I built a native macOS database GUI because I was fed up with TablePlus limits
I've been using TablePlus for years. It's good — but the connection limits on older licences drove me mad, and most alternatives are either Electron apps or haven't been updated since 2019. So I built my own. What is Stratum? Stratum is a native macOS database GUI — written in Swift, not wrapped in Electron. It connects to MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. What made me actually build it Three things: 1. Connection limits. TablePlus caps connections on older licences. Stratum has none. 2. Electron alternatives. Beekeeper Studio is good but it's an Electron app. On a Mac, that matters. 3. The MySQL setup friction. Most tools require you to install extra dependencies. Stratum connects natively — no brew install, no extra setup. What it does Table browser with inline editing — add, edit, delete rows without SQL Server-side pagination — stays fast on tables with 100k+ rows Query editor with schema-aware autocomplete Visual schema designer — create tables, add columns without writing DDL Full SQL export — DROP + CREATE + batched INSERTs iCloud sync for connections and snippets Laravel Valet auto-detection Import connections from TablePlus in one click SSH tunnelling The tech Built with SwiftUI and Swift 6. The PostgreSQL driver uses PostgresNIO. The MySQL driver implements the MySQL wire protocol directly over Network.framework — no Homebrew dependency, works inside the App Sandbox. Where it is now Currently in free beta. One-time purchase planned for the Mac App Store — no subscription. → stratum.mwn-digital.uk Happy to answer questions about how it's built.