I've really enjoyed using Azure Data Studio for my database management tasks, but I just found out it's being retired on February 28, 2026. It has been a breeze to set up and use on my Mac, which makes this news pretty disappointing. There's been a lot of chatter about AI making software development easier, so I'm curious why Azure Data Studio is being phased out. I've seen some folks suggest Visual Studio Code for database administration, but personally, I'm not a fan of VS Code; it's just not as user-friendly as Azure Data Studio. Plus, SQL Server Administration isn't available for Mac, and I find Navicat MSSQL way too pricey. The other cheaper alternatives don't seem to stack up either. Does anyone know of a solid replacement for Azure Data Studio that works well on Mac?
1 Answer
I get where you're coming from! Azure Data Studio is pretty unique. It's basically just VS Code with a few extensions tailored for data work. Lately, I've been using Jetbrains DataGrip for SQL stuff, and it's been really effective for me. If DataGrip isn't an option, then DBeaver is another reliable choice that works on Mac.
True about DataGrip; it's got a bit of a learning curve but worth it! Just a heads up, if you're using VS Code on WSL, you'll need to sort out Kerberos for integrated authentication—that's been a hassle for many.