Best Relational Databases in 2026
Updated
In short: SQLite is ranked #1 of 30 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of MySQL and InterSystems IRIS. The best-ranked option with a free plan is MySQL. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Google Cloud SQL at $0.04/mo.
Relational databases organize structured data for applications, and the ranked options include MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite near the top, followed by Oracle Database and Neon. Compare deployment model and managed-service availability to assess operational approaches. Backup retention, high availability, and read replicas offer further dimensions for considering continuity and scaling, while maximum connections and JSON data support add details to check against application requirements. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing are included as well. Use the ranking order together with these criteria to weigh database capabilities and operating choices for your setup.
30 relational databases ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 SQLite Top pick · 7.4 Free plan · $12.50/mo
#2 MySQL Runner-up · 7.3 
#3 InterSystems IRIS Also great · 7.1 Free plan · Free- Free plan AndroidapiiOSLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Managed service
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$12.50/mofirst paid tier About SQLiteVisit site - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- both
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- both
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- both
- High availability
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$0.11/mofirst paid tier About NeonVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms€199/mofirst paid tier About FirebirdVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Managed service
- No
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 5 /mo
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$5/mofirst paid tier About Aiven for PostgreSQLVisit site - Free planFree trial apiWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- both
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- both
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$0.04/mofirst paid tier About Google Cloud SQLVisit site - apiLinuxself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- both
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- both
- Managed service
- No
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 9 /mo
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$9/mofirst paid tier About Crunchy BridgeVisit site - WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- both
- Managed service
- No
- High availability
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - self-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- both
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 25 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$25/mofirst paid tier About RenderVisit site - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Managed service
- No
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WindowsLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Managed service
- No
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$8.33/mofirst paid tier About HSQLDBVisit site - LinuxWindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- both
- High availability
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 15.15 /mo
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Managed service
- Yes
- High availability
- Yes
- Read replicas
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$15.15/mofirst paid tier About DigitalOcean Managed DatabasesVisit site - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- High availability
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which relational database is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
SQLite is ranked #1 of 30 with a score of 7.4. MySQL is second and InterSystems IRIS third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Google Cloud SQL has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.04/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.