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Instead of Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Database alternatives

Azure SQL Database combines a SQL Server-based relational engine with managed provisioning, patching, backups, monitoring, and high availability. Its Hyperscale tier scales compute and storage independently and supports up to 30 named replicas. It also brings T-SQL, JSON, REST and GraphQL interfaces, native vector search, and connections to Azure AI services. The free offer covers up to 10 General Purpose databases per subscription, each with monthly compute, data, and backup allowances. When a database reaches those limits, it can pause or continue with additional usage billed at standard serverless rates.

  1. 1

    MySQL

    Free plan APILinuxMac+2

    Open-source SQL and NoSQL development across many platforms — MySQL offers SQL and NoSQL development with self-hosting and native high-availability options rather than Azure’s managed PaaS.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  2. 2

    SQLite

    by SQLite
    Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5

    Embedded, serverless SQL in a single database file — SQLite is an in-process, serverless engine that stores a database in one disk file, unlike Azure’s managed cloud service.

    8.5 Free plan Visit site
  3. 3

    Microsoft SQL Server

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    SQL Server workloads needing Windows, Linux, or Docker — SQL Server adds downloadable Windows and Linux deployments, Docker, data integration tools, and vector features in SQL Server 2025.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  4. 4

    PostgreSQL

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

    Open-source relational workloads with varied data types — PostgreSQL is a free, open-source object-relational system with broad data types, extensions, and self-hosted deployment.

    7.1 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    Amazon DynamoDB

    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5

    Managed NoSQL apps needing multi-region tables — DynamoDB is a managed NoSQL database with multi-active global tables and automatic scaling, including scaling to zero in on-demand mode.

    Free plan Visit site
  6. 6

    Amazon Aurora

    by Amazon Aurora
    Free plan API

    Managed PostgreSQL or MySQL with AWS operations — Aurora offers managed PostgreSQL, MySQL, and DSQL engines, plus Serverless capacity that starts, stops, and scales with application needs.

    7.2 Visit site
  7. 7

    Amazon RDS

    Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

    Managed relational databases across eight engines — RDS supports eight database engines and offers Multi-AZ standby failover, point-in-time recovery, and read replicas.

    7.4 Visit site
  8. 8

    Aiven for PostgreSQL

    Free plan Open source APISelf-hostedWeb
    9.1 Free plan · paid from $5/mo Visit site
  9. 9

    HSQLDB

    by HSQLDB
    Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2
    8.9 Free plan · paid from $100/yr Visit site
  10. 10

    CUBRID

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
    7.5 Free plan Visit site
  11. 11

    Firebird

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
    7.4 Free plan Visit site
  12. 12

    H2 Database Engine

    by H2 Database Engine
    Free plan APILinuxMac+3
    7.4 Free plan Visit site
  13. 13

    ALTIBASE

    by ALTIBASE
    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
    7.3 Pricing on request · 90-day trial Visit site
  14. 14

    IBM Db2

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+2
    7.3 Free plan · paid from $630/mo Visit site
  15. 15

    InterSystems IRIS

    by InterSystems IRIS
    Free plan APILinuxMac+3
    7.3 Pricing on request Visit site
  16. 16

    MariaDB Server

    by MariaDB Server
    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  17. 17

    Matisse

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    7.1 From $245 Visit site
  18. 18

    Neon

    Free plan APILinuxMac+2
    7.1 Free plan Visit site
  19. 19

    openGauss

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWindows
    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  20. 20

    SAP HANA Cloud

    by SAP HANA Cloud
    Free plan APILinuxWeb
    6.8 Free plan · pricing on request Visit site
  21. 21

    Render

    Free plan APIWeb
    6.7 Free plan · paid from $25/mo Visit site
  22. 22

    Actian Zen

    Free trial AndroidAPIiPhone+4
    6.6 Free plan · paid from $417/mo (annual) · 30-day trial Visit site
  23. 23

    Oracle Database

    by Oracle Database
    Free plan Self-hosted
    6.6 Free plan Visit site
  24. 24

    Crunchy Bridge

    Free trial APILinuxWeb
    6.3 From $9/mo Visit site
  25. 25

    Google Cloud SQL

    by Google Cloud SQL
    Free trial APILinuxMac+2
    6.3 From $0.04 Visit site

Alternatives may fit better when an application needs another data model, a different deployment approach, or services outside Azure. Some options here are open-source systems for self-hosting; others are managed databases with their own scaling, recovery, or multi-region features. Platform support also differs, with some products emphasizing Linux, Windows, or API access rather than Azure SQL Database’s broader set. Compare relational and NoSQL needs, query patterns, operational responsibility, integrations, availability, and recovery before switching. Pricing ranges from free software to paid services, and a free plan does not by itself show what ongoing use will cost.

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