19.3
Free, open-source database available on Android, iOS, desktop, web and server platforms.
Free planOpen sourceAndroidiOSWeb
Best Database Software in 2026
SQLite leads this chart of 74 (9.3/10, free plan). Firestore is next (8.8/10, free plan), and Chroma is the next highest-placed with a free plan (8.8/10). Database software stores and organizes information so apps and services can read or update it; the right choice depends on its database model and how you plan to deploy it. Compare SQL support, storage, vector search and replication against your needs. If you want to manage a database from a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO device, check whether the tool has an Android app; web access is a separate option.
28.8
Firestore is a managed, serverless document database for AI, web, and mobile applications.
Free planAndroidiOSWeb
38.8
Chroma is open-source data infrastructure for AI that stores embeddings and metadata and supports search and retrieval across text, images, and other modalities.
Free planOpen sourceAndroidiOSWeb
- 4
MySQL
MySQL is an open-source database for web, e-commerce, SaaS, and online transaction processing applications.
Free planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted8.7Free plan - 5
SingleStore Helios
Cloud database service offering free and paid plans across several platforms.
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS8.7Free plan - 6
TiDB Cloud
Database cloud service with a free plan and API, web and self-hosted platform support.
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted8.7Free plan - 7
CrateDB
Open-source database with free access and API, Linux, macOS, Windows, web and self-hosted deployments.
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.7Free plan - 8
Vespa
Vespa is an AI search platform for online, data-driven applications, combining retrieval, ranking, machine-learning inference, and real-time serving.
Open sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.6 - 9
Amazon DynamoDB
Managed serverless NoSQL database that can scale tables automatically and query through secondary indexes.
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI8.5Free plan - 10
Azure SQL Database
Cloud relational database service with a free plan and independently scaling Hyperscale tier.
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI8.4Free plan - 11
ClickHouse Cloud
Cloud analytical database with API, Linux, macOS, Windows, web and self-hosted options; open source with a trial.
Open sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.4From $25.30 a month - 12
Amazon Timestream
Amazon Timestream is a managed time-series database service for workloads from low-latency queries to large-scale data ingestion.
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS8.4Free plan - 13
Exasol
Exasol is a database for organizations running analytics and high-concurrency AI workloads.
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS8.4From $3.30 a month - 14
HSQLDB
HSQLDB is a free, open-source option for APIs and Linux, macOS, Windows or self-hosted use.
Free planOpen sourceAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted8.4From $100 a year - 15
Apache Cassandra
Free database software for Linux, macOS, Windows and self-hosting.
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.3Free plan - 16
ArcadeDB
ArcadeDB is an open-source database that stores graph, document, key-value, full-text search, vector, and time-series data in one engine.
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.3From $19.99 a month - 17
Apache IoTDB
Open-source IoT time-series database with edge-cloud collaboration and SQL queries.
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.2Free plan - 18
Aerospike Database
Aerospike Database is a real-time database designed for millisecond latency and large-scale transaction processing, including document access and graph traversal.
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.1Free plan - 19
MarkLogic
Database service with a free plan, available through APIs, web and self-hosted platforms.
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS8.0Free plan - 20
IBM Db2
AI-powered database for transactions, real-time analytics and SQL vector queries.
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted8.0From $630 a month - 21
InfluxDB
InfluxDB is a time series database and platform for high-frequency data recorded with timestamps.
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS7.9$0.01 usage-based - 22
Turso
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.9$4.99 usage-based - 23
Pinecone
Pinecone is a fully managed vector database for AI workloads, available through web and API access.
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS7.9From $20 a month - 24
Amazon RDS
Amazon RDS is a managed relational database service that automates provisioning, patching, backups, and scaling.
Free planWebAPISelf-hosted7.8Free plan - 25
Teradata VantageCloud
Teradata VantageCloud is Teradata’s managed cloud deployment for production AI, analytics, lakehouse, and agentic AI workloads.
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted7.8$1.50 one-time
Choosing well
Which database model fits my project?
Choose a database model that fits the structure and use of the information you need to store.
The comparison includes database model, so check that detail alongside SQL support before choosing.
Where does the database need to run?
Check deployment options against where you want the database to run, including whether you need a self-hosted setup.
Platform listings include web, Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as API and self-hosted options. For phone access, verify Android support directly; the platform facts here do not establish it.
Can I use a database for free?
Check whether a tool has a free plan, what its paid starting price is, and whether a free trial is offered.
A free plan and a free trial are different. Confirm the plan details and limits before relying on a database for ongoing work.
Do I need vector search or replication?
Compare vector search and replication support if those capabilities matter to your project.
The comparison also includes included storage, which can help you assess whether a database suits the information you plan to keep.
What should I check before using open-source database software?
If you need to read or change the code, check the tool's licence and project documentation.
Open-source status is one comparison point, but it does not by itself describe deployment, database model or SQL support.
Questions people ask
Can I manage database software from an Android phone?
Check whether the specific tool has an Android app. Web support is listed separately and does not confirm a dedicated Android app.
What should I compare when choosing database software?
Compare database model, deployment options, SQL support, included storage, vector search, replication support and pricing.
How do I know if a database supports SQL?
Check the tool's SQL support details. The comparison includes SQL support as a field.
Is a free database plan the same as a free trial?
No. A free plan and a free trial are separate pricing details; check which applies and review the terms.
Can I self-host database software?
Self-hosted is included as a platform option in the comparison. Check a tool's deployment details to confirm what it supports.