pgAdmin vs Adminer: Which Database UI to Self-Host?

Quick Verdict

Adminer for simplicity, pgAdmin for PostgreSQL power users. Adminer is a single PHP file that manages PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and more — deploy it in seconds, use it for quick queries and data edits. pgAdmin is a full PostgreSQL IDE with query planning, server monitoring, and backup management.

If you manage PostgreSQL primarily and want deep tooling, use pgAdmin. If you manage multiple database engines and want the lightest possible tool, use Adminer.

Overview

Database management UIs are essential for self-hosters — you can’t SSH into a container and run psql every time you need to check a table. These two tools represent opposite ends of the spectrum.

pgAdmin (PostgreSQL-only) is the official management tool for PostgreSQL. It’s a full-featured IDE with a visual query builder, explain plan visualizer, server monitoring dashboard, and backup/restore utilities. It’s what DBeaver is for desktop, but running in your browser.

Adminer (multi-database) is a minimalist database manager written as a single PHP file. It supports PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, SQLite, MS SQL, Oracle, and MongoDB. It does the basics — browse tables, run queries, edit data, import/export — and does them fast.

Aspect	pgAdmin	Adminer
Database Support	PostgreSQL only	PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MS SQL, Oracle, MongoDB
Approach	Full IDE	Lightweight tool
Language	Python (Flask)	PHP (single file)
Docker Image	~400 MB	~30 MB
GitHub Stars	3k+	6k+
License	PostgreSQL License	Apache 2.0 / GPL 2.0

Feature Comparison

Feature	pgAdmin	Adminer
Visual query builder	Yes	No
Query explain/analyze	Yes (graphical)	No
Server monitoring	Yes (dashboard)	No
Backup/restore	Yes (GUI)	Export only
Schema designer	Yes	No
Multi-server management	Yes	Yes
Table data editing	Yes	Yes
SQL editor	Yes (advanced)	Yes (basic)
Dark mode	Yes	Via plugins
User management	Yes	Basic
Import CSV	Yes	Yes
Export formats	SQL, CSV	SQL, CSV, XML, JSON
ERD (diagram)	Yes	No
Job scheduling	Yes (pgAgent)	No

Docker Setup

pgAdmin

services:
  pgadmin:
    image: dpage/pgadmin4:9.3
    container_name: pgadmin
    ports:
      - "5050:80"
    environment:
      PGADMIN_DEFAULT_EMAIL: [email protected]
      PGADMIN_DEFAULT_PASSWORD: change-this-password
      PGADMIN_CONFIG_ENHANCED_COOKIE_PROTECTION: "True"
    volumes:
      - pgadmin-data:/var/lib/pgadmin
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  pgadmin-data:

First login uses the email/password from the environment variables. Then add your PostgreSQL servers through the UI.

Adminer

services:
  adminer:
    image: adminer:4.8.1
    container_name: adminer
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
    environment:
      ADMINER_DEFAULT_SERVER: db
      ADMINER_DESIGN: dracula  # Optional theme
    restart: unless-stopped

That’s it. Navigate to port 8080, select your database type, enter credentials, and you’re in. No accounts to create, no initial setup.

Resource Usage

Resource	pgAdmin	Adminer
Docker Image	~400 MB	~30 MB
Idle RAM	200-400 MB	20-50 MB
Under Load	400-800 MB	50-100 MB
CPU	Medium (Python/Flask)	Low (PHP)
Startup Time	10-15 seconds	1-2 seconds

The difference is dramatic. Adminer runs on a Raspberry Pi without breaking a sweat. pgAdmin needs dedicated resources, especially when monitoring multiple servers or running explain plans on large queries.

When to Use Each

Choose pgAdmin If…

• PostgreSQL is your primary (or only) database
• You need visual query explain plans for optimization
• You want server monitoring dashboards
• You manage backup/restore through a UI
• You need schema design tools (ERD)
• You manage multiple PostgreSQL instances
• You want pgAgent for job scheduling

Choose Adminer If…

• You use multiple database engines (PostgreSQL + MySQL + SQLite)
• You want the lightest possible database tool
• You need quick data edits and simple queries
• You’re on resource-constrained hardware
• You want zero-configuration deployment
• You manage databases for self-hosted apps and just need basic access

Can You Run Both?

Yes, and many self-hosters do. pgAdmin for deep PostgreSQL work (query optimization, monitoring, backups) and Adminer for quick access to MySQL databases from other self-hosted apps. They serve different purposes and the overhead of running both is minimal (Adminer adds ~30 MB).

Final Verdict

For PostgreSQL-focused environments, pgAdmin justifies its resource cost with features that Adminer simply doesn’t have — explain plans, monitoring, ERD tools, and backup management.

For mixed-database homelab setups, Adminer’s multi-database support and tiny footprint make it the practical choice. When Nextcloud uses MySQL, Gitea uses PostgreSQL, and you just need to check a table, Adminer gets it done without ceremony.

For a full-featured desktop alternative, consider DBeaver Community Edition — it runs locally instead of self-hosted but covers every database engine with enterprise-level tooling.

Related

• How to Self-Host pgAdmin
• Best Self-Hosted Database Management Tools
• Docker Compose Basics
• Best Self-Hosted Docker Management Tools
• Reverse Proxy Setup