13 BEST Free Database Software (SQL Databases List) in 2021

Details: Last Updated: 19 April 2021

A Database is a systematic collection of data which supports storage and manipulation of information. It is usually managed by a Database Management System (DBMS). Data within a database is typically modeled in rows and columns in tables to make data querying and processing more efficient.

Following is the best Database Software list, with popular features and download links. This comparison database name list contains open-source tools that may have freemium features of the Top Free database.

1) InterBase

InterBase is a full-featured, high-performance, scalable, lightweight, embeddable and encryptable relational database that can be embedded into applications on Android, iOS, Windows, OS X, Linux, and Solaris.

Platforms: Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux

Languages: Java, C, C++, . NET, Delphi, Object Pascal, PHP and Ruby.

Features:

Security: Cross-Platform Encryption, Separate Security Login, Reduced Exposure to Risk, Role-Based User Security, Encrypted Backups
Admin-Free: Near-Zero Maintenance, Rapid Crash Recovery, Disaster Recovery
Resilience: Live Backups, Distinguished Data Dumps, Fast Restores, Write-Ahead Logging, Point-in-Time Recovery
Efficiency: Log-Less Replication, Safe Data Change Subscriptions, Best-in-Class Change Tracking, Role-Based User Security, Early Fetch Data Deltas
Flexibility: Multi-Language Support, Cross-Platform Support, Server Data Storage, Client Data Storage, Single On-Disk Format
Lightweight: Small Footprint, Fast Install, Faster Data, Write-Ahead Logging

2) Microsoft SQL

SQL Server is RDBMS developed by Microsoft. SQL Server supports ANSI SQL, which is the standard SQL (Structured Query Language) language. However, SQL Server comes with its implementation of the SQL language, T-SQL (Transact-SQL).

Platform: Docker Engine, Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Languages: C, C++, Java, and C#

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

It provides integration of structured and unstructured data with the power of SQL Server and Spark.
The tool offers scalability, performance, and availability for mission-critical, intelligent applications, data warehouses, and data lakes.
It offers advanced security features to protect your data.
Access to rich, interactive Power BI reports, to make a faster and better decision.

3) MySQL

MySQL is an open-source relational database which runs on a number of different platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, etc.

Platform: Linux, Windows, and Mac.

Languages: C, Java, SQL, C++, Perl, Python, Tcl, and PHP.

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

This open source database tool provides Scalability and Flexibility
This free SQL database tool has web and data warehouse strengths
It provides high Performance
This free database software for Windows 10 has Robust Transactional Support

Verdict: MySQL can be used for packaged software, and business-critical systems and high-volume websites.

Link: https://www.mysql.com/

4) PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is an enterprise-class open source database management system. It is one of the best free databases that supports both SQL for relational and JSON for non-relational queries. It is backed by an experienced community of developers who have made a tremendous contribution to make it highly reliable Database management software.

Platform: Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Languages: PL/Tcl, PL/pgSQL, PL/Python, and PL/Perl.

Cloud Version: No.

Features:

Compatible with various platforms using all major languages and middleware
Standby server and high availability
The tool has mature server-side programming Functionality
Log-based and trigger-based replication SSL.
It offers a most sophisticated locking mechanism.
Support for multi-version concurrency control
It provides support for client-server network architecture
The tool is Object-oriented and ANSI-SQL2008 compatible
PostgreSQL allows linking with other data stores like NoSQL, which act as a federated hub for polyglot databases.

Verdict: PostgreSQL enables you to create custom data types and range of query methods. You can run a store procedure in different programming languages.

Link: https://www.postgresql.org/

5) MongoDB

MongoDB is a document-oriented NoSQL database used for high volume data storage. It is an open source database which came into light around the mid-2000s. It is one of the best free database that falls under the category of a NoSQL database.

Platform: Cross-platform

Languages: C#, C, Java, C++, Perl, Scala, Ruby, etc.

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

Fully Automated scale provision, and manage complex, highly available, multi-node clusters with easily with API calls.
This tool allows you to create globally distributed clusters.
Easy to restore data when needed.
It offers visualization, monitor, and alert on more than 80 metrics which track your cluster's health or integrate with third-party monitoring solutions.
The tool has a powerful query language
It uses rich JSON documents to store tables in a relational database.
It provides MongoDB Atlas, which is a global cloud database.

Verdict: MongoDB allows you to validate the document. It is not suitable for those applications having complex transactions.

Link: https://www.mongodb.com/

6) OrientDB

OrientDB is an open-source NoSQL multi-model database which helps organizations to unlock the power of graph databases without deploying multiple systems to handle other data types. This helps you to increase performance and security while supporting scalability.

Platform: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, Solaris, and HP-UX

Languages: Java, PHP, Nodejs, .NET, Python, C, JavaScript, Ruby, Scala, Elixir, Android, Perl.

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

Unified Multi-Model API – for quicker deployment
TinkerPop 3 for the state of fast and effective upgrades.
The tool focused on Scalability and performance.
This free cloud database offers enhanced query planner.

Verdict: OrientDB has the ability to do multi-master replication, shared data using clusters, and automate distributed queries and transactions.

Link: https://www.orientdb.org/

7) MariaDB

MariaDB is a fork of the MySQL database management system. It is created by its original developers. This DBMS tool provides data processing capabilities for both small and enterprise tasks.

Platform: Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Languages: C#, Java, C++, Python, etc.

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

It operates under GPL, BSD or LGPL licenses.
It comes with many storage engines, including the high-performance ones that can be integrated with other relational database management systems.
It is one of the best open source database softwares which provides the Galera cluster technology.
MariaDB can run on different operating systems, and it supports numerous programming languages.

Verdict: MariaDB is an alternate software to MySQL. It provides high scalability through easy integration.

Link: https://mariadb.org/

8) SQLite

SQLite is an open-source, embedded, relational database management system, designed circa 2000. It is a database, with zero configuration, no requirements of a server or installation. Despite its simplicity, it is laden with popular features of database management systems.

Platform: Blackberry, Symbian, Maemo, Android, MeeGo, WebOS, NetBSD, FreeBSD, illumos, Solaris 10, Windows, and Tizen.

Languages: C, C#, C++, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby, etc.

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

SQLite is very lightweight compared to other database management systems like SQL Server, or Oracle.
It has an in-memory library that you can call and use directly without installation or configuration.
You do not require any dedicated server to store database. The database is stored in the hard disk of a computer.

Verdict: SQLite is a C programming language library which

offers self-contained, reliable and full-featured SQL database engine.

Link: https://www.sqlite.org/index.html

9) Cassandra

Cassandra is a free tool which is designed to manage a large amount of data across a wide range of servers. The tool offers support for replicating across multiple datacenters.

Platform: Cross-platform

Languages: SQL, Go, C++, Python, and Node JS

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

Data is copied to numerous nodes to provide a fault-tolerance system.
There are no network bottlenecks as every node in the cluster is sperate.
The tool supports for contracts and services from third parties.
It allows you to choose between synchronous or asynchronous replication for the update.

Verdict: Cassandra is for those people who want scalability and high availability without decreasing performance.

Link: http://cassandra.apache.org/

10) CouchDB

CouchDB is open-source software that is based on the common standards to access your important data. It stores data on your server or with a leading service provider of your choice.

Platform: Cross-Platform

Languages: Java, Python, C++, Perl, C, JavaScript, PHP, etc..

Cloud Version: No

Features:

It enables you to run a logical database server on any virtual machines.
CouchDB tool works with external tools like load balancers, HTTP, and proxy servers.
The too provides support of authentication and session.
CouchDB cluster enables you to save data redundantly.

Verdict: CouchDB offers a scalable solution. It also provides flexibility for storing data.

Link: https://couchdb.apache.org/

11) Oracle

Oracle is self-repairing, self-securing, and self-driving designed to eliminate manual data management. It is an intelligent, secure, and highly available database in the cloud that helps you to grow your business.

Platform: Windows and Linux

Languages: C++, COBOL, C, Java, Visual Basic, and Pl/SQL.

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

Oracle Cloud is optimized for high-performance database workloads, streaming workloads, and Hyperscale big data.
You can easily migrate to the Cloud.
This free SQL software provides the services based on how you like to operate, in order to run Oracle cloud in your data center.

Verdict: Oracle database stores and retrieve information. Database server solves the problem related to information management.

Link: https://www.oracle.com/in/database/

12) DynamoDB

Amazon DynamoDB is a nonrelational database. This database system provides consistent latency and offers built-in security and in-memory caching. DynamoDB is a serverless database which scales automatically and backs up your data for protection.

Platform: Cross-platform

Languages: Go, Node.js, Java, .NET, C#, Ruby, Python, PHP, and Perl.

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

Key-value and document data model support.
DynamoDB offers secondary indexes which provide the flexibility to query on any attribute.
Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator delivers fast read performance for your DynamoDB.
DynamoDB integrates with AWS Lambda to provide triggers.

Verdict: DynamoDB is a document database and can be used for various purpose.

Link: https://aws.amazon.com/dynamodb/

13) Neo4j

Neo4j is an open-source NoSQL graph database, implemented in Java. It saves your data in graphs rather than in tables.

Platform: Cross-Platform

Languages: Java, Cypher Query Language, JavaScript, Java, etc.

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

It supports graph analytics and transactional applications.
Continuous-time traversals for a relationship in the graph both in breadth and depth because of double linking on the storage level between node and relationship.
Relationship in Neo4j is fast and allows you to materialize and use new relationships later to "shortcut" and speed up the domain data when the new requirement arises
Memory caching for graphs that provide compact storage, resulting in efficient scale-up.

Verdict: Neo4j allows any organization to unlock its business value of connections, relationships in data, and influences through a new application.

Link: https://neo4j.com/

14) Firebirdsql

Firebird is an open-source SQL RDBMS that runs on, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and several Unix platforms.

Platform: Linux, Windows, HP-UX, macOS, Solaris, and AIX.

Languages: C/C++ and COBOL

Cloud Version: Yes

Features:

Firebird allows you to build a custom version.
It is a free to download, registration as well as deployment.
This simple database software tool has enhanced multi-platform RDBMS.
Provides a range of funding options from firebird memberships to sponsorship commitments.

Verdict: Firebird has development-friendly language support, stored procedures, and triggers.

Link: https://firebirdsql.org/

List of Popular Databases Software Free/Paid

Name	Link	Platform	DB Capacity Limit
InterBase	https://www.embarcadero.com/es/products/interbase	Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux	Multi-CPU, 20 TB database.
Microsoft SQL	https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/sql-server/sql-server-2019	Windows, Linux.	1 GB RAM & 10 GB database. 1 CPU.
MySQL	https://www.mysql.com/	Windows, Linux, Mac.	No limitation
PostgreSQL	https://www.postgresql.org/	Windows, Linux, and Mac	No limitation
mongodb	https://www.mongodb.com/	Windows, Linux, Mac.	No limitation
OrientDB	https://www.orientdb.org/	Windows, Linux, Mac.	No limitation
Mariadb	https://mariadb.org/	Windows, Linux, Mac.	No limitation
SQLite	https://www.sqlite.org/index.html	Windows, Linux, Mac.	No limitation
Cassandra	http://cassandra.apache.org/	Windows, Linux.	No limitation
couchdb	https://couchdb.apache.org/	Windows, Linux.	maximum size is 4 GB
oracle	https://www.oracle.com/in/database/	Windows, Linux	1 GB RAM 11 GB database. 1CPU.
DynamoDB	https://aws.amazon.com/dynamodb/	Windows, Linux.	25 GB, 25 write capacity units and 25 read capacity units for AWS Free Tier
Neo4j	https://neo4j.com/	Windows, Linux, Mac.	free Startup License
firebirdsql	https://firebirdsql.org/	Windows, Linux, and Mac.	Multi-CPU, 20 TB database.

FAQs

❓ What is Database Software?

A Database Software is a tool or application that helps users to manage SQL server and database server infrastructure. The Database Software allows users to configure, manage, monitor, and administer SQL servers and databases with ease. It is designed to extract information from databases.