Best Database Proxy Software in 2026
Updated
In short: MySQL is ranked #1 of 30 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of OceanBase Database and PgDog. The best-ranked option with a free plan is OceanBase Database. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Google Cloud SQL at $0.04/mo.
Database proxy software sits in the path between applications and databases, with options to compare for connection handling and query traffic. Look at connection pooling, query routing, load balancing, and automatic failover, as well as maximum connections and supported databases. Deployment model can inform how an option fits your environment; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. ShardingSphere-Proxy leads the ranking, followed by ProxySQL and TurbineProxy. Heimdall Database Proxy and PgDog are next among the listed entries, with Pgpool-II, PgCat, and Avidemux also appearing early. Compare database coverage and connection limits with the deployment and routing features relevant to your workload.
30 database proxy software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
14 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MySQLWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | OceanBase DatabaseWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | PgDogWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | PgBouncerWindows · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 5 | ShardingSphere-ProxyWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | TiCDCMac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 7 | TurbineProxyWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | Amazon RDSWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 9 | DBLELinux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 10 | PgCatLinux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 11 | Pgpool-IILinux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 12 | ProxySQLLinux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 13 | Cloudflare HyperdriveWeb | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 14 | OdysseyMac · Linux · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 15 | Google Cloud SQLWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $0.04/mo | 5.2 |
| 16 | MariaDB Enterprise AnalyticsLinux · Self-hosted | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | pgagroalMac · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | PgDoormanMac · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | CetusLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | GaeaNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | Heimdall Database ProxyNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | HeliosProxyNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | kingshardSelf-hosted | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | Mycat2No platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | SupavisorSelf-hosted · API | One bar | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 5.1 |
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 database proxy software is ranked first on Freedom251?
MySQL is ranked #1 of 30 with a score of 6.6. OceanBase Database is second and PgDog third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 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 free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.