Best Relational Databases in 2026
Updated
In short: MySQL is ranked #1 of 31 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of InterSystems IRIS and Aiven for PostgreSQL. The best-ranked option with a free plan is InterSystems IRIS. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Google Cloud SQL at $0.04/mo.
For applications built around structured data, relational databases offer a foundation to evaluate alongside operational requirements. Compared on deployment model and managed service, the entries give you ways to consider how a database is run; backup retention, high availability and read replicas add continuity and scaling factors. Maximum connections and JSON data support can also help distinguish fit for an application’s needs. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing as part of the cost picture. MySQL, InterSystems IRIS and Aiven for PostgreSQL are among the options to weigh against your deployment preferences and data requirements.
31 relational databases ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Relational Databases, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going. 13 of the 25 on this page can be tried for free.
- 1 MySQLFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 2 InterSystems IRISFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 3 Aiven for PostgreSQLPaid from $5/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 4 Amazon RDSFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 5 SQLitePaid from $12.50/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 6 NeonPaid from $0.11/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 7 FirebirdPaid from €199/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 8 MariaDB ServerFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 9 Google Cloud SQLPaid from $0.04/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 10 H2 Database EngineFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 11 Crunchy BridgePaid from $9/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 12 PostgreSQLFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 13 Oracle Autonomous AI DatabaseFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 14 Microsoft SQL Server
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 15 EDB Postgres AI Hybrid Manager
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 16 Oracle Database
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 17 RenderPaid from $25/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 18 RaimaDB
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
- 19 rqlite
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
- 20 SAP Customer Data Platform
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 21 CUBRID
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 22 HSQLDBPaid from $8.33/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 23 DigitalOcean Managed DatabasesPaid from $15.15/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 24 openGauss
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 25 Actian Zen
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
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 relational database is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
MySQL is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 7.9. InterSystems IRIS is second and Aiven for PostgreSQL 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 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.