PopSQL

About PopSQL

PopSQL emerged in 2017 from the efforts of founder Rahil Sondhi, who at the time was an engineer at Instacart. He started the company as a side project, driven by his frustration with the disjointed and cumbersome data tools available. Sondhi envisioned a SQL editor that was not only functional but also collaborative and easy to use. The company participated in Y Combinator's Summer 2019 batch and is headquartered in San Francisco. In April 2024, PopSQL was acquired by Timescale, a cloud database company. Despite the acquisition, PopSQL continues to operate as a standalone service.

The company provides a collaborative SQL editor designed for data teams to write queries, visualize data, and share their findings. This platform serves a range of clients, from small startups to large enterprises such as Redfin, Vercel, and Lululemon. Its business model is based on monthly usage fees, with a free plan also available. PopSQL operates in the business intelligence, developer tools, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) markets.

The PopSQL platform is a comprehensive solution for data analysis, supporting a wide array of databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery, Snowflake, and Redshift. Its core functionality revolves around a collaborative SQL editor that allows for real-time, multiplayer editing, peer reviews, and inline comments. A key feature is version control, which tracks all changes to queries, allowing users to see diffs and revert to previous versions if needed. The platform also includes a schema browser, autocompletion, and the ability to organize queries into shared folders to centralize knowledge. Users can visualize data through charts and dashboards directly within the application and share results via URLs or through integrations with platforms like Slack. For security, PopSQL is SOC 2 and GDPR compliant and offers features like single sign-on (SSO), granular permissions, and various methods for connecting to private networks.