Best Relational Databases in 2026
Updated
In short: SQLite is ranked #1 of 31 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of InterSystems IRIS and MySQL. The best-ranked option with a free plan is InterSystems IRIS. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Google Cloud SQL at $0.04/mo.
Relational databases organize application data in related structures, and the options shown can be compared across both technical capabilities and operating arrangements. Deployment model and managed-service availability help frame how a database may be run; backup retention, high availability, and read replicas speak to continuity and access needs. Check maximum connections and JSON data support against your application requirements, as well as free-plan availability and “Paid from” pricing. SQLite, InterSystems IRIS, and MySQL are among the entries, alongside Firebird and H2 Database Engine. Consider which data features and operational responsibilities matter for your setup as you compare.
31 relational databases ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
11 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 | SQLiteWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $12.50/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | InterSystems IRISWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | MySQLWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | FirebirdWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | €199/mo | 6.5 | |
| 5 | H2 Database EngineWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | MariaDB ServerWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | NeonWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $0.11/mo | 6.5 | |
| 8 | PostgreSQLWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 9 | Aiven for PostgreSQLWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $5/mo | 6.3 | |
| 10 | Amazon RDSWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 11 | Oracle Autonomous AI DatabaseWeb | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 12 | EDB Postgres AI Hybrid ManagerWindows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 13 | Microsoft SQL ServerNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 14 | Oracle DatabaseSelf-hosted | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 15 | RenderWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $25/mo | 5.3 |
| 16 | rqliteWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 17 | CUBRIDWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | Google Cloud SQLWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $0.04/mo | 5.2 |
| 19 | HSQLDBNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | $8.33/mo | 5.2 |
| 20 | openGaussLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | Crunchy BridgeWeb · Linux · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $9/mo | 5.1 |
| 22 | RaimaDBWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 6 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | Actian ZenWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 24 | MatisseWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 25 | SAP Customer Data PlatformNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Managed service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SQLite | 6.7 | Free plan | $12.50/mo | Yes | — | self_hosted | No |
| 2 | InterSystems IRIS | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | No | — | both | Yes |
| 3 | MySQL | 6.6 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 4 | Firebird | 6.5 | Free plan | €199/mo | Yes | — | self_hosted | — |
| 5 | H2 Database Engine | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | — |
| 6 | MariaDB Server | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | — |
| 7 | Neon | 6.5 | Free plan | $0.11/mo | Yes | — | cloud | Yes |
| 8 | PostgreSQL | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | No |
| 9 | Aiven for PostgreSQL | 6.3 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | 5 /mo | cloud | Yes |
| 10 | Amazon RDS | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | No | — | both | Yes |
| 11 | Oracle Autonomous AI Database | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 12 | EDB Postgres AI Hybrid Manager | 5.4 | No | — | No | — | both | Yes |
| 13 | Microsoft SQL Server | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | both | No |
| 14 | Oracle Database | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 15 | Render | 5.3 | No | $25/mo | Yes | 25 /mo | — | — |
| 16 | rqlite | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | self_hosted | No |
| 17 | CUBRID | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | self_hosted | No |
| 18 | Google Cloud SQL | 5.2 | No | $0.04/mo | No | — | cloud | Yes |
| 19 | HSQLDB | 5.2 | No | $8.33/mo | Yes | — | self_hosted | — |
| 20 | openGauss | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | self_hosted | No |
| 21 | Crunchy Bridge | 5.1 | No | $9/mo | No | 9 /mo | cloud | Yes |
| 22 | RaimaDB | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | both | No |
| 23 | Actian Zen | 4.9 | No | — | No | — | both | — |
| 24 | Matisse | 4.9 | No | — | No | — | self_hosted | — |
| 25 | SAP Customer Data Platform | 4.9 | No | — | Yes | — | cloud | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which relational database is ranked first on Freedom251?
SQLite is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 6.7. InterSystems IRIS is second and MySQL third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 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.