phpMyAdmin, Adminer or pgAdmin: which to use to manage MySQL and PostgreSQL via a browser

phpMyAdmin works only with MySQL and MariaDB. If you have PostgreSQL, phpMyAdmin won’t connect to it — for PostgreSQL people use pgAdmin or Adminer. Adminer also works for MySQL, so it often replaces phpMyAdmin where there are several different databases. Below — how these tools differ, how to choose, and how not to expose your database to the entire Internet.

Short: what works with what

Versions are taken from the projects’ sites as of September 2026: phpMyAdmin 5.2.3 was released on October 8, 2025 and supports MySQL and MariaDB from 5.5, Adminer 6.1.0 — September 14, 2026, and pgAdmin 4’s current branch is 9.x (the latest release on the downloads page — 9.18).

phpMyAdmin

The most widespread web interface for MySQL and MariaDB. It is preinstalled by many hosting providers and in control panels, so often you don’t need to install it at all.

Strengths — completeness: user and privilege management, import and export in various formats, relation designer between tables, work with multiple servers. Weaknesses — code size and popularity: phpMyAdmin is one of the most frequent targets of automated scanners that try addresses like /phpmyadmin/ and /pma/. Installing from distribution packages is easier than manual installation, but the packaged version may lag behind the current one.

Adminer

Adminer is a single PHP file: you put it on the server and open it in the browser. The project is actively developed — it’s not a “beginner”: version 6.1.0 was released in September 2026. Adminer supports MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MS SQL and Oracle, and via plugins — several other systems, from ClickHouse to MongoDB and Redis.

It’s convenient for those who need quick access to a database without installation: view data, run a query, change a table structure, perform an export. Management functions are fewer than in phpMyAdmin and pgAdmin, but they are usually enough for everyday work.

pgAdmin

pgAdmin is the main administration tool for PostgreSQL. It works in two modes: as a desktop application (Windows, macOS, Linux) and as a web application on a server, including in a container. It has everything needed for PostgreSQL: schemas, roles and privileges, extensions, query execution plan, backup and restore via pg_dump and pg_restore, server activity monitoring.

The price of completeness is weight: pgAdmin is noticeably heavier than Adminer, and the web mode requires separate setup (a Python application or a container).

DBeaver

DBeaver is not a web interface but a desktop application. It connects to almost any database, including MySQL and PostgreSQL, and is convenient for those who work with multiple systems simultaneously. Nothing needs to be installed on the server — the connection goes directly to the DBMS port or through an SSH tunnel, which DBeaver can open itself.

Adminer or phpMyAdmin

The choice is simple. On a hosting with ready-made phpMyAdmin you don’t need to change anything. On your own server, especially if there are databases other than MySQL, Adminer is more convenient.

Adminer or pgAdmin

For PostgreSQL the choice depends on tasks. Need to quickly view data or run a query — Adminer is enough. Need administration: roles, privileges, extensions, slow-query analysis, backups — pgAdmin is better. Many keep both: pgAdmin on the administrator’s computer, Adminer for occasional edits from the server.

About the DBMS themselves — in the series: MySQL and PostgreSQL.

Security of web database panels

A web interface to a database is a direct route to the data, so it should not be accessible from the Internet.

• Do not expose the panel to the outside. The best option is not to publish it at all: listen only on 127.0.0.1 and access it via an SSH tunnel, for example ssh -L 8080:127.0.0.1:80 user@server, or via VPN.
• If the panel is nevertheless available on the network — protect it with additional web server authentication (Basic Auth) and restrict access by IP addresses.
• Do not use standard addresses like /phpmyadmin/ — this is not protection, but it reduces noise from scanners.
• HTTPS only. Otherwise the database login and password go in clear text.
• Keep software updated. Especially phpMyAdmin and pgAdmin: vulnerabilities in them are found regularly.
• Delete Adminer after one-off use. A file forgotten in the site directory is a ready-made entry point.
• Use a separate user with minimal privileges. Do not log into the panel as root or postgres if the task is to view data for a single application.

What to choose

• Hosting with MySQL and ready-made phpMyAdmin — use it.
• Your server with MySQL or MariaDB — Adminer or phpMyAdmin, access via SSH tunnel.
• PostgreSQL — pgAdmin for administration, Adminer for quick access.
• Several different DBMS — DBeaver on your computer or Adminer on the server.