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Best Database Proxy Software in 2026

Database proxy software can help manage the traffic and connections between applications and databases. Compare connection pooling, query routing, load balancing, and automatic failover, as well as maximum connections and supported databases. Deployment model, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing provide context for setup and cost. MySQL, OceanBase Database, and PgDog appear among the entries, alongside PgBouncer and ShardingSphere-Proxy. Check that the supported database coverage and connection limits suit your workload, then weigh the routing and deployment details that matter to your setup.

  1. 1

    Avidemux

    Free plan Open source LinuxMacWeb+1
    9.2 Free plan Visit site
  2. 2

    OceanBase Database

    Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3

    OceanBase Database offers deployment choices and compatibility options for teams consolidating varied workloads.

    8.9 Free plan Visit site
  3. 3

    TiCDC

    Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+1

    TiCDC provides incremental TiDB replication with filtering, multiple sink types, and cluster-to-cluster options.

    8.5 Open source Visit site
  4. 4

    Supavisor

    Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted

    Supavisor offers open-source PostgreSQL pooling with multiple modes, tenant management, and deployment strategies.

    8.4 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    Amazon RDS

    Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

    Amazon RDS combines a broad engine selection with managed backups, scaling, and AWS security and monitoring integrations.

    7.6 Visit site
  6. 6

    MySQL

    Free plan APILinuxMac+2
    7.4 Free plan Visit site
  7. 7

    HeliosProxy

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted

    HeliosProxy combines pooling, routing, caching, and failover controls for PostgreSQL-compatible systems.

    7.3 Open source Visit site
  8. 8

    DBLE

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    DBLE brings sharding, query optimization, and distributed transactions to teams scaling MySQL. Check its roadmap and the XA dependencies against your requirements before choosing it.

    7.2 Open source Visit site
  9. 9

    Heimdall Database Proxy

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    Consider Heimdall Database Proxy if you need SQL query routing and caching, read/write separation, or live query visibility. Greenplum users can start with its free Community Edition.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  10. 10

    PgDog

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

    PgDog brings pooling, load balancing and sharding features to PostgreSQL, with multiple deployment routes. Teams should account for the AGPL-3.0 license and the unsigned macOS binary.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  11. 11

    Mycat2

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    Choose Mycat2 if you need free, open-source middleware for distributed SQL queries in a self-hosted Linux deployment.

    7.1 Open source Visit site
  12. 12

    pgagroal

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted

    pgagroal provides connection management, monitoring, authentication options, and failover hooks for PostgreSQL deployments.

    7.1 Free plan Visit site
  13. 13

    PgBouncer

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWindows

    PgBouncer focuses on reusing PostgreSQL connections and offers three pooling modes. It does not handle internal multi-host load balancing or failover, so those needs require other approaches.

    7.1 Free plan Visit site
  14. 14

    PgDoorman

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted

    PgDoorman offers PostgreSQL connection pooling, capacity coordination, monitoring, and failover in a self-hosted package.

    7.0 Open source Visit site
  15. 15

    ShardingSphere-Proxy

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

    ShardingSphere-Proxy provides database sharding, routing, transactions, and federation in a free self-hosted package.

    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  16. 16

    Odyssey

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted

    Odyssey provides configurable PostgreSQL pooling and routing with authentication, monitoring, and online-restart capabilities.

    6.9 Open source Visit site
  17. 17

    PgCat

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    Choose PgCat if you need a free, MIT-licensed PostgreSQL pooler for self-hosted Linux, with pooling, read balancing, and failover.

    6.9 Free plan Visit site
  18. 18

    SPQR

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted

    SPQR offers PostgreSQL sharding with query routing and data balancing, while keeping deployment self-hosted.

    6.9 Open source Visit site
  19. 19

    TurbineProxy

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    TurbineProxy combines query routing, connection pooling, security controls, and monitoring for MySQL and PostgreSQL deployments.

    6.9 Free plan Visit site
  20. 20

    Gaea

    Free plan Self-hosted

    Gaea provides a broad set of proxy, routing, and access-control functions for self-hosted MySQL deployments.

    6.8 Open source Visit site
  21. 21

    kingshard

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    Choose kingshard for a self-hosted MySQL cluster needing SQL routing, sharding, pooling, and backend controls without a license fee.

    6.8 Open source Visit site
  22. 22

    Pgpool-II

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    Choose Pgpool-II if you need free PostgreSQL middleware with connection pooling, query distribution, and failover capabilities, and can run it yourself.

    6.8 Free plan Visit site
  23. 23

    ProxySQL

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    ProxySQL combines connection multiplexing, routing, caching, and failure rerouting in a Linux-based database proxy.

    6.8 Free plan Visit site
  24. 24

    Cloudflare Hyperdrive

    Free plan Web

    Choose Cloudflare Hyperdrive if your application connects to a supported database and you need managed deployment with pooling and automatic failover.

    6.3 Free plan Visit site
  25. 25

    ApsaraDB RDS Database Proxy

    Free plan Web
    6.1 Free plan Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

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