--- title: SQL Developer Reviews meta_title: 'SQL Developer Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 260 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how SQL Developer works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.3 review_count: 260 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-07-17' parent_category: name: Database Software url: https://www.g2.com/categories/database-software --- # SQL Developer Reviews **Vendor:** Oracle **Category:** [Database Management Systems (DBMS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/database-management-systems-dbms) **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 260 ## About SQL Developer Oracle SQL Developer is a free, integrated development environment (IDE) designed to simplify the development and management of Oracle Databases across both traditional and cloud deployments. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools for PL/SQL application development, database administration, data modeling, and migration from third-party databases to Oracle. With over 5 million users, SQL Developer enhances productivity by offering a user-friendly interface for tasks ranging from running queries and scripts to debugging and testing PL/SQL code. Key Features and Functionality: - PL/SQL IDE: A full-featured environment for writing, compiling, debugging, and testing PL/SQL applications. - Database Administration: Tools for managing database performance, security, storage, and configurations. - Data Modeling: Capabilities to create Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs), generate reports, and perform SQL and DDL scripting. - Migration Platform: Facilitates the migration of databases from platforms like Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase Adaptive Server, IBM DB2, MySQL, Microsoft Access, and Teradata to Oracle. - Multiple Interfaces: Offers desktop, browser-based (Database Actions), and command-line (SQLcl) interfaces to cater to diverse user preferences. Primary Value and User Solutions: Oracle SQL Developer addresses the complexities associated with database development and management by providing an all-encompassing toolset that streamlines workflows. It eliminates the need for multiple disparate tools by integrating essential functionalities into a single platform, thereby reducing development time and operational costs. Its support for various interfaces ensures flexibility, allowing users to choose the environment that best fits their needs. Additionally, the migration capabilities simplify the transition from other database systems to Oracle, facilitating a smoother integration process. ## SQL Developer Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users appreciate the **efficiency in handling database tasks** with SQL Developer, streamlining their workflow and reducing errors. (3 reviews) - Users find SQL Developer **intuitive and easy to navigate** , making complex database tasks feel simple and manageable. (2 reviews) - Users value the **analytics capabilities** of SQL Developer for providing clear insights and detecting fraud in data analysis. (1 reviews) - Users find it easy to handle **big data analysis** in SQL Developer, enabling effective risk and fraud detection. (1 reviews) - Users value the **thorough documentation** in SQL Developer, which aids in understanding and resolving issues effectively. (1 reviews) - Users appreciate the **easy integrations** in SQL Developer, finding it simplifies complex database management tasks. (1 reviews) - Learning (1 reviews) - Navigation Ease (1 reviews) - Speed (1 reviews) - Time Saving (1 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users experience **slow performance** with large queries or databases, leading to laggy interactions and a heavy system load. (2 reviews) - Users face significant **connection issues** that lead to prolonged wait times despite efficient query execution. (1 reviews) - Users find the **difficult learning** curve of SQL Developer impacts their ability to efficiently debug and test complex queries. (1 reviews) - Users find **function limitations** in SQL Developer, struggling with complex queries and inadequate support for advanced features. (1 reviews) - Users find SQL Developer can be **slow with big databases** , which may impact performance and user experience. (1 reviews) - Users find the **poor interface design** of SQL Developer to be laggy and less polished than modern tools. (1 reviews) - Small Business Limitations (1 reviews) ## SQL Developer Reviews ### 1. Better programs out there **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Diana W. | Web Developer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 21, 2019 **What do you like best about SQL Developer?** I like being able to filter tables and sorting columns once opening a table. SQL Developer allows for helping me view and export database structures which is very helpful. On the plus side, it is easy to start for new developers and making connections is easy. **What do you dislike about SQL Developer?** I do not like how to writer queries in oracle nor do I like how low it is. SQL server is so much better than SQL developer. Writing queries in SQL developer is frustrating. The join sequence is weird to optimize queries. I also really with it was better helping identifying syntax errors. The query editor is not that great. The software is slow, locks up all of the time and crashes. I often get a black screen and have to force close the program. **What problems is SQL Developer solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are using SQL developer to connect to OFSAA – Oracle Financial Services Analytical Application. Both are Oracle hence why we use SQL Developer. I could also use TOAD if I wanted. I have not noticed any benefits of SQL developer over TOAD. ### 2. SQL Developer **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Financial Services | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2019 **What do you like best about SQL Developer?** Seeing the cost of running sections of the code **What do you dislike about SQL Developer?** bad autocomplete, feels clunky to run scripts vs sections **What problems is SQL Developer solving and how is that benefiting you?** Improving crusty SQL code at the company ### 3. Does the job, but not too well **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jared K. | Sr. Software Developer, Computer Software, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 22, 2016 **What do you like best about SQL Developer?** Somewhat intuitive layout and the ability to store and easily access multiple different connections that have been previously setup easily and fast. **What do you dislike about SQL Developer?** Overall it's a clunky and often slow interface. There's no way to really get into the tables to edit data without right clicking on the table name IF it's in a select statement and going to "Open Declaration". It also handles unexpected disconnects poorly. The "Reconnect" menu item does not always work when the database has been unexpectedly disconnected and when it does work it sits for several seconds (maybe closer to 10) before it seems to realize the connection was already dropped and then it finally reconnects. Also, I believe it's when you disconnect then reconnect that it opens a new SQL window instead of allowing you to automatically start executing SQLs in the one you previously had open. You can use that window that was previously open, but you need to point it at the connection again. The execution plan is also not very intuitive. SQL Server Management Studio was designed much better. Toad, I hear, is a good replacement for SQL Developer. **Recommendations to others considering SQL Developer:** Use Toad instead. I have not used Toad myself, but many I work with use it and when I am working with them they seem to navigate it easily and they also all prefer it to SQL Developer. I really need to jump on the Toad bandwagon in my office. **What problems is SQL Developer solving and how is that benefiting you?** Maintaining a database for a CIS application. ### 4. Not as user friendly as MS SQL **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Education Management | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 17, 2017 **What do you like best about SQL Developer?** This SQL interface is used in many different companies so it has coverage. The syntax is clear and similar to other SQL interfaces. **What do you dislike about SQL Developer?** This UI is not user friendly and seems to be bulky. It is hard to find tables easily. Poking around takes a lot of time to find what you need. **Recommendations to others considering SQL Developer:** SQL Developer is a bit clunky and not intuitive. There are many how-to's online that can help a user with this software. There are other SQL interfaces that are more intuitive for non-dev and non-dbas that might be more appropriate. **What problems is SQL Developer solving and how is that benefiting you?** Needed a quick way to pull data out of the DB. ### 5. SQL Developer as everyday tool **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jan P. | Senior Software Developer, Internet, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 30, 2016 **What do you like best about SQL Developer?** It is one of the few IDE for PL/SQL development which can be run on OSX and Windows and it is trying to be real IDE not just notepad with syntax highlight (but still so much to achieve). **What do you dislike about SQL Developer?** Instability and plenty of annoying bugs, which leads to restarting SQL developer at least twice a day (and I'm not counting that it at least twice a day dies spontaneously) **Recommendations to others considering SQL Developer:** On OSX there is not so many choices, on windows you can choose better. **What problems is SQL Developer solving and how is that benefiting you?** fulltime PL/SQL development of financial application ## SQL Developer Discussions - [Do you plan to develop multi-filter features (ie creating multiple filters, and using them when it is needed)?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/47152-do-you-plan-to-develop-multi-filter-features-ie-creating-multiple-filters-and-using-them-when-it-is-needed) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [What is SQL Developer used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-sql-developer-used-for) - 1 comment - [What is the use of SQL Developer?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-use-of-sql-developer) - 1 comment - [View SQL Developer pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/sql-developer/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=2§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-19+20%3A20%3A24+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=4a39f0fe-d76d-427b-b403-c9bfac06efdd&secure%5Btoken%5D=f36957c0e7846948363a074a6d0bd5c0e63181c142b7cac1fa84afd7c7916016&format=llm_user) ## SQL Developer Integrations - [Visual Studio Code](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews) ## SQL Developer Features **Management** - Data dictionary - Data Replication - Query Language - Data Modeling - Performance Analysis **Maintenance** - Data Migration - Backup and Recovery - Multi-User Environment **Security** - Data Encryption - User Access Control ## Top SQL Developer Alternatives - [Toad For Oracle](https://www.g2.com/products/quest-software-toad-for-oracle/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (281 reviews) - [DbVisualizer](https://www.g2.com/products/dbvisualizer/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (263 reviews) - [phpMyAdmin](https://www.g2.com/products/phpmyadmin/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (167 reviews)