Alternatives
Navicat alternative without the price tag
Navicat Premium 17 is a 375 MB installer ($599 perpetual / $179/year) and typically uses 150–280 MB idle. RowDex is a free Tauri client under 50 MB for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, and BullMQ.
RowDex vs Navicat
| Feature | RowDex | Navicat |
|---|---|---|
| PostgreSQL & MySQL | Yes | Yes |
| MongoDB | Yes | Yes |
| Redis browser | Built in | Yes |
| BullMQ monitor | Built in | No |
| Price | Basic free forever | $179-599/year |
| Data modeling | Basic | Advanced |
| Data sync | Export/Import | Built in |
| Platform | Tauri native | Cross-platform |
Size & memory
| Metric | RowDex | Navicat |
|---|---|---|
| macOS installer | < 50 MBBest | 375 MB |
| Idle RAM | < 60 MBBest | 150–280 MB |
| Memory in use | 60–100 MBBest | 200–400 MB |
| Stack | TauriBest | Native |
| Annual cost | $0Best | $179–599 |
| BullMQ support | Built inBest | None |
Installer sizes are official Apple Silicon downloads (September 2026). RAM figures are typical ranges for that stack — not a same-Mac lab run.
See every client side by side on the full benchmark page.
When RowDex is the better fit
- You want a capable database client without enterprise pricing.
- You run Postgres plus Redis and BullMQ in the same project.
- You're a solo developer or startup watching costs.
- You need BullMQ queue monitoring that Navicat doesn't offer.
FAQ
Is RowDex really free?
Yes. Basic tier is free forever for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and MongoDB. No trial, no credit card.
Does RowDex have data modeling like Navicat?
RowDex has schema browsing but not advanced ER diagram editing. This is planned for a future release.
Can RowDex import Navicat connections?
Not directly, but you can manually recreate connections. Migration takes a few minutes.
Where do the size and RAM numbers come from?
Navicat Premium 17.3 is a 375 MB official Apple Silicon download. RAM figures are typical for that native app — not a same-Mac lab run. RowDex idle RAM is the published figure (under 60 MB).
Try RowDex free
Native database client for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Basic is free — download and connect in minutes.