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Databases · head to head

DataGrip vs Presto

DataGrip logo

DataGrip

Databases

Cross-platform database IDE from JetBrains for SQL and NoSQL databases

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Presto logo

Presto

Databases

The Meta-lineage distributed SQL query engine, distinct from the Trino fork

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: DataGrip commercial use requires a paid subscription; the free tier is non-commercial only.; Presto the original creators and most of the active contributor base left for Trino in 2020, so Presto has the smaller community, fewer connectors and slower feature delivery of the two branches.
  • They diverge on capability: DataGrip covers Intelligent SQL Completion, Presto covers Federated querying.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DataGrip and Presto actually diverge.

Attributes where DataGrip and Presto differ
AttributeDataGripPresto
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
Platformswindows, mac, linuxLinux, Docker, Kubernetes
Founded2000Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DataGrip

  • Intelligent SQL Completion
  • Schema Navigation
  • Data Editor
  • Version Control for Scripts
  • Multi-database Support

Only in Presto

  • Federated querying
  • In-memory execution
  • Open table format support
  • Presto C++ workers
  • ANSI SQL
  • Pluggable connectors

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DataGrip

  • Writing and running SQL queries across multiple database enginesnot Presto
  • Browsing and editing schema and table data visuallynot Presto
  • Version-controlling database migration scriptsnot Presto
  • Standardizing database tooling across a JetBrains-based teamnot Presto

Presto

  • An existing PrestoDB estate that needs continued upgrades rather than a migration to Trinonot DataGrip
  • A team buying IBM watsonx.data, where Presto is the underlying query enginenot DataGrip
  • Joining a Hive or Iceberg lake to an operational PostgreSQL database in one query without an ETL stepnot DataGrip
  • Very large scale interactive SQL where the Meta-tested branch is a specific requirementnot DataGrip

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DataGrip

  • Commercial use requires a paid subscription; the free tier is non-commercial only.
  • No built-in database administration features like backup scheduling found in dedicated DBA tools.
  • Heavier resource footprint than lightweight single-purpose SQL clients.
  • NoSQL support (e.g. MongoDB) is less mature than its relational database tooling.

Presto

  • The original creators and most of the active contributor base left for Trino in 2020, so Presto has the smaller community, fewer connectors and slower feature delivery of the two branches.
  • Documentation, tutorials and Stack Overflow answers for the two projects are frequently mixed up, and a solution written for Trino often does not apply, which costs real debugging time.
  • It is a query engine with no storage of its own, so query performance is dictated by your file layout, partitioning and statistics, and a badly organised lake makes Presto look slow.
  • Memory-bound execution means a single large join can fail the whole query rather than spilling gracefully, and tuning cluster memory settings is a persistent operational chore.
  • Commercial support has consolidated into IBM since the Ahana acquisition, so the independent vendor market that once existed around Presto is largely gone.

Pricing, plan by plan

DataGrip

Free
  • Free (non-commercial)Free
    • Personal, non-commercial use only
  • Individual - Year 1$99/year
    • Full DataGrip license
    • Free updates during subscription
  • Individual - Year 2+$79/year
    • Continuity discount from second year onward

Presto

Free
  • PrestoFree
    • Apache 2.0 licence
    • Presto Foundation governance under the Linux Foundation
    • No node or query limits

Which should you pick?

Choose DataGrip if

  • You need intelligent sql completion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want schema navigation.
DataGrip review

Choose Presto if

  • You need federated querying.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want in-memory execution.
Presto review

Questions people ask

Is DataGrip or Presto better?
Neither clearly leads. DataGrip starts at Free and Presto at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DataGrip or Presto?
DataGrip starts at Free and Presto at Free.
Does DataGrip or Presto run on more platforms?
DataGrip runs on windows, mac, linux. Presto runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use DataGrip for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is DataGrip best used for?
DataGrip is most often used for writing and running sql queries across multiple database engines, browsing and editing schema and table data visually, version-controlling database migration scripts, standardizing database tooling across a jetbrains-based team. Of those, writing and running sql queries across multiple database engines and browsing and editing schema and table data visually are not what Presto is typically brought in for.
What can DataGrip do that Presto cannot?
DataGrip covers Intelligent SQL Completion, Schema Navigation, Data Editor, Version Control for Scripts. Presto covers Federated querying, In-memory execution, Open table format support, Presto C++ workers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DataGrip: Is DataGrip free for personal use?

JetBrains introduced a free non-commercial license for DataGrip in October 2025, allowing personal use, while commercial use still requires a paid annual or monthly subscription.

Source
Presto: Is this Presto or Trino?

This is PrestoDB, the branch that stayed at Facebook and moved to the Linux Foundation. Trino is the 2020 fork by the original creators.

DataGrip: Who qualifies for the free non-commercial license?

Only individuals are eligible, for uses like learning, open-source work, or content creation. Anyone paid by an employer, including at a non-profit, must use a commercial license instead.

Source
Presto: Which should I choose for a new project?

Trino, in most cases. It has the larger community, more connectors and more commercial options.

DataGrip: How long does the free non-commercial license last?

It lasts one year and auto-renews if DataGrip was used at least once in the final six months; otherwise you can simply reapply for a new license.

Source
Presto: Who maintains Presto now?

Principally Meta, Uber and IBM, which acquired the Presto vendor Ahana in 2023.

DataGrip: Does the free license have fewer features than the paid version?

No, it is a full-featured IDE identical to the paid version, though it requires anonymized telemetry sharing that cannot be opted out of under the non-commercial agreement.

Source
Presto: Is it still actively released?

Yes, releases continue on a regular cadence under the Presto Foundation.

DataGrip: Can I use DataGrip offline with the free license?

No, activation requires logging into a JetBrains Account; offline activation codes are not available for the free non-commercial license.

Source
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