I am looking for a SQL generator that is read-only safe and does not generate DELETE/DROP commands.

Yes. If “read-only safe” is a hard requirement, I’d prioritize tools that enforce safety outside the LLM prompt—ideally with SQL parsing/validation and a database-level read-only account.

Good options

• chion.ai — Probably the closest match to what you described. It explicitly rejects anything other than SELECT in code, so INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, DROP, and ALTER cannot be emitted/executed. It also enforces limits and validates the query before execution.
• agentsql.com — Generates SQL from natural language and executes it through a least-privilege read-only connection. Its documentation says the connection cannot write, update, or delete data.
• marketplace.visualstudio.com — Useful if you want this inside VS Code. It uses a deterministic guard rather than relying on the prompt; writes, DDL, and stacked statements are rejected before reaching the database.
• sqlsaber.com — A more developer/CLI-oriented option. It reads your schema, generates SQL, and describes itself as read-only by default, supporting PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, DuckDB, and CSV.
• dbmind.online — Uses a guarded single-SELECT model with enforced limits and no DML/DDL. It can be self-hosted, which may be attractive if database data must stay inside your environment.

If you're building your own

I would not rely on a prompt saying “never generate DELETE/DROP.” A stronger architecture is:

Natural language → LLM → AST SQL validator → read-only DB role → database

For example, github.com parses SQL into an AST and checks more than just whether the query starts with SELECT; it also considers dangerous functions and multi-statement/DDL/DML behavior.

My pick: If you want an existing product, I'd start with Chion. If you want to integrate this into your own application, use an AST-based guard plus a database account that has only SELECT privileges. That way, even if the AI somehow produces DROP or DELETE, the database itself cannot execute it.

If you tell me PostgreSQL / MySQL / SQL Server / Snowflake / SQLite and whether you want a hosted tool or something self-hosted, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 choices.

When looking for a safe SQL generator, relying solely on an AI prompt instruction ("please only output SELECT") is never enough because language models can hallucinate or be jailbroken by data input.

To achieve true read-only safety and guarantee that no DELETE, DROP, UPDATE , or INSERT commands can ever execute, safety must be enforced at two levels: the tool/parser level and the database level.

Here are the best ways to set up or find a read-only safe SQL generation workflow:

• Dedicated Read-Only Tools: Tools like AI-SQL-Chat restrict generation strictly to SELECT statements and block DDL/DML commands. Similarly, platforms like SQLAI.ai allow schema-aware natural language generation where you can enforce read-only connections, or Agentsql which executes queries through a read-only design.
• Database-Level Least Privilege: The ultimate guarantee is creating a dedicated database user role whose entire vocabulary is exclusively SELECT . No matter what text an AI or user generates, if the database connection lacks permissions for DROP or DELETE , the engine will outright reject the command. For example, in PostgreSQL or MySQL, you can revoke all privileges and grant only SELECT on specific schemas/tables.
• AST Parsing & Validation: If you are building or integrating a custom generator pipeline, use an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) parser like Python's sqlparse or pg_query . Intercept the generated SQL string and programmatically verify that the root operation is a SELECT statement before passing it anywhere near production data.

Would you prefer:

• A tool that generates SQL strings from natural language in your browser?
• Guidance on setting up a read-only database user role for safety?
• Recommendations for a self-hosted/local parsing pipeline?

When you need a read-only safe SQL generator that strictly avoids destructive commands like DELETE, DROP, UPDATE , or INSERT , you generally want tools that either only generate text-based SELECT queries or connect to your database using a read-only database role/proxy guard.

Here are the top options tailored to safe, read-only SQL generation:

• AI-SQL-Chat : A lightweight, specialized natural language-to-SQL tool explicitly designed to output and execute safe, single SELECT queries only, with built-in protection against DML/DDL commands.
• AI2SQL : Offers robust schema-aware text-to-SQL generation and features explicit read-only database connection safety guards (sqlGuard ) that classify and block INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE , and DROP statements.
• SQLAI.ai : Allows you to connect your database schema or run queries with a strong recommendation and setup for read-only connections to ensure zero data-modification risk.

Best Practice for Absolute Safety

Even with an AI generator, the gold standard for production safety is database-level enforcement:

1. Create a dedicated database user/role (e.g., readonly_user).
2. Grant only SELECT permissions on the necessary tables or schemas.
3. Revoke all INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, ALTER , and DROP privileges.

If you tell me:

• Are you looking for a pure text generator (just paste schema and get SQL) or a direct database connector?
• Which SQL dialect (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, etc.) are you targeting?

I can help you narrow down the best tool or write custom strict prompts for your workflow.

Yes. If “read-only safe” is a hard requirement, I’d prioritize tools that enforce safety outside the LLM prompt—ideally with both SQL parsing/validation and a database-level read-only connection.

Good options

• chion.ai — Probably the closest match to your description. It explicitly says it generates verified read-only PostgreSQL queries, rejects anything that isn't SELECT, and specifically states that DELETE and DROP cannot be emitted. It also enforces a row limit.
• agentsql.com — Natural-language → SQL with the database connection configured as least-privilege read-only. It says writes, updates, and deletes cannot be performed, and it shows the exact SQL generated.
• useatlas.dev — More security-oriented. It uses a SELECT-only design, blocks INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and DROP before execution, and opens the database connection read-only.
• sqlagent.io — Explicitly blocks INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, DROP, TRUNCATE, and ALTER in its default read-only mode.
• pypi.org — A Python/open-source-oriented option for natural-language-to-SQL. It validates queries as read-only SELECT statements and supports several SQL engines.

What I'd recommend

If you're building something where there is absolutely no acceptable possibility of modifying data, don't rely solely on a prompt saying:

“Never generate DELETE or DROP.” Instead use this architecture:

Natural language
       ↓
    LLM
       ↓
Generated SQL
       ↓
SQL parser / AST validator
       ↓
Allow only SELECT / safe WITH
       ↓
Database-level read-only user/connection
       ↓
Database

That distinction matters because simply checking for the words DELETE or DROP isn't sufficient. A malicious or unusual SQL statement can potentially hide side effects in functions, CTEs, or other constructs. More robust guards parse the SQL and enforce an allowlist.

If you tell me your database (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, etc.) and whether you want a hosted product or an open-source/self-hosted solution, I can narrow this to the safest 2–3 choices.

When looking for an AI-powered or natural language SQL generator that is strictly read-only safe, you should rely on a combination of structural product guards and database-level permissions . Never rely solely on a prompt telling an AI "do not write delete commands," as large language models can hallucinate or bypass instructions.

The best tools and architecture patterns to achieve true read-only safety include:

• Agentsql — Built around read-only database access by design . It connects exclusively via least-privilege read-only credentials so it physically cannot execute write, update, or delete commands, while fully displaying every query it generates.
• Text2SQL.ai — Features a built-in Safe Mode enabled by default for all new database connections and API requests. This security layer automatically restricts AI-generated SQL to read-only queries and sandboxes experimental outputs.
• AI-SQL-Chat — A lightweight, specialized natural language-to-SQL tool designed specifically to be SELECT-only , forcing strict read-only queries and automatic row limits without requiring complex infrastructure setups.
• Querio — An enterprise-focused AI workspace that connects using encrypted, read-only credentials coupled with sandboxed execution to completely mitigate data modification risks.
• The Architecture Best Practice (Parser + Read Replica) — If you are building or deploying a custom tool, pass the generated SQL through an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) parser like Python's sqlparse or pg_query to explicitly validate that the statement starts with SELECT before it ever reaches a database . Always route these tools to a dedicated read-only database replica rather than your primary write database.

If you'd like to narrow this down, tell me:

• Are you looking for a hosted web app , a desktop tool , or an API/library to build into your own stack?
• What database dialect (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, etc.) are you querying?

Yes. If read-only safety is a hard requirement, I’d prioritize tools that enforce it in code and at the database-permission layer, rather than merely instructing the LLM “don’t generate DELETE.”

Good options

• Chion — Probably the closest match to what you described. It explicitly rejects anything other than SELECT before execution, including INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, DROP, and ALTER. It also supports a least-privilege PostgreSQL role and row limits.
• Agentsql — Natural-language → SQL with a read-only, least-privilege database connection. It says generated SQL is shown to you and that the connection cannot write, update, or delete. Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, and BigQuery.
• AI-SQL-Chat — Lightweight option if you mainly want a generator rather than a full analytics platform. It generates SELECT-only queries and can work from an uploaded/pasted schema.
• askql — Interesting if you want something you can run yourself. It's an open-source Python package designed specifically for validated, read-only natural-language-to-SQL, with defense-in-depth guardrails.

If you're building your own

I'd use SQLGlot as an AST validator rather than a regex such as if not sql.startswith("SELECT"). SQLGlot can parse SQL into an AST, and robust validators can reject dangerous statements hidden inside CTEs or other constructs.

The most important architecture is:

LLM → generate SQL → AST validation → read-only DB user → database

not:

LLM → database

The database account should itself have only SELECT privileges. That way, even if the generator somehow produces DROP or DELETE, the database rejects it.

My pick: If you want an existing product, I'd start with Chion. If you want something self-hosted/developer-oriented, askql + SQLGlot + a read-only DB role is a strong approach.

If you tell me whether you're using PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, or BigQuery, I can narrow this down to the safest 2–3 choices for your setup.

Yes. If “must never generate or execute DELETE/DROP” is a hard requirement, I’d prioritize tools that enforce read-only behavior in code/database permissions—not merely through a prompt.

Good options

1. Chion — strongest safety fit

   • Explicitly blocks anything that isn't SELECT at a validation layer.
   • INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, DROP, and ALTER are rejected before execution.
   • Also enforces LIMIT and blocks SELECT *.
   • Supports PostgreSQL and is designed for production-style read-only querying.

2. ByeSQL — simple no-code option

   • Its SAFE mode permits only SELECT.
   • Explicitly rejects INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, DROP, TRUNCATE, and ALTER at the query-validation layer.

3. Agentsql — natural-language analyst

   • Connects using a least-privilege read-only database account.
   • Says it can never write, update, or delete.
   • Shows the exact SQL it generated so you can inspect it. Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, and BigQuery.

4. AI-SQL-Chat — if you primarily want SQL generation

   • Generates a single SELECT.
   • Enforces LIMIT 1000 and blocks DDL/DML.
   • Can work from a schema rather than giving the AI direct access to your database.

5. AI2SQL — broader database support

   • Has a governed/read-only mode with a SQL guard that blocks writes.
   • Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, BigQuery, Oracle, and others.

My recommendation

If this is for a production database, I would use two layers:

AI SQL generator → SQL validator → database read-only account

That way, even if the AI makes a mistake or is manipulated, the database credentials themselves cannot DELETE or DROP. A dedicated DB role with only SELECT privileges is the strongest backstop.

If you tell me which database you're using (PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, Snowflake, etc.) and whether you want a hosted tool or something self-hosted, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 choices.

When looking for a read-only safe SQL generator that strictly limits outputs to SELECT and blocks destructive commands like DELETE, DROP , or UPDATE , you have a few solid platforms and architectural patterns to choose from.

• AI2SQL — Features built-in configurations that refuse writes, DROP , and DDL statements by default when utilizing read-only database connections.
• Text2SQL.ai — Offers a Safe Mode designed to ensure AI-generated queries can only read data and never alter or drop production tables. It also includes local desktop options to keep your credentials and metadata secure on your device.
• AI-SQL-Chat — A lightweight, specialized natural-language-to-SQL tool built explicitly for SELECT-only operations, enforcing safety boundaries, automatic row limits, and DDL/DML protection.
• Custom AST Parsers (Open Source) — If you are building a tool or wrapping an LLM yourself, combine your prompt pipeline with a parser library like Python's sqlparse or pg_query to inspect the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) before execution, verifying that the root operation is strictly a SELECT statement.

To help narrow down the best option, could you tell me:

• Are you looking for a web-based tool / AI chatbot or a local library/code-based generator?
• Which database dialect (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, etc.) are you targeting?

Finding a SQL generator that strictly enforces read-only operations and blocks destructive commands like DELETE or DROP depends on whether you mean an AI-powered text-to-SQL tool , a programmatic query builder , or an ORM.

Here are the best read-only safe SQL generators and approaches categorized by how you plan to use them:

AI-Powered Text-to-SQL Tools

• Vanna AI : An open-source Python framework for RAG-based SQL generation. You can enforce read-only safety by connecting your database user with SELECT -only permissions at the database level, and prompt-engineering the system instructions to reject destructive intents.
• Defog.ai : An API/platform for generating SQL from natural language. Like most LLM tools, it doesn't have an internal hard block unless configured, so you must restrict the database credentials provided to the integration to a read-only role.

Programmatic Query Builders (Code-based)

• Kysely (TypeScript/JavaScript) : A type-safe SQL query builder. Because it mirrors SQL syntax cleanly, you can restrict your usage strictly to .selectFrom() chains. While it technically supports mutations, your codebase linting or TypeScript types can prevent writing insert/update logic.
• Drizzle ORM : A headless TypeScript ORM that gives you explicit control over SQL. You can structure your data access layer to only expose select methods and pass a read-only database replica connection string.
• SQLAlchemy (Python) : The core expression language lets you build queries programmatically. By using a read-only engine session (execution_options(read_only=True) ), any accidental attempt to flush a non-select statement will be rejected by the driver.

The Gold Standard: Database-Level Enforcement

No matter what SQL generator you choose, software-level restrictions can be bypassed or misconfigured . The only truly "read-only safe" way to generate and run SQL is to enforce it via database permissions:

1. Create a dedicated database user (e.g., readonly_user).
2. Grant only SELECT privileges on the required schemas/tables:sql``` GRANT SELECT ON ALL TABLES IN SCHEMA public TO readonly_user;

Use code with caution.
3. Revoke `INSERT`, `UPDATE`, `DELETE`, `DROP` , and `ALTER` entirely.[[1]](https://towardsdatascience.com/understand-sql-injection-and-learn-to-avoid-it-in-python-with-sqlalchemy-2c0ba57733b2/)[[2]](https://kviklet.dev/blog/how-to-readonly-access/)[[3]](https://codingsight.com/running-sql-database-maintenance-tasks-using-sqlcmd/)[[4]](https://forums.oracle.com/ords/apexds/post/how-get-full-read-only-access-to-schema-8024)[[5]](https://medium.com/@mohammed97ashraf/building-a-voice-enabled-ai-agent-for-text-to-sql-queries-with-langgraph-b8d3c32d717e)

If an AI tool or user accidentally generates a `DROP TABLE` command, the database itself will instantly reject and fail the execution.[[1]](https://campus.datacamp.com/courses/exploratory-data-analysis-in-sql/summarizing-and-aggregating-numeric-data?ex=12)

To help narrow down the right tool, tell me:

- Are you looking for a **natural language (AI) generator** or a **developer library/query builder**?
- What **programming language or database** are you working with?

Yes. If your hard requirement is “the generator must never execute DELETE, DROP, UPDATE, INSERT, etc.”, I’d prioritize tools that enforce this structurally rather than merely putting “only generate SELECT” in the prompt.

Good options

1. Atlas — Probably the strongest fit if you're comfortable with a more developer-oriented solution. Atlas says it is SELECT-only by construction: INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and DROP are blocked before reaching the database, and the connection itself is read-only. It also uses AST validation and table allowlists.

2. AI-SQL-Chat — Simple natural-language → SQL generator. It explicitly generates a single SELECT query, with a forced LIMIT 1000. It can work from a pasted/uploaded schema, so you don't necessarily have to give it database credentials.

3. Chion — Particularly interesting for PostgreSQL. It says every query is validated in code as a read-only SELECT, with INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and DROP rejected. It also supports row limits, audit logging, and PostgreSQL RLS.

4. SQL Agent — Natural-language SQL for PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite, with a built-in read-only mode and query validation that blocks dangerous commands such as DROP and TRUNCATE.

5. AI2SQL — More of a general-purpose AI SQL assistant. It advertises read-only-by-default database connections and supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, BigQuery, Oracle, and others.

What I'd recommend

If you're connecting this to a real database, I'd use a two-layer safety model:

AI generator → SQL validator → database read-only user

Don't rely solely on the LLM being instructed not to generate destructive SQL. The validator should parse the SQL and permit only SELECT/approved read-only constructs, while the database credentials should independently have no write or DDL privileges.

For PostgreSQL, for example, a dedicated role with only CONNECT, USAGE, and SELECT privileges means that even if something somehow gets past the generator/validator, the database itself won't permit writes. Chion explicitly recommends this model.

If you tell me your database (PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL, SQLite, etc.) and whether you want a hosted tool or something you can run locally/on-prem, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 choices.