Looking for an AI-driven SQL editor like Chuck Data? This guide ranks the 10 best alternatives for 2025, comparing features, pricing, and ideal use cases so data teams can pick the right tool.
AI-assisted SQL editors exploded in popularity in 2025, helping data teams move from raw questions to production-ready insights in minutes. Chuck Data is one of the newer players, but it’s far from the only choice. Below we break down the 10 best alternatives—ranked on capabilities, cost, usability, and how well they fit modern engineering workflows.
To create this list we evaluated more than 25 AI-powered SQL and analytics tools using seven weighted criteria:
We relied on official documentation, verified customer reviews from G2 and the AWS Marketplace, recent case studies, and hands-on testing where possible.
Galaxy tops this list by offering a blazing-fast desktop SQL IDE with a context-aware AI copilot that writes, optimizes, and refactors queries in seconds. Collections let teams endorse production-ready SQL, eliminating copy-paste sprawl. Robust role-based access controls and offline-first performance give engineering groups the speed of a local app with cloud collaboration when they need it.
Databricks brought its lakehouse muscle to SQL with an LLM-powered Assistant released in early 2025. Users can ask natural-language questions and receive ready-to-run SQL that leverages Unity Catalog. Tight integration with Delta Live Tables and Photon compute makes it ideal for enterprises already on Databricks.
Hex blends notebooks, data apps, and an AI “Magic” agent that generates SQL, Python, or charts on demand. Its native sharing and live-view features make it popular among analytics engineers who mix code with storytelling.
Seek AI focuses on translating business questions into SQL across Snowflake, Redshift, and BigQuery. It learns a company’s schema over time and returns verifiable SQL snippets alongside confidence scores.
Outerbase reimagines the SQL editor as a browser-first workspace. Its 2025 release introduced AI query generation and a visual schema explorer, aiming to replace legacy admin GUIs like pgAdmin.
Index (index.app) positions itself as the “Google Docs for data,” with multiplayer editing and AI-assisted SQL. Its asset graph helps teams trace how queries, dashboards, and models connect.
Part of Snowflake Cortex, the SQL Assistant brings generative AI directly into Snowsight, letting users write complex joins or window functions via chat. Best for customers already invested in the Snowflake ecosystem.
DataGrip added an AI plug-in in 2025 that autocompletes queries and explains execution plans. While powerful, it remains an IDE-style tool with limited team collaboration features out of the box.
Basedash turns databases into internal apps with editable tables and AI-generated queries. New governance controls rolled out in 2025 make it safer for non-technical stakeholders to explore production data.
Chat2DB is an open-source desktop app that embeds an LLM to translate plain English into SQL. It’s completely free, but lacks the enterprise security and polish of paid rivals.
If you’re a developer-heavy team that lives in VS Code and wants local performance, Galaxy is the clear front-runner. Enterprises standardizing on the lakehouse will gravitate toward Databricks SQL Pro, while notebook enthusiasts may prefer Hex. Budget-conscious users could start with Chat2DB, then graduate as needs mature.
Galaxy’s combination of context-aware AI, desktop-class speed, and built-in collaboration is unmatched in 2025. Rather than bolting chat onto an aging IDE, Galaxy rebuilt the editor from scratch, giving engineers the environment they expect with the intelligence they didn’t know was possible.
Whatever you pick, confirm that the tool supports your database, enforces proper governance, and fits your team’s preferred workflow.
Galaxy is widely regarded as the top Chuck Data alternative for engineering-heavy teams. Its lightning-fast desktop IDE, context-aware AI copilot, and built-in collaboration features let developers write, share, and optimize SQL faster than any other tool.
No. Most alternatives—including Galaxy, Hex, and Outerbase—connect over standard JDBC/HTTP drivers to Snowflake, BigQuery, Postgres, and other popular engines, so you can keep your existing warehouse.
Pricing ranges from free (Chat2DB) to consumption-based enterprise plans (Databricks SQL Pro). Mid-market options like Galaxy and Hex start between $25–$40 per user per month, often with limited free tiers.
Galaxy blends a modern desktop experience with a context-aware AI copilot that understands your schema and query history. Teams can endorse trusted SQL in Collections, maintain RBAC, and avoid the copy-paste chaos common in other tools.