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Best Database Proxy Software 2026
Applications that share database connections can use a proxy layer to manage how queries and traffic reach their databases. Compare connection pooling, query routing, load balancing, and automatic failover, then check maximum connections and supported databases for fit with your setup. Deployment model, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing offer further details for evaluating implementation and cost. MySQL, PgBouncer, and PgCat are among the options shown, along with PgDog and ProxySQL. Consider which databases your applications rely on and the connection capacity they need, then weigh the listed routing and deployment characteristics against those requirements.
OceanBase Database
OceanBase may suit teams building transactional, analytical or AI workloads that need a distributed database and Oracle or MySQL compatibility.
WebWindowsMac+3Avidemux
WebWindowsMac+1Supavisor
LinuxAPISelf-hostedAmazon RDS
Amazon RDS suits teams that want a managed relational database with multiple engine choices.
WebAPISelf-hostedTiCDC suits teams using TiDB that need change-data feeds, disaster recovery, or replication to other databases and storage systems.
PgDog suits teams running PostgreSQL that want connection pooling, read balancing, or sharding without changing their application.
PgBouncer suits PostgreSQL operators who want to reuse server connections and can manage self-hosted software.
It suits teams running self-hosted database infrastructure that need sharding, routing, distributed transactions, or federated access.
TurbineProxy suits teams running MySQL or PostgreSQL that want query-based routing and connection pooling in a self-hosted proxy.
pgagroal suits teams running PostgreSQL that want a self-hosted connection pool and command-line or remote administration.
PgCat may suit teams running PostgreSQL on self-hosted Linux that need connection pooling, query routing, and replica failover.
PgDoorman fits teams managing PostgreSQL themselves on Linux or macOS, especially where pooling, load balancing, and failover are needed.
SPQR is aimed at PostgreSQL developers who want sharding handled by a router instead of application-level logic, especially for workloads suited to single-shard OLTP…
Pgpool-II suits teams running PostgreSQL who need connection pooling, query routing, replication, or failover in a self-hosted deployment.
It suits teams seeking to replace or scale a single MySQL instance as workloads grow.
HeliosProxy suits teams operating PostgreSQL or PostgreSQL-compatible databases that need pooling, routing, or failover capabilities.
Mycat2 suits teams running Linux or self-hosted database middleware that need distributed SQL, routing, pooling, and customizable sharding.
ProxySQL suits teams running supported database systems that want a self-hosted proxy for connection handling, routing, caching, and failover.
It suits teams running supported TencentDB for MySQL databases that need routing, pooling, load balancing, and failover.