Best Database Software in 2026
Updated
In short: MySQL is ranked #1 of 73 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Amazon RDS and SQLite. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Amazon RDS. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Google Cloud Bigtable at $0.03/mo.
Choosing a database starts with the shape of your data and where you intend to run the system. MySQL, Amazon RDS and SQLite lead the ranking, followed by Amazon DynamoDB and Firestore. Compared on database model and deployment options, the entries also indicate SQL support, replication support and vector search. Those capabilities can help you assess fit for your workload and operational needs. Included storage, free-plan availability and the paid starting price add further points of comparison. Consider which query and replication features matter for your project, then weigh them against the model and deployment choices shown for each entry.
73 database software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Database model | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MySQL | 9.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | Free | SQL and NoSQL | View |
| 2 | Amazon RDS | 8.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | No | — | — | View |
| 3 | SQLite | 8.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $12.50/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 4 | Amazon DynamoDB | 8.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 5 | Firestore | 8.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 6 |  SingleStore Helios | 8.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.99/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 7 | Apache Doris | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 8 | TiDB Cloud | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 9 | CockroachDB Cloud | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.06/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 10 | MarkLogic | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | No | — | — | View |
| 11 |  Teradata VantageCloud | 8.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 12 | InfluxDB | 8.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 13 | Google Cloud SQL | 8.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.04/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 14 | Google Cloud Spanner | 8.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | — | View |
| 15 |  Apache Druid | 8.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | — | — | — | View |
| 16 |  InterSystems IRIS | 7.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | No | — | — | View |
| 17 |  RavenDB | 7.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 18 | Exasol | 7.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $3.30/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 19 | Amazon Redshift | 7.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.54/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 20 |  CrateDB | 7.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 21 | ClickHouse Cloud | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $53/mo | No | $50/mo | — | View |
| 22 | Google Cloud Bigtable | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.03/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 23 | Aerospike Database | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 24 | Oracle Database | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | converged engine | View |
| 25 | Apache Pinot | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | — | — | — | View |
Is your platform 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 software is ranked first on Inferse?
MySQL is ranked #1 of 73 with a score of 9.0. Amazon RDS is second and SQLite third.
How many of these have a free plan?
18 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 Bigtable has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.03/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.