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- Software out there for the Mac. If you’re looking for free or open source database software for your Mac, you’ll want to take a closer look at some of these options. As you select your Mac database software tool, remember that software needs vary. So, make your database software selection carefully. Do you use free or open source Mac.
- 7 of the Best Database Tools for Macs. SQLite's code is in the public domain, which makes it free for commercial or private use. This relational database management system is.
- Firebird provides the database solution for developing interoperable applications which work in homogeneous and hybrid environments. This relational database management system is open source and runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac. Features: Firebird has multi-generational architecture and hence it supports OLTP and OLAP applications.
Open Source Development. Documentation and resources for Bonjour, Java, UNIX, and WebKit. Mac OS Forge. Open development of select macOS projects Tools and Technologies. Why you'll love to develop on your Mac Open Source in macOS. Learn about the 200+ open source projects that ship with macOS Darwin Technologies. Following is a handpicked list of Top Free database, with popular features and download links. This comparison list contains open-source tools that may have freemium features. MySQL is an open-source relational database which runs on a number of different platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, etc. Platform: Linux, Windows, and Mac.
Below are the 6 tools (arranged alphabetically):
Airtable
Graph DB
MariaDB (Opensource)
PostgreSQL (Opensource)
QuintaDB
Sonadier
There are many technology solutions—such as business intelligence, big data, data analysis, and data extraction software—that can give the required leverage.
But an effective lever needs the right fulcrum, or support base: you’d need a rich database. To achieve this, begin with database management software. This type of tool will allow you to store, manipulate, and retrieve organizational data for further use in other software.
In this article, we’ll look at the six top-rated free and open source database software that you can start using right away!
What does “top-rated” mean? Each of the six tools highlighted in this piece have above-average overall user ratings compared to other products in the category. You can find our full methodology here.
6 top-rated free and open source database software solutions
1. Airtable
Airtable is cloud-based database software that comes with features such as data tables for capturing and displaying information, user permissions for managing the database, and file storage and sharing capabilities with document history tracking.
The tool can also be used to manage and track tasks using its kanban dashboards, built-in calendars, and spreadsheets.
Airtable’s free plan allows for unlimited bases (data tables), 1,200 records per base, 2GB file attachments per base, and up to 2 weeks of revision and snapshot history.
Viewing records in Airtable (Source)
Pros: Users mention that the tool is easy to get started with due to its pre-built database templates for different business purposes, such as lead management, bug tracking, and applicant tracking.
Cons: Users mention that the tool offers limited relational database functionality, making it difficult to link records residing in multiple tables.
Cost to upgrade: Airtable comes in three paid plans: Plus, Pro, and Enterprise (custom pricing). Discounts are available on annual subscriptions.
Mobile apps: iOS, Android
Most suitable for: Small teams that have members with limited programming skills and would like software that makes it easy to add, delete, and modify data.
Highly rated by: In the past year, 81% of Airtable’s user reviews on Capterra came from individuals at small businesses across a variety of industries. The top five were marketing & advertising, computer software, higher education, design, and non-profit.
2. GraphDB
GraphDB is a graphical database that comes with both cloud and on-premise deployment options. It offers features such as data repositories, textual analytics, and knowledge graphs.
The tool can be used to tag and analyze textual data semantically based on keywords and topics or concepts. The tagged data can then be visualized as knowledge graphs to search and find relationships between disparate data.
GraphDB’s free plan includes features such as full SPARQL (query language) support, JAVA scripting, and a plugin API. You’ll have to upgrade for fully managed services and commercial SLAs.
Viewing a knowledge graph in GraphDB (Source)
Pros: Users mention that the tool is easy to setup and has a user-friendly interface that is simple for novice users to get started with.
Cons: Users mention that the tools slow down when importing large files.
Cost to upgrade: Graph DB comes in two paid plans with custom pricing. The first plan, GraphDB Standard, includes all the features of the free plan as well as support for high-performance load, query, and inference and commercial SLA. The second paid plan, GraphDB Enterprise, adds fully-managed services and advanced full-text search.
Mobile apps: The software doesn’t have mobile apps but it supports web browser access with its cloud-based version.
Most suitable for: Businesses that need to analyze large volumes of data in visual formats, such as knowledge graphs.
Highly rated by: To date, 40% of GraphDB’s reviews on Capterra came from individuals at small businesses, 20% from midsize, and 40% from large. Most reviews came from users in the biotechnology industry, followed by education management, then financial services, then hospital and healthcare.
3. MariaDB
MariaDB is an open source relational database for data storage, data insertion into tables, data modifications, and data retrieval. As an open source solution, the tool is free to use and you can get started by downloading the software on your desktop or laptop.
Using command line to backup and restore data in MariaDB (Source)
Pros: Users mention that MariaDB’s open source community consist of active members who roll out patches and updates regularly.
Cons: Users mention that the tool lacks a graphical user interface and users can operate the tool only by using the command line.
Cost to upgrade: While MariaDB is an open source tool, there is a commercial, licensed version available. Businesses can also buy a custom-priced, fully-managed version whose installation, back up, and maintenance is taken care of by the vendor.
Mobile apps: The tool is currently not supported on mobile devices.
Most suitable for: Freelancers and teams with programming skills and knowledge of querying languages.
Highly rated by: In the past year, 53% of MariaDB’s reviews on Capterra came from individuals at small businesses, 27% from midsize, and 20% from large. Most reviews came from users in the computer software industry, followed by IT services, higher education, then investment banking.
4. PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is an open source database that comes with features such as data indexing, user configuration settings, data import/export, and version control.
While PostgreSQL is a relational database, it also allows creating NoSQL databases with programming languages such as Python and JSON.
Creating database backup in PostgreSQL
Pros: Users mention that the tool has a large open source community that has built several plugins for the tool, improving its functionality.
Cons: Users mention that it takes a long time to install and configure the solution.
Cost to upgrade: As an open source tool, PostgreSQL is available for free. However, users will have to take care of data backup and ensure that they manually update the tool with new patches that are released by community members.
Mobile apps: Currently, the solution doesn’t offer any mobile apps.
Most suitable for: Businesses that are looking for a relational database that can also accommodate NoSQL data storage to avoid data scaling issues.
Highly rated by: In the past year, 56% of PostgreSQL’s reviews on Capterra came from individuals at small businesses, 15% from midsize, and 29% from large. Most reviews came from users in the computer software industry, followed by IT services, financial services, and telecommunications.
5. QuintaDB
QuintaDB is a cloud-based relational database that comes with features such as a form builder, user permission settings, data import/export, team calendars, and email/SMS notifications.
QuintaDB’s free version allows for creating forms (up to 5) and records in the database (up to 1,000), and sharing/storing files (up to 500MB).
Configuring a relational database in QuintaDB (Source)
Pros: Users mention that the tool offers flexibility in setting up user permissions, allowing them to collaboratively use the database with multiple members with different levels of access rights.
Cons: Users mention that the tool offers limited pre-built database templates and web forms—it takes them time to custom design tables using their own CSS.
Cost to upgrade: QuintaDB comes in six paid plans: Standard, Professional, Enterprise, Standard Express, Professional Express, and Enterprise Express. Discounts are available on half-yearly and annual subscriptions.
Mobile apps: Currently, there are no mobile apps available. However, you can access the tool via a mobile web browser.
Most suitable for: Teams that need a database with easy-to-configure user permission, making it possible for many users to review and change the data.
Highly rated by: In the past year, 33% of QuintaDB’s reviews on Capterra came from individuals at small businesses, 42% from midsize, and 25% from large. Most reviews came from users in the computer software industry, followed by marketing and advertising, sports, then education management.
6. Sonadier
Sonadier is cloud-based solution for creating databases and web forms. The tool comes with features such as form generation through a drag-and-drop interface, file management, user data sharing permissions, data import/export, and data versioning.
Sonadier’s free plan allows file storage and form creation, limited to 10,000 submissions. You’ll have to upgrade to add more than 5 users and unlock advanced features such as submissions, custom domains, version history, custom groups, and single sign-on.
Configuring user permissions in Sonadier (Source)
Pros: Users like the clean interface of the solution, which makes creating databases and forms quick and simple.
Cons: Users mention that the customer support takes a long time to respond to requests for bug fixes.
Cost to upgrade: Sonadier comes with two paid plans: a Team plan and custom-priced Enterprise plan. There are “add-on” features, such as analytics and development scripts, for an additional fee per month.
Mobile apps: Currently, there are no mobile apps available. However, you can access the tool via a mobile web browser.
Most suitable for: Small teams that need an easy-to-use tool for creating databases and web forms.
Highly rated by: In the past year, 9% of Sonadier’s reviews on Capterra came from individuals at small businesses, 18% from midsize, and 73% from large. Most reviews came from users in the banking industry, followed by computer software, construction, and then food and beverages.
Methodology
In this article, we’ve classified a product as free if it:
- Offers a free, stand-alone version of the software (not a trial version that prompts the user to purchase the product after a limited amount of time).
- Meets our database software market definition.
Software that met the market definition also needed a minimum of 10 user-submitted reviews published during May 1, 2018-May 1, 2019, and have an above-average overall user rating.
- “Top” free and open source tools were rated at least 4.5/5 stars overall by users.
Note: The content in this piece provides opinions and points of view expressed by users; it doesn’t represent the views of Capterra.
5/27/2019: This piece has been updated to include new free database software options and provide up-to-date information on the original options.
Looking for IT Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best IT Management software solutions.
A Database is a systematic collection of data which supports storage and manipulation of information. It is usually managed by a Database Management System (DBMS). Data within a database is typically modeled in rows and columns in tables to make data querying and processing more efficient. Following is a handpicked list of Top Free database, with popular features and download links. This comparison list contains open-source tools that may have freemium features.
1) MySQL
MySQL is an open-source relational database which runs on a number of different platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, etc.
Platform: Linux, Windows, and Mac.
Languages: C, Java, SQL, C++, Perl, Python, Tcl, and PHP.
Cloud Version: Yes
Platform: Linux, Windows, and Mac.
Languages: C, Java, SQL, C++, Perl, Python, Tcl, and PHP.
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- The tool provides Scalability and Flexibility
- The tool has web and data warehouse strengths
- It provides high Performance
- It has Robust Transactional Support
Verdict: MySQL can be used for packaged software, and business-critical systems and high-volume websites.
Link:https://www.mysql.com/
2) PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is an enterprise-class open source database management system. It supports both SQL for relational and JSON for non-relational queries. It is backed by an experienced community of developers who have made a tremendous contribution to make it highly reliable Database management software.
Platform: Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Languages: PL/Tcl, PL/pgSQL, PL/Python, and PL/Perl.
Cloud Version: No.
Features:
- Compatible with various platforms using all major languages and middleware
- Standby server and high availability
- The tool has mature server-side programming Functionality
- Log-based and trigger-based replication SSL.
- It offers a most sophisticated locking mechanism.
- Support for multi-version concurrency control
- It provides support for client-server network architecture
- The tool is Object-oriented and ANSI-SQL2008 compatible
- PostgreSQL allows linking with other data stores like NoSQL, which act as a federated hub for polyglot databases.
Verdict: PostgreSQL enables you to create custom data types and range of query methods. You can run a store procedure in different programming languages.
Link:https://www.postgresql.org/
3) MongoDB
MongoDB is a document-oriented NoSQL database used for high volume data storage. It is a database which came into light around the mid-2000s. It falls under the category of a NoSQL database.
Platform: Cross-platform
Languages: C#, C, Java, C++, Perl, Scala, Ruby, etc.
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- Fully Automated scale provision, and manage complex, highly available, multi-node clusters with easily with API calls.
- This tool allows you to create globally distributed clusters.
- Easy to restore data when needed.
- It offers visualization, monitor, and alert on more than 80 metrics which track your cluster's health or integrate with third-party monitoring solutions.
- The tool has a powerful query language
- It uses rich JSON documents to store tables in a relational database.
- It provides MongoDB Atlas, which is a global cloud database.
Verdict: MongoDB allows you to validate the document. It is not suitable for those applications having complex transactions.
Link:https://www.mongodb.com/
4) OrientDB
OrientDB is an open-source NoSQL multi-model database which helps organizations to unlock the power of graph databases without deploying multiple systems to handle other data types. This helps you to increase performance and security while supporting scalability.
Platform: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, Solaris, and HP-UX
Languages: Java, PHP, Nodejs, .NET, Python, C, JavaScript, Ruby, Scala, Elixir, Android, Perl.
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- Unified Multi-Model API – for quicker deployment
- TinkerPop 3 for the state of fast and effective upgrades.
- The tool focused on Scalability and performance.
- Offers enhanced query planner.
Verdict: OrientDB has the ability to do multi-master replication, shared data using clusters, and automate distributed queries and transactions.
Link:https://orientdb.com/
5) MariaDB
MariaDB is a fork of the MySQL database management system. It is created by its original developers. This DBMS tool provides data processing capabilities for both small and enterprise tasks.
Platform: Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Languages: C#, Java, C++, Python, etc.
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- It operates under GPL, BSD or LGPL licenses.
- It comes with many storage engines, including the high-performance ones that can be integrated with other relational database management systems.
- It provides the Galera cluster technology.
- MariaDB can run on different operating systems, and it supports numerous programming languages.
Verdict: MariaDB is an alternate software to MySQL. It provides high scalability through easy integration.
Link:https://mariadb.org/
6) SQLite
SQLite is an open-source, embedded, relational database management system, designed circa 2000. It is a database, with zero configuration, no requirements of a server or installation. Despite its simplicity, it is laden with popular features of database management systems.
Platform: Blackberry, Symbian, Maemo, Android, MeeGo, WebOS, NetBSD, FreeBSD, illumos, Solaris 10, Windows, and Tizen.
Languages: C, C#, C++, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby, etc.
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- SQLite is very lightweight compared to other database management systems like SQL Server, or Oracle.
- It has an in-memory library that you can call and use directly without installation or configuration.
- You do not require any dedicated server to store database. The database is stored in the hard disk of a computer.
Verdict: SQLite is a C programming language library which
offers self-contained, reliable and full-featured SQL database engine.
Link:https://www.sqlite.org/index.html
7) Cassandra
Cassandra is a free tool which is designed to manage a large amount of data across a wide range of servers. The tool offers support for replicating across multiple datacenters.
Platform: Cross-platform
Languages: SQL, Go, C++, Python, and Node JS
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- Data is copied to numerous nodes to provide a fault-tolerance system.
- There are no network bottlenecks as every node in the cluster is sperate.
- The tool supports for contracts and services from third parties.
- It allows you to choose between synchronous or asynchronous replication for the update.
Verdict: Cassandra is for those people who want scalability and high availability without decreasing performance.
Link:http://cassandra.apache.org/
8) Microsoft SQL
SQL Server is RDBMS developed by Microsoft. SQL Server supports ANSI SQL, which is the standard SQL (Structured Query Language) language. However, SQL Server comes with its implementation of the SQL language, T-SQL (Transact-SQL).
Platform: Docker Engine, Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Languages: C, C++, Java, and C#
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- It provides integration of structured and unstructured data with the power of SQL Server and Spark.
- The tool offers scalability, performance, and availability for mission-critical, intelligent applications, data warehouses, and data lakes.
- It offers advanced security features to protect your data.
- Access to rich, interactive Power BI reports, to make a faster and better decision.
Link:https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/sql-server/sql-server-2019
9) CouchDB
CouchDB is open-source software that is based on the common standards to access your important data. It stores data on your server or with a leading service provider of your choice.
Platform: Cross-Platform
Languages: Java, Python, C++, Perl, C, JavaScript, PHP, etc..
Cloud Version: No
Features:
- It enables you to run a logical database server on any virtual machines.
- CouchDB tool works with external tools like load balancers, HTTP, and proxy servers.
- The too provides support of authentication and session.
- CouchDB cluster enables you to save data redundantly.
Verdict: CouchDB offers a scalable solution. It also provides flexibility for storing data.
Link:https://couchdb.apache.org/
10) Oracle
Oracle is self-repairing, self-securing, and self-driving designed to eliminate manual data management. It is an intelligent, secure, and highly available database in the cloud that helps you to grow your business.
Platform: Windows and Linux
Languages: C++, COBOL, C, Java, Visual Basic, and Pl/SQL.
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- Oracle Cloud is optimized for high-performance database workloads, streaming workloads, and Hyperscale big data.
- You can easily migrate to the Cloud.
- It provides the services based on how you like to operate, in order to run Oracle cloud in your data center.
Free Open Source Software Downloads
Verdict: Oracle database stores and retrieve information. Database server solves the problem related to information management.
Link:https://www.oracle.com/in/database/
11) DynamoDB
Amazon DynamoDB is a nonrelational database. This database system provides consistent latency and offers built-in security and in-memory caching. DynamoDB is a serverless database which scales automatically and backs up your data for protection.
Platform: Cross-platform
Languages: Go, Node.js, Java, .NET, C#, Ruby, Python, PHP, and Perl.
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- Key-value and document data model support.
- DynamoDB offers secondary indexes which provide the flexibility to query on any attribute.
- Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator delivers fast read performance for your DynamoDB.
- DynamoDB integrates with AWS Lambda to provide triggers.
Verdict: DynamoDB is a document database and can be used for various purpose.
Photo Database Software Mac
Link:https://aws.amazon.com/dynamodb/
12) Neo4j
Neo4j is an open-source NoSQL graph database, implemented in Java. It saves your data in graphs rather than in tables.
Platform: Cross-Platform
Languages: Java, Cypher Query Language, JavaScript, Java, etc.
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- It supports graph analytics and transactional applications.
- Continuous-time traversals for a relationship in the graph both in breadth and depth because of double linking on the storage level between node and relationship.
- Relationship in Neo4j is fast and allows you to materialize and use new relationships later to 'shortcut' and speed up the domain data when the new requirement arises
- Memory caching for graphs that provide compact storage, resulting in efficient scale-up.
Mac Database Software Open Source App
Verdict: Neo4j allows any organization to unlock its business value of connections, relationships in data, and influences through a new application.
Link:https://neo4j.com/
13) Firebirdsql
Firebird is an open-source SQL RDBMS that runs on, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and several Unix platforms.
Platform: Linux, Windows, HP-UX, macOS, Solaris, and AIX.
Languages: C/C++ and COBOL
Cloud Version: Yes
Features:
- Firebird allows you to build a custom version.
- It is a free to download, registration as well as deployment.
- The tool has enhanced multi-platform RDBMS.
- Provides a range of funding options from firebird memberships to sponsorship commitments.
Verdict: Firebird has development-friendly language support, stored procedures, and triggers.
Link:https://firebirdsql.org/
Summary
Name | Link | Platform | DB Capacity Limit |
MySQL | https://www.mysql.com/ | Windows, Linux, Mac. | No limitation |
PostgreSQL | https://www.postgresql.org/ | Windows, Linux, and Mac | No limitation |
mongodb | https://www.mongodb.com/ | Windows, Linux, Mac. | No limitation |
OrientDB | https://orientdb.com/ | Windows, Linux, Mac. | No limitation |
Mariadb | https://mariadb.org/ | Windows, Linux, Mac. | No limitation |
SQLite | https://www.sqlite.org/index.html | Windows, Linux, Mac. | No limitation |
Cassandra | http://cassandra.apache.org/ | Windows, Linux. | No limitation |
Microsoft SQL | https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/sql-server/sql-server-2019 | Windows, Linux. | 1 GB RAM & 10 GB database. 1 CPU. |
couchdb | https://couchdb.apache.org/ | Windows, Linux. | maximum size is 4 GB |
oracle | https://www.oracle.com/in/database/ | Windows, Linux | 1 GB RAM 11 GB database. 1CPU. |
DynamoDB | https://aws.amazon.com/dynamodb/ | Windows, Linux. | 25 GB, 25 write capacity units and 25 read capacity units for AWS Free Tier |
Neo4j | https://neo4j.com/ | Windows, Linux, Mac. | free Startup License |
firebirdsql | https://firebirdsql.org/ | Windows, Linux, and Mac. | Multi-CPU, 20 TB database. |