Best Database Software in 2026
Updated
In short: MySQL is ranked #1 of 74 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Amazon DynamoDB and Firestore. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Amazon DynamoDB. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Google Cloud SQL at $0.04/mo.
Database software differs in how it organizes data and where it can be deployed. Compare database model and deployment options alongside SQL support, replication support and vector search to see which listed capabilities fit your workload. Included storage, free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add practical considerations. MySQL, Amazon DynamoDB and Firestore lead the ranking, followed by Amazon RDS and MarkLogic. SQLite, InfluxDB and CockroachDB Cloud are also among the first entries. Weigh these details against the kinds of data you need to store and query, as well as how you expect to run the database.
74 database software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 MySQL Top pick · 9.5 
#2 Amazon DynamoDB Runner-up · 9.1 Free plan · Free
#3 Firestore Also great · 8.9 Free plan · Free
- Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- Free
- Database model
- SQL and NoSQL
- Deployment options
- Over 20 platforms and operating systems including Linux, Unix, Mac and Windows.
- SQL support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial AndroidapiiOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial AndroidapiiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiWeb
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidapiiOSLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$12.50/mofirst paid tier About SQLiteVisit site - Free planFree trial apiLinuxself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- SQL support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- SQL support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxWeb
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$0.06/mofirst paid tier About CockroachDB CloudVisit site - Free planFree trial self-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $65/mo
- Database model
- Property graph data model
- Deployment options
- self-hosted, hybrid, multi-cloud, or fully managed cloud service
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$65/mofirst paid tier About Neo4jVisit site - Free planFree trial apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - self-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
- Database model
- converged engine
- Deployment options
- Leading clouds, hybrid environments, or on premises
- SQL support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$3.30/mofirst paid tier About ExasolVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$0.04/mofirst paid tier About Google Cloud SQLVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindowsRecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
- Free trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$0.99/mofirst paid tier About SingleStore HeliosVisit site - apiLinuxself-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebRecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
- Free planFree trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform 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 database software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
MySQL is ranked #1 of 74 with a score of 9.5. Amazon DynamoDB is second and Firestore third.
How many of these have a free plan?
20 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 how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.