Redshift SQL Editor: Browser-Based AWS Redshift Client
Last updated May 19, 2026 · By the SaturnSQL team
SaturnSQL is a browser-based Amazon Redshift editor for teams that share queries and want scheduled exports to Google Sheets without paying enterprise BI prices. AWS Query Editor v2 covers ad-hoc work for individuals, but the moment a team needs a shared library of curated queries and a daily Sheets export of revenue or activity metrics, you need something more.
Querying other databases too? See our editors for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, and DynamoDB.
Why use SaturnSQL for Redshift
Redshift is one of the most common analytics warehouses on AWS, and the official tooling around it has improved a lot. AWS Query Editor v2 is genuinely good for free ad-hoc work, with IAM-integrated access and a clean editor. For solo analysts inside AWS, it is hard to beat the price-to-value ratio.
The friction starts when the team grows. There is no shared query library across users in Query Editor v2, no easy way to schedule a query to Google Sheets, and IAM-based access does not always map cleanly to "this analyst should see these queries but not those". Teams end up forwarding queries in Slack, writing one-off Lambda functions to push CSVs to Sheets, or paying for full BI tools like Hex or Mode just to get scheduled exports.
SaturnSQL slots in between. Browser-based like Query Editor v2, but with proper team semantics: a shared query library, scheduled exports to Google Sheets, role-based access independent of AWS IAM, and encrypted credentials shared by the team rather than per-laptop. For most Redshift teams, that closes the gap without adopting a heavyweight BI stack.
What you get
- ✓ Browser-based Redshift editor with schema-aware autocomplete
- ✓ Supports Redshift provisioned clusters and Redshift Serverless
- ✓ Shared query library across the whole team
- ✓ Scheduled queries to Google Sheets, the workflow Query Editor v2 lacks
- ✓ CSV and Excel export for ad-hoc results
- ✓ Encrypted credentials at rest, TLS in flight
- ✓ Role-based access independent of AWS IAM
- ✓ Works with Spectrum and federated queries the same way they work in psql
- ✓ Multiple result tabs and query history
Heads-up on scope: SaturnSQL does not yet support BigQuery or Snowflake, so if your stack is multi-warehouse, you may still want a complementary tool. On the Pro plan (Coming Soon) an AI assistant drafts and explains Redshift queries. Pricing: €19/user/month on Starter, €29/user/month on Pro.
Comparison with AWS Query Editor v2, DBeaver, Hex, and Mode
AWS Query Editor v2 is the official AWS browser-based editor. Free, integrated with IAM and AWS Console, good for ad-hoc analyst work. Trade-offs: no shared library across users, no built-in Google Sheets scheduling, access tied entirely to IAM. Best for solo analysts inside AWS.
DBeaver and DataGrip are powerful desktop clients that handle Redshift well alongside other databases. Best for solo developers who want a single tool for many databases. No shared team library, no scheduling.
Hex is a collaborative data workspace that combines SQL, Python, and notebook cells. Excellent if you want dashboards and interactive data apps on top of Redshift. Heavier and more expensive than a focused SQL editor, paid plans start at $36/editor/month. Overkill if you just want scheduled Sheets exports.
Mode is a BI tool with a strong SQL editor and scheduled reports via email, Slack, and webhooks. Better fit if you need rich visualizations and dashboards alongside SQL. Sales-led pricing on business plans.
Pick SaturnSQL if you want a browser-based Redshift editor with shared queries and scheduled Google Sheets exports at a small-team price. Pick AWS Query Editor v2 for free ad-hoc work by individuals. Pick Hex or Mode if you need a full notebook or BI experience layered on top.
Setup overview
Sign up, create a Redshift connection, paste your cluster or Serverless endpoint, port (default 5439), database, user, and password. Allowlist our egress IPs on the Redshift VPC security group. Test the connection. For tighter security, create a dedicated read-only Redshift user and grant access only to the schemas the team should see. The full walkthrough is in Connecting a database.
Use cases
Daily KPI Sheets for leadership. A data team schedules end-of-day Redshift queries for revenue, signups, and activation, dropping results into a shared Google Sheet that the leadership team opens each morning. No BI tool, no Lambda.
Marketing attribution exports. Marketing analysts schedule weekly attribution and channel-performance queries against Redshift Spectrum tables, with results flowing into a marketing-team Sheet for further analysis in pivot tables.
Finance close support. Finance schedules end-of-month Redshift queries for revenue recognition and produces a Sheet that the controller reviews. The same queries are versioned in SaturnSQL's shared library so the audit trail is clear.
Cross-team query library. Data, product, and ops teams maintain a shared library of "blessed" Redshift queries, so analysts everywhere are working from the same definitions of churn, MRR, and engagement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best SQL editor for Amazon Redshift?
AWS Query Editor v2 is free, browser-based, and works fine for ad-hoc queries. SaturnSQL adds team collaboration on top: shared query library, scheduled exports to Google Sheets, role-based access, and encrypted credentials shared across the team. For team-first workflows on Redshift, SaturnSQL is a better fit. For solo ad-hoc work, Query Editor v2 is hard to beat at zero cost.
How does SaturnSQL compare to AWS Query Editor v2?
AWS Query Editor v2 is free and integrated with the AWS Console and IAM. It is great for ad-hoc queries by an individual analyst inside AWS. SaturnSQL adds team workflows: a shared query library, scheduled queries that push results to Google Sheets, and role-based access decoupled from AWS IAM. Use Query Editor v2 for free ad-hoc work, SaturnSQL when the team needs to share queries and schedule exports.
Can SaturnSQL push Redshift query results to Google Sheets on a schedule?
Yes. Scheduled queries are a core SaturnSQL feature. Write the Redshift query, pick a destination Google Sheet and tab, set a cron or daily/weekly schedule, and results land in the Sheet automatically. This is the workflow Redshift teams most commonly want and the one AWS Query Editor v2 does not cover.
Does SaturnSQL support Redshift Serverless and provisioned clusters?
Yes. SaturnSQL connects to Redshift over the standard Postgres-derived wire protocol used by both provisioned clusters and Redshift Serverless. Allowlist our egress IPs on the VPC security group and connect with hostname, port (5439), database, user, and password.
Does SaturnSQL support Redshift Spectrum or federated queries?
Yes. From the editor's perspective these are normal SQL queries against external schemas, so anything you can run in Redshift (Spectrum on S3 external tables, federated queries to RDS/Aurora, data sharing) works in SaturnSQL. We do not yet provide special UI for managing Spectrum schemas, but querying them is unaffected.
Is there a free Redshift query tool?
AWS Query Editor v2 is the free option from Amazon and works well for ad-hoc queries. SaturnSQL has a free tier with one connection, one saved query, and CSV export. DBeaver Community Edition is also free. For scheduled exports and team-shared libraries, SaturnSQL's paid plans starting at €19/user/month are typically cheaper than alternatives like Hex or Mode.
Query Redshift and schedule exports to Sheets