Pick a MySQL database manager by use case. Adminer for a single-file, modern, multi-database tool. phpMyAdmin for a mature, feature-complete option. MySQL Workbench for a desktop GUI with schema design. The CLI for scripts and automation. The team that picks the right tool per workflow has the right answer.
Table of contents
- Adminer: the right answer for most web-hosted use cases
- phpMyAdmin: the right answer for legacy installations
- MySQL Workbench: the right answer for desktop GUI
- The CLI: the right answer for scripts and automation
- The right tool per workflow
- FAQ
Adminer: the right answer for most web-hosted use cases
Adminer (https://www.adminer.org) is a single PHP file that gives you a web-based GUI for MySQL (and PostgreSQL, SQLite, MongoDB, etc.). The right answer is to drop the PHP file in any web-accessible directory and open it in a browser.
The advantages over phpMyAdmin: smaller, faster, supports more databases, and has a cleaner UI. The right answer is to use Adminer for most use cases. The wrong answer is to install phpMyAdmin by default without considering Adminer.
phpMyAdmin: the right answer for legacy installations
phpMyAdmin is the most well-known MySQL web GUI. The right answer is to use it if you already have it installed and configured. The wrong answer is to install it on a new server — the right answer for a new install is Adminer.
MySQL Workbench: the right answer for desktop GUI
MySQL Workbench is the official desktop GUI from Oracle. The right answer is to use it for visual schema design, query development, and server administration. The wrong answer is to use it on a server (it is a desktop app, not a server app).
The CLI: the right answer for scripts and automation
The right answer for any scripted database work is the mysql CLI:
mysql -h host -u user -p database < script.sqlThe right answer for one-off queries is the CLI. The wrong answer is to use a GUI for scripts.
The right tool per workflow
The right answer for routine DBA work (creating users, granting permissions, checking status) is the CLI. The right answer for ad-hoc queries during development is Adminer (web) or MySQL Workbench (desktop). The right answer for schema design and migration is MySQL Workbench or a migration tool like Flyway or Liquibase.
FAQ
Is Adminer free?
Yes, Adminer is free and open source. The right answer is to download from adminer.org.
Is phpMyAdmin free?
Yes, phpMyAdmin is free and open source.
Is MySQL Workbench free?
Yes, the Community Edition is free. The right answer is to use it for personal and commercial use.
What is the difference between Adminer and phpMyAdmin?
Adminer is a single file, faster, supports more databases, has a cleaner UI. phpMyAdmin is more feature-complete, has been around longer, has more documentation.
Can I use Adminer with PostgreSQL?
Yes, Adminer supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MongoDB, and others.
How do I secure Adminer in production?
The right answer is to put it behind authentication (HTTP basic auth or VPN), restrict by IP in the web server config, and use HTTPS.
What is the right database manager for MySQL 8.0?
Adminer 4.8+ or MySQL Workbench 8.0+. The right answer is to use the latest version of either.
If you are sizing the infrastructure for the kind of project this post covers, the RunxBuild hosting calculator is the right place to model the line items. The compute, the memory, the storage, the bandwidth, the database - each one is a separate number, and the team’s mental model for the platform is the sum of those numbers. The RunxBuild dashboard is where the team sees the actual usage in one place.
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