Alternatives

Sidequery is a versatile tool, but it's not for everyone. We'll be real with you about some of our strengths and weaknesses compared to some other alternatives.

Sometimes you just want to write a query, make a chart, and move on. No charting library decisions, no Jupyter magic syntax, no Python DB API.

We know Sidequery can be polarizing. It might work for you, it might not. If you're just starting out building analytics for a small project or startup, it could be a great choice. We're not going to lock your data or "api access" behind an enterprise plan.

You can see what we're good at here. Below are some situations where Sidequery might not be the best choice:

Python Notebooks

Looking for Python notebooks instead of SQL? We built pynb for that. It's a free, local-first macOS app that stores notebooks as plain .py files (version control friendly), uses uv instead of kernels, supports ipynb import/export, has reactive dataflow, and lets you bring your own AI agent (Codex, Claude, etc.).

If pynb doesn't fit your needs: Hex and Colab are great for cloud hosting and GPU compute. Jupyter and Marimo run on Windows and Linux if you need cross-platform support.

Desktop Database Tools

DBeaver, DataGrip, and TablePlus are GUI-heavy tools for database administration: point-and-click record editing, visual query builders, server configuration panels. If you prefer GUIs for editing rows or managing database settings, those tools are probably a better fit.

Enterprise BI

If you need granular access controls (row-level security, etc.) or enterprise authentication (SSO, SAML, SCIM), Sidequery is probably not the tool for you. Tools like Tableau, Power BI, Looker, Mode, Omni, Metabase, and Preset handle enterprise governance very well.