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SQL Server Management Studio vs HeidiSQL: catalog facts
SQL Server Management Studio	HeidiSQL
Free Free to download from Microsoft.	Free Free and open source under the GPL. Donations are welcomed but nothing is withheld.
Windows	Windows, Linux
Official Microsoft tool for SQL Server and Azure SQL Query editor, scripting and administration in one place	Exports structure and data directly to another server, not just to a file Native Delphi application; it starts instantly and stays small
Windows only Focused on Microsoft database platforms	Windows-first; the Linux builds come from a separate Lazarus branch No macOS build
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License: Proprietary	License: GPL-2.0
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.