Best Free Database Hosting Services in 2025
Finding reliable and free database hosting can be a challenge, but several hosting services offer high-quality solutions that won’t cost you a dime. Whether you’re running a small website, testing applications, or learning new skills, these free database hosting services provide great value for those on a budget. Here’s a list of the best free options available today.
1. ElephantSQL
ElephantSQL offers a great free tier for PostgreSQL hosting. It’s known for its simplicity and scalability, making it ideal for developers who need a straightforward database hosting solution.
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Free Plan: The free plan, called “Little Elephant,” includes 20MB of storage and one database.
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Features: PostgreSQL database, automatic backups, and access to a web-based management interface.
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Pros: Easy setup, free tier, automatic backups.
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Cons: Limited storage space.
You can get started with ElephantSQL’s free database hosting at ElephantSQL.
2. Heroku Postgres
Heroku is a platform as a service (PaaS) that offers cloud-based application hosting. Its free tier for PostgreSQL hosting is an excellent choice for those who need a simple, scalable solution.
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Free Plan: The free tier offers 1,000 rows of data storage and a single database.
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Features: Built-in PostgreSQL database, easy scaling, and integration with other Heroku services.
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Pros: Scalable, free, and integrates seamlessly with Heroku apps.
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Cons: Limited storage and features on the free plan.
Start using Heroku Postgres for free at Heroku Postgres.
3. Google Cloud Firestore
Google Cloud offers a free tier for Firebase, which includes Firestore, a NoSQL database designed for mobile and web applications. It’s a great choice for developers who need a flexible, real-time database solution.
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Free Plan: 50,000 reads, 20,000 writes, and 20,000 deletes per day.
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Features: Real-time database, scalable, secure.
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Pros: Real-time syncing, ideal for mobile and web apps, flexible NoSQL database.
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Cons: The free tier can be restrictive for larger apps.
You can explore Google Cloud Firestore’s free tier at Google Cloud Firestore.
4. MongoDB Atlas
MongoDB Atlas offers a free-tier database hosting for MongoDB, a popular NoSQL database. This is ideal for those working with large, unstructured datasets or requiring high flexibility.
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Free Plan: 512MB of storage for MongoDB databases.
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Features: Managed MongoDB service, automatic backups, and security features.
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Pros: Ideal for NoSQL databases, free tier with generous storage.
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Cons: Free plan has limited resources and features.
To get started with MongoDB Atlas, visit MongoDB Atlas.
5. Amazon RDS Free Tier
Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a free tier for Amazon RDS, which supports several databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB. It’s perfect for small-scale projects or testing environments.
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Free Plan: Includes 750 hours of db.t2.micro instance usage per month for 12 months, along with 20GB of storage.
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Features: Managed relational database service, supports multiple database types.
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Pros: High scalability, supports multiple databases.
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Cons: Limited to the first 12 months, not ideal for long-term free hosting.
Explore Amazon RDS’s free tier at Amazon RDS.
6. InfinityFree MySQL Hosting
InfinityFree offers unlimited MySQL database hosting as part of its free web hosting service. It’s perfect for basic websites or applications with minimal database needs.
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Free Plan: Unlimited MySQL databases with 5GB of storage for files.
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Features: Free web hosting with MySQL databases, unlimited bandwidth, and FTP access.
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Pros: Unlimited databases, free web hosting, and solid customer support.
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Cons: May have limitations on speed and performance.
Check out InfinityFree’s database hosting at InfinityFree.
7. PlanetScale
PlanetScale is a cloud-native database service based on MySQL, with a free tier designed for developers. It offers both relational and serverless capabilities.
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Free Plan: 5GB of storage and up to 1,000 active connections.
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Features: MySQL-compatible, serverless scaling, global availability.
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Pros: Scalable, modern MySQL database with serverless capabilities.
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Cons: Free tier is limited to smaller-scale applications.
Start with PlanetScale at PlanetScale.
8. Airtable
Airtable is a versatile cloud database that combines the functionality of a traditional database with the simplicity of a spreadsheet. It’s a good option for teams who want a more visual approach to database management.
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Free Plan: Includes 1,200 records per base and 2GB of attachments.
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Features: NoSQL database with spreadsheet-like interface, integrations with various tools.
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Pros: Easy to use, integrates with apps like Slack and Google Drive.
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Cons: Limited records and storage on the free plan.
Start with Airtable at Airtable.
Conclusion
These free database hosting services provide robust features for developers, hobbyists, and small business owners. They allow you to get started without any upfront costs, making them ideal for testing, development, or small projects. Whether you need relational, NoSQL, or cloud-based solutions, there’s an option to suit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the best free database hosting service for beginners?
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If you’re new to database management, Airtable is a great choice due to its user-friendly interface and spreadsheet-like setup.
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Can I scale my database with these free plans?
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Most services like Heroku Postgres and Google Firestore offer easy scaling, though some free plans have limitations.
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How secure is free database hosting?
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Free database services like MongoDB Atlas and Amazon RDS offer strong security features, including encryption, backups, and access control.
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What types of databases can I use for free hosting?
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You can choose from SQL databases (like PostgreSQL, MySQL) or NoSQL databases (like MongoDB and Firebase) based on your needs.
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Is there any time limit on the free database hosting?
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Some services like Amazon RDS and Heroku offer free tiers for limited periods (12 months for AWS), while others like MongoDB Atlas and ElephantSQL provide ongoing free plans with resource limits.
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