10 Free Database Hosting Providers To Go For

Whether you are a newbie developer looking to create a personal blog or a veteran looking to start a new critical project, a free database hosting service will allow you to scale up and fill true colors in your dream. With the free hosting option, you can easily experiment with different options. You are able to select the one that best caters to your needs. However, be careful if you’re offered everything for free. Providers that do this often have some hidden motive like vendor lock-in period, poor data security, etc. So, the best option is to avoid them and look for reliable service. Here in this article, we have listed the best free database hosting providers that offer secure and reliable services. But before that, let us expand our knowledge base on database hosting.

Back to basics – What is database hosting?

Database hosting service refers to a provider that offers proper infrastructure and hardware to the client to run a database of their choice. Besides this, they need to provide a secured environment to access it, the

ability to scale up or down, and provide managed services according to the needs of the user.

With database hosting users enjoy better availability with no downtime. Additionally, they get the choice of database and enjoy full control without any unnecessary stress of technical issues. Besides this, it removes the need to install heavy infrastructure to set up a proper database. As a result, there is no cost to maintain the expensive hardware. In the below-mentioned list, we have organized the top free MySQL hosting, free PostgreSQL hosting, and free SQL hosting service providers. Now you can select the best one for your upcoming project.

10 best free database hosting providers

1. DigitalOcean

With DigitalOcean, you get free NoSQL database hosting, free PostgreSQL, and free MySQL database hosting for 60 days. The company handles all the technical maintenance and complexities so that you can focus on your project. In case the demands of your app or project elevate, you can quickly scale up to support your growth. Also, the company performs automatic data backup every day in case you need to restore anything. However, you can restore only up to 7 prior days. Furthermore, they offer end-to-end security so you don’t need to worry about data security and privacy.

Our Expert Rating: 100% Best Features Automated failover support Free 100$ credit limit for 60 days Lightning-fast speed and performance with fully managed databases

2. Kamatera

With Kamatera, you can get access to its premium services for a whole month. Yes, that is right, you get 30 days to test the features of this outstanding platform. They offer free cloud database hosting and you will enjoy one server with 100$ credits for any configuration you choose. Besides this, you will get 1000GB cloud block storage and 1000GB outgoing internet traffic. Moreover, you can easily upgrade or downgrade your server up to a 100$ credit limit in the free trial period. There are no hidden costs or fees to use these services. You just need to sign-up with the platform and enjoy these resources for your project.

Our Expert Rating: 98% Best Features Full Access to Kamatera's exclusive Cloud Management platform 24/7 support available Technical advisory support for best cloud configuration

3. Infinity Free

Infinity Free is another prominent name when it comes to free online database hosting. You get 5GB of data disk space in the free plan with unlimited bandwidth. Further, you enjoy 400 MySQL databases with free subdomains and full .htaccess support. No ads will be displayed on your website and the service provider guarantees a 99.9% uptime. So, you can deliver an excellent experience to your users. There are also no hidden costs in the plan. So if you are a beginner and looking to create a solid online presence for your business, then Infinity Free is one of the best options to opt for.

Our Expert Rating: 96% Best Features Unlimited hosting Easy software setup Free SSL on all your domains

4. MongoDB

With MongoDB hosting, you get a wide array of regions to choose to store your data. This reduces the latency time immensely so that your users enjoy a premium experience. Atlas (MongoDB’s DBaaS) offers superlative optimization tools with which it automates the critical operation to offer excellent performance. As your app grows, you can get on-demand schema advice to pave the way to the top. You will enjoy advanced security protocols. Therefore, your data is protected even if network encryption is bypassed by some third party.

Our Expert Rating: 96% Best Features Continuous backup support Multi-Region Fault tolerance Premium syncing available for better data availability and access

5. GoogieHost

With the free plan of the GoogieHost service provider, you get access to 100MB SSD storage. Furthermore - 2 MySQL databases to securely save your data and manage it properly. All users get a Direct Admin panel to easily perform all the operations without any unnecessary hassle. Besides this, you get to enjoy 100 GB Bandwidth and 2 Business emails so that you can offer professional services to your clients. With Cloudflare protection in place, there's need to worry about the security and privacy aspect of your data. The company even guarantees 99% uptime for better data availability.

Our Expert Rating: 94% Best Features Two free online file managers are available No forced ads on your website Free CMS installers

6. FreeHosting.com

If you are looking for a web host with PHP and MySQL support, then FreeHosting.com is an excellent option to go for. The platform offers free web hosting with a database. Users get 10 GB storage with unmetered bandwidth for one website. You also receive one email account to offer your professional services. Besides all this, they offer cPanel support to handle all the operations seamlessly and increase productivity. On top of this, you can easily create an online presence with the interactive site builder, even if you are a greenhorn with no coding and technical knowledge. This way you can easily broadcast your services and grow your business with new opportunities.

Our Expert Rating: 96% Best Features Single click app installer with 400+ app support Unlimited FTP accounts Apache/PHP 7 support

7. AwardSpace

With AwardSpace you get 1000MB disk space and 5 GB bandwidth in the free plan. Once you sign-up with the platform, your account is activated instantly so that you can start planning your project and broadcast your services without any delay. The company gives you access to different PHP versions and MYSQL 5.7 to handle the database for your sites. There will be no-ads or annoying messages on your website. The provider promises 99.9% uptime for their network so that you can be available to your users all the time.

Our Expert Rating: 96% Best Features User-friendly web-based file manager 24/7/365 support available One-click CMS installer

8. ScaleGrid

When it comes to the best free MySQL hosting, ScaleGrid is one of the excellent service providers in the market. Here you get multi-cloud support and full SSH access so that you can install custom software according to your needs. Besides this, you can even install different plugins to increase your productivity level. The best thing about this service provider is that there is no vendor lock-in period so you have full freedom while using its services. You can test all these features for free for the first 30 days and then make an informed decision. Moreover, you can even bring your own cloud plans and enjoy dedicated hosting plans on different data centers.

Our Expert Rating: 94% Best Features One-click restore option Custom alert support Free 24/7 support is available

9. Cloudways

With no lock-in period and the freedom to host unlimited applications, Cloudways offer marvelous plans when it comes to free database hosting.  Migration services are provided, where the company handles all the technical processes and you can sit back and relax. You get the option to switch between MySQL and MariaDB according to your needs. Moreover, you get access to several PHP versions. The company has 60+ data centers, so you can choose the best region to avail outstanding data availability with minimal latency time. Cloudways has dedicated firewalls in place to protect your data and further performs round-the-clock monitoring to keep a check on all aspects.

Our Expert Rating: 94% Best Features Automated backups Auto Healing support to avoid website crashing 24/7/365 undaunted support

10. A2 Hosting

With different database options to choose from, A2 hosting offers ultra-fast speed and performance with its premium servers. You get RAID-10 SSD storage which further elevates the speed. You also get full root access and can customize different aspects according to your needs. The servers can handle up to 9 times more traffic than the ordinary ones and offer 3 times more read/write speed. Further, A2 hosting guarantees 99.9% uptime so can totally rely on their servers for your next project. The company offers a 30-day hassle-free money-back period, so if you are not satisfied with the services, you can easily get a full refund.

Our Expert Rating: 92% Best Features Modern security protocols for better data security Free MySQL database hosting with remote access Budget-friendly prices

Where do I begin?

This is a common query when you are thinking of buying database hosting. Understanding SQL will aid in clearing your headspace to make an informed decision. SQL refers to the programming languages that help in effective data management of RDBMS (Relational database management system).

SQL is further divided into 2 main categories:

MySQL

It is a well-known open-source RDBMS that you can use for free. As it is a hassle-free option, you will find it in almost all hosting plans. There are numerous other types of DBMS as well. Some of its famous examples include PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and MariaDB. Due to its convenience and ease of use, it is a user-friendly option. It is also known for its wide availability and swiftly understandable interface.

NoSQL

It is a shorthand for “not only SQL”. Even top technology giants like Facebook, Amazon, and Google use this type of database. Since they have large chunks of data to handle, this DBMS allows easy scalability as well as enhances the data performance. Additionally, using this, organizations tend to scale across different servers and hosts horizontally. Some of the popular NoSQLs include Cassandra, CouchDB, and MongoDB. Recently, it has been gaining more and more popularity.

How to choose the perfect database hosting?

Following are the top aspects that you should keep in mind while choosing the right database hosting.

⦁ Cost

Cost may not seem to be an issue when your data is less. However, as soon as your website traffic starts skyrocketing, you will need paid database hosting providers.

⦁ Level of control

Businesses looking for complete control over every minute detail of the database should opt for the on-premise option as hosted databases offer full root access. However, when it comes to applying strict restrictions on handling sensitive data, the self-hosted option is best to opt for.

⦁ DBaaS

Some companies only host databases for other companies, but when you are looking for a hosted database, then you can opt for DBaaS to remove the stress of database management from your shoulders. Therefore, you can progressively work on your project and pave its way to the top.

Advantages and disadvantages of using a free hosting plan

Free hosting plans may fascinate you at first. But be mindful of the pros and cons before you jump to the final conclusions.

Pros of free hosting

• Since you get the database free of cost, it is considered to be a highly affordable plan.
• Most users find these plans easily scalable and adaptable to use.
• They do not require strong technical expertise in database management.
• All the resources are utilized properly.
• Setting up physical databases requires no investment.

Cons of free hosting

• There are no configuration controls which may result in limited access.
• Sometimes, database migration is quite difficult to apprehend and perform.
• Once you upgrade your plan, the costs become too high.
• Such plans lack strong security which may lead to data leaks.

A few words on security

When it comes to database server security, you need to look into physical, network, and system security. This process is known as hardening. There are several measures that you can take to elevate security and avoid losing data to cyber-attacks.

Ensure physical database security

If you have sensitive data on your database, then avoid using the shared web server. No doubt, the option is quite cheaper, but there is a high risk associated with it when it comes to data handling.

Lockdown privileges and accounts

The best way to keep your data safe from hackers is to configure every account with a strong password. In case, you don’t need these accounts, then lock them and delete them so that third-party users can’t misuse them.

Regular patching

Keep monitoring your database regularly and apply optimum patches to avoid any security flaws. Hackers always keep a keen eye on these flaws to exploit your sensitive data, so regular patching will help you keep them at a bay.

Properly encrypt all files and backups

With encryption protocols in place, nobody can access your data without the proper key. Keep your keys safe, away from public access sites, and never share them with unauthorized users.

Our favorite affordable database hosting providers

When looking for a web host with PHP and MySQL support, you need to focus on choosing a provider that comes in your range. Thankfully, there are several database hosting providers online that impart excellent database hosting at a reasonable cost.

We have shortlisted the top three among them namely, Hostinger, InterServer, and Siteground. All these three database hosting providers have the best free MySQL database hosting that you can count on! They may not provide free SQL database hosting but their cheap paid plans will win your heart instantly.

1. Hostinger

	Starting Price $2.99 per month Visit Hostinger
Hostinger database host offers cheap web hosting at 2.99$ per month with a 1-year subscription. In it you get 100 GB SSD storage, unmetered traffic, 15 MySQL user connection, and many more features.

2. Interserver

	Starting Price $2.50 per month Visit Interserver
With unlimited MySQL DB, PHP 5.5,5.6, and 24/7 support, Interserver offers a cheap hosting plan starting at 2.50$ per month. You get unlimited SSD storage, and email accounts with a 30-day money-back period. Besides this, you enjoy full root access to customize different aspects according to your needs.

3. SiteGround

	Starting Price $3.99 per month
Giving support for both MySQL and PostgreSQL databases, SiteGroud offers premium hosting services at 3.99$ per month. You can create unlimited databases and host one website with 10 GB web space. Moreover, you get unmetered data transfer with unlimited sub and parked domain. In case you are not satisfied with the services, the company offers a 30-day money-back period.

Let’s summarize

Summing up, we have covered all the vital points that promise outstanding performance and effortless scalability in a jiffy. Go through all of the points and get acquainted with the right option that offers higher flexibility as per the growing customer requirements.

Now that you are fully aware of all the top free database hosting providers, it is time to analyze all the options shared above and make a wise choice in the end. Depending on your website’s personalized requirements, you will have to shortlist all the ones that can prove to be useful and have cheaper upgrade plans. This is to ensure that you can upgrade without worrying about paying a hefty upgrade charge.

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