best relational databases

Explore a comprehensive comparison of the leading relational database management systems (RDBMS). Discover their features, advantages, and ideal use cases for projects with structured data and complex relationships. This guide will help you choose the most suitable option based on your scalability, cost, and deployment needs, differentiating between relational and non-relational databases for an informed decision. We analyze the best solutions for blogs, corporate websites, and online stores, highlighting their consistency and transactional security.

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  1. 1

    MySQL

    104 Global Votes
    • Buena elección para web tradicional

      (+4)

    MySQL is an open-source relational database management system that combines speed, reliability, and ease of use. Its versatility and ability to integrate with the most widely used development languages make it ideal for most web projects and applications.

  2. 2

    Microsoft SQL Server

    75 Global Votes
    • Es un sistema de gestión de bases de datos relacionales

      (+3)

    Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system that provides exceptional performance and advanced capabilities for enterprise environments. It allows for the storage and management of large volumes of structured data, with optimization and analytics tools that ensure efficiency and scalability.

  3. 3

    Oracle Database

    30 Global Votes
    • Una de las bases de datos relacionales más antiguas y ampliamente utilizadas

      (+2)

    Oracle Database provides a robust and scalable platform for data management, excelling in high availability and reliability. Its ability to efficiently handle large data volumes and its strong security make it indispensable for enterprise environments with high requirements.

  4. 4

    MariaDB

    11 Global Votes
    • Alternativa de código abierto y gratuita a MySQL

      (+4)

    MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system that offers very high compatibility with MySQL, facilitating migration and the use of existing applications. It provides additional flexibility and performance improvements, such as the ability to handle up to 32 segments per key, surpassing MySQL in this regard.

  5. 5

    Azure SQL Database

    8 Global Votes
    • Ofrece alto rendimiento, resistencia y seguridad

      (+4)

    Azure SQL Database is a cloud-based relational database that automatically manages provisioning, patching, and backups. It provides a fully managed service ensuring high availability and reliability, allowing users to focus on application development without concerns about the underlying infrastructure.

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  7. 6

    SQLite

    6 Global Votes
    • Sobresale en aplicaciones integradas

      (+4)

    SQLite is a lightweight, embedded relational database that offers high performance and security, making it ideal for applications requiring local storage. Its self-contained and serverless nature greatly simplifies management and deployment across various environments, from mobile to embedded systems.

  8. 7

    Amazon Aurora

    6 Global Votes
    • Rendimiento cinco veces superior a MySQL

      (+4)

    Amazon Aurora delivers exceptional performance, being up to 5 times faster than MySQL and 3 times faster than PostgreSQL, ensuring efficient data management. Its cloud-native architecture provides high availability, seamless scalability, and a serverless configuration, simplifying administration and optimizing operational costs.

  9. 8

    Google Cloud SQL

    6 Global Votes
    • Servicio de bases de datos totalmente gestionado

      (+4)

    Google Cloud SQL provides a fully managed relational database service that simplifies administration and maintenance. It offers high availability and scalability, supporting MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, allowing businesses to focus on application development.

  10. 9

    PostgreSQL

    0 Global Votes
    • Es una base de datos relacional robusta

      (+4)

    PostgreSQL is an open-source relational database management system renowned for its speed, reliability, and flexibility. Its extensibility allows users to define custom data types and functions, making it ideal for diverse applications and development environments.

Frequently asked questions

This ranking evaluates popular relational databases like PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MySQL, Oracle, and SQL Server, highlighting their strengths in various scenarios, such as handling large data volumes, query complexity, and ease of use.
The results should be interpreted based on your specific needs. For instance, PostgreSQL excels at complex queries and large datasets, while MariaDB might be better for simple read-heavy operations and smaller datasets. Oracle and SQL Server are robust options for enterprise environments.
Yes, the ranking also considers cloud relational database services such as Azure SQL Database, Amazon Aurora, and Amazon RDS, which offer scalability and simplified management on platforms like Microsoft Azure and AWS.

How we built this ranking and what to consider when choosing

Our methodology for ranking relational databases focuses on providing a balanced view of their capabilities and use cases, drawing from community experience and highlighted technical features.

  • We consider each database's strengths in different scenarios, such as performance in complex queries (PostgreSQL) versus simple read operations (MariaDB, MySQL).
  • We assess suitability for different dataset sizes, from small (MariaDB) to terabytes (PostgreSQL, Oracle).
  • Ease of use and integration with other systems are considered, highlighting SQL Server's integration with Microsoft and Oracle's flexibility.
  • Information is based on head-to-head comparisons and user experiences from those who have migrated or used these databases in various projects.
  • Relational databases demonstrating performance and reliability across a variety of transactional and query workloads are included.
  • We consider databases that offer advanced features and flexibility, such as PostgreSQL's JSON support or Oracle's programmatic capabilities.
  • Scalability and the ability to handle large data volumes are key factors, especially for enterprise-grade solutions.
  • Cloud database services offering fully managed solutions and scalability, such as Azure SQL Database and Amazon Aurora, are also included.