A lightweight pgAdmin alternative without the bloat
pg-view keeps what you use every day — schemas, data, SQL — and removes the complexity. Deploy in seconds with Docker.
Why teams switch from pgAdmin
pgAdmin is powerful but heavy. pg-view is built for speed and simplicity.
Smaller Docker image and faster startup than a full pgAdmin stack.
Clean, modern UI focused on query and edit — not server administration.
Environment labels, read-only mode, and SQL guardrails out of the box.
Easier for non-DBAs to use without getting lost in advanced options.
pg-view vs pgAdmin
pg-view is not a server admin tool. It wins on UX, weight, and team-friendly access.
| Feature | pg-view | pgAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| Native web interface | ||
| Lightweight Docker image (< 200 MB) | ||
| SQL editor with history and favorites | ||
| Environment labels (prod/staging) | ||
| Global read-only mode | ||
| Destructive SQL confirmation |
Everything essential for working with PostgreSQL
Exploration, editing, and SQL in one coherent interface. No features you'll never use.
Schema explorer
Navigable tree with search, row estimates, and restoration of the last visited table.
Data viewer and editor
Paginated table with filters, sorting, and a side panel to view, edit, and insert rows.
Table structure
Columns, types, primary keys, indexes, and constraints visible at a glance.
Built-in SQL editor
History, favorites, auto-save draft, and confirmation for destructive operations.
Connection management
Saved connections with environment labels, URL import, and volume persistence.
User experience
Light and dark theme, resizable sidebar, and responsive design with Nuxt UI.
Built-in security and control
Panel authentication, global read-only mode, SQL guardrails, and configurable row limits and timeouts.
Deploy in 30 seconds
Optimized multi-stage Docker image. Internal port 3000, expose whatever you need.
services:
pg-view:
image: lcurrol/pg-view
ports:
- '8080:3000'
# environment:
# PGVIEW_USERNAME: admin
# PGVIEW_PASSWORD: 123456
# PGVIEW_SESSION_SECRET: random-secret-key
# DB_URL: postgresql://user:pass@host:5432/db
volumes:
- ./pg-view:/app/.data
restart: unless-stoppedPersistence
Mount a volume at /app/.data to keep connections and SQL history.
Read-only mode
Set PGVIEW_READ_ONLY=true to block writes.
pgAdmin alternative FAQ
Ready to explore your data?
Free, open source, and ready to deploy on your infrastructure. No licenses, no vendor lock-in.