SQLyog

Administer all your MySQL databases with this easy to use GUI tool for Windows.

Let's be honest, there are already hundreds of programs (if not thousands!) out there that can administer MySQL databases – but there aren’t many that offer an easy to use GUI interface and tools that help even the most basic MySQL admin get started, are there?

SQLyog is modelled off Microsoft Excel and makes editing and administrating MySQL much easier, but you’ll still need some understanding of how MySQL works. This program excels at simple operations and tasks, and can teach users how to form proper queries to find data, edit, and drop data from tables the right way.

We really like the fact that there are dozens of pre-defined functions built into the program, as well as many different tools that make administering MySQL databases easier. Even if you’re not that good at generating correct SQL syntax, this tool can teach you how to do it the right way and avoid some issues that many new admins make right from the get-go.

It’s important to note that you can use this program even on remote databases – the program supports SSH and HTTP tunneling, ODBC databases, and more features that’ll help you do more with your data and stay on top of things.

While SQLyog is a great tool for administering MySQL databases, it’s good to point out that they don’t offer bulk licensing for the program. If you’re just one person this won’t be a big problem, but if you have multiple users using the program day after day this could get very expensive really fast.

All in all, SQLyog is a good tool for most users. You’ll still have to have some basic understanding of your databases and you’ll probably want to try working on a local copy of your databases or backup your remote databases before you start editing them.

Pros

• Many Pre-Defined Tools and Search Functions to Choose From This tool comes pre-loaded with dozens of queries and some great tools that will help make administering your databases that much easier.
• Easy to Use GUI The GUI is designed to be easy to use, much easier than sitting at the MySQL admin in your hosts’ cPanel
• Very Similar to Microsoft Excel If you’ve ever worked with Microsoft Excel you’ll be well at home with the query functions; you’ll still need some knowledge of MySQL to do more advanced operations.

Cons

• No Bulk Licensing Available If you’re going to have multiple users using SQLyog every day, this could get very expensive!
• You’ll Need Some MySQL Knowledge There are many pre-defined tools and queries available and the program can teach you a lot – but you’ll still need some knowledge of the program to do more advanced operations with it.