Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL: A Supported psqlODBC Alternative for BI Tools, Cloud Postgres and Tunnels
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL is a $139.95-per-year ODBC driver for Windows, macOS and Linux that connects Excel, Power BI, Tableau, Access, Qlik, SSIS, Python and other ODBC tools to live PostgreSQL data, from PostgreSQL 8.0 to 18 and the cloud services built on it: Amazon Aurora and RDS, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Google Cloud SQL, AlloyDB, CockroachDB and Heroku Postgres. It needs no PostgreSQL client libraries and has SSL, SSH and HTTP tunneling built in.
PostgreSQL already has a free official driver, psqlODBC, and plenty of people use it happily. Devart's driver is for the cases where that gets awkward: reaching a cloud or hosted database through an SSH jump host, a Mac or Linux workstation that needs a point-and-click setup, a BI tool that chokes on PostgreSQL's types, or a company that wants a vendor to call.
Quick facts
- Version: 5.2.0, released October 16, 2026
- Developer: Devart
- Platforms: Windows x86 and x64 (including Terminal Server), macOS on Intel and Apple Silicon, Linux x86 and x64 (DEB and RPM)
- Servers: PostgreSQL 8.0 to 18.x, Amazon Aurora and RDS for PostgreSQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Google Cloud SQL, AlloyDB, CockroachDB, Heroku Postgres
- Security: SSL/TLS, SSH, HTTP/HTTPS tunnel, OAUTHBEARER authentication
- Price: $139.95 per year for a Desktop license on one platform, or $279.95 perpetual
- Trial: 30 days, activated with a trial key from a Devart account
- Refund: within 30 days of purchase, if a technical problem that support can't fix stops the driver from working
- What we checked: the Buy Now order page charged $139.95 for Desktop for Windows with a 1-year subscription, and the same cart showed $279.95 perpetual, $419.95 for three years and $899.95 per year for Server Standard. The download page listed version 5.2.0 with a 30.90 MB Windows installer. All checked on November 13, 2026. We didn't install the driver or connect it to a server
Before you buy
Try the free psqlODBC driver first if your server is reachable directly and your tools work with it: it's the official PostgreSQL ODBC driver, released under the LGPL. Devart's driver is worth paying for when you need SSH or HTTP tunneling, OAuth-style authentication, PostGIS and time zone handling for BI tools, a GUI setup on Mac and Linux, or vendor support. Note that a subscription license needs an internet connection to activate and to check the license.
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Overview
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL turns a PostgreSQL database into a standard ODBC data source. Create a DSN with the server, port 5432, user, password, database and schema, and every ODBC-aware program on that computer can read and write the data. In Direct mode, the default, it talks to the server over TCP/IP itself, so there's no libpq or other client to install.
It's one of more than 90 ODBC drivers Devart sells, and shares their framework and tested-tool list, which includes Power BI, Tableau, Qlik Sense, Crystal Reports, Alteryx, SSIS, SQL Server Management Studio (as a linked server), Oracle Database Gateway, Excel, Access, LibreOffice, FileMaker, Informatica, DBeaver, PHP and Python.
Power BI Desktop's Navigator showing the databases on a PostgreSQL server through an ODBC data source (dsn=PostgreSQL) set up with Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL, from Devart's documentation.
Features
Every flavor of PostgreSQL, from 8.0 to 18
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL works with PostgreSQL 8.0 through 18.x and with the managed and compatible services: Amazon Aurora and RDS, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Google Cloud SQL and AlloyDB, Heroku Postgres and CockroachDB. Version 5.0 added PostgreSQL 18, and 5.1 added protocol 3.2 and virtual generated columns, so it keeps pace with the server.
SSL, SSH and HTTP tunnels, even together
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL can encrypt traffic with SSL/TLS (including password-protected private keys), go through an SSH jump host, or use an HTTP/HTTPS tunnel on a web server, and since version 5.1 it can use SSL and SSH at the same time. It also supports OAUTHBEARER authentication (added in 5.1) and Bearer Token authentication for the HTTP tunnel. For a database in a private cloud network, this replaces a separate SSH client or VPN.
Options that make BI tools behave
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL has switches for the spots where PostgreSQL and BI tools disagree: Matview as Table (new in 5.2) lists materialized views as tables so tools can pick them, EnablePgGIS turns on PostGIS types, EnablePgTimeStamp, CurrentTimeZone and ExactTimeZone control how timestamps with time zones are read, and Uuid With Braces, UTF-8, ANSI or Unicode strings and ODBC 2.x behavior handle older tools. A read-only option protects production data from an accidental write.
Same driver on Windows, Mac and Linux
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL ships 32-bit and 64-bit drivers for Windows, a PKG for macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon) and DEB or RPM packages for Linux. Since version 5.0 (November 2025) the Mac and Linux builds have a graphical configuration window, and the same release sped up opening connections.
Power BI Desktop's table view with a PostgreSQL table (sales_by_category, 1,000 rows) loaded through the driver, from Devart's Power BI guide.
Bulk updates and fast fetching
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL batches statements for bulk updates, supports connection pooling, and lets you tune how many rows it fetches per round trip (MinFetchRows), which matters when a report pulls millions of rows across a slow link.
Benefits
- Cloud databases without network changes. SSH and HTTP tunnels reach a private Aurora, Cloud SQL or Azure instance through a bastion host or web server.
- Fewer surprises in reports. Time zone, materialized view and PostGIS options fix the problems BI tools typically have with PostgreSQL data.
- One setup on every OS. Windows, Mac and Linux users get the same driver and the same DSN dialog.
- A vendor behind it. Paid support, nightly builds with fixes and two feature releases a year.
Real-World Uses
- Power BI on a private RDS database. An analyst connects Power BI Desktop to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL through an SSH bastion host defined in the DSN.
- Excel reports on a web app's database. A small company pulls orders from its Heroku Postgres database into Excel every Monday.
- SQL Server linked server. A DBA queries PostgreSQL tables from SQL Server Management Studio through a linked server that uses the driver.
- GIS data in BI tools. A planner reads PostGIS tables into a reporting tool with PostGIS support switched on.
Who It's For, and Who Should Skip It
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL is for analysts and IT teams who connect BI, office or ETL tools to PostgreSQL, especially cloud-hosted databases behind SSH, Mac and Linux users who want a setup dialog, and companies that need a supported driver with a license and a support contract.
Skip it if psqlODBC already works for you: it's free and official. Skip it for application code, where native PostgreSQL drivers for your language are simpler than ODBC, and if you need many databases, compare the ODBC Universal Bundle, which starts at $499.95 per year for all of Devart's ODBC drivers.
Usage Guide
- Download the installer for your system from the trial link (a free Devart account is needed): EXE or MSI for Windows, PKG for macOS, DEB or RPM for Linux.
- Install it; the Windows setup installs both 32-bit and 64-bit drivers.
- Open the ODBC Data Source Administrator (on macOS, Devart's ODBC Administrator or iODBC) and add a data source with Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL.
- Activate it on the License tab with the trial or purchased key from your registration email or the Devart Customer Portal. The trial needs activating too.
- Fill in the server, port 5432, user, password, database and schema. Add SSL, SSH or HTTP tunnel settings on the Security Settings tab if needed, then click Test Connection.
- In Power BI or Excel, choose ODBC and select the DSN. A DSN-less string looks like
DRIVER={Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL};Server=myServer;User ID=myUsername;Password=myPassword;Database=myDatabase;Schema=mySchema.
Tip
If a BI tool shows timestamps shifted by a few hours, turn on EnablePgTimeStamp and set CurrentTimeZone in the DSN's advanced settings, so the driver reads time zone values the way your server stores them.
Where It Falls Short
- Licensed per user and per platform. A Desktop license covers one user at a time on one OS. A Power BI gateway or shared server needs Server Standard at $899.95 per year.
- Subscription checks online. Subscriptions need internet access to activate and verify; only a perpetual license activates offline.
- Setup can feel fiddly the first time. G2 reviewers mention that DSN configuration takes some getting used to and that the documentation on supplying credentials could be clearer.
- One version at a time. Only one version of the driver can be installed on a computer, so you can't keep an old build alongside a new one for testing.
What Users Say
The PostgreSQL driver has its own review listings, which is rarer than for most Devart drivers. The text below came from the sites' listings through search summaries, since the review pages block automated reading, so we paraphrase rather than quote.
Ratings in November 2026
- G2: about 4.3 to 4.4 out of 5 from 35 to 40 reviews of ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL, the largest sample for this driver.
- Capterra, Software Advice and GetApp: 4.5 out of 5 from 2 reviews each; Software Advice shows one 9 out of 10 recommendation.
- TrustRadius: 5.2 out of 10 from 58 ratings, but for Devart's ODBC drivers as a whole.
What people like
G2 reviewers praise the speed, saying connections stay quick even with big datasets, and describe the driver as stable with minimal setup across several databases. A Capterra reviewer credited it with making ODBC access work in a corporate setup with single sign-on and SSH, which is the kind of case the tunnel options are built for. Across Devart's ODBC line, Capterra reviewers call the drivers reliable, with one writing "Great product. Very Reliable."
What people complain about
The criticism is mild. One G2 reviewer found DSN setup a little finicky for first-timers, and another wanted clearer documentation on how credentials should be supplied. Reviews of the ODBC line as a whole add the familiar complaints about price and needing a separate license for each user; one TrustRadius reviewer wrote that "Prices are still high".
The picture for this driver is better than for most: a few dozen G2 reviews, mostly positive, about speed and stability, with the usual grumbles about setup and licensing.
Comparisons
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL vs. psqlODBC
psqlODBC is the official PostgreSQL ODBC driver, free under the LGPL and maintained by PostgreSQL contributors on GitHub. It's the sensible first choice for a server you can reach directly.
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL adds built-in SSH and HTTP tunneling, OAUTHBEARER sign-in, BI-oriented options (materialized views as tables, PostGIS, time zone handling), a GUI DSN dialog on Mac and Linux, tested compatibility with named tools and commercial support, for $139.95 per year or $279.95 once.
Desktop vs. Server editions
Desktop is one person on one computer. Server Standard is one server with up to 6 cores and many users, which is what a Power BI gateway, SSIS server or web server needs. Server Enterprise drops the core limit, Site covers a whole company, and OEM lets you redistribute the driver with your own software.
Editions and Pricing
| Edition | Subscription (1 year) | Perpetual | Who can use it |
|---|
| Desktop (Windows, macOS or Linux) | $139.95 | $279.95 | One user at a time on one computer |
| Server Standard (Windows, macOS or Linux) | $899.95 | $1,799.95 | Many users on one server with up to 6 cores |
| Server Enterprise, Site, OEM | On request | On request | Any core count, a whole company, or redistribution |
Each license is for one platform and includes a year of support and upgrades. A Desktop subscription paid up front costs $279.95 for two years and $419.95 for three. Priority support is an optional extra, and Devart gives 5, 10 or 15 percent off for 5, 10 or 20 copies. The Buy Now button opens the order page set to Desktop for Windows with a 1-year subscription; change the edition, platform or term there. The ODBC Universal Bundle starts at $499.95 per year.
FAQs
Does Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL support PostgreSQL 18?
Yes. Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL added PostgreSQL 18 in version 5.0, released November 10, 2025, and the current 5.2 release supports servers from 8.0 to 18.x.
Can I connect to Amazon Aurora or RDS with it?
Yes. Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL lists Amazon Aurora and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL as supported, along with Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Google Cloud SQL and AlloyDB.
Does it work with CockroachDB?
Yes. Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL lists CockroachDB, which speaks the PostgreSQL protocol, among its compatible databases.
Do I need libpq or the PostgreSQL client installed?
No. In its default Direct mode, Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL connects over TCP/IP by itself, with no PostgreSQL client libraries.
Can I see materialized views in Power BI or Excel?
Yes. Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL 5.2 added the Matview as Table option, which reports materialized views as tables so tools that only list tables can pick them.
Can I use one license on Windows and Mac?
No. Devart sells ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL licenses per platform, so Windows, macOS and Linux each need their own Desktop license at the same price.
What happens when the subscription ends?
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL on a subscription works only during the paid term and checks the license online. A perpetual license keeps the version you bought running indefinitely.
System Requirements
- Windows x86 or x64, including Windows Terminal Server (30.90 MB EXE or 32.52 MB MSI installer)
- macOS on Intel x64 or Apple Silicon (19.85 MB PKG)
- Linux x86 or x64, DEB or RPM packages (about 4.3 to 6.5 MB)
- PostgreSQL 8.0 to 18.x or a supported cloud or compatible service
- No PostgreSQL client in Direct mode; internet access to activate a subscription license
Conclusion
Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL is worth $139.95 a year for teams that hit psqlODBC's limits: cloud databases behind SSH or a web tunnel, BI tools that mishandle time zones, materialized views or PostGIS, Mac and Linux users who want a setup dialog, or a need for vendor support. It's current, supports PostgreSQL 18, and its G2 reviews are good.
If psqlODBC connects your tools without trouble, keep using it. If not, run the 30-day trial against your actual server, and buy the license that matches who will use it: Desktop for one person, Server for a gateway or shared machine.
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