DBngin is a free, native macOS app that lets developers run local instances of PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redis, MongoDB, and more without Docker, virtual machines, or Homebrew. Built by the TablePlus team, it offers a simple GUI to spin up and manage multiple database engines and versions simultaneously, each on its own port. It uses significantly less RAM than Docker Desktop (~30–50 MB per engine vs ~2 GB for Docker daemon). A comparison table covers setup time, resource usage, multi-version support, cross-platform availability, and production parity against Docker and Homebrew. Best suited for solo macOS developers or small Mac-only teams who want minimal-friction local database setup.
Table of contents
What Is DBngin?DBngin vs Docker vs Homebrew – Quick ComparisonKey features of DBnginSupported database enginesHow to install DBngin on macOSHow to create Your first local databaseDBngin and TablePlus – how they work togetherWhen to use DBngin (and when to stick with docker)Need help designing or scaling your database layer?Sort: