TablePro vs Sequel Ace

Sequel Ace focuses on MySQL and MariaDB. TablePro also supports other database types. Both are actively maintained, open-source clients with native apps.

Facts checked October 8, 2026Sources

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Choosing between them

Reasons to use TablePro or Sequel Ace.

Consider TablePro for

MySQL and MariaDB alongside other database types.
Free AI chat with your choice of provider.
EXPLAIN diagrams, ER diagrams and Vim mode.

Consider Sequel Ace for

A focused MySQL and MariaDB client.
Every feature free, with no paid plans.
A familiar Sequel Pro interface, available on the Mac App Store.

At a glance

Both apps are free to download and open source. Sequel Ace added a built-in MCP server in version 5.3.0, released June 30, 2026. It has no AI chat in the app.

TablePro and Sequel Ace, compared on October 8, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Compared	TablePro	Sequel Ace
Platforms TablePro Mac, iPhone and iPad macOS 13 Ventura or later Runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel iOS and iPadOS 18 or later Sequel Ace Mac macOS 13.5 or later Runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel^{Source 1}	Mac, iPhone and iPad macOS 13 Ventura or later Runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel iOS and iPadOS 18 or later	Mac macOS 13.5 or later Runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel^{Source 1}
Built with TablePro Swift, with native database drivers Sequel Ace Objective-C^{Source 1}	Swift, with native database drivers	Objective-C^{Source 1}
Price TablePro Free to use. Paid plans add optional features to the Mac app. Starter: $2.99 a month, $24 a year or $59 once, for up to 2 devices Team: $1.25 a month, $10 a year or $25 once, per seat, at least 5 seats The iPhone and iPad app is free, with no in-app purchases. See pricing Sequel Ace Free^{Source 1}	Free to use. Paid plans add optional features to the Mac app. Starter: $2.99 a month, $24 a year or $59 once, for up to 2 devices Team: $1.25 a month, $10 a year or $25 once, per seat, at least 5 seats The iPhone and iPad app is free, with no in-app purchases. See pricing	Free^{Source 1}
Open source TablePro Yes: AGPL-3.0, including the code of the paid features Sequel Ace Yes: MIT^{Source 1}	Yes: AGPL-3.0, including the code of the paid features	Yes: MIT^{Source 1}
Databases TablePro PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis and more Supported databases Sequel Ace MySQL 5.7 or later and MariaDB 10.0 or later, and no other databases^{Source 4}	PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis and more Supported databases	MySQL 5.7 or later and MariaDB 10.0 or later, and no other databases^{Source 4}
AI assistant TablePro Yes Free in the Mac app. Choose a cloud provider or local model; provider fees may apply. Sequel Ace No No AI chat in the app. Outside AI clients can use its MCP server.^{Source 2}	Yes Free in the Mac app. Choose a cloud provider or local model; provider fees may apply.	No No AI chat in the app. Outside AI clients can use its MCP server.^{Source 2}
MCP server TablePro Yes Free in the Mac app. Localhost only, with per-connection access controls. Sequel Ace Yes Built in, off by default, listens only on your Mac and is read-only by default. It offers 19 tools. Since version 5.3.0, June 30, 2026^{Source 3}	Yes Free in the Mac app. Localhost only, with per-connection access controls.	Yes Built in, off by default, listens only on your Mac and is read-only by default. It offers 19 tools. Since version 5.3.0, June 30, 2026^{Source 3}
iPhone and iPad TablePro Yes A separate free app, with no in-app purchases iOS and iPadOS 18 or later Sequel Ace No^{Source 1}	Yes A separate free app, with no in-app purchases iOS and iPadOS 18 or later	No^{Source 1}
Moving to TablePro TablePro Yes TablePro imports Sequel Ace connections, including saved passwords. How to switch Sequel Ace Does not apply	Yes TablePro imports Sequel Ace connections, including saved passwords. How to switch	Does not apply
More about Sequel Ace			More about Sequel Ace
Mac App Store TablePro Not on the Mac App Store. Download it from this site or install it with Homebrew Sequel Ace Yes^{Source 1}	Not on the Mac App Store. Download it from this site or install it with Homebrew	Yes^{Source 1}
Users and privileges TablePro Users & Roles for MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL, with grants down to a column and the SQL shown before it runs Sequel Ace Yes^{Source 1}	Users & Roles for MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL, with grants down to a column and the SQL shown before it runs	Yes^{Source 1}
Bundles TablePro Not available Sequel Ace Yes^{Source 1}	Not available	Yes^{Source 1}
Coming from Sequel Pro TablePro No Sequel Pro importer. Move to Sequel Ace first, then import its connections Sequel Ace Yes A guide copies Sequel Pro’s favorites and settings into Sequel Ace. Passwords need a separate script, and SSH keys must be chosen again.^{Source 5}	No Sequel Pro importer. Move to Sequel Ace first, then import its connections	Yes A guide copies Sequel Pro’s favorites and settings into Sequel Ace. Passwords need a separate script, and SSH keys must be chosen again.^{Source 5}

Reasons to use Sequel Ace

Everything in Sequel Ace is free and open source under the MIT license. There are no paid plans.^{Source 1}
It is on the Mac App Store, so it installs and updates like your other App Store apps.^{Source 1}
Bundles let you add your own commands to the app, and its user manager edits MySQL users and privileges.^{Source 1}
It has a guide for moving from Sequel Pro, which copies your Sequel Pro favorites and settings into Sequel Ace.^{Source 5}

Differences that matter

Besides MySQL and MariaDB, TablePro connects to PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB and other engines. See the supported databases.
The AI assistant is free in the Mac app. It explains, optimizes and fixes queries with the AI provider you choose. Sequel Ace has no AI chat, and outside AI clients reach it through its MCP server.^{Source 2}
For MySQL work, EXPLAIN opens as a diagram, the ER diagram exports to PNG or SQL, and the editor has a Vim mode. All of this is free.
Compare & Sync compares two databases’ structure or data and generates a sync script. It is part of Starter.Starter plan
A free iPhone and iPad app connects to MySQL and MariaDB, with no in-app purchases.

TablePro’s limits

TablePro connects to MySQL and MariaDB over TCP only, not through a local socket file.
There is nothing like Sequel Ace’s Bundles for adding your own commands to the app.
TablePro is not on the Mac App Store and does not run in the App Sandbox.
Some features are paid. Starter adds features such as Compare & Sync, Query Insights, Data Rewind and iCloud Sync, while everything in Sequel Ace is free.^{Source 1}

Switching from Sequel Ace

Import Sequel Ace’s favorites and macOS Keychain passwords. Sequel Ace can stay closed, and its files are not changed.

In TablePro, choose File > Import > Import from Other App…
Select Sequel Ace. Turn on Include passwords to read saved database and SSH passwords from the macOS Keychain.
macOS asks for your login password once for each saved password. Choose Always Allow on each prompt. Cancelling a prompt skips the passwords that are left.
Review the list, decide what happens to any duplicates, and click Import. Groups, connection colors, SSH tunnels and SSL settings come across.
Before you remove Sequel Ace, open a connection that had a password to check that it came across.

Query favorites, query history, bundles and keyboard shortcuts stay in Sequel Ace.
Every connection arrives as a MySQL connection, MariaDB servers included.
SSH keys are linked by their file path. A key’s passphrase is not imported.
TablePro does not connect through a socket file, so a connection that used one needs a host and port before it opens.

Switching guide in the documentation

Questions

Can I keep using Sequel Ace after importing?

Yes. The import only reads Sequel Ace’s favorites file and its Keychain items, so both apps keep working with their own copies.

Both apps have an MCP server. How do they differ?

Sequel Ace’s server, added in version 5.3.0, is off by default, listens only on your Mac and is read-only by default. TablePro’s server also listens only on your Mac, and each connection decides whether outside apps are blocked, read only (the default) or allowed to write. TablePro also has an AI chat in the app. Read about AI and MCP.

I still use Sequel Pro. Where do I start?

Move your favorites to Sequel Ace with Sequel Ace’s own migration guide, then import them from Sequel Ace into TablePro. Sequel Pro alternatives walks through the path.

Sources

Sequel Ace facts checked October 8, 2026. Prices are US list prices before tax.

Sequel Ace repository (checked October 3, 2026)
Sequel Ace releases (checked October 8, 2026)
Sequel Ace MCP server (checked October 3, 2026)
Sequel Ace (checked October 3, 2026)
Migrating from Sequel Pro (checked October 3, 2026)

Latest Sequel Ace release at that date: 6.0.2, published October 4, 2026.^{Source 2}

TablePro’s column describes TablePro 0.82.0 for Mac and 1.0 for iPhone and iPad.

TablePro is an independent open-source project, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of the products compared here. Product names are trademarks of their owners.

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The core app is free. Paid plans add optional features.

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