MySQL Alternatives 2026: 5 Free Options
MySQL alternatives: MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Supabase and 2 more. Prices and licenses checked October 23, 2026.
•3 min read•Databases & Database Tools
Verdict:MySQL itself is free: the server is licensed under the GPLv2, and Oracle sells commercial editions only by quote, with no prices listed on the products page. So the reason to leave is rarely cost. It is usually control, because Oracle owns the project and sells the commercial editions. MariaDB is the closest like-for-like swap, built as a drop-in replacement and licensed GPL-2.0, so most MySQL apps can try it with little change. PostgreSQL is the stronger choice for a new project, though moving an existing app means rewriting queries that rely on MySQL behaviour. SQLite fits anything that does not need a separate server, from desktop tools to small sites. If you would rather not run a server at all, Supabase offers hosted Postgres with 500 MB on the free plan and 2 active projects, and Pro starts at $25 a month. CockroachDB suits horizontal scale, but it is source-available rather than open source. PocketBase is a self-hosted backend for small apps and is not a general MySQL replacement. The trade-off is compatibility versus freedom: MariaDB changes the least, and the others ask you to change code. Stay on MySQL if your hosting provider, framework or team already depends on it and you have no licensing concern.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Best for | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MariaDB | Free (Free open source server) | Linux, Windows, macOS | Closest swap for existing MySQL apps | Docs only |
| PostgreSQL | Free (Free to use; you pay for your own server) | Self-hosted server | New projects that want a different engine | Docs only |
| SQLite | Free (Free; code and documentation dedicated to the public domain) | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Embedded and single-user apps | Docs only |
| Supabase | Free (Free plan: 50,000 monthly active users for Auth, 500 MB database, 2 active projects); paid from $25 per month (Pro, 100,000 MAU) | Web, Self-hosted | Hosted database with auth built in | Docs only |
| CockroachDB | See pricing page | Linux, macOS, Windows | Distributed workloads that outgrow one server | Docs only |
| PocketBase | Free (Free open source; single-file backend you host yourself) | Linux, macOS, Windows, Self-hosted | Small apps that need a backend fast | Docs only |
Independent comparison. Paid placements are labelled separately; editorial links earn no affiliate commissions. Learn more.
Good fit if
- You want to swap without changing application code (MariaDB is the pick)
- You are starting a new project and want a different engine (PostgreSQL is the pick)
- Your app is local or single-user and needs no server (SQLite is the pick)
- You want a hosted database with auth included (Supabase is the pick)
- You need a quick self-hosted backend for a small app (PocketBase is the pick)
Not ideal if
- You rely on MySQL features or integrations that these tools do not replicate
MySQL today: Free (Server is free under the GPLv2; Oracle sells commercial editions (Standard, Enterprise) by quote) (MySQL pricing, checked 2026-10-23).
Why people look for MySQL alternatives
The MySQL server is licensed under GPLv2, and Oracle's OEM licensing page says software that bundles it and is distributed without releasing its source needs a commercial licence. Oracle's paid lineup spans Standard, Enterprise, HeatWave and Embedded editions, and the products page shows no prices, so budgeting for a commercial licence means contacting sales.
MariaDB
Compared with MySQL: Free GPL-2.0 server designed as a drop-in replacement for MySQL, with files from MySQL versions before 8.0 upgradable. You lose Oracle's commercial support line, and gain a foundation-run project.
Price: Free (Free open source server) (MariaDB pricing, checked 2026-10-23).
Platforms and license: Linux, Windows, macOS. GPL-2.0 (open source).
Best for: Closest swap for existing MySQL apps.
PostgreSQL
Compared with MySQL: Free and open source, with no licence cost beyond your own server. Moving from MySQL means changing SQL dialect details and tooling, but you get a database that Oracle does not control.
Price: Free (Free to use; you pay for your own server) (PostgreSQL pricing, checked 2026-10-23).
Platforms and license: Self-hosted server. PostgreSQL License (open source).
Best for: New projects that want a different engine.
SQLite
Compared with MySQL: Public-domain embedded library, not a server. It cannot match MySQL for many simultaneous writers, but for apps, tools and small sites it removes the database server completely.
Price: Free (Free; code and documentation dedicated to the public domain) (SQLite pricing, checked 2026-10-23).
Platforms and license: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Public domain (open source).
Best for: Embedded and single-user apps.
Worth knowing: An embedded library, not a server. A paid Warranty of Title is offered for organisations that want legal proof of rights.
Supabase
Compared with MySQL: Hosted Postgres with a free plan of 500 MB database and 2 active projects. You trade MySQL compatibility for a managed backend with auth, and Pro starts at $25 a month.
Price: Free (Free plan: 50,000 monthly active users for Auth, 500 MB database, 2 active projects); paid from $25 per month (Pro, 100,000 MAU) (Supabase pricing, checked 2026-10-22).
Platforms and license: Web, Self-hosted. Proprietary.
Best for: Hosted database with auth built in.
Worth knowing: Free projects pause after 1 week of inactivity.
CockroachDB
Compared with MySQL: Distributed SQL whose Core Developer tier is listed free for fewer than 25 nodes. It is Postgres-compatible rather than MySQL-compatible and is source-available, not fully open source.
Price: See pricing page (CockroachDB pricing, checked 2026-10-23).
Platforms and license: Linux, macOS, Windows. Proprietary / source-available.
Best for: Distributed workloads that outgrow one server.
PocketBase
Compared with MySQL: MIT-licensed single-file backend you host yourself, with its own embedded database. It replaces MySQL only for small apps, but setup takes minutes and costs nothing.
Price: Free (Free open source; single-file backend you host yourself) (PocketBase pricing, checked 2026-10-22).
Platforms and license: Linux, macOS, Windows, Self-hosted. MIT (open source).
Project activity: 61.6k GitHub stars · latest release v0.40.6 (Oct 23, 2026) · Archived on GitHub
Best for: Small apps that need a backend fast.
Worth knowing: Bundles a realtime database, auth, file storage and admin dashboard in one file; extend with Go or JavaScript hooks.
Which one to pick
- You want to swap without changing application code: MariaDB
- You are starting a new project and want a different engine: PostgreSQL
- Your app is local or single-user and needs no server: SQLite
- You want a hosted database with auth included: Supabase
- You need a quick self-hosted backend for a small app: PocketBase
Limits of this review
Docs-only for MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Supabase, CockroachDB, PocketBase: we did not install or run them, so feature claims come from vendor pages and we did not test import from MySQL. Vendor prices and free limits change; confirm on the linked pricing page before you buy or migrate.
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Kevin Fan
Kevin Fan is a SaaS founder. He runs Free Instead Of, which tracks free and open-source alternatives to paid software and checks each price and free-plan limit against the vendor's own pages.
Methodology
Based on official pricing and product pages checked between 2026-10-22 and 2026-10-23: MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Supabase, CockroachDB, PocketBase. Prices, free limits and licenses are the figures shown on those pages on those dates. No tool on this page was installed or run. No accounts were created.