SQL Server Editor: Browser-Based MSSQL Client

Last updated May 19, 2026 · By the SaturnSQL team

SaturnSQL is a browser-based SQL Server editor that runs anywhere a modern browser does, including macOS and Linux. SSMS is Windows-only, which leaves Mac and Linux engineers wrestling with VMs, Azure Data Studio, or remote desktop sessions. SaturnSQL skips all of that: connect SQL Server once, share it with your team, and write queries from any laptop.

Querying other databases too? See our editors for PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redshift, and DynamoDB.

Why use SaturnSQL for SQL Server

SQL Server tooling has a peculiar gap. SSMS is the gold standard for DBA work and T-SQL development, but it only runs on Windows. Azure Data Studio is Microsoft's cross-platform answer for Mac and Linux engineers, but it is still a desktop app, single-user, and not really built for team workflows. Web-based options like DBeaver Cloud or DataGrip's remote setup are limited or expensive.

SaturnSQL fills that gap. Browser-based, works on every OS, and built around a shared team library so analysts, engineers, and ops do not each maintain their own private copy of useful queries. Combine that with scheduled exports to Google Sheets, encrypted credentials, and role-based access, and you have a workspace that fits a multi-platform engineering team.

We are honest: SQL Server has more deep DBA surface area than any other database we support. CLR procedures, query store, Always On availability groups, replication, and graphical execution plan analysis are still better served by SSMS. For day-to-day querying, exports, scheduled reports, and team collaboration, SaturnSQL is faster and easier than asking everyone to launch a Windows VM.

What you get

• ✓ Browser-based SQL Server editor with schema-aware autocomplete
• ✓ Works on macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and Windows, no VM required
• ✓ Supports Azure SQL, RDS for SQL Server, and self-hosted MSSQL
• ✓ T-SQL support: CTEs, window functions, MERGE, OFFSET/FETCH, stored proc calls
• ✓ Shared query library across the team
• ✓ Scheduled queries to Google Sheets on cron
• ✓ CSV and Excel export for ad-hoc results
• ✓ Encrypted credentials at rest, TLS in flight
• ✓ Role-based access for analysts, engineers, and read-only stakeholders

On the Pro plan (Coming Soon) an AI assistant drafts and explains T-SQL against your actual schema. Pricing: €19/user/month on Starter, €29/user/month on Pro.

Comparison with SSMS, Azure Data Studio, and DataGrip

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the official Microsoft tool. Free, Windows-only, and unmatched for deep T-SQL development, Always On configuration, query store, execution plan analysis, and DBA tasks. The Windows-only restriction is the real limit for modern mixed-OS teams. No browser access, no shared team library, no scheduled exports.

Azure Data Studio is Microsoft's cross-platform replacement (macOS, Linux, Windows). Free, modern UI, decent for ad-hoc T-SQL. Still desktop-only, no team library, no scheduling. A solid free option for a solo Mac engineer who just wants a local SQL Server client.

DBeaver is a universal Java client that handles SQL Server alongside Postgres, MySQL, Oracle, and others. Good for developers who manage multiple database types. Same trade-offs: per-machine setup, no shared team layer.

DataGrip is JetBrains' database IDE with strong T-SQL support, refactoring, and code intelligence. Best for developers who already use JetBrains tools. Paid ($24.90/month), desktop-only, no team-shared library.

Pick SaturnSQL if you have a mixed-OS team (or any Mac/Linux engineers) and want shared queries with scheduled exports in the browser. Pick SSMS for deep DBA work on Windows. Pick Azure Data Studio for solo Mac/Linux T-SQL work. Pick DBeaver or DataGrip for power-user desktop workflows across multiple databases.

Setup overview

Sign up, create a SQL Server connection, paste the hostname, port (default 1433), database, user, and password. For Azure SQL, use the fully-qualified server name (e.g. yourserver.database.windows.net) and allowlist our egress IPs in the Azure SQL firewall. For RDS, add our IPs to the security group inbound rules. Read the full walkthrough including SQL auth vs Azure AD considerations in Connecting a database.

Use cases

.NET shops with Mac engineers. Backend on SQL Server, half the team on MacBooks, no SSMS. SaturnSQL gives the Mac engineers a real SQL Server editor without a Windows VM or remote desktop session.

Azure SQL teams. Cloud-first Azure SQL setups already live behind firewalls. A browser-based editor with IP allowlisting fits the security model and avoids per-laptop ODBC driver headaches.

Operations and finance reporting. Schedule end-of-day T-SQL queries against the SQL Server warehouse and push results to a Google Sheet that finance opens each morning. No SSIS package required.

Support and customer success. A shared library of pre-approved diagnostic queries (find tenant, audit row counts, replay events) means support engineers can investigate without escalating to a DBA or running anything locally.

Frequently asked questions