dbdiff

C
C tier on Database Schema Comparison ToolsScore 6.5 · #5 of 19
Android app
Not listed
Free plan
No
Runs on
Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows
rekurt.github.io
The dbdiff homepage

Summary

DBDiff compares local or remote MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite databases, then generates migration files from schema or data differences. Generated migrations can include up and down changes. Its runner provides commands to create, apply, roll back, check, validate, repair, and baseline migrations. Comparison targets include tables, views, triggers, routines, types, sequences, row-level security policies, and data. Output formats include native SQL, Flyway, Liquibase, Laravel Migrations, and custom templates. A configuration file can set connections, drivers, comparison scope, included or ignored tables and fields, and row filters. Install options include pre-built Windows, macOS, and Linux binaries, npm packages, a PHAR, Docker or Podman images, and Composer source installation. For PostgreSQL, it can compare row-level security policies and table security flags. By default, generation stops when a migration would drop a table or column; an option allows those changes. DBDiff is free and open source under the MIT license.

Who it is for

DBDiff suits developers who need to compare MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite databases and generate or manage migrations across environments. Its multiple output formats and command-line runner may fit teams incorporating migration tasks into CI/CD workflows.

What is good

  • Compares both schemas and data.
  • Generates migrations with up and down changes.
  • Supports Flyway, Liquibase, Laravel, and custom templates.
  • Includes commands to apply and roll back migrations.
  • Free and released under the MIT license.

What to know first

  • PostgreSQL enum removals or reordering can block generated migrations.
  • Other compatible database variants may not be actively tested.
  • Table and column drops stop generation by default.

Verdict

DBDiff covers database comparison and migration workflows across three core database engines, with several output formats and install choices. Review its PostgreSQL enum limitation and default behavior for destructive changes before relying on generated migrations.

Compared on database schema comparison tools

Migration scripts
Yesrekurt.github.io
Database scope
multi-enginerekurt.github.io
CI/CD integration
Yesrekurt.github.io
Supported platforms
cross-platformrekurt.github.io

Facts

Purpose
DBDiff compares two local or remote MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite databases and automatically generates a migration file of their differences.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Schema and data diffs
It can diff database schemas and data and generate SQL migrations, including up and down changes.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Migration runner
It includes commands to create, apply, roll back, check, validate, repair, and baseline migrations.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Database objects
Its listed diff targets include tables, views, triggers, routines, types, sequences, row-level security policies, and data.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Migration integrations
It supports output formats for Flyway, Liquibase, and Laravel Migrations, as well as native SQL and templates.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Supabase
The --supabase option selects the PostgreSQL driver and enables SSL; DBDiff reads the public schema, while Supabase-managed schemas such as auth and storage are outside the diff.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Database compatibility
The site lists support for MySQL 8.0.x, 8.4.x, and 9.3.x/9.6.x, PostgreSQL 14.x–16.x, and SQLite 3.x.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Additional compatible databases
The site says compatible variants include MariaDB, Aurora, PlanetScale, Neon, CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, TimescaleDB, and pgvector, with most not tested by the core team unless noted.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Platforms
Pre-built binaries are listed for Windows x64/arm64, macOS Intel/Apple Silicon, and Linux x64/arm64 using glibc or musl.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Distribution
The site offers pre-built binaries, npm packages, a PHAR, Docker/Podman images, and Composer source installation.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Configuration
A dbdiff.yml configuration file can set database connections, drivers, diff scope, included or ignored tables and fields, and row filters.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Limitations
The site documents PostgreSQL enum label removals or reordering as a case where dependent objects may prevent an automatically generated migration from applying.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Support
The site directs users to open or check GitHub issues and invites commercial support enquiries.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
License
The project is released under the MIT license.dbdiff.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Database support
It supports MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQLite; other versions may work but are not actively tested.dbdiff.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Migration formats
It supports native SQL, Flyway, Liquibase XML and YAML, Laravel, and custom templates.dbdiff.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Destructive changes
By default, generation stops for migrations that drop a table or column; the page documents an option to allow those changes.dbdiff.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Install options
The site lists prebuilt binaries, npm, PHAR, Docker or Podman, and Composer source installation.dbdiff.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Operating systems
Prebuilt binaries are listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.dbdiff.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Deployment
Multi-architecture Docker and Podman images are published to GHCR on each release.dbdiff.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Security feature
For PostgreSQL, the tool diffs row level security policies and each table’s ENABLE and FORCE ROW LEVEL SECURITY flags.dbdiff.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Performance
The site says it has been tested on databases with millions of rows and that schema diffs use a constant number of round-trips regardless of table count.dbdiff.dev · 3 Oct 2026

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