DbVisualizer vs. Redgate SQL Toolbelt Essentials

Whenever you have to access data sources from more than one database engine provider, you should consider using DbVisualizer for the task. Switching between multiples IDE consumes time and resources (memory), and you also need to learn menus, shortcuts, etc., for each IDE, while using DbVisualizer allows you to work consistently no matter which database engine you are connecting. You can use it to simply navigate through data structures, write SQL sentences or even create new tables and views, develop stored procedures, etc.

Incentivized

We use SQL Compare to troubleshoot performance problems quite a bit since our data model is more like a template and not everything is 100% in sync and customization occurs between different client databases. We continually get pulled into performance issues and the developers will say Client A is performing different than Client B, why? Using SQL Compare, we usually find that one client was tuned and had indexes altered or added that weren't deployed to all clients or other objects weren't deployed correctly during the release. On the other hand, since our data model practices allow client databases to drift I tried to create a new golden image by trying to compare multiple databases based on the same data model and found it to be a very difficult process to complete using SQL Compare. SQL Compare gave me too much information and doesn't allow enough filtering to eliminate a lot of the noise.

Incentivized

• Out-of-the-box support for many different databases.
• Intuitive UI for interacting with data.
• Flexibility of SQL Commander for writing scripts.
• Great support for working with JSON data in recent updates.
• Database connections over SSH.
• Table relationship visualization is very helpful.
• The tree view is well organized in how it splits out schemas.

• Simple and easy comparison of database schemas and data. Differences can be copied or synced from one database to another with a click of a button.
• You can save "projects" so that you can easily rerun a previous comparison whenever you need to.
• It has a very simple, easy to learn interface. I've never needed to read any documentation or watch any tutorials in order to figure out how to do something.

Incentivized

• Small, but noticeable: it would be nice to be able to highlight just one column of a data output for copy/paste by clicking on the column header (a feature some of us are accustomed to from SQL Server Management Studio)
• Is there an ability to bulk import an excel file to a table in a connected SQL Server in DbVis? If so, I haven't figured that out yet. I still largely use Microsoft SSMS to import data to our team's personal SQL Server, but can easily query that server via DbVis)
• (I really don't have any major complaints - our company has tried to steer users toward DBeaver for YEARS, which I cannot stand. DbVis knocks the beaver out of the water)

• Pricing.... I wish there was an inexpensive developer version I could buy for myself.
• Portability.... I would like to use it from a flash drive so I can use it where ever I am asked to work.
• Unbundled.... This may be available already but I dont' recall I can buy it cheaply as a stand-alone product. Its only part of the bundle - cost effectively.

Incentivized

We never had problems with it. It is able to connect to all data sources (Oracle, Informix, DB2, SQL Server) that we currently use.

Incentivized

I use this tool for several hours each day, spanning many years in various projects. It's wide support for various database types while keeping consistency within the UI for each is important when working with various databases day in and day out.

It's a good tool to have, but becomes expensive to buy a user license for each developer.

Incentivized

Never used

Incentivized

They have a great community website where you can search for answers but are also very responsive when it comes to direct support.

Incentivized

[DbVisualizer] is pretty easy to use compared to IntelliJ because of it's simplicity. The performance is very good, it feels as good as a native application compared to the other two softwares I used for the same purpose. It's very cheaper compared to the other two tools and that's a big selling point.

Incentivized

I've used Visual Studio Database Projects for this type of work in the past with some success, but Redgate SQL Compare is faster, more transparent, and simply easier to use. Faster is self explanatory. More transparent, means that it's much easier to set up your desired options for schema change deployment scripts. Easier to use, It's really dead simple. Start a project, connect your source, connect destination, click compare.

Incentivized

• Positive: Real time saver when working across multiple databases. At least 30-40 mins a day are saved
• Positive: Helpful for the 'quick DBA' tasks without switching to the native tools: approx 1-2 hours saved weekly
• Positive: Easy switch between environments / schemas / etc without hassle: saved at least an hour daily

• Makes deployment fairly simple. Cutting our deployment time down.
• With the SDK, we can customize our deployment process very quickly and easily.
• History is not great, it does create scripts you can go back and see but it would be nice to have a quicker version view by object to save time.

Incentivized