Alternatives to rainfrog

Query databases through a terminal editor with history and favorites. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as rainfrog.

  • LazySQL

    Browse and query databases through a terminal interface.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    LazySQL is another MIT-licensed cross-platform terminal interface for browsing and querying databases, though the project describes itself as alpha software.

  • usql

    Use one command-line interface for many database systems.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    usql offers one consistent command-line interface across many database systems, without rainfrog's query history and favorites features.

  • Beekeeper Studio

    A SQL client that is pleasant to look at and works the same on Windows, macOS and Linux.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Beekeeper Studio replaces the terminal with a graphical cross-platform client, with higher memory use from Electron and some paid features.

  • DBeaver Community

    One database client for more than a hundred databases, with a proper SQL editor and ER diagrams.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    DBeaver Community moves querying into a full graphical client with over a hundred drivers and ER diagrams, but it is heavy and slow to start.

  • Harlequin

    A SQL IDE that runs in the terminal, with adapters for DuckDB, SQLite, Postgres and more.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Harlequin is a full terminal SQL IDE with adapters for DuckDB, SQLite, Postgres and more, installed through Python and paired with the hsql script companion.

  • pgcli

    A command-line PostgreSQL client with auto-completion and syntax highlighting.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    pgcli is a terminal PostgreSQL client with context-aware auto-completion and syntax highlighting, limited to PostgreSQL.

  • mycli

    A command-line MySQL client with auto-completion, syntax highlighting and fuzzy history search.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    mycli is a terminal client for MySQL, MariaDB and compatible servers with auto-completion and fzf history search, but it does not cover other engines.

  • LiteCLI

    A command-line SQLite client with auto-completion and syntax highlighting.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    LiteCLI is a terminal SQLite client with auto-completion and syntax highlighting, installed via pip or Homebrew, and works only with SQLite.

Also worth comparing

These listings name rainfrog as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • dblab

    An open-source terminal UI client for browsing and querying PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite and other databases.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    rainfrog is an MIT-licensed terminal query editor that adds query history, favorites and table inspection, though its database drivers vary in support and stability.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.