Free and open first

Best Document Databases in 2026

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.

28 apps
Research read 23 Sept 2026
How the order is worked out

1

JayDB

Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Choose JayDB when an app needs per-user sign-in and straightforward JSON documents, with managed hosting or a self-hosted option.

8.9 Free plan · paid from $0.05/mo Visit site
2

RethinkDB

Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3

Choose RethinkDB for a free, open-source JSON database when applications need to subscribe to changing query results.

8.6 Free plan Visit site
3

Apache AsterixDB
by Apache AsterixDB
Free plan APILinuxMac+2

AsterixDB brings ingestion, storage, indexing, and querying together for semistructured data. Its self-hosted deployment and stated transactional capabilities are important considerations.

7.7 Open source Visit site
4

Apache CouchDB
by Apache CouchDB
Free plan APILinuxMac+3

Apache CouchDB offers a flexible document model, replication, and clustering in free self-hosted software.

7.6 Free plan Visit site
5

BaseX

Free plan APILinuxMac+3

BaseX combines XML storage with XQuery processing and web application interfaces. Its Java prerequisite and self-hosted model are important considerations.

7.6 Free plan Visit site
6

Amazon DocumentDB
by Amazon DocumentDB
Free plan APIWeb

Amazon DocumentDB offers managed document storage with MongoDB compatibility, serverless scaling, replicas, and integrated AWS services.

7.4 30-day trial Visit site
7

DocumentDB

Free plan APIExtensionLinux+3

Choose DocumentDB if you need a free, MIT-licensed PostgreSQL-based document database with MongoDB-compatible clients and SQL operations.

7.4 Open source Visit site
8

eXist-db

Free plan APILinuxMac+3

eXist-db combines XML document storage, XQuery development and web-service interfaces in a self-hosted package.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
9

Firestore

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

Firestore combines flexible document storage with search, transactions, real-time updates, and offline syncing. Check the database quota and server-side IAM requirements when assessing its fit.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
10

Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL
by Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL
Free plan APISelf-hosted

Choose Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL if your application needs a managed cloud database with JSON documents, transactions, scaling, or multi-region support.

7.3 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
11

JasDB

Free plan AndroidAPILinux+3

JasDB offers document storage, APIs, and access controls in a free, self-hosted package. Check the redistribution condition and warranty disclaimer before using or sharing it.

7.3 Open source Visit site
12

LiteDB

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+3

LiteDB combines embedded storage, transaction support and multiple query options in a single DLL.

7.3 Free plan Visit site
13

IBM Cloudant

Free plan APILinuxWeb

IBM Cloudant combines CouchDB-based documents, multiple query options, SDKs, and resilient regional deployment.

7.2 Free plan Visit site
14

PouchDB

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+4

PouchDB is a free option for local JavaScript data storage with replication to compatible servers. Check server protocol compatibility, and account for the separate plugin needed for Mango queries.

7.1 Free plan Visit site
15

RavenDB
by RavenDB
Free plan APILinuxMac+3

Choose RavenDB if you need a schema-less document database with multiple search types, deployment models, and high-availability features.

7.0 Free plan Visit site
16

restdb.io

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

restdb.io combines a cloud NoSQL database with generated APIs, data-management tools, and server-side features.

7.0 Free plan · paid from $19/mo (annual) Visit site
17

UnQLite

Free plan APILinuxMac+2

Choose UnQLite if your application needs an embedded database with key/value or JSON document storage and direct file access.

6.9 Free plan Visit site
18

Percona Server for MongoDB

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

Choose Percona Server for MongoDB if you need a free, compatible MongoDB Community Edition replacement with multiple storage engines and a broad set of security and backup capabilities.

6.8 Free plan Visit site
19

Azure DocumentDB

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

DocumentDB combines document storage with transactions and vector search, and lists free and capacity-based configurations.

6.6 Free plan Visit site
20

SurrealDB
by SurrealDB
Free plan Self-hosted

SurrealDB combines several data models and query capabilities while offering both managed and self-hosted options.

6.5 Free plan · paid from $0.02 Visit site
21

Couchbase Capella

Free plan Web

Capella offers a free entry plan and three paid tiers with different node requirements. Check the plan's node minimums and document-size limit against the intended workload.

6.4 Free plan · paid from $0.15 Visit site
22

TinyDB

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

TinyDB offers straightforward document storage for small Python apps, with flexible queries and lightweight deployment.

6.3 Open source Visit site
23

Couchbase Server

Free plan

Couchbase Server offers a free edition and a subscription edition with additional stated support and security provisions.

6.2 Free plan Visit site
24

MongoDB Compass

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

6.1 Free plan Visit site
25

MarkLogic Server

Free plan LinuxWebWindows

6.0 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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