The best database monitoring tool starts with the engine you run. Some tools are built for one family, such as PostgreSQL, MySQL or SQL Server, while others cover several engines from one console. Then decide whether you want alerts and dashboards, or tuning advice on queries and configuration, because several tools here lean one way.
A slow query at 2am doesn't care which monitoring tool you bought. But the tool you pick decides whether you get an alert, a dashboard or a list of changes to make, and that's where these products differ most.
This list covers ten database monitoring and performance tools, using only what each vendor's own website says, read on 2 Nov 2026 (as of Nov 2026). It's alphabetical and in no particular order. Speed, uptime and saving lines on vendor pages aren't repeated here: it's about which engines each tool names and the job it's built for.
Database monitoring tools compared
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Datasentinel | PostgreSQL performance monitoring | Session history, top queries and a lock explorer |
| DBmarlin | AI-driven database observability | Performance and change tracking |
| IDERA SQL Diagnostic Manager | SQL Server database observability | AI-assisted query optimization |
| ManageEngine Applications Manager | Database monitoring inside an applications suite | Database health beside application monitoring |
| Navicat Monitor | Real-time monitor for four database engines | MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and SQL Server |
| Percona Monitoring and Management | Database monitoring and management | Dashboards, query analytics and configuration insight |
| pganalyze | Postgres performance monitoring and tuning | EXPLAIN plans and slow query root causes |
| Redgate Monitor | Monitoring for five database engines | SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL and MongoDB |
| Releem | MySQL performance tuning tool | Configuration, query, index and schema advice |
| SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer | Database performance analyzer in a wider IT suite | Database observability beside network and infrastructure tools |
Ten tools for watching database performance
Datasentinel
Best for: Tuning PostgreSQL with active session history, a top queries view, a lock explorer and customizable alerting.
DBmarlin
Best for: Monitoring database performance and tracking changes with AI-driven observability, self-hosted or in the cloud.
IDERA SQL Diagnostic Manager
Best for: Watching SQL Server with a redesigned console, real-time web monitoring and AI-assisted query optimization.
ManageEngine Applications Manager
Best for: Watching database health and availability in real time as part of a wider applications monitoring suite, with smart alerts and root-cause analysis.
Navicat Monitor
Best for: Keeping an eye on MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and SQL Server servers in real time from one monitoring tool.
Percona Monitoring and Management
Best for: Getting unified dashboards, query analytics and configuration insight across on-premises, cloud and hybrid environments.
pganalyze
Best for: Analysing EXPLAIN plans over time and finding root causes of slow queries, with query, index and VACUUM advisors for Postgres.
Redgate Monitor
Best for: Covering SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL and MongoDB with real-time alerting and query performance analysis, self-hosted or as SaaS.
Releem
Best for: Reviewing configuration, query, index and schema recommendations for MySQL, then applying the changes you choose.
SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer
Best for: Adding database performance analysis to a wider SolarWinds setup that also covers network, infrastructure, applications and logs.
Which engine do you run?
Here's the split a searcher wouldn't guess: four tools here lead with a single engine family, and some lead with tuning rather than alerting. Datasentinel is built to 'optimize PostgreSQL performance', and pganalyze helps you 'find root causes of slow queries' in Postgres. IDERA's product page calls SQL Diagnostic Manager 'SQL Server database observability', and Releem leads with configuration tuning for MySQL.
Others cover more than one engine. Navicat's monitor names MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and SQL Server, and Redgate's names SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL and MongoDB. Percona says to 'monitor and optimize database performance across any environment or deployment'.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
- Engine-specific monitors: built for PostgreSQL, MySQL or SQL Server.
- Cross-engine monitoring: one tool watching several engines.
- Query and configuration tuning: recommendations you review and apply.
- Monitoring inside a wider suite: database performance beside application, network or infrastructure monitoring.
Alerts and dashboards, or tuning advice?
The second question is what you want the tool to hand you. Some lead with alerting and dashboards: one PostgreSQL tool here describes a customizable alerting feature, and one cross-engine monitor offers real-time alerting and query performance analysis. Others lead with advice. One MySQL tool lists configuration, query, index and schema improvements, and says you review the recommendations and apply the changes. Another lists a query advisor, an index advisor and a VACUUM advisor for Postgres.
DBmarlin sits between the two, calling itself 'AI-driven database observability' and saying it monitors database performance and tracks changes. If you're not sure which you need, ask who on your team will act on what the tool reports.
Database monitoring inside a bigger IT suite
Two tools here are one part of a larger product family. ManageEngine's database monitoring sits inside its applications monitoring suite, and SolarWinds lists database observability next to network, infrastructure, applications and logs. If your team already runs one of those suites, it's worth asking whether database monitoring can sit in the same place.
Questions to answer before you pick a monitor
- Which database engines do we run, and in which environments?
- Do we want alerts and dashboards, tuning advice, or both?
- Will we self-host the monitor or use it as SaaS?
- Do we need query-level analysis such as EXPLAIN plans?
- Do we already run an IT monitoring suite it could join?
- Who'll act on the recommendations once they arrive?
Do you make a database monitoring tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice for picking a database monitor
Start with your engines. If you run one family, say PostgreSQL, MySQL or SQL Server, shortlist the tools built for it first. If you run a mix, look at the cross-engine monitors. Then decide whether you want alerts and dashboards or tuning advice, and read any speed, uptime or saving line on a vendor's page as that vendor's own claim.
If you're still picking the database itself, here's why choosing a good database matters. And if your data's spread across systems, my guide to data integration challenges covers what tends to go wrong.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Which of these tools monitor PostgreSQL?
Several. One is built to optimize PostgreSQL performance, one focuses on Postgres query plans and slow queries, and two monitors that cover several engines both name PostgreSQL.
Which tools are built for SQL Server?
One tool here describes itself as SQL Server database observability. Two multi-engine monitors also name SQL Server among their engines.
Which tools help with MySQL tuning?
One tool on this list is a MySQL performance tuning tool that recommends configuration, query, index and schema improvements for you to review and apply. Two multi-engine monitors here also name MySQL.
Can I self-host a database monitor?
Some say so. One offers its monitor self-hosted or as a fully managed SaaS edition, one runs on-premises or as SaaS, and one says self-hosted or cloud. Check the hosting options on each vendor's own page.
Do any of these tools give tuning recommendations?
Yes. One recommends configuration, query, index and schema changes you review and apply, one lists query, index and VACUUM advisors, and one offers AI-assisted query optimization.
Is database monitoring part of a bigger monitoring suite?
For some. Two tools here sit inside wider suites: one beside application monitoring, and one beside network, infrastructure and log monitoring. If you already run one of those suites, ask whether database monitoring can join it.
