15 Finest Free Database Software program for Knowledge Administration in 2024

Whether or not you’re a marketer or software program developer, you have most likely heard of “database”.

A database is a part of any laptop system that shops and organizes information in a handy kind. The idea of database software program isn’t exhausting to know as all of us use databases persistently.

Think about an Excel spreadsheet: a group of information organized into columns and rows. A database operates equally however often on a bigger scale throughout many interconnected computer systems and with extra advanced types of information.

However getting your fingers on the perfect database software program could be difficult. Quite a few choices can be found, and deciding which is best for you is not straightforward. We’ve compiled an inventory of the highest free database software program, together with their professionals and cons. 

Finest free database software program

When selecting database software program, there isn’t any “this software is best than that”. What you decide is dependent upon your enterprise necessities.

It’s essential think about a number of elements, particularly when deciding on database software program to develop purposes. The database software program presents sturdy information administration capabilities, together with environment friendly information parsing for streamlined info dealing with. This contains asking the precise questions on a software program’s capabilities, making certain whether or not to put money into studying a brand new database and determining what you need to obtain together with your purposes.

In case you do not need to pay, loads of free database options are divided into two principal teams: relational and non-relational. However, for those who haven’t selected the database software program (paid or free) you need to use, right here are some things to contemplate:

• Complexity: Sure database software program could be somewhat advanced and require some technical information. However, some challenge administration software program simplifies managing project-related information.
• Safety: No one needs their information to fall into the flawed fingers. Selecting software program that makes use of cutting-edge information safety protocols is important.
• Integrations: Software program integrations permit customers to deal with information throughout many purposes, similar to CRM software program or messaging apps.
• Pricing: As we discover a number of the high free database software program, some purposes could have premium plans that present extra options, storage capability, and extra. So select a database resolution that provides the perfect worth for cash.

How did we choose and consider the perfect database software program?

At G2, we rank software program options utilizing a proprietary algorithm that considers buyer satisfaction and market presence based mostly on genuine person opinions. Our market analysis analysts and writers spend weeks testing options in opposition to a number of standards set for a software program class. We provide you with unbiased software program evaluations; that is the G2 distinction! We didn’t settle for cost or change hyperlinks for product placements on this checklist. Please learn our G2 Analysis Scoring Methodology for extra particulars.

Finest free relational database software program

A relational database is an organized assortment of information components linked collectively by predefined associations. These components are organized in a sequence of tables with rows and columns.

Relational database software program helps companies draw significant info by way of linked tables. Customers can simply comprehend the patterns and connections or how the tables are associated.

The checklist under incorporates real-user opinions of the perfect free relational database options in the marketplace. To be included on this checklist, the developed purposes have to be free and:

• Provide information storage
• Construction information in a relational mannequin by defining a desk with rows and columns
• Let customers gather, replace, ship, or delete information

*This checklist relies on G2 information collected in 2024. Some opinions might have been edited for readability.

1. Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)

Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) permits customers to construct, handle, and develop databases within the cloud. It presents scalable capability whereas automating time-consuming administrative duties, together with {hardware} provisioning, setup, patches, and backups.

It frees companies to give attention to companies and gives them with the wanted efficiency and safety. High operational options embody the Amazon RDS Administration Console, the AWS RDS Command-Line Interface, and easy API requires fast and simple setup. 

What customers like finest: 

“What I like finest about Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) is its potential to simplify the administration of relational databases with automated backups, scaling, and upkeep. This enables customers to give attention to utility growth with out worrying concerning the underlying database infrastructure. The seamless integration with different AWS companies and sturdy safety features additional improve its attraction.”

– Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) Overview, Cuong M. 

What customers dislike: 

“As a managed service, RDS might not supply the identical degree of customization and management as self-managed databases, which could be a limitation for sure superior use instances.“

– Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) Overview, Nireeksha P. 

2. IBM Db2

IBM Db2 is a relational database administration system (RDBMS) that effectively shops, analyzes, and retrieves information. Corporations of all sizes use Db2 for transactional and analytical processes because it presents steady information availability to maintain them operating easily. Db2 additionally helps NoSQL options, similar to XML, graph retailer, and JSON.

What customers like finest: 

“IBM Db2 is a steady platform and built-in relational database administration system that leverages high-performance, virtualization, and power effectivity options. Additionally, it’s supported by completely different media.”

– IBM Db2 Overview, Sachin D.

What customers dislike: 

“It could be nice if we may have assist to have a local UI software to view information and execute queries. The question efficiency is likely to be sluggish typically for long-running processes.”

– IBM Db2 Overview, Vignesh V.

3. MariaDB

MariaDB relieves companies of proprietary databases’ prices, limitations, and intricacy, permitting them to give attention to what issues most: constructing inventive, customer-facing apps. MariaDB employs pluggable, purpose-built storage engines to accommodate workloads that historically wanted a variety of specialist databases.

MariaDB gives unmatched operational agility with out dropping vital company capabilities similar to real ACID compliance and full SQL.

What customers like finest: 

“It is a dependable and open-source database system that does not fear the customers. I used this database over oracle due to its efficiency and availability. We will go away an impression on the purchasers by utilizing the MariaDB database.”

– MariaDB Overview, Tabassum Ok.

What customers dislike: 

“It isn’t handy for an enormous stream of information. Additional, it performs comparatively properly by way of clustering and is continually up to date with new options and capabilities.”

– MariaDB Overview, Satyam G.

Finest free doc database software program

A doc database (usually often called a document-oriented database or a doc retailer) shops information within the type of paperwork. It is a non-relational (also referred to as NoSQL) database well-suited for catalogs, person profiles, and content material administration techniques, the place every doc is exclusive and adjustments over time.

Doc database software program makes it a lot simpler for programmers to save lots of and question information in a database as a result of they make use of the identical document-model format as their codebase. Versatile indexing, sturdy advert hoc searches, and analytics over collections of paperwork are all potential with doc databases.

The checklist under incorporates actual person opinions from the perfect free doc database options in the marketplace. Along with being a free utility, to be included on this checklist, you could additionally:

• Provide information storage
• Construction information in a doc mannequin
• Let customers retrieve information

*This checklist relies on G2 information collected in 2024. Some opinions might have been edited for readability.

1. Couchbase

Couchbase is a feature-rich database administration system for small and midsize organizations and massive companies in numerous industries, together with banking, resorts, power, info know-how (IT), retail, telecommunications, and manufacturing. 

Couchbase is a multi-model NoSQL database designed completely for mission-critical purposes.It’s a document-oriented distributed database that mixes two standard NoSQL applied sciences: Membase and CouchDB.

What customers like finest: 

“Straightforward to get began. We will question over the DB utilizing N1QL, which is similar to SQL, so it does not want additional information to get began. The UI may be very clear and simple to grasp. Indexing is simple to implement; we are able to see all of the out there indices, and whereas operating the queries, we are able to see which index was picked up. Liked this feature.”

– Couchbase Overview, Amit P.

What customers dislike: 

“Including approved customers was a bit difficult. Nevertheless, my workforce figured it out after some poking round.”

– Couchbase Overview, Nico P.

2. ArangoDB

ArangoDB is a extremely scalable, multi-model database that excels in dealing with advanced, interconnected information constructions. As a doc database, it is optimized for storing and querying information in a versatile JSON-like format, making it perfect for purposes that require fast growth and environment friendly information administration.

What customers like finest: 

“The combination of the doc, search, and graph fashions has made our choices simpler. We will restrict our stack to make use of Arango and never have an explosion of vendor techniques for every objective.”

– ArangoDB Overview, Kevin B.

What customers dislike: 

“Creating Property graphs is simple. Nevertheless, there isn’t any direct option to create an RDF/OWL graph. RDF triples are helpful in machine studying.”

– ArangoDB Overview, Amardeep Singh S.

3. MarkLogic 

MarkLogic is an enterprise-grade NoSQL doc database famend for its potential to deal with large volumes of various information, together with XML, JSON, and RDF. It presents a novel mix of database, search, and utility server functionalities inside a single platform.

What customers like finest: 

“MarkLogic is a database platform managing giant dataflows and completely different datatypes. It additionally shops numerous structured and unstructured queries together with numerous dataflows that may be managed beneath a single machine. It helps customers for sooner indexing and search from giant datasets and permits customers to deal with rising quantities of information. MarkLogic is compliant with atomicity, isolation, sturdiness, and consistency. MarkLogic could be built-in with numerous third-party instruments and gives confidentiality, integrity, and auditing.”

– MarkLogic Overview, Harshit L. 

What customers dislike: 

“The license value is extraordinarily excessive and so is the quantity of area required to retailer information.” 

– MarkLogic Overview, Abdalla H. 

Finest free graph database software program

A graph database represents and shops information utilizing graph constructions for semantic queries, similar to nodes, edges, and properties. A graph is a vital component within the system and connects the information gadgets to a set of nodes and edges, the place the sides point out the nodes’ relationships.

These relationships immediately join saved information and, in lots of circumstances, retrieve it in a single operation. As a result of relationships are preserved indefinitely within the database, querying them is fast. Graph databases can simply show interconnections, which is useful for extensively interconnected info.

The checklist under incorporates actual person opinions of the perfect free graph database options in the marketplace. To be included on this checklist, not solely do it’s important to be a free utility, but in addition:

• Provide information storage
• Retailer and construction information in a topographical schema
• Let customers retrieve information utilizing a querying language

*This checklist relies on G2 information collected in 2024. Some opinions might have been edited for readability.

1. Neo4j 

Neo4j is an open-source graph database that helps companies make data-driven choices because it reveals the relationships between folks, processes, and techniques. Neo4j maintains interconnected information by default, making information simpler to grasp. Corporations may also use the property graph mannequin to develop machine studying and AI fashions.

What customers like finest: 

“Neo4j is essentially the most interactive and simple to make use of or question software I’ve ever labored with. The ciphers are so user-friendly that somebody with no information of programming or question languages can get began at any second, which supplies us an edge in explaining the BI evaluation and parameters to our clients. Visualizations show you how to debug and resolve the problems manner sooner than different DBs. And their integration with most cloud companies permits a easy integration in our purposes.“

– Neo4j Overview, Gariba G. 

What customers dislike: 

“I didn’t discover a number of assets to assist after I received caught. Additionally, the setup course of was a bit tedious, particularly with solely the documentation to go off, however I managed to determine the drivers points.”

– Neo4j Overview, Ian J. 

2. ArangoDB

ArangoDB is a flexible, multi-model database that seamlessly integrates graph, doc, and key-value information fashions inside a single platform. This unified strategy empowers builders to effectively handle and question advanced datasets. It shops and queries paperwork, graphs, and key-value information utilizing a single, declarative question language (AQL). Ensures information integrity and consistency throughout a number of operations.

What customers like finest: 

“I like that it is vitally versatile with its multi-model strategy; you’ve got the facility of a doc retailer with graph search, which basically means that you can do no matter you do with each doc shops and with SQL databases, plus far more due to the graph traversal. The AQL language may be very intuitive and so fast to study. Velocity is nice, too. It’s straightforward to make use of for prototyping, and it gives you with DevOps software for cluster set up on Kubernetes.”

– ArangoDB Overview, Delio D. 

What customers dislike: 

“It was a little bit of a studying curve on how information is shared over the nodes within the cluster, which is important to know to get good efficiency when executing queries. Whereas it is seldom you need to change the identify of a group, that’s potential when working with a single standalone server, nevertheless it’s not potential in a cluster setup.

It is inconceivable to set most well-liked service hours for upkeep (upgrades) for the clusters of their cloud service, so except we provoke upgrades manually, they’ll begin throughout our primetime.”

– ArangoDB Overview, Johan S. 

3. Dgraph

Dgraph is a graph database system with a single schema growth mannequin. Customers can use the software to develop a schema, deploy it, and obtain quick database and API entry with out writing any code.

Dgraph permits customers to decide on between GraphQL and DQL, so anybody with no prior information of graph databases to get began.

What customers like finest: 

“We’ve got opted for the Dgraph Cloud platform for our enterprise as it’s extremely scalable with low latency. It is glorious for necessities which have real-time transactional workloads because it synchronizes buyer information successfully. Knowledge retrieval is hassle-free & we are able to carry out arbitrary depth joins with out worrying about our cluster limitations.”

– Dgraph Overview, Varshini S.

What customers dislike: 

“Dgraph requires excessive RAM to retailer a graph in comparison with different choices. The managed providing does not present all of the performance potential utilizing its Kubernetes cluster. The administration needs to be completed by your self or the DevOps workforce of the group.”

– Dgraph Overview, Aditya G.

Finest free object-oriented database software program

An object-oriented database (OOD) is a system that operates with refined information objects, similar to these present in object-oriented programming (OOP) languages. An object-oriented database is structured round objects somewhat than actions and information somewhat than logic.

Object-oriented databases deal with information as complete objects. As an alternative of a number of tables, all info is introduced in a single, immediately accessible object package deal.

An entity is represented as an object in OOP that’s maintained in reminiscence. Members of objects embody fields, attributes, and strategies. Objects have a life cycle that contains an object’s creation, use, and disposal. A number of main OOP languages can be found at present, together with C++, Java, C#, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, and Perl.

The checklist under incorporates actual person opinions of the perfect free object-oriented database options in the marketplace. To be included on this checklist, it’s important to be a free utility and:

• Provide information storage
• Retailer and construction information in object-based information fashions
• Let customers create, retailer, and replace object information fashions

*This checklist relies on G2 information collected in 2024. Some opinions might have been edited for readability.

1. IBM Db2

IBM Db2 is a scalable object-oriented database administration system (OODBMS) designed to deal with advanced information constructions and relationships. As an OODBMS, Db2 presents a versatile and intuitive strategy to storing and managing information, making it well-suited for purposes that require superior information modeling and querying capabilities.

What customers like finest: 

“That is nice for storing and organizing our shopper’s information and offers the corporate the flexibleness to make use of recordsdata and tables as we modernize our software program platform. I take advantage of Run SQL scripts essentially the most to entry information to check my applications with completely different information units. The DB2 database is ideal for the monetary and demographic information that’s the spine of our system. The system may be very safe, which is ideal for all of the delicate information we’ve got.”

– IBM Db2 Overview, Chris D.

What customers dislike: 

“There are some things that may be improved. Firstly, the combination choices aren’t available. The UI could be improved to help the educational curve of latest customers.”

– IBM Db2 Overview, Punit S.

2. InterSystems IRIS

InterSystems IRIS is a high-performance information administration platform that offers IT specialists the instruments to develop machine studying and information connectivity purposes. The software program additionally helps database administration for SQL and NoSQL databases. It is primarily designed for organizations that need bespoke apps to deal with incoming information rapidly and carry out real-time information analytics.

What customers like finest: 

“It is quick, allows you to work with many applied sciences, not simply healthcare-related ones, and integrates many cool options into your initiatives by default. With out doing any additional work, you’re going to get a hint log that means that you can search and redo processes fixing errors. It features a quick and versatile database with a tree construction that can be used with common SQL.”

– InterSystems IRIS Overview, Jaime L.

What customers dislike: 

“I believe the largest draw back to InterSystems Iris (and is definitely small compared to what it may very well be) is that if you wish to add customized performance, you’ll have to study the InterSystems Particular programming language (at the least a little bit) to get it constructed out. It follows fairly normal programming guidelines and syntax, although, so it will not take lengthy to get transferring with it.”

– InterSystems IRIS Overview, Victoria C.

3. InterSystems Chaché

InterSystems Caché is a full-featured database system with all of the performance required to run mission-critical purposes, together with journaling, backup and restoration, and system administration instruments, for healthcare, banking and monetary companies, authorities, and different industries.

What customers like finest: 

“It is a swift and safe database and might talk with relational entry, internet pages, and object entry.”

– InterSystems Caché Overview, Eike Scudellari F.

What customers dislike: 

“The Studio editor is a bit outdated, and I really feel an absence of common info on the open internet.”

– InterSystems Caché Overview, Andy C.

Finest free key-value database software program

A key-value database, typically often called a key-value retailer, is a non-relational database that shops information utilizing a easy key-value strategy. It shops, retrieves, and maintains associative arrays as a dictionary. Dictionaries comprise objects or information with many alternative fields that retailer information.

Keys and values could be something, from fundamental to classy compound objects. Key-value databases are extremely partitionable and allow horizontal scaling that different varieties of databases can’t.

When do you have to select a key-value database?

• When your utility manages many small steady reads and writes, a key-value database could be unstable. It gives fast in-memory entry.
• When preserving important information, similar to shopper info, storing web sites with the URL as the important thing and the webpage as the worth, and storing shopping-cart contents, product classes, and e-commerce product particulars.
• For applications that do not have to be up to date ceaselessly or deal with refined queries

The checklist under incorporates actual person opinions of the perfect free key-value database options in the marketplace. To be included on this checklist, software program have to be free and:

• Provide information storage
• Retailer and construction information as a singular worth mapped to a key
• Let customers retrieve information

*This checklist relies on G2 information collected in 2024. Some opinions might have been edited for readability.

1. ScyllaDB

ScyllaDB is an open-source distributed NoSQL database. It was created to work with Apache Cassandra whereas delivering a lot better throughputs and diminished latencies. It helps the identical protocols and file codecs as Cassandra however is a very rewritten implementation with the C++20 language.

What customers like finest: 

“We’ve got been using ScyllaDB for a very long time now. It’s a dependable and extremely out there NoSQL DB because of its replication. Guaranteeing that the information stays there even after a number of nodes fail.

Our in-house workforce received an awesome assist from ScyllaDB assist whereas implementing the DB attributable to its supportability with CQL. Finest instance of information consistency, reliability and efficiency.”

– ScyllaDB Overview, Chanchala B.

What customers dislike: 

“The setup and configuration complexity of ScyllaDB, which could be troublesome for novices. Moreover, the documentation typically lacks readability for superior options.”

– ScyllaDB Overview, Riya V. 

2. Couchbase

Couchbase is a distributed, NoSQL database that excels at storing and retrieving information in a key-value format. As a key-value database, Couchbase is optimized for quick information entry and excessive throughput, making it perfect for purposes that require fast efficiency and scalability.

What customers like finest: 

“It is fairly quick, indexing and all could be completed with only one line and it makes the queries execute 100 instances sooner. And the perfect factor I discover is the documentation. Many instances I come throughout a brand new use case and am unable to implement it. Then I search for that within the documentation and discover all of the solutions to all of the use instances I had. Would not carry out properly when information will increase, a number of instances I get ambiguous timeout exceptions. Couchbase UI can be very straightforward to make use of.”

– Couchbase Overview, Amit P.

What customers dislike: 

“I used to be utilizing it with Spring Webflux that’s reactive, so whereas processing information, the load on couchbase goes very excessive and operations begin failing. Would like to see some inbuilt assist on this to deal with visitors correctly.”

– Couchbase Overview, Amit P.

3. Aerospike 

Aerospike is a cloud-based, on-premise NoSQL database platform that allows e-commerce, retail, on-line gaming, telecoms, and promoting firms to simplify multi-site clustering, cross datacenter replication, and cargo balancing, amongst different processes, on a single platform. It protects information with encryption, authentication, role-based entry controls, and web site whitelisting.

What customers like finest: 

“Aerospike helps retailer information as cached and the database with full XDR performance. It is a wonderful database by combining the facility of Redis and SQL compliant queries.”

– Aerospike Overview, Imran Ok.

What customers dislike: 

“Aerospike could be difficult to dimension the cluster, though assist is helpful.”

– Aerospike Overview, Ido B.

Comparability of the perfect free database software program

In case you really feel overwhelmed by the wealth of details about free database software program options, this comparability desk will show you how to with all of the important facets:

Software program identify	G2 ranking	Free plan	Paid plan
IBM Db2	4.1/5	Out there, restricted options	From $99 monthly
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)	4.5/5	Out there, restricted options	Customized pricing
Maria DB	4.4/5	Out there	Open-source software program
Couchbase	4.3/5	Free-trial out there	From $0.15 per hour per node
ArangoDB	4.6/5	Out there, restricted options	Customized pricing
MarkLogic	4.3/5	Out there, restricted options	Customized pricing
Neo4j	4.5/5	Out there, restricted options	From $65/month onwards
Dgraph	4.7/5	Free open-source plan	From $39.99 monthly
InterSystems IRIS	4.5/5	Out there, restricted options	Customized pricing
InterSystems Caché	4.3/5	Free-trial out there	Customized pricing
ScyllaDB	4.5/5	Out there, restricted options	Customized pricing
Aerospike	4.4/5	Free-trial out there	From $1.20 onward

Steadily requested questions on free database software program

Q. How do I select the precise free database software program for my wants?

Take into account elements like the kind of information you may retailer, the scale of your dataset, required efficiency, scalability, desired options, and your workforce’s technical experience.

Q. Can I scale a free database to deal with rising information volumes? 

Many free database software program choices supply scalability options, permitting you to deal with rising information hundreds. Nevertheless, the precise scaling capabilities range between completely different software program.

We hope this checklist of the perfect free database software program takes you one step nearer to discovering the precise resolution!

Q. Can I combine my free database software program with my present purposes or instruments? 

Whereas many free database software program choices supply fundamental integration capabilities, complete integrations is likely to be restricted. It is important to test the precise software program compatibility together with your present instruments.

Q. What are the important thing variations between open-source and cloud-based free database choices? 

Open-source databases supply flexibility and customization however require extra infrastructure administration. Cloud-based choices deal with infrastructure, however you might need limitations by way of information management and prices. Take into account your workforce’s technical experience and desired degree of management when making a selection.

Q. Can I simply migrate information from my present database system to a free database software program?

Knowledge migration complexity is dependent upon the supply and goal database techniques. Some free database software program supply migration instruments or utilities, however handbook information transformation is likely to be crucial. Take into account the effort and time required for information migration when making a call.

So many selections, so little time

A number of database administration software program selections can suit your database administration necessities. Different varieties of comparable software program can be found for numerous costs, working platforms, and particular wants. Choose the one which finest meets your wants.

A superb database serves as the muse for a large number of enterprise purposes. Find out how database administration can assist your information administration technique.

This text was initially printed in 2023. It has been up to date with new info.