Drizzle

Drizzle takes a different approach than Prisma: instead of abstracting SQL away, it brings you closer to it. If you find yourself fighting ORMs to write the queries you want, Drizzle's SQL-like TypeScript API might feel like a relief. The query API mirrors SQL structure. Select, where, join, group by—the methods map directly to SQL concepts. There's no query language to learn; if you know SQL, you can use Drizzle. The TypeScript inference is excellent, catching errors and providing completion for tables, columns, and relationships. Schema definition happens in TypeScript, not a separate language. Tables are defined using functions and objects, with full type inference. This means your editor helps you write correct schemas, and changes are just TypeScript changes. Drizzle is lightweight. The runtime footprint is minimal, and queries don't go through complex abstraction layers. For applications where database performance matters, this directness translates to faster execution. Migrations are generated automatically from schema changes. Drizzle compares your TypeScript schema to the database, generates SQL migration files, and applies them. You keep full control—review the generated SQL, modify if needed, track in version control. The kit includes Drizzle Studio, a database browser that runs in your terminal or browser. It's similar to Prisma Studio but works with Drizzle's approach. Drizzle supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite with more databases planned. For teams who want type safety without the overhead of a full ORM, or who prefer working closer to SQL, Drizzle offers a compelling middle ground.