Best Embedded Databases in 2026
Updated
If your database needs to run within an application, start by considering how it models and exposes data. Compared on database model, query interface, synchronization, encryption, and supported platforms, these options also vary in maximum database size. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add practical cost considerations. LadybugDB, Qdrant, and SQLite are among the entries to explore. Match the listed platform and data capabilities to your application’s needs, and consider whether synchronization, encryption, or size limits are important for the project.
Embedded Databases, one module each.A lit port is something its maker publishes; 17 of 17 with a known API signal have a public API.
- 01 EJDB2 API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.4Free
- 02 HSQLDB API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.4$8.33/mo
- 03 LadybugDB API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.4Free
- 04 Qdrant API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.4Free
- 05 RocksDB API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.4Free
- 06 SQLite API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.4$12.50/mo
- 07 Chroma API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.3$250/mo
- 08 ObjectBox API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.3Free
- 09 RxDB API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.3$99/mo
- 10 sql.js API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.3Free
- 11 UnQLite API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.3$1,250/mo
- 12 H2 Database Engine API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.2Free
- 13 LanceDB API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.2Free
- 14 LiteDB API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.2Free
- 15 WiredTiger API yesFREE yesDOCS 7.2Free
- 16 libSQL API yesDOCS 7.0
- 17 eXtremeDB API yesDOCS 6.6
- 18 Accessibility Test Framework for Android FREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 19 Firebird FREE yesDOCS 5.9€199/mo
- 20 PGlite FREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 21 bbolt FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 22 DuckDB UI FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 23 LevelDB FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 24 PouchDB FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 25 Ristretto FREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Database model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EJDB2 | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | macOS, iOS, Linux, Windows | document | ||
| 2 | HSQLDB | 7.4 | Free plan | $8.33/mo | Yes | |||
| 3 | LadybugDB | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 4 | Qdrant | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 5 | RocksDB | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, AIX, Solaris | key-value | ||
| 6 | SQLite | 7.4 | Free plan | $12.50/mo | Yes | |||
| 7 | Chroma | 7.3 | Free plan | $250/mo | Yes | 250 /mo | ||
| 8 | ObjectBox | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and POSIX systems | document | |
| 9 | RxDB | 7.3 | Free plan | $99/mo | Yes | 99 /mo | ||
| 10 | sql.js | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Web browsers; Node.js | relational | |
| 11 | UnQLite | 7.3 | Free plan | $1,250/mo | Yes | |||
| 12 | H2 Database Engine | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 13 | LanceDB | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | ||||
| 14 | LiteDB | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 15 | WiredTiger | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Linux, *BSD, macOS, Windows, and other 64-bit POSIX systems | key-value | ||
| 16 | libSQL | 7.0 | Yes | macOS, Linux, Rust, JavaScript, Python, Go, C, WebAssembly | relational | |||
| 17 | eXtremeDB | 6.6 | ||||||
| 18 | Accessibility Test Framework for Android | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, macOS, Windows | key-value | ||
| 19 | Firebird | 5.9 | Free plan | €199/mo | Yes | |||
| 20 | PGlite | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Browser; Node.js; Bun; Deno | relational | ||
| 21 | bbolt | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | key-value | ||
| 22 | DuckDB UI | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 23 | LevelDB | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Linux, macOS, Windows | key-value | ||
| 24 | PouchDB | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 25 | Ristretto | 5.8 | Free plan | Free |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.