9 best tools for working with Microsoft SQL Server

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10 July 2020

This material provides an overview of 9 best tools that programmers and administrators use to work with Microsoft SQL Server.

Azure Data Studio

Azure Data Studio is a free, cross-platform, open source tool for working with Microsoft SQL Server databases. Azure Data Studio is based on Visual Studio Code and is oriented towards SQL developers, since the main purpose of Azure Data Studio is to write, edit and execute SQL queries, in other words, it is an SQL code editor.

Azure Data Studio is a free

Azure Data Studio allows you to work with Microsoft SQL Server databases, SQL Azure, as well as with other databases, for example, PostgreSQL.

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Main features

Free Cross-platform
Tool (Windows, Linux, macOS support)
SQL Developer Orientation
Advanced SQL Editor (IntelliSense technology, SQL code fragments)
Extensibility (built-in extension support)
Work with other DBMS
Built-in ability to upload data in Excel, XML, JSON format, CSV
Grouping of Server Connections
Data visualization with charts and graphs Support for several color themes
Built-in terminal (Bash, PowerShell, sqlcmd)
Notebooks

Shortcomings

No table constructor
No functionality to work with object properties
No security management capability
No DACPAC import and export capability
No functionality for most administration tasks

SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a free graphical infrastructure management environment for SQL Server developed by Microsoft.

SQL Server Management Studio SSMS

With SSMS you can develop databases, execute T-SQL instructions and administer Microsoft SQL Server. SQL Server Management Studio is a basic, standard and fully functional tool for working with Microsoft SQL Server, designed for both developers and SQL Server administrators.

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Main features

Wednesday is free
The environment has full functionality for working with Microsoft SQL Server
Suitable for both developers and database administrators

Shortcomings

The environment is implemented only on Windows
Most of the functionality is not required by ordinary developers or administrators
The tool is heavy enough

SQL Server Data Tools

SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is a separate component (workload) of Visual Studio designed for development of SQL Server relational databases.

SQL Server Data Tools

SSDT is designed for database design development using all the features and advantages of Visual Studio, as well as the familiar to developers interface and functionality. Thus, SQL Server Data Tools is designed for developers who create applications in Visual Studio environment.

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Main features

Integrated in Visual Studio
Familiar Visual Studio interface and functionality
Focus on database development
Coverage of all stages of database development You can work with both a database project and a connected database instance.
GUI Table Builder
Navigation by code
IntelliSense Technology
Reassembly and debugging
Database refactoring
Declarative changes in the Transact-SQL editor

Shortcomings

The tool is implemented only under Windows
The tool cannot be used without Visual Studio
Not suitable for easy writing, editing and execution of SQL queries
Not suitable for SQL Server administration

The mssql extension for Visual Studio Code

The mssql extension for Visual Studio Code is the official Microsoft extension intended for working with SQL Server in Visual Studio Code.

The mssql extension for Visual Studio Code

The mssql extension supports connections to SQL Server and advanced features for creating, editing and executing SQL queries in Visual Studio Code.

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Main features

The tool is free
Integrated into Visual Studio Code
Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS support)
T-SQL code development orientation
Advanced SQL Editor (IntelliSense technology, SQL code fragments)
Built-in ability to upload data in Excel, JSON, CSV format

Shortcomings

No functionality for database and SQL server administration.
No table constructor available.
No functionality for working with object properties
There is no security management capability
No possibility of DACPAC import and export
The tool cannot be used without Visual Studio Code

dbForge Studio for SQL Server

dbForge Studio for SQL Server is an environment for development and administration of Microsoft SQL Server databases by Devart.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server

dbForge Studio for SQL Server is a comprehensive solution for working with Microsoft SQL Server and can be used by both SQL developers and SQL Server administrators.

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Main features

Advanced SQL editor (autocompletion, code templates, formatting)
Version control
Creating queries and tables in graphical constructor
Graphical data editor (the resulting data set can be edited)
Database diagram
T-SQL code debugger
Request profiler as well as server event profiler
Ability to compare schemes and data
Data Generator
Documenting tools
Built-in data import and export in Excel, XML, JSON, TXT, DBF, CSV, PDF format
Database administration
Data reports
Linked Table Viewer

Shortcomings

The tool is paid
The tool is implemented only under Windows
Some of the functionality is not required by ordinary developers or administrators

Navicat for SQL Server

Navicat for SQL Server is a graphical tool for database development and administration in Microsoft SQL Server.

Navicat for SQL Server

With this tool you can create, edit and delete any database objects, develop and execute SQL queries and instructions, and view data in tables, including binary and hexadecimal data.

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Main features

Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS support)
Advanced SQL editor (code autocompletion, code fragments)
Object Designer
Ability to compare and synchronize data in databases
Built-in data design and simulation capability
Data visualization with charts and graphs
Built-in data import and export in Excel, XML, JSON, TXT, DBF, CSV format
Theme dark mode

Shortcomings

The tool is paid

EMS SQL Management Studio for SQL Server

EMS SQL Management Studio for SQL Server is a comprehensive solution for database development and administration in Microsoft SQL Server from EMS.

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Main features

Create queries in visual editor
Data Generator
Built-in data import and export in Excel, XML, JSON, TXT, DBF, CSV, PDF format
Ability to compare and synchronize data in databases
Database administration

Shortcomings

The tool is paid
The tool is implemented only under Windows

DataGrip

DataGrip is a universal tool for working with databases, it can work with Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, Sybase, DB2 and others.

DataGrip

The developer of DataGrip is JetBrains.

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Main features

Advanced SQL Editor
Working with multiple DBMS
Support for diagrams
Tabular Data Editor
Colour schemes
Code Generator

Shortcomings

The tool is paid
Not oriented towards Microsoft SQL Server (the tool is intended for many DBMS)

SQLCMD

SQLCMD is a standard console tool for working with Microsoft SQL Server from Microsoft.

SQLCMD

You will not be able to use this tool as the main tool of SQL Server development and administration, because it is mainly intended for some service tasks, script execution and so on.

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