Varan Join the beta →

Varan vs DataGrip: one query across every source

DataGrip is a superb multi-database IDE — but connect it to ten databases and a single query still runs against one of them. Varan's whole point is the opposite: one SQL statement that joins across all of them at once.

The short version

DataGrip is JetBrains' database IDE: deep SQL editing, schema tools, refactoring, version-control integration and support for a long list of databases. You can attach many data sources, but each console targets a single one — there's no federated JOIN across two servers, and files aren't first-class query targets.

Varan is a desktop SQL workspace built around a local-first DuckDB engine. It treats every PostgreSQL, MySQL, DuckDB and spreadsheet source as one queryable surface, so a single JOIN can span all of them — and it adds automatic anomaly detection, column lineage and git-style rollback.

Feature comparison

	DataGrip	Varan
Connect to many databases	Yes	Yes
One SQL JOIN across two different servers	No	Yes
Join a database table to a CSV / Excel file in one query	No	Yes
Local-first engine on your machine	—	DuckDB
Automatic anomaly detection on open	No	Yes
Column-level lineage	No	Yes
Git-style rollback of changes	No	Yes
Deep SQL IDE tooling & refactors	Excellent	Focused
Price	Paid subscription	Free beta

The query DataGrip can't run in one statement

Point Varan at a PostgreSQL database and two CSV files, then run:

SELECT c.name, c.country, s.tier,
       COUNT(o.id) AS orders,
       SUM(o.total) AS revenue
FROM   customers  c                 -- CSV on disk
JOIN   pg__orders o ON o.customer_id = c.id   -- PostgreSQL
JOIN   segments   s ON s.customer_id = c.id   -- CSV on disk
GROUP BY c.name, c.country, s.tier
ORDER BY revenue DESC;

The join runs locally with read-only access to each source — no ETL, no staging table, nothing written back.

Where DataGrip wins

• Rich SQL IDE: smart completion, code inspections, refactoring, and a great data editor.
• Broad, mature driver support and administration tooling for one database at a time.
• Fits neatly into the JetBrains ecosystem and VCS workflows.

Where Varan wins

• Cross-source SQL. Join PostgreSQL + MySQL + DuckDB + spreadsheets in one query.
• Files as tables. A stray CSV or Excel file joins straight into a database query.
• Data quality built in. Opening a table flags duplicate keys, nulls, outliers and orphaned foreign keys.
• Lineage & rollback. Trace where a column came from and undo changes like reverting a commit.

FAQ

Can DataGrip join tables from two different databases?

Not in a single query — each console targets one data source. Varan runs the cross-database join directly. See how to join tables from different databases.

Which should I choose?

DataGrip for deep single-database IDE work; Varan when your questions span multiple databases and files and you want data quality, lineage and rollback in one place.