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7 Best Free Database Software

Ashish Upadhyay profile picture
Written by:
Ashish Upadhyay

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10 min read
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Database software helps manage database records as your data scales and becomes complex.

If you’re a data analyst or data manager at a small business, you understand that effective data management and organization are crucial to gain valuable insights from your data. However, managing and storing large volumes of data can present challenges such as high cost and limited scalability, and not every business has the budget to invest in a product, only to see it not meeting its needs.

One solution to these challenges is using free database software. Free database solutions provide a cost-effective way to manage and organize large amounts of data while letting you test the waters with a new product.

This article highlights, in alphabetical order, the seven best free database software products based on verified software reviews.

See the full list of database tools in Capterra’s software directory.

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Airtable is a database tool that helps store and organize large data volumes in a structured way, similar to a traditional relational database. It allows you to create tables, customize them with various fields, add records, and link the tables to each other, making it easy to navigate and establish relations between data sets.

The views and forms feature in Airtable lets you filter, sort, and group data and present it in a spreadsheet-like format. The software also offers collaboration functionality so your team can work together on the same data and access it simultaneously.

Airtable is a web-based software tool and has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.

Free features:
  • Unlimited databases: Provides unlimited databases with multiple tables and views.

  • Rich field types: Offers rich field types, including attachments, check boxes, and drop-down menus.

  • Real-time collaboration and commenting: Lets you collaborate with teammates on databases in real time and add comments.

Customer support options: Chat, email, and phone.

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$10 per user per month (annual billing)

Device compatibility

Screenshots

Airtable

Managing a spreadsheet in Airtable (Source)

* Analysis accurate as of January 2023

2. DbVisualizer: Offers an intuitive interface for new users

DbVisualizer is a database tool that helps manage and analyze databases. It lets you connect to various databases, execute SQL statements, and navigate and manage database objects.

The software supports SQL formatting and offers features such as data and schema comparison and support for multiple connections. It also supports JDBC drivers, allowing simple connections to different database management systems and providing a visual representation of various database objects.

DbVisualizer offers a desktop application for Mac and Windows.

Free features:
  • Configurable UI: Lets you fully control window layouts, key bindings, user interface themes, and mark scripts.

  • SQL history: Gives a rundown of past SQL queries, and lets you analyze past database requests.

  • Monitoring: Creates monitors that repeatedly query the database in set intervals and display the incremental data from the result.

Customer support options: Chat, email, and phone.

Best functionality

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$197 per user for the first year; thereafter, $69 per user per year

Device compatibility

Screenshots

DbVisualizer

Table management in DbVisualizer (Source)

* Analysis accurate as of January 2023

3. MongoDB: Uses sharding for efficient query execution

MongoDB is a database management system that lets you store and retrieve data in a flexible document-oriented format rather than using the strict table-and-row format in traditional relational databases.

Due to this functionality, MongoDB offers greater scalability and performance when working with large volumes of data and also allows for greater flexibility in how data gets modeled. Additionally, the software has built-in support for sharding, which enables horizontal scaling and increased performance when dealing with large data volumes.

MongoDB is a web-based software tool and also has a desktop application for Mac and Windows.

Free features:
  • Diagnostic and performance optimization: Diagnoses server-related issues with your database, and performs optimization procedures to fix bugs.

  • End-to-end encryption: Provides transport layer security (TLS) encryption to safeguard the data stored in your databases.

  • Atlas search: Offers integrated full-text search to find specific data from within your database more efficiently.

Customer support options: Chat, email, and phone.

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

: $57 per month

Device compatibility

Screenshots

MongoDB

Monitoring server uptime in MongoDB (Source)

* Analysis accurate as of January 2023

4. PostgreSQL: Has an open-source community for application support

PostgreSQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) used to store, retrieve, and manage large volumes of data. This database administration software lets you organize and structure data in a way that simplifies the process of querying, updating, and manipulating data.

PostgreSQL provides several features to support this functionality, including support for advanced data types, full-text search, and concurrency control. The software has a large and active open-source community that offers support for new and existing users.

PostgreSQL is a web-based software tool and also has a desktop application for Mac and Windows.

Free features:
  • Data integrity: Lets you back up, restore, and archive data modules, and allows checksums on pages to detect and report page corruption.

  • Partition and inheritance: Allows you to partition data and grant access to stakeholders by using hash keys.

  • Database security: Helps grant and revoke user access for all tables, sequences, and functions within a database.

Customer support options: Chat, email, and phone.

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

None (open-source software)

Device compatibility

Screenshots

PostgreSQL

Performing a database backup in PostgreSQL (Source)

* Analysis accurate as of January 2023

5. Stackby: Creates online databases in the form of customizable spreadsheets

Stackby is an all-in-one project management platform that allows you to build customizable databases in the form of spreadsheets, either by using predesigned templates or by simply uploading data from existing sources on a cloud platform. You can also use the software to create custom forms and embed them within websites.

As a Stackby user, you can extract data from various third-party sources and store this data in a data warehouse that you’ve built using Stackby. The software also offers data visualization, collaboration, and integration with third-party visualization and project management tools.

Stackby is web-based software. It also has a desktop application for Mac and Windows and a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.

Free features:
  • Activity history: Displays historical changes and updates in your database for up to two weeks.

  • Attachments: Allows attachments of up to 2GB in the cells in your database.

  • Data visualization: Helps create grid views, Kanban boards, calendars, and forms to visualize data.

  • API connections: Lets you bring live data connecting columns through APIs.

Customer support options: Chat, email, and phone.

Most affordable

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$5 per user per month (annual billing)

Device compatibility

Screenshots

Stackby

Campaign data management in Stackby (Source)

* Analysis accurate as of January 2023

6. SQL Complete: Offers context-sensitive object and keyword suggestions

SQL Complete is database software that offers features such as code completion, code formatting, and code refactoring to help make it easier to write and maintain SQL codes and scripts. It also provides tools for database navigation, data search, and data export, allowing you to quickly find and manage the information you need.

The software connects with multiple third-party databases to help you migrate and store data efficiently. You can also perform disaster recovery backups to prevent data loss due to cyberattacks or physical damage to your systems.

SQL Complete offers a desktop application for Windows.

Free features:
  • SQL server: Provides an SQL server to run queries on your databases.

  • Keyword suggestions: Provides context-sensitive keyword suggestions during text search.

  • Quick-list building: Offers a column picker feature to help you build lists with specific data from the database.

Customer support options: Chat and email.

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$219.95 + taxes for a perpetual license

Device compatibility

Screenshots

SQL Complete

Running a query in SQL Complete (Source)

* Analysis accurate as of January 2023

7. SQLite: Supports multiple programming languages

SQLite is a lightweight, self-contained, and serverless relational database management system. You can embed SQLite in applications and use it as a local data storage option. The software can handle small to midsize databases and doesn’t require a separate server process or system.

SQLite helps perform several operations including data exchange, database backup, autosave, and content revision for multiple systems. It supports standard SQL commands for data manipulation and querying, and you can integrate it with programming languages such as C, C++, and Python.

SQLite is a web-based tool and also has a dedicated desktop application for Mac and Windows.

Free features:
  • Programming language support: Supports multiple programming languages, including C, C++, and Python.

  • Data replication: Lets you replicate data and keep the copies in a centralized repository.

  • Database conversion: Converts your database into different database types such as DB2, H2, MariaDB, and helps migrate the data whenever required.

Customer support options: Email and phone.

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

None (open-source software)

Device compatibility

Screenshots

SQLite

Managing class library in SQLite (Source)

* Analysis accurate as of January 2023

How to choose the best free database software for your business

Choosing the best free database software for your small business depends on several data management aspects. Here are some things to consider when making your decision:

  • Assess your current data volume and future scalability needs. Some free database software tools limit the amount of data you can store unless you upgrade to a paid version. Therefore, assess your current dataset size and future scalability needs to determine whether your shortlisted software can handle them.

  • Check support for different data types and structures. Different database software tools are suited for different data types such as structured or unstructured data. Assess the data structures your business deals with, and check if the free software works well with them.

  • Evaluate the customer support options available with the free software. Assess the level of customer support provided by the software vendor, including documentation, tutorials, and community forums. Free software tools usually have limited support options, so ask vendors whether the advertised support options are also available with the free version of their product.

What is the cost to upgrade from free database software to a paid one?

If you handle data alone or in a team of two, most free database software tools can meet your needs. But as your business grows and your team expands, you might have to upgrade to a paid version for more access and data functionalities.

Figuring out pricing for products isn’t too complicated. Most products on the market are priced on a per-month basis and can be divided into three pricing tiers based on their starting price.

Price ranges*:

  • $5 - $57

  • $58 - $197

  • $197+

*The pricing included is for the entry-level/lowest-priced offering found on vendor websites on Jan. 10, 2022. These ranges correspond to the 25th, 75th, and 100th percentiles of pricing information gathered from vendor websites of sample products.

Hidden costs associated with free database software

The above list summarizes pricing for the base plans of most products, but even free database software plans may have some hidden costs, such as fees for service availability guarantee or additional third-party integrations. Therefore, be sure to check with the vendor for any such hidden costs that may be associated with the free database solution you’re considering.

Common questions to ask when looking for free database software

When shortlisting a free database tool, it's important to ask vendors the right questions to determine if the software is a good fit for your business. Some common questions to ask include:

What are the limitations of the free version?

Free database software might have certain limitations such as fixed data storage, fixed number of users, or restricted general functionality. Before finalizing any product, ask vendors about the kind of limitations their free software has.

Is the software compatible with my existing systems and platforms?

Any database software you pick should coexist and seamlessly integrate with your existing software stack. Ask vendors whether their free product provides integration support for your current systems.

How does the software handle data migration, backup, and recovery?

Free database solutions, sometimes, have limits on data migration, backup, and recovery. Check with vendors if their free database software has size limits for datasets or if data recovery is possible only up to a particular date.


Looking for IT Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best IT Management software solutions.

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About the Author

Ashish Upadhyay profile picture

Ashish Upadhyay is a content writer at Capterra, helping small businesses identify the right software for their business needs by analyzing user reviews data for the highest rated products in relevant software categories. Prior to joining Capterra, he worked in insurtech, fintech, and real estate. Specializing in marketing, project, and IT management, Ashish’s works have been featured in MAST magazine and Medium. In his free time, he enjoys working out and playing video games.

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