dbplyr
dbplyr is the database backend for dplyr that converts dplyr code into SQL for remote database tables.
What dbplyr is
dbplyr is the database backend for dplyr that converts dplyr code into SQL for remote database tables. It is intended for work where data already sits in a database or is too large to fit in memory at once. Operations on remote tables are lazy: dbplyr delays them until results are requested, then sends them to the database. Documented operations include filtering, selecting, mutating, grouping, summarising, joins, set operations, and row modifications. The package focuses on generating SELECT statements, rather than translating all of SQL. Listed database dialects include SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, Redshift, Spark SQL, Teradata, and Hive, among others. DBI coordinates connections, and users need a backend package for the database they want to connect to. Functions can display generated SQL and query plans. The package is free at 0.00 USD under the MIT license and supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. Documentation provides installation instructions for CRAN and a development version from GitHub.
Good
- Translates dplyr code for remote tables.
- Supports lazy operations on database data.
- Can display generated SQL and query plans.
- Free under the MIT license.
Watch out
- Does not translate all of SQL.
- Requires a DBI backend package for the database.
Who it suits
It suits R users working with data held in a database, especially when that data is too large to fit in memory. Users need a DBI backend package for their chosen database.
Verdict
dbplyr lets R users express database operations through dplyr code while the data remains remote. Its SQL generation focuses on SELECT statements, so users should check whether their needed operations are covered.
Plans and prices
From dbplyr's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| dbplyr | Free | Open-source R package · MIT license |
The facts
Each one read from dbplyr's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Connection interface
- Database connections are coordinated through DBI, and users install a backend package for the database they want to connect to.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Database backends
- The package index lists built-in dialects or backends including SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, Redshift, Spark SQL, Teradata, Hive, and others.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Inspect queries
- The package provides functions to show generated SQL and query plans.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The documentation gives installation commands for dbplyr from CRAN and for the development version from GitHub.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documentation describes using dbplyr when data already lives in a database or is too large to fit in memory at once.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Lazy queries
- Operations on remote tables are delayed and sent to the database when results are requested.checked 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The dbplyr site identifies the package license as MIT.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Maintainers
- The site lists Hadley Wickham as author and maintainer and names Maximilian Girlich and Edgar Ruiz as authors.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- dbplyr is the database backend for dplyr and converts dplyr code into SQL for remote database tables.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Using dbplyr with a database requires a DBI backend package for that database.checked 5 Oct 2026
- SQL scope
- dbplyr focuses on generating SELECT statements and does not translate all of SQL.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site links users to a getting-help page and a GitHub issue tracker for reporting bugs.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Supported operations
- Documented operations include filtering, selecting, mutating, grouping, summarising, joins, set operations, and row modifications.checked 5 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker history
- Posit says RStudio, now Posit, was founded in 2009 to create open-source software for data scientists.checked 5 Oct 2026
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