Mako vs TablePlus in 2026: An Honest Comparison
Mako and TablePlus share a design philosophy -- both prioritize a clean, fast interface over feature bloat. The difference is where they run and what extras they bring. Mako is browser-based with AI query generation and team collaboration. TablePlus is a native desktop app known for its speed and polish. Both feel modern. Both get out of your way.
This comparison reflects current versions as of early 2026.
At a Glance
| Feature | Mako | TablePlus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (MIT) | $99 per device (one-time) |
| Platform | Browser | Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux) + iOS |
| Database support | 6 (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, BigQuery, Snowflake, ClickHouse) | 20+ (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB, and more) |
| AI query generation | Yes | No |
| Native performance | N/A (web-based) | Yes (native GUI, instant startup) |
| Team collaboration | Yes (shared connections, real-time) | No |
| One-click APIs | Yes | No |
| Data editing (inline) | No | Yes (edit rows in-place) |
| Schema editing | No | Yes (basic table editor) |
| Query scheduling | Yes | No |
| SSH tunneling | Yes (one-click setup) | Yes |
| Multiple tabs/connections | Yes | Yes |
| Dark mode | Yes | Yes |
| Installation required | No | Yes |
Mako
Mako is a browser-based SQL client with AI at its core. No install, no setup -- open the URL and start querying. AI query generation turns plain English into SQL based on your actual schema. Team features (shared connections, synced history, real-time collaboration) and query-to-API conversion set it apart from traditional clients.
What it does well. The AI querying is genuinely useful for exploration -- describe what you want and get working SQL. Collaboration is built in: share a connection with your team and everyone has the same context. The one-click API feature is handy for prototyping internal tools. Being browser-based means it works on any device without installation, and your workspace syncs automatically.
What it doesn't do. Mako doesn't offer inline data editing -- you can't click a cell and change a value the way you can in TablePlus. There's no schema editor for creating or modifying tables through a GUI. It supports 6 databases, which covers the major ones but misses SQLite, Redis, Cassandra, and other engines TablePlus handles. And being browser-based means it depends on network connectivity -- there's no offline mode.
Pricing. Free and open source (MIT). No per-device licensing.
TablePlus
TablePlus is a native macOS/Windows/Linux application built specifically to be fast and visually clean. It launched as a Mac-first tool and it shows -- the design sensibility is closer to a polished macOS app than a typical database client. Performance is instant thanks to native rendering.
What it does well. Speed and polish. TablePlus starts instantly, scrolls smoothly, and feels responsive even with large result sets. Inline data editing is one of its best features: click a cell, edit the value, commit when ready. It supports 20+ databases including SQLite, Redis, and Cassandra, which gives it broader coverage than Mako. The interface is clean -- multiple tabs, color-coded connections, a streamlined query editor. SSH tunneling works reliably. The iOS companion app is a nice bonus for quick checks on the go.
What it doesn't do. No AI features of any kind -- you write your own SQL. No team collaboration or shared connections. No query scheduling. No API generation. Each license covers one device (or two for $129), so outfitting a team gets expensive at $99 per seat. There's a free tier but it's limited to two tabs and a few other restrictions -- more of a trial than a real free plan.
Pricing. $99 per device (one-time license). Two-device license for $129. Team licenses available at scale. Free tier available with limitations.
When to Use Which
Choose Mako if you want AI assistance, team collaboration, or a tool that works from any browser with zero setup. Particularly strong for teams where developers share database access, for building quick API endpoints from queries, and for anyone who wants to explore data using natural language instead of writing every query from scratch.
Choose TablePlus if you value native speed and inline data editing. It's the better choice for developers who frequently edit data directly, who need SQLite or Redis support, or who prefer a polished desktop experience over a browser tab. The one-time pricing is also simpler if you don't need collaboration.
The honest tradeoff. Mako gives you AI and collaboration but takes away inline editing and native performance. TablePlus gives you speed and a broader database list but has no AI and no team features. If you work alone on PostgreSQL or MySQL and just want the fastest possible UI, TablePlus is hard to beat. If you work on a team and want AI query help, Mako fills a gap TablePlus doesn't address.
Bottom Line
Both tools prioritize developer experience over feature count. TablePlus wins on raw speed and breadth. Mako wins on AI, collaboration, and accessibility. They're closer competitors than most pairings in this space, which makes the decision genuinely use-case dependent.
Mako connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, BigQuery, Snowflake, and ClickHouse with AI-powered autocomplete. Try it free at mako.ai.