Django tip: Use "django-admin dbshell" to access your database shell easily. It connects using your DATABASES settings.

Here, dbshell connects to your database using psql (gor postgresql) or mysql-client (for mysql) or the corresponding db client. It does not open a python shell but uses a native client. The shell command opens a django-ready python interactive session. Those actions are therefore very different. With shell, you explore the db using django ORM. With dbshell, you explore the db using plain sql and native client-specific commands.