Best Document Databases in 2026
Updated
In short: RavenDB is ranked #1 of 22 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Apache CouchDB and Firestore. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Apache CouchDB. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SurrealDB at $0.19/mo.
Applications that store information as documents can have different needs for formats, scale, and operations. This ranking compares deployment model and document formats, as well as managed cloud availability, maximum document size, and transactions. Vector search, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing are also listed. The opening entries are RavenDB, Apache CouchDB, and Firestore. Consider the documents your application handles and whether you need managed cloud, transaction support, or vector search; then compare the deployment and pricing details against those requirements.
22 document databases ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
9 of the 22 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 | RavenDBWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 2 | Apache CouchDBWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | FirestoreWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | MarkLogicWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 5 | LiteDBWindows · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | Oracle Autonomous AI LakehouseWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | SurrealDBSelf-hosted | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $0.19/mo | 6.3 | |
| 8 | BaseXWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 9 | eXist-dbWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 10 | RethinkDBWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 11 | Apache AsterixDBWeb · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | Couchbase LiteWeb · Windows · Linux · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | JasDBWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 5.3 | |
| 14 | UnQLiteWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 15 | JayDBWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | Percona Server for MongoDBLinux · Self-hosted | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 5.2 | |
| 17 | restdb.ioWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | DocumentDBLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | MongoDB Ops ManagerWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | PouchDBWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | TinyDBNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | Amazon DocumentDBWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
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 document database is ranked first on Freedom251?
RavenDB is ranked #1 of 22 with a score of 6.7. Apache CouchDB is second and Firestore third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 22 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, SurrealDB has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.19/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.