dbForge Studio (Edge) vs. Redgate SQL Toolbelt Essentials

Whenever a user or DBA wants to compare schematics between two environments, dbForge is extremely helpful. This is useful during version or framework upgrades, a database upgrade, patch implementations, service package implementations, or any time to environments would be different. The time it would take to write and execute queries, and then compare is exponentially longer than it takes with dbForge, where this is done and you have an application that allows you to quickly identify incongruities.

Incentivized

We use SQL Compare to troubleshoot performance problems quite a bit since our data model is more like a template and not everything is 100% in sync and customization occurs between different client databases. We continually get pulled into performance issues and the developers will say Client A is performing different than Client B, why? Using SQL Compare, we usually find that one client was tuned and had indexes altered or added that weren't deployed to all clients or other objects weren't deployed correctly during the release. On the other hand, since our data model practices allow client databases to drift I tried to create a new golden image by trying to compare multiple databases based on the same data model and found it to be a very difficult process to complete using SQL Compare. SQL Compare gave me too much information and doesn't allow enough filtering to eliminate a lot of the noise.

Incentivized

• Compare entire or subset of MySQL tables between databases
• Configure comparison rules
• Sync data between compared databases depending on differences
• Save comparison rules for reuse and sharing
• Break down differences between missing/new records, or different records
• See differences highlighted per field
• Execute sync immediately, or save as an SQL script file
• Command-line tool that can be used to add comparisons to deploy scripts

Incentivized

• Simple and easy comparison of database schemas and data. Differences can be copied or synced from one database to another with a click of a button.
• You can save "projects" so that you can easily rerun a previous comparison whenever you need to.
• It has a very simple, easy to learn interface. I've never needed to read any documentation or watch any tutorials in order to figure out how to do something.

Incentivized

• [The] installation error I've already reported (ABARTN).xml [could use some improvement]. This has to do with Windows Defender (the default Windows anti-virus) not allowing the installation on the default installation directory of dbForge Studio [for SQL Server], thus the error. [With] the workaround, [I] was to disable the anti-virus for the duration of the installation, then turn it back on when the installation [was] been completed.
• [I would like to see] better defined licensing models for larger teams (seated vs. name licenses).

• Pricing.... I wish there was an inexpensive developer version I could buy for myself.
• Portability.... I would like to use it from a flash drive so I can use it where ever I am asked to work.
• Unbundled.... This may be available already but I dont' recall I can buy it cheaply as a stand-alone product. Its only part of the bundle - cost effectively.

Incentivized

It's a good tool to have, but becomes expensive to buy a user license for each developer.

Incentivized

Although experience here is limited, as only one question has been asked and answered promptly, the registration and licensing process was very smooth and professional. There are forums online that discuss dbForge issues, as well as a Facts and Questions section on dbForge's website, so product support does seem to exist if needed.

Incentivized

They have a great community website where you can search for answers but are also very responsive when it comes to direct support.

Incentivized

I would say that dbForge equals or beats most of the abilities of the other tools I evaluated at the time. dbForge had better support (Devart), and regular feature updates. dbForge has better tools for data comparison and import/export. The price tag is slightly higher, but renewals rates are pretty good. It's a quality tool that still is well worth the cost.

Incentivized

I've used Visual Studio Database Projects for this type of work in the past with some success, but Redgate SQL Compare is faster, more transparent, and simply easier to use. Faster is self explanatory. More transparent, means that it's much easier to set up your desired options for schema change deployment scripts. Easier to use, It's really dead simple. Start a project, connect your source, connect destination, click compare.

Incentivized

• We perform better and faster syncing analysis between databases.
• We update running mysql databases faster and more efficiently.
• Especially with MySQL Workbench we had immense irritations due to all the crashes during the day. With dbForge Studio we finally had a power tool which is stable and does not crash constantly.

Incentivized

• Makes deployment fairly simple. Cutting our deployment time down.
• With the SDK, we can customize our deployment process very quickly and easily.
• History is not great, it does create scripts you can go back and see but it would be nice to have a quicker version view by object to save time.

Incentivized