SQL Play vs SQL Challenge
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SQL Play
Learn and practice SQL directly on your phone without installing complex software. This app provides built-in tables and over 45 syntaxes with examples to help you master SQL queries. It supports dark mode and allows data export to CSV.
- SQL runner on mobile
- 10+ inbuilt practice tables
- 45+ SQL syntaxes with examples
- DDL, DML, DQL support
- Dark mode theme
- Export data to CSV
- Query history and auto-complete
Read full descriptionHide full description
Learning and Practicing SQL couldn't be Easier! Presenting you with a beautiful SQL Runner App for all your devices - SQL Play. Say goodbye to installing heavy software like MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server on your computers, just to get SQL running. You don't have to spend hours figuring out what commands to type: - Just to write a simple SELECT query - How to use the WHERE clause - Group data using HAVING clause - What are the data types to be used - And many more Guess what? You don't even need to make your own tables and insert bunch of data by yourself just to test your queries. We already have 10+ inbuilt tables just for you to get your hands dirty with SQL faster than ever. It includes: Albums, Artists, Customers, Employees, Genres, Invoices and more. You get 45+ syntaxes along with their description and easy-to-follow examples in order of their execution, which will guide you firsthand. You don't have to keep scrolling for the commands, you can simply start typing your command and the desired command with syntax will show up. It covers DDL (Data definition language), DML (Data manipulation language) and DQL (Data query language) If you prefer dark mode we have got you covered, SQL Play theme matches your system theme. So that your eyes get the deserved rest. You are not tied to our app with your data, you can export any of your tables into CSV (Comma separated values) using the Export Data feature. Your data goes with you, whether it be Excel, Google Sheets or any other spreadsheet editor or the database of your choice. /// Go down the memory lane Every time you run your query, it gets saved locally in your device which can be accessed by pressing the Up and Down arrow button. You also get auto-complete from history as you type your query, so that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. TLDR; Saves you a lot of time Popular SQL supported databases: • IBM DB2 • MySQL • Oracle DB • PostgreSQL • SQLite • SQL Server • Sybase • OpenEdge SQL • Snowflake
SQL Challenge
Read full descriptionHide full description
Feed your brain. Query up. Learn SQL the way you will actually use it: one query at a time, against a real database, right on your phone. SQL Challenge is a single path of original questions. Each level hands you a small database and asks for one thing, and you answer with one SELECT. A real SQLite engine ships inside the app and runs your query on the spot — no server, no signal, no waiting. Then it runs your query again on rows you have never seen. Hard-code what was on the screen and you will hear about it. That is the whole difference between a query that looked right and a query that is right. Free to start: the opening levels are free, then unlock the full path with a single one-time purchase. No subscription, no ads, no account. WRITE REAL SQL • A keyboard built for queries: a clause row for SELECT, FROM, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, ORDER BY and the aggregates, and a toggle that upper-cases keywords while leaving your table and column names exactly as typed • A schema panel above the editor: every table with its columns, their types, the row counts, and the first rows to look at • A result sheet that puts your table next to the expected one, so you can see which rows are extra, which are missing, and which column came back under the wrong name FIVE WORLDS TO QUERY • Five invented databases, none of them borrowed from a tutorial: an online shop, a school, a library system, an airline and a music service • Hidden variants of the same schema — an empty table, a tie at the top, a NULL where you assumed a number, a row with nothing to join to — decide whether you answered the question or just the screen LEARN THE RIGHT WAY • Three tiers of hints from Tuple, a cyan beaver who is smug about engineering and on your side anyway • A curated solution once you pass: the obvious query, the better one, and why the difference matters • One path, no shortcuts, easy to hard: filtering and sorting, then joins, grouping and aggregates, then subqueries and common table expressions STAY MOTIVATED • XP, player levels, daily streaks and badges • Six themes, dark and light PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Works fully offline; no account, no tracking — your progress stays on your device • No ads, ever
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SQL Play at Free against SQL Challenge's $2.99. SQL Challenge's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
SQL Play is free to download; SQL Challenge costs $2.99 up front. SQL Play sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SQL Challenge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
SQL Play ships an update every 3 months, SQL Challenge weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SQL Play | SQL Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | 3.4 (38 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 76.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Shivam Kumar | MUSTAFA GURBUZ |
Bugs and requests
SQL Play
Reported bugs
16 issues- Items smushed together on download
- Syntax errors on first launch
- Query box does not clear
- Errors near SELECT even with correct query
- Cannot open pro even after activation
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- Command window does not accept indentations
- Learn button absent
- App cannot be deleted
- App does not work properly for queries
- App got stuck with pinwheel of death
- Not up to date with current version of SQL
- App doesn't display code output
- Paywall nag after going unlimited
- Date input bug (adds up years)
- Tables displayed not correctly
- Table won't show if not in typing mode on iPhone 7
Requested features
6 requests- Solid update required
- Hire better iOS developers
- Show databases function
- Show tables function
- Add 'desc' command
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Add 'rename' command
SQL Challenge
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SQL Play
- SQL Play Premium$9.99
SQL Challenge
- Full Path$4.99









