Postgres
Postgres.app is a native macOS app that installs and manages a local PostgreSQL server for development, testing, and database work on a Mac.
What is Postgres?
Postgres.app is a native macOS database utility that packages PostgreSQL as a standard Mac app. It helps developers, students, and technical users run a local PostgreSQL server for app development, testing, learning SQL, and working with database-backed tools without setting up a separate server environment. The app provides a graphical interface to initialize, start, stop, and manage local database instances, and it also includes command-line tools for users who prefer terminal-based workflows. Postgres.app supports running different PostgreSQL versions on the same Mac, which is useful when projects depend on different database versions. It also includes common extensions such as PostGIS, making it a practical choice for local geospatial development. Published by Jakob Egger, it is designed specifically for macOS workflows.
Key features
- Initialize and run a local PostgreSQL server from a Mac app
- Start, stop, and monitor database servers with a graphical interface
- Use bundled command-line PostgreSQL tools for terminal workflows
- Run multiple PostgreSQL versions on the same Mac
- Work with common extensions such as PostGIS for geospatial data
- Access a menu bar control for quick server management
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Safety overview
Status: Safe
This is legitimate database server software for macOS. It stores and manages local database files on your Mac, so removing it can affect development databases and test environments that depend on it. Network access and local data storage are normal for a PostgreSQL server, and some users may allow client apps to connect to local databases as part of normal development work. Before removing it, make sure you no longer need the databases it manages and back up any important data.
Recommendation: Keep Postgres.app if you use PostgreSQL locally for development, testing, learning, or any Mac-based database workflow. Remove it only if you no longer need a local PostgreSQL server, and export or back up any databases first so you do not lose project data.
Common paths
/Applications/Postgres.app~/Library/Application Support/Postgres~/Library/Application Support/Postgres/var
Support paths
~/Library/Application Support/Postgres
Preference paths
~/Library/Preferences/com.postgresapp.Postgres2.plist
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