7 Best DuckDB GUI Tools in 2026
DuckDB is an analytical database that runs inside your process or on your laptop, with no server. You point it at Parquet files, CSVs or a .duckdb file and query them with SQL at remarkable speed. For a long time the interface was the CLI or a Python notebook. That has changed: DuckDB now ships a local web UI, and most major SQL clients support it.
Below are seven DuckDB GUI tools, grouped by what they are for, with the point where each one stops.
What a DuckDB GUI needs to do
- Open a
.duckdbfile or an in-memory database, and query Parquet, CSV and JSON files directly. - Browse schemas, tables and columns, with row counts and column statistics.
- Run SQL with autocomplete and show results quickly on large scans.
- Export results to CSV or Parquet.
- Avoid locking the file while another process writes to it.
The seven DuckDB GUI tools at a glance
| Tool | Type | Who it is for | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jet Admin | Web app builder, on the database DuckDB feeds | Teams who need shared screens on analysis results | Free plan; paid tiers |
| DuckDB UI | Local web UI, built in | Anyone using DuckDB locally | Free |
| MotherDuck | Cloud service with web UI | Teams sharing DuckDB data | Free tier; paid plans |
| DBeaver | Desktop, multi-database | Engineers across several databases | Free Community; paid PRO |
| DataGrip | Desktop IDE | Developers who keep SQL in a repository | Paid; free for non-commercial use |
| Beekeeper Studio | Desktop, multi-database | People who want a clean SQL editor | Open source Community; paid tiers |
| Harlequin | Terminal UI | Developers who prefer the terminal | Free, open source |
For teams sharing the results
1. Jet Admin
Jet Admin does not connect to DuckDB directly, and DuckDB's design explains why that is rarely the bottleneck. DuckDB runs inside one process on one machine; it is not a server a team shares. When analysis in DuckDB needs to reach other people, the results usually land in PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, BigQuery or another shared store. Jet connects to those and builds an app on the results: tables, filters, record pages, forms and dashboards, with roles that decide who sees what.
That is the step no DuckDB GUI covers: turning a query that works on your laptop into something a sales, finance or operations team uses every day, without sending them files. Granular permissions, SSO and audit logs are on the Business plan and above; unlimited users are on every plan, including Free.
Where it stops: it cannot open a .duckdb file or query Parquet directly. For exploration, use one of the tools below.
Built for DuckDB
2. DuckDB UI
DuckDB includes a local web interface that you start from the CLI with duckdb -ui or by calling CALL start_ui(). It opens a notebook-style SQL editor in your browser with autocomplete, a catalog browser and column summaries, and it runs entirely on your machine.
Where it stops: it is a single-user local tool. Sharing work with others means sharing files or moving to a hosted option.
3. MotherDuck
MotherDuck is a cloud service built on DuckDB. It stores databases in the cloud, lets several people query them, and provides a web UI with notebooks and sharing. You can join local and cloud data in one query.
Where it stops: it is an analyst tool. Operational screens with forms and approvals are outside its scope.
General SQL clients
4. DBeaver
DBeaver supports DuckDB through a JDBC driver, so you can browse DuckDB files next to your other databases and move data between them.
Where it stops: it holds a connection to the file, which can conflict with another process writing to it.
5. DataGrip
DataGrip supports DuckDB with schema-aware completion and good handling of large result sets, making it a comfortable home for DuckDB SQL alongside other databases.
Where it stops: it is paid for commercial use.
6. Beekeeper Studio
Beekeeper Studio supports DuckDB with a clean, modern editor, saved queries and export.
Where it stops: it offers less DuckDB-specific tooling, such as file-based querying helpers, than the DuckDB UI.
Terminal
7. Harlequin
Harlequin is an open source terminal-based SQL IDE with a data catalog, query editor and result viewer, originally built for DuckDB. It gives CLI users a much richer experience without leaving the terminal.
Where it stops: it is a terminal application, which suits developers but not most analysts.
Which DuckDB GUI to use
- Results need to reach a team as a working app: Jet Admin, on the database your results land in.
- You work with DuckDB locally: the built-in DuckDB UI.
- You need to share DuckDB data with colleagues: MotherDuck.
- DuckDB is one of several databases you use: DBeaver or DataGrip.
- You want a clean desktop editor: Beekeeper Studio.
- You live in the terminal: Harlequin.
Frequently asked questions
Does DuckDB have a GUI?
Yes. DuckDB includes a local web UI that you start with duckdb -ui. Several SQL clients, including DBeaver, DataGrip and Beekeeper Studio, also support DuckDB.
Can DBeaver open a DuckDB file?
Yes. DBeaver includes a DuckDB connection type that opens a .duckdb file or an in-memory database.
How do I share DuckDB results with a non-technical team?
Write the results to a shared database such as PostgreSQL, then build an internal tool on that database with role-based access. Jet Admin connects to the database and builds the screens.
Start with where the results go
DuckDB is superb for the analysis itself, and its own UI covers exploration. When the results need to become something a team works in every day, put them in a shared database and build the app on it with Jet Admin.