Is TablePlus or Sequel Pro better for Mac?

TablePlus is significantly better in 2026 — it supports 20+ databases (PostgreSQL, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB, and more), is actively developed, runs natively on Apple Silicon, and has a beautiful modern UI. Sequel Pro only supports MySQL and has had minimal development updates for years, making it a legacy choice.

Is Sequel Pro still good in 2026?

Sequel Pro is still functional for MySQL on older Macs but has not received significant updates in years. It lacks Apple Silicon optimization, has known bugs that aren't being fixed, and only supports MySQL. For new setups, TablePlus is the recommended replacement.

TablePlus vs Sequel Pro (2026): Time to Upgrade Your Mac DB Client?

By ToolVS Research Team · Updated April 10, 2026

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Quick Answer

TablePlus wins clearly — it's modern, actively maintained, supports 20+ databases including PostgreSQL, Redis, and MongoDB, runs natively on Apple Silicon, and has a beautiful native Mac UI. Sequel Pro is a legacy MySQL-only client with minimal updates; it's time to move on if you haven't already.

TablePlus

9.1/10

Best modern Mac database GUI

Sequel Pro

6.5/10

Legacy MySQL client — not actively maintained

Feature Comparison

Feature	TablePlus	Sequel Pro
Pricing	Free (limited tabs); $99 one-time or $59/yr	Free — open source
Database Support	PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB, DynamoDB, and more	MySQL only
Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)	Native support	Not optimized
Active Development	Yes — regular updates	Very limited updates
UI Design	Beautiful native Mac UI	Dated but functional
Safe Mode	Yes — prevents accidental changes	No
Windows/Linux	Yes — cross-platform	macOS only
Best For	Modern multi-DB development on Mac	Legacy MySQL-only workflows

Which do you use?

TablePlus

Sequel Pro

Who Should Choose What?

→ Choose TablePlus if:

You want the best Mac-native database client in 2026. You work with PostgreSQL, SQLite, Redis, or any database beyond MySQL. You use an Apple Silicon Mac and want native performance. You want a modern interface with Safe Mode to prevent accidents in production.

→ Consider keeping Sequel Pro if:

You exclusively use MySQL and are on an older Intel Mac with a working Sequel Pro setup. You want a completely free tool and don't mind the limitations. However, we strongly recommend migrating to TablePlus or DBeaver — Sequel Pro's lack of updates is a long-term risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TablePlus free?

TablePlus has a free tier that limits you to 2 open tabs, 2 open windows, and 2 advanced filters at a time. For many developers this is workable. The full version costs $99 as a one-time purchase or $59/year for a subscription that includes updates. It's a reasonable price for a daily-use professional tool.

Why did people stop using Sequel Pro?

Sequel Pro peaked in popularity when MySQL was the dominant web database and Mac developers needed a native client. It fell out of favor because: (1) development activity stalled with minimal updates, (2) it only supports MySQL while modern stacks use PostgreSQL, Redis, and other databases, (3) it's not optimized for Apple Silicon Macs, and (4) better alternatives like TablePlus emerged.

Editor's Take

I've used both Tableplus and Sequel Pro extensively. Tableplus feels more polished out of the box, but Sequel Pro surprised me with how much it's improved recently. If I had to pick one today, I'd look at what my team is already using — switching costs are real.

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Last updated: April 10, 2026