[2][3] Database Workbench started out as a developer tool specifically for InterBase, "InterBase Workbench", initially modeled after the SQL Navigator tool for Oracle Database by Quest Software.

The main developer of Database Workbench, Martijn Tonies,[6] was closely involved in the early development of Firebird, has been a committee member of the Firebird Foundation and continues to be a Foundation member and sponsor.

[9] In December 2021, Database Workbench 6 was released with a revamped user interface including a more consistent look and feel and the multi-threaded loading of database metadata.

This version introduced the Enterprise Edition with its TeamServer component.

[17] Under Linux, FreeBSD or Mac OS X Database Workbench can operate using Wine.