SQL Server Management Studio alternatives for Mac

SQL Server Management Studio is Microsoft’s free tool for SQL Server and Azure SQL, and it runs only on Windows. Microsoft retired Azure Data Studio on February 28, 2026 and points its users to Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension, which runs on macOS too. TablePro is a native Mac client that connects to SQL Server and other engines.

Facts checked October 8, 2026Sources

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The short answer

Looking for an alternative to SQL Server Management Studio on the Mac? This is when each client fits.

Choose TablePro if

You work on a Mac and want a native app for SQL Server, where a T-SQL script runs batch by batch at each GO line.
You sign in with a SQL Server login, Kerberos or Microsoft Entra ID.
You also work with PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite or Redis, and want one client for all of them.
You want an AI assistant and an MCP server, free in the Mac app, with the AI provider you choose.
You want a free iPhone and iPad app that connects to SQL Server.

Keep SQL Server Management Studio, on Windows, if

You manage SQL Server Agent jobs, Always On availability groups or Always Encrypted.
You tune performance with live query statistics, tuning advisors and dashboards.
You manage logins, users and roles, or design tables in database diagrams.
You have a Windows computer to run it on.

At a glance

SQL Server Management Studio has no Mac version. Microsoft’s own option on a Mac is Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension: Microsoft retired Azure Data Studio on February 28, 2026 and points its users there.

TablePro and SQL Server Management Studio, compared on October 8, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Compared	TablePro	SQL Server Management Studio
Platforms TablePro Mac, iPhone and iPad macOS 13 Ventura or later Apple silicon and Intel builds iOS and iPadOS 18 or later SQL Server Management Studio Windows^{Source 1}	Mac, iPhone and iPad macOS 13 Ventura or later Apple silicon and Intel builds iOS and iPadOS 18 or later	Windows^{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 SQL Server Management Studio 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 SQL Server Management Studio No^{Source 1}	Yes: AGPL-3.0, including the code of the paid features	No^{Source 1}
Databases TablePro PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis and more Supported databases SQL Server Management Studio SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Synapse Analytics and SQL database in Microsoft Fabric^{Source 1}	PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis and more Supported databases	SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Synapse Analytics and SQL database in Microsoft Fabric^{Source 1}
AI assistant TablePro Yes Free in the Mac app, with the AI provider you choose, in the cloud or on your Mac SQL Server Management Studio GitHub Copilot writes, fixes and optimizes T-SQL. It is a separate component you add with the Visual Studio Installer.^{Source 1}	Yes Free in the Mac app, with the AI provider you choose, in the cloud or on your Mac	GitHub Copilot writes, fixes and optimizes T-SQL. It is a separate component you add with the Visual Studio Installer.^{Source 1}
iPhone and iPad TablePro Yes A separate free app, with no in-app purchases iOS and iPadOS 18 or later SQL Server Management Studio 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 No TablePro has no importer for SQL Server Management Studio. SQL Server Management Studio Does not apply	No TablePro has no importer for SQL Server Management Studio.	Does not apply
More about SQL Server Management Studio			More about SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Agent TablePro Not available SQL Server Management Studio Yes Microsoft calls it the supported home for SQL Server Agent and general administration^{Source 3}	Not available	Yes Microsoft calls it the supported home for SQL Server Agent and general administration^{Source 3}
Always On availability groups TablePro Not available SQL Server Management Studio Yes Configures, monitors and troubleshoots availability groups^{Source 1}	Not available	Yes Configures, monitors and troubleshoots availability groups^{Source 1}
Logins, users and roles TablePro Not for SQL Server. Users & Roles covers MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL SQL Server Management Studio Yes Logins, users and roles, and Always Encrypted^{Source 1}	Not for SQL Server. Users & Roles covers MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL	Yes Logins, users and roles, and Always Encrypted^{Source 1}
Performance tools TablePro No execution plan view and no tuning advisors for SQL Server SQL Server Management Studio Yes Live query statistics, client statistics, tuning advisors and dashboards^{Source 1}	No execution plan view and no tuning advisors for SQL Server	Yes Live query statistics, client statistics, tuning advisors and dashboards^{Source 1}
Database diagrams and table design TablePro The Structure tab edits tables, and the ER diagram is a read-only picture SQL Server Management Studio Yes Database diagrams and table designers^{Source 1}	The Structure tab edits tables, and the ER diagram is a read-only picture	Yes Database diagrams and table designers^{Source 1}
Microsoft’s tool on a Mac TablePro TablePro is a native Mac app from an independent project, not from Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Microsoft retired Azure Data Studio on February 28, 2026, with no more updates or security fixes. It points its users to Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension, which runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and opens their queries, scripts and database projects without conversion.^{Source 3}	TablePro is a native Mac app from an independent project, not from Microsoft	Microsoft retired Azure Data Studio on February 28, 2026, with no more updates or security fixes. It points its users to Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension, which runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and opens their queries, scripts and database projects without conversion.^{Source 3}

Where SQL Server Management Studio is stronger

SQL Server Management Studio is Microsoft’s own tool for SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance and SQL database in Fabric, and it is free.^{Source 1}
Microsoft calls it the supported home for SQL Server Agent jobs and general administration.^{Source 3}
It configures, monitors and troubleshoots Always On availability groups, and manages logins, users, roles and Always Encrypted.^{Source 1}
Live query statistics, client statistics, tuning advisors and dashboards help with performance work.^{Source 1}
GitHub Copilot, added with the Visual Studio Installer, writes, fixes and optimizes T-SQL.^{Source 1}

Where TablePro differs

TablePro runs natively on the Mac, with separate builds for Apple silicon and Intel. SQL Server Management Studio runs only on Windows.^{Source 1}
T-SQL scripts run one batch at a time, split at each GO line, with PRINT output and each result set in its own tab.
Sign in with a SQL Server login, Kerberos or Microsoft Entra ID, with tokens kept in your login keychain.
One client covers SQL Server next to PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Redis and other engines. See the supported databases.
The AI assistant and the MCP server are free in the Mac app, with the AI provider you choose.
A free iPhone and iPad app connects to SQL Server with a SQL Server login.

What TablePro does not do

There is no SQL Server Agent, no Always On management and no execution plan view for SQL Server.
Users & Roles is not available for SQL Server, and there are no tuning advisors.
Named instances and NTLM are not supported: connect to the instance’s TCP port, and sign in with a SQL Server login, Kerberos or Microsoft Entra ID.
On iPhone and iPad, TLS can be required, but the server certificate is not verified.
Some features are paid. Starter adds features such as Compare & Sync, Query Insights, Data Rewind and iCloud Sync, while SQL Server Management Studio is free.^{Source 1}

Switching from SQL Server Management Studio

TablePro has no importer for SQL Server Management Studio. Add each server as a TablePro connection: fill in the connection form, or paste a URL that starts with sqlserver:// into File > Import > Import from URL…

Choose Authentication on the form: a SQL Server login, Windows Authentication through Kerberos, or Microsoft Entra ID.
For Azure SQL Database, set SSL to Required or stricter, and fill in Database for a contained user.
A .sql file saved from SQL Server Management Studio can be imported into a connection, and its GO lines run a batch at a time.

Questions

Does SQL Server Management Studio run on a Mac?

No. Microsoft’s FAQ says it is available only for Windows. On a Mac, Microsoft points to Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension.

What happened to Azure Data Studio?

Microsoft retired it on February 28, 2026. It no longer receives updates or security fixes, and Microsoft asks its users to move to Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension, which opens their queries, scripts and database projects without conversion.

Should I use Visual Studio Code with MSSQL, or TablePro?

Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL extension, if you want Microsoft’s own tooling inside a code editor. TablePro, if you want a native Mac app for SQL Server and other engines, with a free iPhone and iPad app. Read about SQL Server in TablePro.

Sources

Facts about SQL Server Management Studio were checked on October 8, 2026 against these pages. Prices are list prices in US dollars, before tax.

SQL Server Management Studio FAQ (checked October 8, 2026)
SQL Server Management Studio 22 release notes (checked October 8, 2026)
What's happening with Azure Data Studio (checked October 8, 2026)

Latest SQL Server Management Studio release at that date: 22.10.2, published September 28, 2026.^{Source 2}

TablePro’s column describes TablePro 0.78.0 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.

More comparisons

Get TablePro

TablePro is free to download. Paid plans add optional features to the Mac app.

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