TablePlus is $89 (lifetime license). Dowser is a self-hosted alternative at $0.99/mo. Here's when each makes sense.
| Dowser | TablePlus | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self-hosted, your infra | Managed SaaS (cloud only) |
| Data location | Your server, your disk | TablePlus's cloud |
| Free tier | 3 connections | Paid only |
| Pro pricing | $0.99/mo | $89 (lifetime license) |
| Dependencies | None (single binary + SQLite) | N/A (managed) |
| Setup time | ~30 seconds | Account signup |
| Dashboard | Built-in at /ui | Cloud dashboard |
| License | BSL 1.1 | Proprietary SaaS |
Dowser is a single Go binary with embedded SQLite. Install it with one command, and you are running in under a minute. Your data stays on your server.
curl -fsSL https://stockyard.dev/dowser/install.sh | sh
TablePlus is a strong product. There is no point pretending otherwise. Where Dowser earns its place is in situations where TablePlus cannot be used — airgapped environments, regulated industries, teams with strict data sovereignty requirements, or simply developers who prefer tools they can inspect end to end. If none of those constraints apply, TablePlus may genuinely be the better choice.
The operational difference is significant. TablePlus requires you to trust their infrastructure, their security practices, and their business continuity. Dowser requires you to run a process and keep the data directory backed up. If your server dies, restore the binary and the SQLite file to a new server. The entire recovery procedure fits in a single paragraph because there is nothing else involved.
If you are currently using TablePlus and considering Dowser, start by running both in parallel. Install Dowser on a test server, point your workflow at it for a week, and compare the experience. Dowser's data directory is isolated — running a trial costs nothing beyond the compute. If Dowser does not fit, delete the binary and the data directory. There is nothing else to clean up.
Single binary. Free to start. $0.99/mo for Pro.