Overview

Provide an original schema dump and a newer one, and apgdiff can print SQL to update the old schema or write it to a file. That makes it a straightforward fit for batch jobs or web applications that need schema-diff output without a graphical database environment. It handles PostgreSQL only, so it is not a cross-engine comparison tool.

The project offers binary and source ZIP downloads, with version 2.4 identified as its latest stable release. That version dates to 2012, a long gap that teams should weigh when choosing a tool for an evolving database workflow. Bug reports and feature requests go through GitHub Issues.

Key features

Supported statements include selected ALTER SEQUENCE, ALTER TABLE, ALTER VIEW, COMMENT, CREATE FUNCTION, CREATE INDEX, CREATE SCHEMA, CREATE SEQUENCE, CREATE TABLE, CREATE TRIGGER, CREATE VIEW, and SET search_path statements. This gives teams a useful foundation for generating migration scripts when their schema changes fall within that subset.

Coverage has important boundaries: statements outside the supported set are ignored, and CREATE TABLE column constraints are limited to NULL and NOT NULL. The --output-ignored-statements option can surface DDL that apgdiff skips, helping reviewers identify gaps rather than assume the generated script is complete. Its usage guidance recommends reviewing upgrade statements and, where possible, testing them on another database before production use.

The tool runs on Java 1.6 or newer. Its command-line format can slot into batch or web-application workflows, but users who prefer a graphical interface may find that format inconvenient.

Pricing

Free: 0.00 USD per free. The plan is the MIT-licensed PostgreSQL schema-diff tool, with migration-script generation and no free trial. For an individual developer or team needing this narrow capability, the zero price removes a purchasing decision; the trade-off is that users must work within its selective statement support and review generated SQL themselves.

Platforms

apgdiff supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. The project also names Solaris and BSD, and says it can run on other systems with Java available. That range is useful for teams with varied environments, provided they can meet the Java runtime requirement.

Who it's for

Choose apgdiff when you need PostgreSQL dump-to-dump DDL generation, are comfortable with a terminal, and can verify the resulting SQL before applying it. It is a poorer fit for users who need broader SQL coverage, a graphical workflow, or a tool maintained on a more recent release cadence.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free and MIT licensed, with output that can be printed or saved as a migration script.
Pros: Runs wherever a compatible Java runtime is available, including Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Cons: Unsupported statements are ignored, and table-column constraints cover only NULL and NOT NULL, so output needs careful checking.
Cons: Version 2.4 dates to 2012, which may concern teams seeking a recently updated project.
Cons: The terminal-only format may not suit users who expect a graphical interface.

Alternatives

Database Schema Comparison Tools is a useful starting point for comparing options across the category.

dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL is worth considering if you want a freemium alternative with a free trial and a limited-feature Express plan; its Standard plan costs 89.95 USD per year.
pgquarrel is another free option if you want a BSD-3-Clause-licensed tool that supports Linux, Windows, and self-hosted environments.
Skeema may suit teams looking for a freemium option with a free Community plan covering tables, stored procedures and functions, and 18 linter checks.
sqldef is an alternative free CLI tool under the MIT license, with its parser under Apache 2.0.
dbdiff is another free option for Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted environments.
DBDiff is an open-source project described by its maker, Akal Software, a London-based technology consultancy.
Redgate SQL Provision is a paid alternative with a free trial and capacity tiers based on production data volume to provision or mask.
SQL Delta is a paid Windows alternative with a free trial.

Verdict

apgdiff is a sensible choice for terminal-oriented PostgreSQL users who want a free way to turn two schema dumps into candidate migration SQL. Its focused workflow is the main reason to choose it; ignored statements, narrow constraint support, and a release dating to 2012 are strong reasons to look elsewhere if coverage and ongoing project activity are priorities.

	apgdiff	driftcurve
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Linux, macOS, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Migration scripts	Yes	—
Database scope	single-engine	—

apgdiff vs driftcurve

apgdiff

driftcurve