# Visual Studio vs dbForge Studio for SQL Server Comparison

| | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 3,991 | 60 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (35.8% of reviews) | Small-Business (62.7% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | Free | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Visual Studio

Pros:
- Ease of Use (205 reviews)
- Features (180 reviews)

Cons:
- Slow Performance (146 reviews)
- High Resource Consumption (85 reviews)

### dbForge Studio for SQL Server

**Not enough data**

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.1 (3211 reviews) | 9.3 (44 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.7 (3232 reviews) | 9.4 (45 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.7 (891 reviews) | 9.6 (26 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.5 (560 reviews) | 9.7 (20 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.4 (2795 reviews) | 8.9 (37 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.8 (524 reviews) | 9.6 (20 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.9 (3109 reviews) | 9.4 (41 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Visual Studio

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### dbForge Studio for SQL Server

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Express

Price: Free

Description: Basic functionality

Key Features:
- Basic Code Completion
- Visual Database Editor
- Database schema snapshot creation

[Browse all 19 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/dbforge-studio-for-sql-server-2018-12-04/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### .NET Integrated Development Environments (IDE)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Visual Studio** | 8.8/10 | 947 |
| **dbForge Studio for SQL Server** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Use** | 9.1 (846 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Management** | 9.0 (817 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Language Support** | 8.9 (731 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Customization** | 8.7 (807 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Straight-Out-the-Box Functionality** | 8.7 (794 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Help Guides** | 8.6 (784 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Patching & Updates** | 8.7 (792 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### C/C++ Integrated Development Environments (IDE)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Visual Studio** | 8.8/10 | 575 |
| **dbForge Studio for SQL Server** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Use** | 9.1 (514 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Management** | 8.9 (508 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Language Support** | 8.9 (470 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Customization** | 8.8 (496 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Straight-Out-the-Box Functionality** | 8.8 (495 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Help Guides** | 8.7 (497 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Patching & Updates** | 8.7 (492 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Application Development Platforms

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Visual Studio** | 8.9/10 | 464 |
| **dbForge Studio for SQL Server** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Use** | 9.1 (427 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Management** | 9.1 (405 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Language Support** | 9.0 (381 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Customization** | 8.9 (406 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Straight-Out-the-Box Functionality** | 8.7 (389 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Help Guides** | 8.7 (391 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Patching & Updates** | 8.9 (397 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### SQL Integrated Development Environments (IDE)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Visual Studio** | N/A | N/A |
| **dbForge Studio for SQL Server** | 9.3/10 | 21 |

#### Integration - SQL Integrated Development Environments (IDE)

| Feature | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Running Queries** | Not enough data | 9.8 (20 reviews) | 
| **Integration** | Not enough data | 8.6 (19 reviews) | 
| **Debugging** | Not enough data | 9.2 (18 reviews) | 
| **Code Completion** | Not enough data | 9.4 (20 reviews) | 

#### Management - SQL Integrated Development Environments (IDE)

| Feature | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **SQL Scripting** | Not enough data | 9.6 (20 reviews) | 
| **Read & Write** | Not enough data | 9.4 (19 reviews) | 

### Mobile Development Platforms

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Visual Studio** | 8.6/10 | 53 |
| **dbForge Studio for SQL Server** | N/A | N/A |

#### Agentic AI - Mobile Development Platforms

| Feature | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Adaptive Learning** | 8.7 (40 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Natural Language Interaction** | 8.5 (40 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | 8.5 (41 reviews) | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories

**Unique to Visual Studio (5):** [C/C++ Integrated Development Environments (IDE)](https://www.g2.com/categories/c-c-integrated-development-environments-ide), [.NET Integrated Development Environments (IDE)](https://www.g2.com/categories/net-integrated-development-environments-ide), [Mobile Development Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/mobile-development-platforms), [Java Integrated Development Environments (IDE)](https://www.g2.com/categories/java-integrated-development-environments-ide), [Application Development Platforms ](https://www.g2.com/categories/application-development-platforms)

**Unique to dbForge Studio for SQL Server (1):** [SQL Integrated Development Environments (IDE) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/sql-integrated-development-environments-ide)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Visual Studio | dbForge Studio for SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 35.8% | 62.7% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 32.1% | 27.1% | 
| **Enterprise** | 32.1% | 10.2% | 

### By Industry

#### Visual Studio

- **Computer Software:** 31.1%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 22.6%
- **Higher Education:** 2.9%
- **Financial Services:** 2.6%
- **Internet:** 2.2%
- **Program Development:** 1.9%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 1.9%
- **Education Management:** 1.8%
- **Telecommunications:** 1.6%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 1.5%
- **Other:** 30.0%

#### dbForge Studio for SQL Server

- **Computer Software:** 26.7%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 20.0%
- **Retail:** 5.0%
- **Government Administration:** 5.0%
- **Education Management:** 3.3%
- **Higher Education:** 3.3%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 3.3%
- **Automotive:** 1.7%
- **Broadcast Media:** 1.7%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 1.7%
- **Other:** 28.3%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Visual Studio

- [Xcode](https://www.g2.com/products/xcode/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (1036 reviews)
- [Eclipse](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (3215 reviews)
- [NetBeans](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (673 reviews)
- [Android Studio](https://www.g2.com/products/android-studio/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (648 reviews)
- [Qt](https://www.g2.com/products/qt/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (54 reviews)
- [Firebase](https://www.g2.com/products/firebase/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (306 reviews)
- [AWS Cloud9](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-cloud9/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (351 reviews)
- [OutSystems](https://www.g2.com/products/outsystems/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1797 reviews)
- [IntelliJ IDEA](https://www.g2.com/products/intellij-idea/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (2375 reviews)
- [C++Builder](https://www.g2.com/products/c-builder/reviews) — 3.8/5 stars (18 reviews)

### Alternatives to dbForge Studio for SQL Server

- [DbVisualizer](https://www.g2.com/products/dbvisualizer/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (269 reviews)
- [DBeaver](https://www.g2.com/products/dbeaver/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (171 reviews)
- [Navicat Premium](https://www.g2.com/products/navicat-premium/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (60 reviews)
- [Sequel Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/sequel-pro/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (63 reviews)
- [TablePlus](https://www.g2.com/products/tableplus/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (31 reviews)
- [datapine](https://www.g2.com/products/rib-software-datapine/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (26 reviews)
- [Beekeeper Studio](https://www.g2.com/products/beekeeper-studio/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (15 reviews)
- [DbGate](https://www.g2.com/products/dbgate/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (23 reviews)
- [Galaxy](https://www.g2.com/products/galaxyap/reviews) — 5.0/5 stars (22 reviews)
- [JackDB](https://www.g2.com/products/jackdb/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (15 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Visual Studio

- Title: [What is Visual Studio used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-visual-studio-used-for) — 10 comments, 2 upvotes
  > **Top comment:** "PC program development mainly, but with add ins it can be used for some embedded projects too."
- Title: [What are the most impactful features of Visual Studio for developers in building modern applications?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-most-impactful-features-of-visual-studio-for-developers-in-building-modern-applications) — 6 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Most impactful would be
 
IntelliSense which offers auto code completion, easy navigation and parameters info. 

Git Integration where developers can..."
- Title: [What is the use of Visual Studio?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-use-of-visual-studio) — 6 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Visual Studio is user friendly IDE tool used for developing code with lots of plugins available."
- Title: [can i use visual studio with mysql database? is it the best compatibility](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-i-use-visual-studio-with-mysql-database-is-it-the-best-compatibility) — 5 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "you can !
it's compatibility"
- Title: [How is Visual Studio being used to enhance operational efficiency and user experience in its specific field?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-is-visual-studio-being-used-to-enhance-operational-efficiency-and-user-experience-in-its-specific-field) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Visual Studio offers a complete development environment that simplifies the coding, debugging, and deployment processes, improving operational efficiency and..."

### dbForge Studio for SQL Server

- Title: [Can I use Visual Studio for SQL?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-i-use-visual-studio-for-sql) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Yes, Microsoft Visual Studio provides a capable environment for dealing with SQL Server databases and may be used for SQL programming. Additionally, you may..."
- Title: [What are the features of SQL Server?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/dbforge-studio-for-sql-server-what-are-the-features-of-sql-server) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Microsoft SQL Server is a leading relational database management system that serves various applications for business intelligence and analysis in corporate..."
- Title: [What is dbForge used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-dbforge-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "dbForge is a product family for database management, administration, development, data generation and reporting, and much more. Available for SQL Server,..."
- Title: [What is dbForge Studio for SQL Server?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/dbforge-studio-for-sql-server-what-is-dbforge-studio-for-sql-server) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "dbForge Studio for SQL Server is a powerful IDE that helps users develop SQL code, manage databases, analyze data, and embrace collaborative development and..."

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**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/visual-studio-vs-dbforge-studio-for-sql-server-2018-12-04)