Finally, a Native Multi-Database Client That Won't Eat Your RAM
If you've ever waited for DBeaver to finish loading while your coffee goes cold, or wished TablePlus would just open its source, you're the person this project was built for. TablePro is a native, multi-database client that aims to be what TablePlus should have been—fast, open source, and not built on a JavaScript runtime.
What It Does
TablePro is a database client built with native frameworks on every platform. No Electron, no JDBC, no JavaScript runtime. The README claims a cold start under one second and idle memory around 80 MB, which is the kind of number you notice when you've been living with tools that routinely consume half a gigabyte just to show you a table.
It connects to a wide range of SQL and NoSQL databases through native drivers. MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Amazon Redshift, CockroachDB, SQLite, ClickHouse, and Redis ship built-in. Everything else—Microsoft SQL Server, MongoDB, Oracle, DuckDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB, BigQuery, and more—installs as a plugin on demand from a separate plugin registry. The app also includes AI features: chat, inline suggestions, and an MCP server that lets tools like Cursor, Raycast, or Claude Desktop talk to your databases. You bring your own API key, pick your own provider, or run local with Ollama.
Why It's Cool
The database client landscape on macOS has been stuck in a frustrating triangle for years. You can have open source, but it's usually single-database (Sequel Ace for MySQL, Postico for PostgreSQL). You can have multi-database, but it's closed source (TablePlus). Or you can have multi-database and open source, but it's not native—DBeaver runs on the JVM, Beekeeper Studio and DBGate run on Electron. TablePro positions itself as the missing fourth option: native, multi-database, and open source.
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The performance claims are specific. Cold start under one second, idle around 80 MB RAM. These aren't vague promises—they're the kind of numbers that come from not shipping a browser with your database client. If you've used Electron-based tools, you know the difference is real.
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The plugin architecture is smart. Built-in drivers cover the databases most people use daily. Everything else installs on demand. This keeps the core app lean while still supporting a genuinely wide range of engines—including some you don't see in typical clients, like Beancount, Etcd, and Cloudflare D1.
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AI is optional and provider-agnostic. The AI features aren't locked behind a subscription or a specific vendor. You can use your own API key, choose your provider, or run everything locally with Ollama. That's a meaningful distinction in a space where AI features often mean "we send your queries to our servers."
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The feature set is practical, not padded. SQL editor with autocomplete, multi-cursor, Vim mode, and syntax themes. Data grid with inline editing, sort, filter, and undo/redo. SSH tunnels with password and key authentication. Query history with full-text search. iCloud sync for connections, groups, tags, settings, and SSH profiles. These are the things you actually use every day, not checkbox features.
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The platform coverage is honest. macOS 14.4+ and iOS/iPadOS 18+ are stable. Linux is a prototype with nothing to install yet. Windows isn't supported. That kind of transparency is refreshing—you know exactly what you're getting before you download.
How to Try It
- Head to the GitHub repository or the releases page to download the app.
- If you're on macOS 14.4+ or iOS/iPadOS 18+, you're in stable territory. Linux users can check out the prototype, but there's nothing to install yet.
- Built-in databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Redis, and others) work immediately. For plugin databases, the app will prompt you to install the driver from the plugin registry.
- If you want AI features, configure your API key or point it at a local Ollama instance. The MCP server is there if you want Cursor, Raycast, or Claude Desktop to interact with your databases.
- Documentation lives at docs.tablepro.app, and there's a Discord if you run into trouble.
The project is licensed under AGPL v3, so you can inspect the code, contribute, or fork it if you want to write your own database plugin.
Final Thoughts
TablePro is best for developers who want a fast, native database client without the Electron overhead and without the closed-source lock-in. If you're on macOS or iOS and you work with more than one database engine, this is worth a serious look. The Linux and Windows situations are still early or nonexistent, so cross-platform teams might need to wait. But the core proposition—native performance, multi-database support, and open source—is a combination that hasn't really existed until now. It's a project to watch, and if you've been waiting for someone to build the database client you actually want to use, this might be it.
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