# Which desktop database platforms import data from Excel and let you build queries without writing SQL code?

<p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">Looking for input on which<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/desktop-database"> </a><a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/desktop-database">desktop database</a> platforms handle the Excel import cleanly — getting existing data in without manual reformatting — and then let the team build filters, queries, and reports through a visual interface, without requiring anyone to write a SQL statement?</p><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">The platforms with the strongest evidence for both clean Excel import and visual query building:</p><ul>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-access/reviews"><strong>Microsoft Access</strong></a><strong>:</strong> ★4.0, 831 reviews. The Excel integration is the most extensively documented capability. The visual Query Design tool is specifically credited as one of the best parts of the platform — allowing query building through a graphical interface without SQL syntax. ODBC compatibility allows linking to external data sources beyond Excel for teams whose data lives in multiple systems. </li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/ninox/reviews"><strong>Ninox</strong></a><strong>:</strong> CSV import from Excel and external sources is confirmed as a production-validated workflow. The visual interface for creating relationships between tables, filtering records, and building calculated fields is described as intuitive. Ninox's SQL-like query syntax is available for users who want it, but the drag-and-drop data model and visual field configuration cover the most common querying needs without requiring SQL. </li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/kintone/reviews"><strong>Kintone</strong></a><strong>:</strong> The Lookup and Related Records features replace the most common cross-table query use cases without requiring any query syntax — linking a client record from one app into an integration record in another produces results that feel like a query join to non-technical users. REST API and CSV export allow query results to flow downstream without manual steps. </li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/memento-database/reviews"><strong>Memento Database</strong></a><strong>:</strong> CSV import from Excel is specifically listed as a core feature, along with SQL query support for advanced data manipulation. Multiple display options (list, table, map, calendar) allow the same underlying records to be viewed through different query lenses without requiring a new query each time. </li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/openoffice-base/reviews"><strong>OpenOffice Base</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Free and open-source, with JDBC and ODBC compatibility for external data sources and a visual query designer that mirrors Microsoft Access's interface. For teams with a zero-cost requirement, OpenOffice Base provides the visual query building and Excel import capability without a licensing cost.</li>
</ul><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">How long did the import take to get right, what data cleaning was required before the import produced usable records, and what query type — filter, aggregate, or cross-table — did you end up building first?</p>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: 13 days ago
- Author title: Marketing Executive
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

&lt;p&gt;Curious how much of the &quot;clean Excel import&quot; claim depends on how messy the original spreadsheet already is. In my experience the tools that look effortless in a demo usually assume reasonably structured source data, and the real test is importing something that&#39;s been hand-edited for years.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 11 days ago
- Author title: Marketing Executive





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