The pgAdmin alternative for the whole stack around Postgres.
Mongrel is a pgAdmin alternative for engineers who need PostgreSQL plus everything around it: 30+ database engines, SSH and Mosh terminals, SFTP/SCP, Docker and Podman tooling, a Kubernetes GUI, and an API client in one native desktop app. pgAdmin is free, open source, and deeply PostgreSQL-specific; Mongrel's distinction is covering Postgres alongside the rest of your systems work.
Linux x86-64 · macOS Apple silicon · Windows x64 and ARM64
// Why teams switch
Where pgAdmin stops and Mongrel keeps going.
pgAdmin 4 is a Python web application focused on PostgreSQL: query tool, server administration, and explain plans. When the job spills past Postgres into other engines, server sessions, file transfer, containers, or API calls, pgAdmin hands you off to other tools. Mongrel keeps that work in one window, with terminals, tunnels, SFTP/SCP, Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, and an API client beside the data.
// What ships
What Mongrel adds around PostgreSQL.
30+ database engines
PostgreSQL alongside relational, document, key-value, and search systems, including MySQL, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB, Oracle, SQL Server, and ClickHouse, with support varying by engine.
Full SSH terminal
Not just a tunnel checkbox; a real terminal with SSH and Mosh sessions, logging, and quick commands beside your data work.
Database tunnels and SSH profiles
Use per-connection database tunneling where supported, or SSH terminal profiles with jump-host chains, key files, agent auth, and port forwarding.
SFTP and file transfer
Dual-pane SFTP and SCP built in, so moving dumps, backups, and config files to and from a server does not need a second app.
Kubernetes and Docker
A Kubernetes GUI plus Docker and Podman lifecycle management, on the same screen as the databases running inside those containers.
API client built in
HTTP, GraphQL, WebSocket, and gRPC requests with environments, auth profiles, and secret variables, next to the records they touch.
// Side by side
Mongrel vs pgAdmin, feature for feature.
| Capability | Mongrel | pgAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| Price and license | Commercial; $99/year individual with a free 7-day trial, no card required | Free and open source under the PostgreSQL licence |
| Database coverage | 30+ engines across relational, document, key-value, and search systems, including PostgreSQL | PostgreSQL only |
| How it runs | Native desktop app built with Tauri and Rust | Python web application that runs in a browser tab or a desktop runtime wrapping the web app |
| PostgreSQL depth | PostgreSQL as a first-party plugin alongside the rest of your stack | The long-standing PostgreSQL management tool with deep catalog, role, and server administration coverage |
| SSH | Database tunnels plus full SSH and Mosh terminal profiles with jump-host chains | Not a terminal application; focused on PostgreSQL administration |
| Beyond the database | SFTP/SCP, Kubernetes GUI, Docker and Podman management, and an API client in the same app | Query tool, server administration, and explain plans for PostgreSQL |
| Platforms | Linux x86-64, macOS Apple silicon, Windows x64 and ARM64 | Linux, macOS, and Windows |
// Honest tradeoffs
Where pgAdmin still has the edge.
pgAdmin is free and open source, which is a real advantage, and its community is huge after years as the standard PostgreSQL management tool. It also understands Postgres catalogs, roles, and server internals in depth, so teams living entirely inside PostgreSQL administration may not need anything else. Mongrel is commercial software, and its PostgreSQL support is one plugin among 30+ engines rather than a single-engine tool. Use the 7-day trial to verify it fits the workflows you actually run.
// FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Is pgAdmin free?
Yes. pgAdmin is free and open source under the PostgreSQL licence, maintained by the pgAdmin Development Team. Mongrel is commercial software at $99/year for individuals, with a free 7-day trial and no card required.
Is pgAdmin only for PostgreSQL?
Yes. pgAdmin is PostgreSQL-focused and does not manage other database engines. If your stack includes MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, or other systems next to Postgres, Mongrel covers 30+ engines in one app.
pgAdmin vs Mongrel: which should I choose?
Choose pgAdmin when you work only in PostgreSQL, want a free and open-source tool, and value its deep coverage of Postgres catalogs, roles, and server internals. Choose Mongrel when you need PostgreSQL plus other engines, terminals, file transfer, containers, Kubernetes, or an API client in one native desktop app.
Does Mongrel run in the browser?
No. Mongrel is a native desktop app built with Tauri and Rust. pgAdmin 4 is a Python web application that runs in a browser tab or in a desktop runtime wrapping that web app.
Is Mongrel open source?
No. Mongrel is a commercial product with no telemetry, secrets in the OS keychain, and an optional master password. VisorCraft maintains open-source projects separately, including MongrelDB.
Related guides and comparisons
PostgreSQL, plus everything around it.
7-day trial. Linux, macOS, Windows. No credit card.