pgAdmin vs DBConvert Streams

pgAdmin is the official free administration and query tool for PostgreSQL.

DBConvert Streams is a database IDE that also migrates data and runs continuous CDC across PostgreSQL and MySQL/MariaDB.

Try DBConvert Streams See the Data Explorer

Quick answer

Choose by job

Choose pgAdmin if

  • Your work is PostgreSQL-only — queries, admin, and server management.
  • You need deep PG administration: roles, vacuum, extensions, tablespaces.
  • You want the official, free PostgreSQL tool, optionally web-deployed.
  • Data movement to other engines and ongoing replication are not required.

Choose DBConvert Streams if

  • You move data between PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, files, or S3 — not just PG.
  • Continuous CDC is part of the requirement, not a one-time dump/restore.
  • You need source/target validation after a migration, not just admin views.
  • You want exploration, migration, and replication inside one product.

At a glance

Side-by-side facts

Aspect
pgAdmin
DBConvert Streams
Tool type
Official PostgreSQL admin + query tool
Database IDE + migration + CDC
Database engines
PostgreSQL only
MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, files, S3, Snowflake (coming soon)
SQL editor and table browsing
Yes
Yes
Deep PG administration
Yes (a core strength)
No (movement-focused)
Cross-engine data migration
No (pg_dump/restore, PG-only)
Built-in Load mode, both directions
Log-based CDC
No
Yes (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
Source/target data comparison
No
Yes
Files and S3 as endpoints
No
First-class (CSV, JSONL, Parquet)
Deployment
Desktop or web (server mode)
Desktop + Docker
License
Free (PostgreSQL License)
Free IDE + commercial Streams

Where pgAdmin wins

Administer PostgreSQL to the depth it allows

Roles and privileges, vacuum and analyze, extensions, tablespaces, and server configuration — PG administration coverage DBConvert Streams does not target.

Use the official PostgreSQL tool

Maintained alongside PostgreSQL itself; admin views track PG features release to release.

Deploy as desktop or shared web

Server mode runs pgAdmin in the browser for a whole team without per-desktop installs.

Inspect and tune PG queries

Graphical EXPLAIN, query history, and the SQL editor built around PostgreSQL semantics.

Start free, no licensing decision

Open source under the PostgreSQL License — full tool, no tiers.

Where DBConvert Streams wins

Move data beyond PostgreSQL

Load mode runs migrations between PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, files, and S3 in either direction — not pg_dump/restore confined to PostgreSQL.

Keep the target in sync after the load

PostgreSQL logical replication and MySQL binlog captured continuously, with checkpointed state and resume. pgAdmin has no CDC.

Validate the cutover before declaring it done

Compare row counts and sample content between source and target inside the same UI. pgAdmin has no comparison view.

See every replication run live

Stream Monitor shows throughput, lag, and run history. Nothing in pgAdmin does this.

Treat files and S3 like a database

CSV, JSONL, and Parquet are real source and target types, with federated queries across databases and files.

Workflow

Move a PostgreSQL database to MySQL and keep it synced — outside pgAdmin’s PG-only scope

  1. 1Connect the PostgreSQL source and MySQL target in Data Explorer and inspect schemas side by side.
  2. 2Run a Load-mode stream with table mapping and filters.
  3. 3Open the Compare tab and verify row counts and sample rows on the target.
  4. 4Switch the stream to CDC mode to capture and apply ongoing PostgreSQL changes.
  5. 5Watch progress in Stream Monitor — throughput, lag, and run history.

pgAdmin administers and queries PostgreSQL. DBConvert Streams moves the data to another engine, validates it, and keeps it in sync.

Also supported

The same workflow runs for other source/target combinations:

  • MySQL/MariaDB → PostgreSQL (reverse direction, Load + CDC)
  • PostgreSQL ↔ PostgreSQL (homogeneous replication)
  • MySQL/MariaDB ↔ MySQL/MariaDB (homogeneous replication)
  • MySQL/PostgreSQL → files (CSV, JSONL, Parquet)
  • MySQL/PostgreSQL → S3-compatible storage
  • Files / S3 → MySQL or PostgreSQL

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is DBConvert Streams a pgAdmin replacement?

No. They solve different jobs.

  • pgAdmin — Administers and queries a PostgreSQL server.
  • DBConvert Streams — Migrates and synchronizes data across PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, files, and S3.

Teams keep pgAdmin for PostgreSQL admin and queries, and use DBConvert Streams when data has to move or stay in sync.

Can pgAdmin migrate PostgreSQL to MySQL?

No. pgAdmin is PostgreSQL-only; its data movement is pg_dump/pg_restore within PostgreSQL. DBConvert Streams migrates between PostgreSQL and MySQL/MariaDB in both directions and keeps the target in sync with CDC.

Does pgAdmin support change data capture?

No. pgAdmin has no CDC. PostgreSQL exposes logical replication, but pgAdmin does not operate it as a pipeline. DBConvert Streams provides log-based CDC for PostgreSQL and MySQL out of the box.

Does DBConvert Streams replace deep PG administration?

No. For roles, vacuum, extensions, and server configuration, pgAdmin is the right tool. DBConvert Streams focuses on moving, validating, and replicating data, with a SQL console and federated queries on top.

When should I not use DBConvert Streams?

When your work is PostgreSQL-only administration, tuning, or queries with no data movement across engines. In that case pgAdmin is a better fit.

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