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What is Azure Data Studio?

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Important

Azure Data Studio is retiring on February 28, 2026. We recommend that you use Visual Studio Code. For more information about migrating to Visual Studio Code, visit What's happening to Azure Data Studio?

Azure Data Studio is a lightweight, cross-platform data management and development tool for data professionals. It provides a modern editor experience with IntelliSense, code snippets, source control integration, and an integrated terminal, making it easier to manage and develop databases.

With Windows, macOS, and Linux support, Azure Data Studio allows you to connect to various databases, including Azure SQL, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Cosmos DB. Its extensibility enables users to customize their experience by installing relevant extensions for their workflow.

Azure Data Studio's familiar interface offers a modern editor experience with IntelliSense, code snippets, source control integration, and an integrated terminal. Engineered with the data platform user in mind, its extensibility allows users to customize their experience by installing the extensions relevant to their workflow, including database migrations, charting, GitHub Copilot, and more!

The source code for Azure Data Studio and its data providers is available on GitHub under a source code EULA that provides rights to modify and use the software but not redistributing it or hosting it in a cloud service. See Azure Data Studio FAQ for more information.

Download and Install Azure Data Studio

SQL code editor with IntelliSense

Azure Data Studio offers a modern, keyboard-focused SQL coding experience that makes everyday tasks easier with built-in features like multiple tab windows, a rich SQL editor, IntelliSense, keyword completion, code snippets, code navigation, and source control integration (Git). Run on-demand SQL queries and view and save results as text, JSON, or Excel. Edit data, organize your favorite database connections, and browse database objects in a familiar object browsing experience. To learn how to use the SQL editor, see Use the SQL editor to create database objects.

Smart SQL code snippets

SQL code snippets generate the proper SQL syntax to create databases, tables, views, stored procedures, users, logins, and roles and update existing database objects. Use smart snippets to quickly create copies of your database for development or testing purposes and to generate and execute CREATE and INSERT scripts.

Azure Data Studio also provides functionality to create custom SQL code snippets. See Create and use code snippets to learn more.

Customizable Server and Database Dashboards

Create rich customizable dashboards to monitor and quickly troubleshoot performance bottlenecks in your databases. To learn about insight widgets and database (and server) dashboards, see Manage servers and databases with insight widgets.

Connection management (server groups)

Server groups provide a way to organize connection information for the servers and databases you work with. For details, see Server groups.

Integrated Terminal

You can use your favorite command-line tools (for example, Bash, PowerShell, sqlcmd, BCP, and ssh) in the Integrated Terminal window right within the Azure Data Studio user interface. See Integrated terminal to learn about the integrated terminal.

Extensibility and extension authoring

Enhance the Azure Data Studio experience by extending the functionality of the base installation. Azure Data Studio provides extensibility points for data management activities and support for extension authoring.

To learn about extensibility in Azure Data Studio, see Extensibility. See Extension authoring to learn about authoring extensions.

Feature comparison with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Use Azure Data Studio if you:

  • Are mostly editing or executing queries.
  • Need the ability to chart and visualize result sets quickly.
  • Can execute most administrative tasks via the integrated terminal using sqlcmd or PowerShell.
  • Have minimal need for wizard experiences.
  • You don't need to do deep administrative or platform-related configuration.
  • It needs to run on macOS or Linux.

Use SQL Server Management Studio if you:

  • Are doing complex administrative or platform configuration.
  • Are doing security management, including user management, vulnerability assessment, and configuration of security features.Need to make use of performance tuning advisors and dashboards.
  • Use database diagrams and table designers.
  • Need access to Registered Servers.
  • Make use of live query stats or client statistics.

Shell features

Feature Azure Data Studio SSMS
Azure Sign-In Yes Yes
Dashboard Yes
Extensions Yes
Integrated Terminal Yes
Object Explorer Yes Yes
Object Scripting Yes Yes
Select from Table Yes Yes
Source Code Control Yes
Task Pane Yes
Themes, including Dark Mode Yes
Azure Resource Explorer Yes
Generate Scripts Wizard Yes
Object Properties Preview Yes
Table Designer Yes Yes

Query Editor

Feature Azure Data Studio SSMS
Chart Viewer Yes
Export Results to CSV, JSON, XLSX Yes
Results to File Yes
Results to Text Yes
IntelliSense Yes Yes
Snippets Yes Yes
Show Plan Yes Yes
Client Statistics Yes
Live Query Stats Yes
Query Options Yes
Spatial Viewer Yes
SQLCMD Yes Yes

Operating System Support

Feature Azure Data Studio SSMS
Windows Yes Yes
macOS Yes
Linux Yes

Data Engineering

Feature Azure Data Studio SSMS
External Data Wizard Preview
HDFS Integration Preview
Notebooks Preview

Database Administration

Feature Azure Data Studio SSMS
Backup / Restore Preview Yes
Flat File Import Yes Yes
SQL Agent Preview Yes
SQL Profiler Preview Yes
Always On Yes
Always Encrypted Yes
Copy Data Wizard Yes
Data Tuning Advisor Yes
Database Diagrams Yes
Error Log Viewer Yes
Maintenance Plans Yes
Multi-Server Query Yes
Policy Based Management Yes
PolyBase Yes
Query Store Yes
Registered Servers Yes
Replication Yes
Security Management Yes Yes
Service Broker Yes
SQL Assessment Preview Yes
SQL Mail Yes
Template Explorer Yes
Vulnerability Assessment Yes
XEvent Management Yes

Database Development

Feature Azure Data Studio SSMS
Import\Export DACPAC Yes Yes
SQL Projects Preview
Schema Compare Yes

SQL Tools Service

Azure Data Studio uses the SqlToolsService as the application's SQL API layer. SQL Tools Service is .NET-based and open source under the MIT license. For SQL connectivity, SQL Tools Service uses Microsoft.Data.SqlClient as the SQL driver.

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