Altova DatabaseSpy vs DBX
Altova DatabaseSpy
altova.comDBX
dbxio.comSide by side
| Figure | Altova DatabaseSpy | DBX |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Database Documentation Tools | 8.3 (#7) | 8.0 (#12) |
| SQL editor | The SQL editor provides color coding, customizable auto-completion, and query results in tabbed or stacked windows. | Its CodeMirror 6 editor includes metadata-aware autocomplete, formatting, selected-query execution, diagnostics, query history, and saved snippets. |
Plans
Altova DatabaseSpy
- Professional EditionPriced on request
- Enterprise EditionPriced on request
- DatabaseSpy 2026 Professional Edition€159, paid once
- DatabaseSpy 2026 Enterprise Edition€179, paid once
In their own words
Altova DatabaseSpy
Altova DatabaseSpy has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
DBX
DBX is a free, open-source workspace for database connections, object browsing, SQL editing, data changes, schema work, and automation. It supports more than 100 databases and data systems across relational, NoSQL, vector, time-series, embedded, and messaging categories. The CodeMirror 6 SQL editor includes metadata-aware autocomplete, formatting, selected-query execution, diagnostics, history, and saved snippets. Other tools cover virtualized data grids, schema browsing and comparison, ER diagrams, field lineage, imports, exports, and transfers between connections. Its AI SQL assistant works with Claude, OpenAI, local models through Ollama, and OpenAI-compatible endpoints. DBX also has MCP integrations for compatible agents and a command-line interface. It runs as a desktop app on macOS, Windows, and Linux, or as a self-hosted Docker web deployment. Safeguards include read-only connections, confirmations for production writes, reviewable SQL changes, MCP access policies, and encrypted configuration exports. Stored credentials are encrypted, and the plugin store offers signed, sandboxed extensions.