Third-Party Tools with PostgreSQL
The Postgres endpoint is in preview. Functionality and compatibility may change as we expand support.
MotherDuck's Postgres endpoint lets you connect third-party tools and database IDEs that do not support DuckDB or MotherDuck directly, but do support PostgreSQL data sources.
Compatibility
| Tool | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| psql | Supported | Full support through the CLI. |
| DBeaver | Basic querying | Querying works. Schema browser may show extra objects from other databases. Use attach_mode=single (see below). |
| Tableau | Planned | Tracking internally. |
| Looker | Planned | Under evaluation. |
| Metabase | Supported | See Metabase integration guide. |
| Qlik | Supported |
General connection guidance
When connecting any Postgres-compatible tool, use the following connection parameters:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Host | pg.<region>-aws.motherduck.com |
| Port | 5432 |
| Database | Your MotherDuck database name |
| User | postgres |
| Password | Your MotherDuck access token |
Use single attach mode
For the best experience with IDEs and BI tools, set attach_mode=single so the tool only sees objects from your target database. Without this, schema browsers may display tables from all attached databases.
Setting connection options
If the tool supports PGOPTIONS or connection options you can also set these:
PGOPTIONS="--attach_mode=single"
See Attach Modes for more details.
Remember: you're writing DuckDB SQL
The Postgres endpoint delivers DuckDB SQL over the PostgreSQL wire protocol. Use DuckDB SQL syntax in your queries. PostgreSQL-specific functions and features are not available.
Use a secure connection
Use your own (system) SSL certificate to make sure you connect securely to the Postgres endpoint. This is done by setting sslmode="verify-full" and sslrootcert="system, which is available since Postgres version >=16. If you do not have a certificate available, you can also use a certificate from a certificate authority like Let's Encrypt at https://letsencrypt.org/certs/isrgrootx1.pem. You can download and use this certificate instead: sslmode=verify-ca sslrootcert=isrgrootx1.pem. If none of these options work you can fall back to the less secure sslmode=require.
Request support for a tool
Want BI tool support for a tool not listed above? Reach out to support@motherduck.com.