PostgreSQL alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave PostgreSQL: running replication, failover and major upgrades yourself takes expertise, and connection handling often needs a pooler under heavy load. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces PostgreSQL, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. MySQL currently ranks first.

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Show all 5 alternatives

The best PostgreSQL alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for most people

MySQL

The other big open-source relational database, with huge hosting support and a simpler admin story.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for a free option

MariaDB

Community fork of MySQL under a foundation, for an open SQL server with no single corporate owner.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Supabase

Managed Postgres with auth, storage and APIs on top, if you'd rather not run the server yourself.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for open source

MySQL

The other big open-source relational database, with huge hosting support and a simpler admin story.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for self-hosting

CockroachDB

Speaks the Postgres wire protocol but distributes data across nodes for built-in horizontal scale.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for Mac

MySQL

The other big open-source relational database, with huge hosting support and a simpler admin story.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for Windows

MySQL

The other big open-source relational database, with huge hosting support and a simpler admin story.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for Linux

MySQL

The other big open-source relational database, with huge hosting support and a simpler admin story.

Best PostgreSQL alternative for working in the browser

Neon

Serverless hosted Postgres with branching and scale-to-zero, for skipping server admin entirely.

PostgreSQL alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to PostgreSQL?

MySQL ranks first right now. The other big open-source relational database, with huge hosting support and a simpler admin story. MariaDB and CockroachDB follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to PostgreSQL?

Yes. MySQL (open source), MariaDB (open source), Supabase (free plan + paid) and Neon (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to PostgreSQL?

Yes: MySQL, MariaDB and Supabase. MySQL, MariaDB and Supabase can also be self-hosted.

Which PostgreSQL alternatives work on Linux?

MySQL and MariaDB run on Linux.

Why do people switch from PostgreSQL?

The complaints we hear most: running replication, failover and major upgrades yourself takes expertise; connection handling often needs a pooler under heavy load; no official GUI; you pick a separate client.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces PostgreSQL, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.