PopSQL
PopSQL is a collaborative SQL editor and IDE for data teams, supporting 12+ databases with real-time co-editing, version history, dbt integration, and dashboards. Acquired by TigerData (Timescale) in April 2024 and scheduled for retirement September 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What PopSQL does
PopSQL is a collaborative SQL editor and IDE designed for team-based data analysis, founded in 2016 by Rahil Sondhi and headquartered in San Francisco. The platform provides a unified interface for writing, sharing, and collaborating on SQL queries across 12+ database providers including PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, BigQuery, Amazon Redshift, ClickHouse, Trino, and SQL Server. Its feature surface spans real-time co-editing, version history with diff and revert, a built-in Data Catalog synced from dbt and Snowflake, query variables for parameterized self-service reporting, in-app charts, lightweight dashboards, SQL notebooks, scheduled query delivery via Slack and email, and the first SQL editor with built-in dbt Core support. SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance support enterprise procurement.
PopSQL operates a product-led growth model with a free tier, Premium ($19/editor/month), Business ($36/editor/month), and custom-priced Enterprise tiers sold via direct sales. Distribution is global and primarily self-serve through web and desktop apps (macOS, Windows, Linux), with the platform claiming 2,000+ data team customers including logos such as Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target, Redfin, Clearbit, Udacity, and Branch. Total disclosed funding is $17.4 million, with the most recent round a $14M Series A led by Tiger Global in February 2022.
In April 2024, PopSQL was acquired by TigerData (operating as Timescale, Inc.) to integrate its collaborative SQL capabilities into Tiger Cloud. Following the acquisition, PopSQL was moved to Limited Support on September 2, 2025 and is scheduled for full retirement on September 1, 2026, with engineering focus redirected to the parent company's Postgres cloud console.
PopSQL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PopSQL
- Legal name
- Timescale, Inc.
- Website
- https://popsql.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PopSQL is a collaborative SQL editor and IDE for data teams, supporting 12+ databases with real-time co-editing, version history, dbt integration, and dashboards. Acquired by TigerData (Timescale) in April 2024 and scheduled for retirement September 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PopSQL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Collaborative SQL Editor
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Query Engines & SQL Analytics Layers for Warehouses/Lakes (HDAEABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Database Tools & Ecosystem (Replication, Backup/Recovery, HA/DR, Monitoring) (HDAEAAAO)
Keywords
Where PopSQL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PopSQL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription - Per Editor: PopSQL generates revenue primarily through subscription pricing based on the number of editors (users who can create, edit, and run queries). Viewers (users who can only view shared queries) are free. The subscription model has four tiers: Free, Premium ($19/editor/month), Business ($36/editor/month), and Enterprise (custom pricing). Annual billing offers 20% savings compared to monthly billing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier with basic features for individuals just getting started |
| Subscription | Monthly | Collaborative SQL editor for teams with unlimited queries and connections |
| Subscription | Monthly | Business intelligence tier with unlimited dashboards and advanced governance |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise tier with full feature access and dedicated support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
PopSQL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PopSQL is a collaborative SQL editor and IDE for teams that enables real-time co-editing, version control, and sharing of SQL queries across 12+ databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, SQL Server, ClickHouse, Athena, Azure Synapse, Presto, Trino, TigerData). It bundles query variables, dashboards, charts, scheduled queries, and built-in dbt Core integration to support both technical data teams and non-technical business users on a single shared workspace.
Product overview
PopSQL is a collaborative SQL editor and IDE platform designed for team-based data analysis. The core product is a unified SQL editor with real-time collaboration features, complemented by a suite of modules including Query Variables (parameterized reports), Data Catalog (metadata management), Charts and Dashboards (visualization), Notebooks (multi-query storytelling), and Schedules (automation). The platform supports 12+ database connections (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, etc.) and includes built-in dbt Core integration, Git sync, and an Enterprise API. Pricing tiers include Free, Premium ($19/editor/month), Business ($36/editor/month), and Enterprise (custom) plans.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- dbt Core Support: Built-in dbt Core integration within PopSQL's SQL editor for creating macros and models
Products and services
- PopSQL (Core SQL Editor) A collaborative SQL editor and IDE for teams that enables real-time collaboration on SQL queries, with autocomplete, schema browser, version history, and support for 12+ database connections. Available on web, macOS, Windows, and Linux for data analysts, engineers, scientists, and business users.
- SQL Notebooks SQL Notebooks feature that allows data teams and business users to tell data stories by combining multiple queries, charts, and Markdown explanations in a single shareable notebook, with the ability to join data across multiple database sources.
Companies that use PopSQL
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
PopSQL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
AI capability4 records
Feature10 records
PopSQL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TigerData (Timescale)coreTigerData acquired PopSQL in April 2024 and is integrating PopSQL's best features into Tiger Cloud to build the best cloud console experience for Postgres. PopSQL was moved to limited support in September 2025 and will be retired on September 1, 2026.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PopSQL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mode Analytics: Mode offers a collaborative SQL editor and analytics platform with notebooks, dashboards, and shared queries — directly competing with PopSQL's core feature set and explicitly cited by PopSQL customers as the tool they switched from.
- Hex: Hex provides a collaborative data workspace combining SQL, Python, and no-code in a notebook interface — a direct modern competitor to PopSQL's collaborative SQL editor and SQL Notebooks offering for data teams.
- Count: Count is a collaborative data notebook built around SQL with sharing, visualizations, and team workflows — closely aligned with PopSQL's real-time collaboration and notebook features for analytics teams.
- Metabase: Metabase is an open-source BI tool with SQL/native query modes, dashboards, and self-serve analytics — competes with PopSQL's dashboard and self-service capabilities, especially among smaller data teams.
- Redash: Redash is an open-source SQL client and dashboarding tool connecting to multiple data sources — competes with PopSQL on multi-database connectivity and lightweight dashboarding for analyst workflows.
Emerging players
- Apache Superset: Apache Superset is an open-source data visualization and exploration platform with SQL IDE capabilities — competes with PopSQL's charting and dashboard features and appeals to cost-sensitive teams.
- dbt Cloud: dbt Cloud provides a web-based IDE for analytics engineering with SQL model development — overlaps with PopSQL's dbt Core integration feature and is increasingly a substitute for collaborative SQL editing among data teams.
- Deepnote: Deepnote is a collaborative data notebook supporting SQL, Python, and no-code — competes with PopSQL's SQL Notebooks and real-time collaboration for teams that need multi-language data storytelling.
Broad incumbents
- Tableau: Tableau is a broad incumbent BI and analytics platform with SQL connectivity, dashboards, and enterprise deployment — overlapping with PopSQL's visualization features but at much larger scale and enterprise footprint.
- Looker: Looker (Google Cloud) is a broad data platform offering modeled SQL analytics, dashboards, and embedded BI — competes with PopSQL for enterprise analytics budgets with deeper modeling capabilities.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PopSQL social profiles
Digital presencePopSQL compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
PopSQL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PopSQL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
PopSQL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PopSQL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PopSQL
What does PopSQL do?
PopSQL is a collaborative SQL editor and IDE for teams that enables real-time co-editing, version control, and sharing of SQL queries across 12+ databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, SQL Server, ClickHouse, Athena, Azure Synapse, Presto, Trino, TigerData). It bundles query variables, dashboards, charts, scheduled queries, and built-in dbt Core integration to support both technical data teams and non-technical business users on a single shared workspace.
Is PopSQL a public or private company?
PopSQL is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was PopSQL founded?
PopSQL was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PopSQL based?
PopSQL is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does PopSQL make money?
One revenue line is on record: subscription - Per Editor.
Who are PopSQL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mode Analytics, Hex, Count, Metabase and Redash. Emerging players are Apache Superset, dbt Cloud and Deepnote. Broad incumbents are Tableau and Looker.
Does PopSQL have an API?
Yes. PopSQL offers API endpoints for query management and scheduling. The API is available on the Enterprise plan and enables developers to build custom integrations and automations around PopSQL's query and scheduling functionality. Developer documentation is at popsql.com/reference.
What industry is PopSQL in?
PopSQL's product category is Collaborative SQL Editor. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEABAI, Query Engines & SQL Analytics Layers for Warehouses/Lakes, with a secondary code of HDAEAAAO, Database Tools & Ecosystem (Replication, Backup/Recovery, HA/DR, Monitoring). Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 7372.