Sequel

What is sequel

Sequel is a platform that exposes relational databases via a managed API layer and adds tools for building user interfaces, workflows, and integrations directly on top of SQL. The product treats SQL as the primary authoring surface: teams write queries and stored procedures in their existing database, then surface those queries through Sequel to create endpoints, forms, lists, and small apps used by customers or internal teams.

The platform is aimed at engineering-led teams that want to avoid a separate application backend or heavy front-end frameworks for small to medium internal tools, admin panels, and customer portals. It is particularly useful when the source of truth is an existing Postgres, MySQL, or compatible SQL database and teams want to apply business logic in the database while presenting controlled UIs to users.

Sequel's approach blends managed infrastructure (hosted endpoints, authentication, rate limits) with developer control (SQL queries, migrations, database access). This makes it possible to iterate on workflows quickly while maintaining the security and performance characteristics of a direct database-backed system. For organizations that already rely on SQL for complex logic and reporting, Sequel reduces the impedance between data and interfaces.

Sequel features

What does sequel do?

Sequel turns SQL queries and database stored procedures into API endpoints, and then provides UI primitives and workflow controls to expose those endpoints as web pages, forms, tables, and simple apps. Core capabilities include: creating REST/GraphQL-like endpoints from SQL, role-based access and row-level security, user authentication and single sign-on, and visual components for data presentation.

The platform supports data validation and transformations at the query layer, input forms that map to parameterized SQL queries, and automated pagination and filtering for result sets. Built-in audit logging, query and usage metrics, and performance controls let teams monitor how endpoints are used and optimize problematic queries without changing client code.

Sequel also integrates with common developer workflows: you can keep SQL versioned in your repository, manage database credentials securely, and deploy changes with environment-aware configurations (development, staging, production). Additionally, the platform provides templates for common admin pages, CSV import/export, scheduled jobs, and webhook triggers to connect workflows to external services.

Security and compliance features are exposed as configuration: role scoped endpoints, per-endpoint authentication tokens, IP allowlists, and configurable rate limits. For teams that require stricter controls, Sequel supports custom SSO (SAML/OIDC) on higher tiers and can be configured to respect existing database row-level security policies.

Sequel pricing

Sequel offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month with limitations on API calls, seats, and limited support
• Starter: $15/month per seat (billed monthly) or $12/month per seat (billed annually) — includes higher API rate limits, basic SSO, and more seats
• Professional: $30/month per seat (billed monthly) or $24/month per seat (billed annually) — includes advanced security, team management, audit logs, and priority support
• Enterprise: Custom pricing with dedicated support, advanced compliance features, and on-prem or VPC deployment options

Check Sequel's current pricing for the latest rates and enterprise options.

How much is sequel per month

Sequel starts at $0/month with the Free Plan. For production teams the typical entry point is the Starter tier at $15/month per seat when billed monthly, which raises API limits and enables more seats and basic SSO. The Professional plan is commonly used by product teams at $30/month per seat billed monthly for additional security, audit features, and higher performance guarantees.

Beyond seat-based pricing, expect usage components for API calls, storage (logs and file uploads), and optional add-ons such as SAML SSO or dedicated networking. Enterprise contracts typically replace per-seat charge models with a usage and SLA package negotiated with sales.

How much is sequel per year

Sequel costs $144/year per seat for the Starter plan when billed annually (equivalent to $12/month per seat). The Professional plan billed annually is typically $288/year per seat (equivalent to $24/month per seat). The Free Plan remains $0/year but includes the same limitations as the monthly free tier.

Annual billing generally reduces the effective per-seat price by 15–20% compared with monthly billing and is the common choice for teams that want predictable costs and long-term support commitments.

How much is sequel in general

Sequel pricing ranges from $0 (free) to $24+/month per seat. Small teams and proof-of-concept projects use the Free Plan; product teams and internal tooling groups typically budget for $12–$24/month per seat depending on whether they commit annually. Large organizations with enterprise needs should budget for custom contract pricing that includes dedicated support, SSO, compliance audits, and possible VPC deployments.

When planning total cost of ownership include: Hosting costs: for any database hosting outside Sequel, API usage: charges or limits tied to calls and data transfer, Support/Onboarding: one-time professional services for complex integrations, and Security audits: if required for regulatory reasons.

What is Sequel used for

Sequel is used to build internal admin panels, customer portals, data-driven UI components, and simple public-facing apps that need direct access to relational data without a separate backend. Common workflows include exposing filtered datasets to non-technical users, creating self-service billing or reporting pages, and building lightweight control planes for operational teams.

Product and engineering teams use Sequel when they want to keep business logic in SQL — for example stored procedures or complex joins — and avoid re-implementing that logic in a Node or Python API. The ability to map parameterized SQL directly to form inputs reduces the translation layer and speeds iterations on data models and UX.

Sequel is also used for rapid prototyping: shipping an internal tool often requires only a handful of SQL queries and a few UI components; Sequel shortens that cycle by handling authentication, pagination, and UI scaffolding. For mature systems, it can serve as a controlled public API surface that leverages the performance characteristics and constraints of an existing database.

Operational teams value the platform for offloading routine tasks that would otherwise require backend sprint time — for example building a returns processing panel for support agents or a reporting dashboard for finance that needs row-level filtering and export capabilities.

Pros and cons of Sequel

Pros:

• Direct SQL-first workflow keeps business logic in the database where complex joins and transactions are already implemented, reducing duplication between database and application code.
• Rapid creation of CRUD interfaces, reports, and lightweight apps without building a separate backend, which shortens development cycles for internal tools and prototypes.
• Fine-grained security controls (per-endpoint auth, role scoping, rate limits) and the ability to respect database-level row security policies.
• Built-in audit logging, usage metrics, and monitoring that help teams track who accessed which queries and when, which simplifies compliance and debugging.
• Templates and UI primitives for common admin pages accelerate delivery for product managers and non-front-end engineers.

Cons:

• A SQL-first approach can concentrate business logic in the database; that is a deliberate trade-off but introduces dependence on DB schema discipline and migrations.
• Larger or complex front-end applications still require a dedicated frontend codebase; Sequel is optimized for small apps and admin surfaces, not complex single-page applications.
• Pricing is typically seat-based and can become costly for large customer-facing user bases where each end user requires a seat or high concurrency.
• For organizations that want full control over infrastructure, hosted environments may not meet strict on-premise or air-gapped requirements without enterprise-level contracts.
• Deep customization of UI beyond supplied primitives may require additional frontend engineering and integration work.

Sequel free trial

Sequel provides a free tier intended for evaluation and small projects. The Free Plan includes a limited number of seats, constrained API usage, and community support. It is suitable for proof of concept work, internal tooling for very small teams, and for testing integrations with a dev database.

Paid tiers typically include a free trial window (for example 14–30 days) for the Starter and Professional plans so teams can validate performance, SSO integration, and the developer workflow with production-like limits. During the trial, teams can test real database connections, role-based access, and the app-building experience without being charged.

For enterprise customers, Sequel often offers a proof-of-concept (POC) program that includes implementation assistance, basic security review, and temporary increased quotas to validate the solution at scale before committing to a contract.

Is sequel free

Yes, Sequel offers a Free Plan. The Free Plan provides basic functionality and a limited number of seats and API calls to let teams evaluate the platform and build small internal tools. For production use and higher limits, teams typically upgrade to the Starter or Professional plans.

Sequel API

Sequel's primary interface is an API layer built around SQL queries and parameterized endpoints. The API exposes query results in JSON and supports common patterns: list endpoints with pagination, single-record endpoints by primary key, parameterized queries, and endpoints that map to insert/update/delete operations as defined by the SQL logic.

Authentication methods supported typically include API keys, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), and token exchange for SSO integrations. The API enforces role-based access control and integrates with database row-level security where applicable. Endpoints can be configured to require specific scopes or to bind parameter values from the authenticated user context.

Developers can call the API directly from server-side code or client-side applications depending on security needs; best practice is to keep write operations behind server-side calls or to use per-user tokens with short TTLs. Sequel also supports webhooks and scheduled jobs for automating workflows and pushing changes to external systems.

For integration and automation, Sequel provides SDKs and client libraries (commonly for JavaScript/TypeScript and Python) and a documented API reference. View the Sequel API reference and documentation for detailed examples, endpoint definitions, and security guidance.

10 Sequel alternatives

Paid alternatives to Sequel

• Retool — A low-code platform for building internal tools with a UI editor that connects to SQL databases, APIs, and spreadsheets. Retool provides drag-and-drop components and a JS-based scripting layer for custom logic.
• Airtable — A spreadsheet-database hybrid that exposes records via API and offers built-in automations and simple front-end views; better suited to less SQL-centric workflows.
• Appsmith — (Hosted paid tiers) A low-code UI builder for internal tools that connects to databases and REST APIs and offers a visual editor and JavaScript controls.
• ToolJet — (Paid hosted plans) A visual internal tool builder that integrates with SQL databases and third-party APIs and offers pre-built widgets and connectors.
• Microsoft Power Apps — Part of the Power Platform for building business apps that connect to Microsoft data sources and external databases with enterprise-grade governance.

Open source alternatives to Sequel

• Appsmith — An open source internal tooling framework with a visual editor, widgets, and connectors for SQL databases; can be self-hosted to meet strict compliance needs.
• Budibase — An open source low-code platform to build internal tools and admin panels, with connectors for databases and an option to self-host.
• NocoDB — Converts databases into spreadsheet-like interfaces and exposes CRUD APIs; can be self-hosted and extended for SQL-first workflows.
• Supabase — An open source Firebase alternative that exposes Postgres as an API with row-level security and client SDKs; pairs well with a custom UI layer.
• Directus — An open source data platform that sits on top of SQL databases to provide an API and admin app; ideal when you want a headless CMS or data API with self-hosting.

Frequently asked questions about Sequel

What is Sequel used for?

Sequel is used for exposing SQL queries as APIs and building small apps and admin interfaces on top of those endpoints. Teams use it to surface database-driven workflows to internal users and customers without building a separate backend, which shortens development time for CRUD pages, reports, and portals.

Does Sequel integrate with Postgres and MySQL?

Yes, Sequel supports Postgres and MySQL (and compatible SQL databases). It connects directly to your existing relational database, lets you run parameterized queries safely, and can respect database-level access controls and RLS policies.

How much does Sequel cost per seat?

Sequel starts at $15/month per seat on the Starter plan billed monthly, with discounts available for annual billing (commonly reducing the rate to about $12/month per seat). Pricing scales up for the Professional plan and custom Enterprise contracts.

Can Sequel be self-hosted or run in a VPC?

Yes, Sequel offers enterprise deployment options for on-premise or VPC-hosted instances. Enterprise plans include dedicated networking, tighter compliance controls, and assistance with deployment and maintenance to meet stricter security requirements.

Is Sequel secure for production data?

Yes, Sequel includes security features suitable for production use. The platform supports role-based access control, token-based authentication, SSO via SAML/OIDC on higher tiers, and audit logging; enterprise offerings add dedicated networking and compliance support.

Does Sequel offer a free trial?

Yes, Sequel provides a Free Plan and trial periods for paid tiers. The Free Plan includes limited seats and API usage for evaluation, while Starter/Professional trials let teams validate integrations and performance under production-like limits.

Can I version SQL and manage migrations with Sequel?

Yes, Sequel supports a developer workflow with versioned SQL and database migrations. You can store queries in a repository, promote changes across environments, and use environment-aware configuration for dev/staging/production deployments.

Does Sequel provide webhooks and scheduled tasks?

Yes, Sequel supports webhooks and scheduled jobs for automation. These features let you trigger workflows on database events or on a schedule to push data to external services or initiate background processing.

How does Sequel handle authentication for customers?

Sequel supports API keys, JWTs, and SSO (SAML/OIDC). It allows per-endpoint access rules and short-lived tokens for client-side use, plus enterprise SSO integration for single sign-on across internal users.

Where can I find Sequel documentation and developer guides?

Sequel's documentation and developer guides are available on its docs site. For API reference, authentication details, and UI builder instructions, consult the Sequel documentation and API reference.

sequel careers

Sequel hires across engineering, product, and customer-facing roles. Common positions include backend engineers with strong SQL experience, frontend engineers experienced in building admin UIs, developer advocates to help customers adopt SQL-first workflows, and customer success managers who assist enterprise customers with integrations and compliance. Check Sequel's careers page for current openings and role-specific requirements.

sequel affiliate

Sequel's partner and affiliate programs (if available) typically focus on agencies, system integrators, and boutique consultancies that build internal tools for clients. Affiliates may receive referral fees, co-marketing support, or preferred onboarding for client projects; interested partners should contact Sequel's sales or partnerships team via their website.

Where to find sequel reviews

You can find user reviews and comparative feedback on technology review sites and community forums. Look for developer forums, Product Hunt discussions, and enterprise software review platforms to read real-world experiences. For up-to-date testimonials and case studies, see the Sequel case studies and customer stories on the official site.