Adminer

Self-Hosted

Lightweight open-source database management tool

Overview

Adminer is a single-file PHP application for managing databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and MongoDB. A simpler alternative to phpMyAdmin, it offers a clean UI, better security, and multi-database support. Deployable via Docker, direct PHP hosting, or plugins, it enables database creation, query execution, table management, user permissions setup, and data import/export. Its small footprint ensures fast performance on low-resource servers, and it’s customizable with plugins for backups or syntax highlighting.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  adminer:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: adminer
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Single-file PHP deployment for ease of use
Supports multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MongoDB)
Clean UI with advanced query tools and data management

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Adminer hard to install?

No—Adminer is extremely easy to install. You can download the single PHP file and upload it to any PHP-enabled server, run it via Docker (using `docker run -p 8080:8080 adminer`), or install it via package managers in some systems. No complex configuration is needed.

? Is it a good alternative to phpMyAdmin?

Yes—Adminer is often preferred over phpMyAdmin for its simpler UI, better security (e.g., no default credential storage), and support for more databases. It’s also lighter, making it faster on low-resource servers.

? Is Adminer completely free?

Yes—Adminer is open source under the MIT License, so it’s completely free to use, modify, and distribute for both personal and commercial purposes. There are no paid tiers or hidden costs.

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Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category Database Management

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Lightweight (minimal server resource usage)
⊕ Better security practices than phpMyAdmin
⊕ Easy to deploy via Docker or direct PHP upload

Cons

⊖ Limited enterprise-grade features compared to paid tools
⊖ Requires a PHP environment or Docker setup
⊖ No native mobile application for remote access