SQL Executioner
Execute arbitrary SQL queries against your WordPress database from the Admin.
Consider an alternative
SQL Executioner shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 2K+ sites, is rated 4.6/5 and was last updated 10 years ago, and scores 38/100 on our health check.
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.6 (latest is 7.1)
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where SQL Executioner stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| DBA | #15 |
| mysql | >100 |
| phpMyAdmin | #97 |
| query | >100 |
| sql | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6 from 11 reviews
About SQL Executioner
From the official readme · v1.4Description
Instead of needing a tool like phpMyAdmin
or the mysql command line client to view and modify your WordPress database,
the SQL Executioner allows you to run arbitrary SQL queries against your
WordPress database from within the Admin. In many cases this allows you to bypass
the inherent limitations of the WordPress Admin interface, and use the full expressive
power of SQL to analyze and update your blog’s database.
To use simply install and visit the Tools > SQL Executioner page.
If you’re interested in contributing to the code behind this plugin, it’s also hosted on GitHub:
https://github.com/justincwatt/wp-sql-executioner
Installation
Extract the zip file, drop the sql-executioner folder in your wp-content/plugins/
directory, and then activate from the Plugins page.
Changelog
Compatibility Update: supports PHP 7
1.4
- Added CSV export format (hat tip: olarmarius)
1.3
- Updated to work with PHP 7
1.2
- Cleaned code up to submit to WP Plugin Repo
- Wrapped functions in class
1.1
- Add wp_nonce_field check, minor code cleanup
1.0
- Initial version
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
FAQ
SQL Executioner: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 27, 2026
Is SQL Executioner free?
Yes. SQL Executioner is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is SQL Executioner safe to use in 2026?
SQL Executioner shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 2K+ sites, is rated 4.6/5 and was last updated 10 years ago, and scores 38/100 on our health check.
How many websites use SQL Executioner?
SQL Executioner is active on 2K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 55,224 times since it launched in November 2012. It was downloaded 392 times in the last 30 days.
Does SQL Executioner work with WordPress 7.1?
SQL Executioner is officially tested up to WordPress 4.6.30, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was SQL Executioner last updated?
The latest version, 1.4, was released on September 28, 2016 (10 years ago).
Who makes SQL Executioner?
SQL Executioner is developed and maintained by Justin Watt.
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