Raw Query vs VaultSQL: Which is Better in 2026?
A comprehensive comparison of Raw Query and VaultSQL covering features, pricing, use cases, and which tool is the right choice for your needs.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Choose Raw Query if:
- →You want more affordable paid plans (from $39/mo)
- →You need connect by pasting a connection string; no semantic model to build or reads and writes — insert and update rows, not just select
Choose VaultSQL if:
- →You need a broader feature set (6 features vs 5)
- →You need vault mode encrypts credentials on-device; the service never holds decryption keys or full browser sql workbench with row editing, filtering and foreign-key preview
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Raw Query vs VaultSQL: At a Glance
Pricing Comparison: Raw Query vs VaultSQL
Understanding the pricing differences between Raw Query and VaultSQL is crucial for making the right choice. Here's how their plans compare side by side.
Raw Query Pricing
💡 Pricing takeaway: Both Raw Query and VaultSQL offer free tiers, making it easy to try before you buy. Compare the specific plans to find the best value for your use case.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Here's how every feature from Raw Query and VaultSQL stacks up.
What Makes Each Tool Unique
🔵 Unique to Raw Query
Features available in Raw Query but not in VaultSQL:
- ✓Connect by pasting a connection string; no semantic model to build
- ✓Reads and writes — insert and update rows, not just SELECT
- ✓CSV export of any result
- ✓Free tier of 300 queries a month against 2 databases, not a trial
- ✓Per-database role access on the top tier
🟣 Unique to VaultSQL
Features available in VaultSQL but not in Raw Query:
- ✓Vault Mode encrypts credentials on-device; the service never holds decryption keys
- ✓Full browser SQL workbench with row editing, filtering and foreign-key preview
- ✓Temporary access requests with expiry and one-click revocation
- ✓Audit logs of queries, connections and access changes, exportable for compliance
- ✓Open-source core with hosted and self-hosted deployment
- ✓Workspace-level controls for team access management
Use Case Recommendations
Best for: Raw Query
Raw Query lets a team chat with its production database in plain English, and its setup story is the shortest in the category: paste a connection string and start, roughly ten seconds, with no dashboard modelling layer to build first. It handles reads — who signed up last, the emails of the last five Pro customers, an export of that result to CSV — and it also handles writes, inserting a new record or updating a client's email address, which most natural-language-to-SQL tools deliberately refuse to do. The pitch is aimed at two groups from opposite directions. For developers, it removes the endless queue of tiny internal tools each built to answer one recurring question, none of which is worth maintaining. For business-intelligence and operations people, it removes the obligation to learn SQL or to keep track of a sprawl of internal-tool links: the database learns your language instead. The tier ladder is priced on successful queries per month plus seats and connected databases, and the free tier is real rather than a trial — 300 successful queries a month against two databases, indefinitely. Higher tiers add unlimited databases, priority support and, at the top, per-database role access, so a team can expose a read-only view of production to operations while leaving write access to a smaller group. The vendor answers the obvious objections directly in its FAQ, including what natural language means in practice and whether a subscription can be cancelled at any time.
Ideal use cases:
- •Teams or individuals who need connect by pasting a connection string; no semantic model to build
- •Teams or individuals who need reads and writes — insert and update rows, not just select
- •Teams or individuals who need csv export of any result
- •Teams or individuals who need free tier of 300 queries a month against 2 databases, not a trial
- •Anyone focused on sql workflows
- •Anyone focused on database workflows
Best for: VaultSQL
VaultSQL is an open-source, zero-trust SQL workbench built to end the practice of passing production database passwords around a team in a password manager or a Slack thread. It runs in the browser as a full workbench — browse data, filter results, update rows inline, preview foreign-key relationships and export — but the credential handling is the actual product. In Vault Mode, connection credentials are encrypted on the user's own device before they ever reach VaultSQL's servers, and the service never holds the decryption keys, so the hosted version cannot read the databases it connects you to. On top of that sit two workflow features that matter more in practice than the encryption does: access requests, which grant temporary, expiring database access to an on-call engineer or a contractor and revoke it in one click without anyone learning a password; and audit logs that record queries, connections and access changes, filterable by user, database or time range and exportable for a compliance review. The deployment story is the unusual part commercially. The core is open source and there are two options, both free: a managed hosted workspace run by the VaultSQL team with automatic updates, or a self-hosted deployment in your own cloud or on-prem environment for teams with infrastructure requirements that rule out a third-party service. No paid tier is currently published for either path.
Ideal use cases:
- •Teams or individuals who need vault mode encrypts credentials on-device; the service never holds decryption keys
- •Teams or individuals who need full browser sql workbench with row editing, filtering and foreign-key preview
- •Teams or individuals who need temporary access requests with expiry and one-click revocation
- •Teams or individuals who need audit logs of queries, connections and access changes, exportable for compliance
- •Anyone focused on sql workflows
- •Anyone focused on database workflows
📊 Other Data & Analytics Tools to Consider
Raw Query and VaultSQL aren't the only options. Here are other popular tools in the same space:
Databricks AI
Enterprise AI and data lakehouse platform
Akkio
No-code predictive AI for business analysts
Hex
Data workspace with AI analysis and apps
MindsDB
AI layer for databases with SQL ML
Obviously AI
No-code ML platform for predictions
Julius AI
Chat with your data for instant analysis
Is one of these your tool?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Raw Query better than VaultSQL?
It depends on your needs. Raw Query offers 5 key features including Connect by pasting a connection string; no semantic model to build and Reads and writes — insert and update rows, not just SELECT, while VaultSQL provides 6 features including Vault Mode encrypts credentials on-device; the service never holds decryption keys and Full browser SQL workbench with row editing, filtering and foreign-key preview. Raw Query uses a freemium model with a free tier, while VaultSQL is free with free access available. Choose based on which features and pricing model align with your requirements.
Is Raw Query cheaper than VaultSQL?
VaultSQL doesn't have standard paid plans, while Raw Query starts at $39/month. Both tools offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing. Always check the official websites for the most current pricing.
Can I use Raw Query and VaultSQL together?
Yes, many users combine Raw Query and VaultSQL in their workflow. Raw Query excels at connect by pasting a connection string; no semantic model to build, while VaultSQL shines with vault mode encrypts credentials on-device; the service never holds decryption keys. Using both allows you to leverage the strengths of each tool, though this means managing two subscriptions — though free tiers can help manage costs.
What's the main difference between Raw Query and VaultSQL?
While both are data & analytics tools, Raw Query emphasizes connect by pasting a connection string; no semantic model to build, whereas VaultSQL is known for vault mode encrypts credentials on-device; the service never holds decryption keys. The best choice depends on your specific workflow and feature priorities.
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