DBConvert Streams

DBConvert Streams suits developers and DBAs who want SQL exploration alongside migration and replication, especially in MySQL- and PostgreSQL-focused teams. Its desktop and self-hosted deployment choices and bundled CDC infrastructure make it a practical all-in-one option; recurring CDC capacity and clean Load output, however, come at separate prices.

Overview

The product combines a database IDE with one-time Load migrations and ongoing change-data-capture (CDC) replication. MySQL CDC uses binlog replication, while PostgreSQL CDC uses logical replication; two-way replication and data transformations are supported. CDC runs without Kafka, Zookeeper, or Kubernetes, with NATS bundled in the desktop app or Docker Compose stack. That reduces the number of systems a small team must assemble, though server deployments still need an operator for the host or VM.

Key features

SQL across databases and files

Connectors cover MySQL, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, local files, S3-compatible storage, and federated queries. Federated SQL uses embedded DuckDB to join databases and file or object-storage sources in one statement, a useful way to explore combined data without first moving it into a single database. Local-file workflows handle CSV, JSON, JSONL, and Parquet; CSV, JSONL, and Parquet are supported as target formats, so CSV is the only one of those four formats listed as both an input and target.

Development and operations

The built-in AI assistant and MCP tools inspect live workspace data; MCP operations are read-only, which limits their ability to change data. The REST API has more than 80 endpoints, an OpenAPI 3.0 specification, and WebSocket language servers, offering substantial integration surface for teams building around the product. Database passwords, SSL/TLS and client certificates, and API keys are encrypted. Docker deployments can optionally use HashiCorp Vault.

Deployment options include native Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop apps and Docker on a server, VPS, bare metal, or cloud VM. The bundled NATS setup avoids the need for a separate Kafka stack, but self-hosting still places deployment and operations work with the user.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing. It includes the IDE, browser viewers and editor extensions, federated queries over two sources, five AI questions per day with an account, and a seven-day CDC trial. It is a useful starting point for SQL exploration, but the two-source query cap and daily AI allowance constrain broader use, while the CDC trial is limited to three tables and runs for seven days from the first CDC stream.

PRO costs $9 a month, billed Or $89 a year. It adds unlimited federated query sources and AI questions, PNG/SVG diagram export, and use on three devices per licence. For users who mainly need an IDE and federated queries, it lifts the Free plan's main usage caps; it does not include a continuing CDC stream.

CDC costs $99 a month, billed Or $990 a year per pipeline. It includes PRO and allows one CDC stream at a time per pipeline, counted across all devices. This is the relevant tier for ongoing replication, but the per-pipeline price and single-stream limit matter when planning multiple concurrent pipelines.

Load pass costs $149, paid once, billed 30 days, nothing renews. It includes clean Load output and unlimited runs for 30 days, plus PRO. Its fixed term suits a concentrated migration project better than continuing replication; Load evaluation marks text fields outside keys and relationships after 50 rows per table.

The maker offers assisted setup for a first migration or CDC stream and says it will respond within one business day, a useful onboarding option when configuring a first data movement workflow.

Platforms

DBConvert Streams supports API, extension, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows. The desktop and Docker server options give teams a choice between running the tools locally and hosting them on infrastructure they control.

Who it's for

This is best suited to developers, DBAs, and small teams mainly working with MySQL and PostgreSQL that want self-hosted exploration, migration, and CDC in one product. It is less compelling for teams seeking ongoing replication at a lower entry price or a hosted-first workflow, since its CDC plan is priced per pipeline and its deployment options center on desktop or self-managed infrastructure.

Pros and cons

• Pro: IDE, federated SQL, Load migration, and CDC sit in one product, reducing the need to assemble separate tools for exploration and data movement.
• Pro: CDC avoids separate Kafka, Zookeeper, and Kubernetes requirements, while NATS is bundled in desktop and Docker Compose deployments.
• Pro: The Free plan supports exploration and offers a bounded CDC trial, and PRO raises federated-query and AI limits without requiring a CDC subscription.
• Con: CDC evaluation covers only three tables for seven days after the first stream starts, limiting longer or larger trials.
• Con: Ongoing CDC costs $99 a month per pipeline and permits one stream at a time per pipeline.
• Con: A Load pass lasts 30 days, so it is aimed at a discrete migration window rather than repeated, ongoing use.

Alternatives

For a broader set of database replication options, see Database Replication Software.

• SymmetricDS is another freemium option with a free plan and trial; consider it when you want to compare a replication-focused product with DBConvert Streams.
• dsync has a free forever open-source plan for small projects and testing, with best-effort support and a commercial support add-on; choose it when that free, project-scale starting point fits.
• NineData offers a free forever Community plan with on-premise deployment, up to 10 data sources and 10 replication tasks, and single-node Docker deployment; consider it when those caps match your workload.
• Artie offers a free plan capped at 1M billable rows per month and two active pipelines, with backfills, Slack Community support, and SOC 2 Type II; choose it if those pipeline and row limits suit your needs.
• Google Cloud Datastream has a free tier of 100 GiB of CDC data per month per billing account for AlloyDB and Spanner sources to BigQuery; consider it when that source-to-target combination is the one you need.
• PeerDB provides a free open-source option for individuals with Docker setup, CDC, streaming query, and query-layer features; choose it if that open-source feature set is a better fit.
• Striim offers a Developer plan with 25 million events per month and a Cloud plan; consider it as another pipeline option.
• Trusted Postgres Architect is a free, Linux and self-hosted alternative for PostgreSQL-focused use.

Verdict

Choose DBConvert Streams if your team wants a self-hosted MySQL or PostgreSQL workbench that can also migrate data and run CDC without assembling a separate Kafka stack. The integrated exploration and data-movement tools are its strongest reason to choose it; the per-pipeline CDC price and limited trial are the main reasons to compare alternatives before committing to ongoing replication.