Best Relational Databases in 2026
Updated
In short: Azure SQL Database is ranked #1 of 32 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of SQLite and MySQL. The best-ranked option with a free plan is SQLite. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Google Cloud SQL at $0.04/mo.
Relational databases organize structured data for applications, with deployment and operating choices that can vary across products. Compare deployment model and managed service to consider how each fits your operational approach. Backup retention, high availability, read replicas, and maximum connections offer further criteria for continuity and capacity; JSON data support may also factor into application needs. SQLite, RaimaDB, and MySQL are among the entries, along with Aiven for PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing let you consider cost alongside these technical and deployment details. Weigh the listed characteristics against the data and operations your application requires.
32 relational databases ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Azure SQL Database iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.1Free
- 2 SQLite iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.0$12.50/mo Deployment model: self_hostedManaged service: No
- 3 MySQL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2Free Deployment model: bothManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 4 PostgreSQL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0Free Deployment model: self_hostedManaged service: NoHigh availability: Yes
- 5 Amazon RDS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6Free Deployment model: bothManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 6 Aiven for PostgreSQL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6$5/mo Deployment model: cloudManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 7 Oracle Autonomous AI Database No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5Free Deployment model: bothManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 8 Oracle Database No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4 Deployment model: bothManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 9 Microsoft SQL Server No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4 Deployment model: bothManaged service: NoHigh availability: Yes
- 10 Neon No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4$0.11/mo Deployment model: cloudManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 11 MariaDB Server No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0Free Deployment model: self_hostedHigh availability: Yes
- 12 Amazon Aurora No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9Free
- 13 Firebird No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8€199/mo Deployment model: self_hostedHigh availability: Yes
- 14 H2 Database Engine No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5Free Deployment model: bothHigh availability: Yes
- 15 InterSystems IRIS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5Free Deployment model: bothManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 16 Google Cloud SQL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$0.04/mo Deployment model: cloudManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 17 Crunchy Bridge No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$9/mo Deployment model: cloudManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 18 RaimaDB iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Deployment model: bothManaged service: NoHigh availability: Yes
- 19 IBM Db2 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3$630/mo
- 20 AlloyDB for PostgreSQL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1 Deployment model: cloudManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 21 DigitalOcean Managed Databases No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.0$15.15/mo Deployment model: cloudManaged service: YesHigh availability: Yes
- 22 CUBRID No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Deployment model: self_hostedManaged service: NoHigh availability: Yes
- 23 SAP HANA Cloud No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6
- 24 HSQLDB No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5$8.33/mo Deployment model: self_hostedHigh availability: Yes
- 25 Microsoft Access No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4$10/mo
Is your app 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 relational database is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Azure SQL Database is ranked #1 of 32 with a score of 9.1. SQLite is second and MySQL third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 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 mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.