagrams and relationship mapping.
• Multi-database support: Work with SQL and NoSQL databases in one tool.
• Team collaboration: Share connections, queries, and diagrams securely with built-in features.
• No web server required: Desktop apps run standalone without PHP/Apache dependencies.
• Advanced features: Data import/export, query builders, and sophisticated data editing tools.

Feature comparison: Adminer vs DbGate

When to choose DbGate over Adminer

• Desktop users who prefer native applications over browser-based tools
• Teams needing advanced features like query builders, ER diagrams, and collaboration
• Modern workflows requiring sophisticated SQL editing and data visualization
• Multi-database environments working with both SQL and NoSQL databases
• Developers wanting better UX with modern interface and keyboard shortcuts
• Collaborative teams who need to share connections and queries securely
• Projects requiring no PHP where desktop-only access is preferred

When Adminer might still be useful

• Quick server-side access when you need a single-file solution on a web server
• Minimal footprint requirements where 470KB matters more than features
• Simple administration tasks that don’t require advanced tooling