Mako vs DataGrip in 2026: An Honest Comparison
Mako and DataGrip both aim to make working with databases faster, but they represent different philosophies. Mako is a free, browser-based SQL client with AI query generation. DataGrip is JetBrains' commercial database IDE built for professional SQL developers who live in their editor. Both are strong at what they do.
This comparison reflects current versions as of early 2026.
At a Glance
| Feature | Mako | DataGrip |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (MIT) | $99/year individual, $229/year business |
| Platform | Browser | Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) |
| Database support | 6 (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, BigQuery, Snowflake, ClickHouse) | 30+ relational and NoSQL |
| AI query generation | Yes (natural language to SQL) | No (intelligent code completion only) |
| Code completion | Schema-aware AI autocomplete | Deep static analysis, refactoring, inspections |
| Team collaboration | Yes (shared connections, real-time) | No |
| One-click APIs | Yes | No |
| Schema editing | No | Yes (full GUI) |
| Version control integration | No | Git, SVN built in |
| Query scheduling | Yes | No |
| Stored procedure debugging | No | Yes |
| Visual EXPLAIN | Yes | Yes |
| Installation required | No | Yes |
Mako
Mako runs in the browser with nothing to install. Its core pitch is AI-powered querying: describe what you need in plain English and it generates SQL from your actual schema. It's built for teams, with shared connections, synced query history, and the ability to turn queries into REST API endpoints.
What it does well. Natural-language query generation is the standout. It reads your schema and produces context-aware SQL, which is especially helpful for exploratory work or when you're not fluent in a particular database's SQL dialect. The browser-based approach means zero setup overhead -- share a link and a teammate is immediately productive. Query scheduling, export to multiple formats, and one-click API creation round out a solid feature set for analytics and data exploration.
What it doesn't do. Mako is not an IDE. There's no schema migration tooling, no stored procedure debugger, no version control integration, and no code refactoring. If you write complex, multi-file SQL projects or manage database schemas through a GUI, Mako is missing those capabilities. It also connects to 6 databases -- a reasonable set, but DataGrip covers significantly more.
Pricing. Free and open source (MIT license).
DataGrip
DataGrip is a serious SQL IDE from JetBrains. If you've used IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, or WebStorm, the experience will feel familiar. It treats SQL as a first-class programming language with deep static analysis, intelligent refactoring, and context-aware inspections.
What it does well. Code intelligence is DataGrip's core strength. It resolves references across schemas, catches errors before execution, suggests column names based on context, and refactors SQL safely (rename a table and it updates all references). The console supports multiple database connections simultaneously, with per-schema context switching. Schema comparison, data diff tools, and a full visual schema editor make it a proper DBA workbench. Version control (Git, SVN) is integrated directly. For developers who write SQL all day, the productivity gains from DataGrip's tooling are real.
What it doesn't do. DataGrip has no AI query generation -- its completions are powerful but based on static analysis, not natural language. There's no team collaboration, no shared connections, and no web access. It's a single-user desktop application. There's no query scheduling or API generation. And it costs money -- $229/year for business use, $99/year for individual, with no free tier (only a 30-day trial).
Pricing. Individual: $99/year first year, drops to $59/year from year three. Business: $229/year first year, drops to $137/year from year three. Free for students and open-source contributors. Also included in the JetBrains All Products Pack ($249/year individual).
When to Use Which
Choose Mako if you want AI-assisted querying, team collaboration, or a zero-install browser experience. It's particularly well-suited for data exploration, building quick internal tools via query-to-API, and teams where not everyone is a SQL expert -- the AI generation lowers the barrier significantly. The price is also hard to beat: free.
Choose DataGrip if you write SQL professionally and want the deepest code intelligence available. Schema management, stored procedure debugging, refactoring, and VCS integration make it a complete development environment. If you're already in the JetBrains ecosystem, DataGrip fits naturally alongside your other tools.
They complement each other. DataGrip for heavy SQL development and schema work. Mako for quick exploration, team sharing, and AI-assisted querying when you need answers fast. Many teams use both.
Bottom Line
DataGrip is the better SQL IDE. Mako is the better collaboration and exploration tool. They target different workflows, and the best choice depends on whether your bottleneck is writing complex SQL (DataGrip) or getting quick answers from data (Mako).
Mako connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, BigQuery, Snowflake, and ClickHouse with AI-powered autocomplete. Try it free at mako.ai.