Best Embedded Database Systems for Freelancers

RaimaDB, an embedded time series database that can be used for Edge and IoT devices, can run in-memory. It is a lightweight, secure, and extremely powerful RDBMS. It has been field tested by more than 20 000 developers around the world and has been deployed in excess of 25 000 000 times. RaimaDB is a high-performance, cross-platform embedded database optimized for mission-critical applications in industries such as IoT and edge computing. Its lightweight design makes it ideal for resource-constrained environments, supporting both in-memory and persistent storage options. RaimaDB offers flexible data modeling, including traditional relational models and direct relationships through network model sets. With ACID-compliant transactions and advanced indexing methods like B+Tree, Hash Table, R-Tree, and AVL-Tree, it ensures data reliability and efficiency. Built for real-time processing, it incorporates multi-version concurrency control (MVCC) and snapshot isolation, making it a robust solution for applications demanding speed and reliability.

SQLite is a C-language library that offers a compact, efficient, and reliable SQL database engine that is fully featured. Recognized as the most popular database engine globally, SQLite is embedded in every mobile device and the majority of computers, while also being included in a myriad of applications that are used daily by individuals. Operating as an in-process library, SQLite provides a self-sufficient, serverless, and zero-configuration transactional SQL database engine. The source code of SQLite resides in the public domain, making it available for anyone to use freely, whether for commercial or personal purposes. With its extensive deployment and integration into numerous applications, SQLite stands out as an invaluable tool for developers in various high-profile projects. Its versatility and ease of use contribute to its unmatched popularity in the database landscape.

MySQL stands out as the most widely used open source database globally. Thanks to its established track record in performance, dependability, and user-friendliness, it has emerged as the preferred database for web applications, powering notable platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, alongside the top five websites. Furthermore, MySQL is also highly favored as an embedded database solution, being distributed by numerous independent software vendors and original equipment manufacturers. Its versatility and robust features contribute to its widespread adoption across various industries.

What makes eXtremeDB platform independent? - Hybrid storage of data. Unlike other IMDS databases, eXtremeDB databases are all-in-memory or all-persistent. They can also have a mix between persistent tables and in-memory table. eXtremeDB's Active Replication Fabric™, which is unique to eXtremeDB, offers bidirectional replication and multi-tier replication (e.g. edge-to-gateway-to-gateway-to-cloud), compression to maximize limited bandwidth networks and more. - Row and columnar flexibility for time series data. eXtremeDB supports database designs which combine column-based and row-based layouts in order to maximize the CPU cache speed. - Client/Server and embedded. eXtremeDB provides data management that is fast and flexible wherever you need it. It can be deployed as an embedded system and/or as a clients/server database system. eXtremeDB was designed for use in resource-constrained, mission-critical embedded systems. Found in over 30,000,000 deployments, from routers to satellites and trains to stock market world-wide.

VelocityDB stands out as a unique database engine, renowned for its ability to store data more quickly and efficiently than any competing solutions while being significantly more affordable. Unlike traditional databases that rely on mapping to tables, JSON, or XML, it retains .NET objects in their native format. Complementing this is VelocityGraph, an open-source property graph database that seamlessly integrates with the VelocityDB object database. As a C# .NET noSQL object database, VelocityDB is enhanced by VelocityGraph, making it one of the fastest, most scalable, and flexible database options available today. Bugs that are reported along with reproducible test cases are typically resolved within a week, showcasing the responsiveness of the development team. The primary advantage of using this database system lies in its remarkable flexibility, enabling developers to tailor their applications to meet even the most specific requirements. With VelocityDB, you have the freedom to select the most suitable data structures for your needs, granting you control over the persistent placement of data, as well as how it is indexed and accessed. This level of customization sets VelocityDB apart in the realm of database technology.

Chroma is an open-source embedding database that is designed specifically for AI applications. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for working with embeddings, making it easier for developers to integrate this technology into their projects. Chroma is focused on developing a database that continually learns and evolves. You can contribute by addressing an issue, submitting a pull request, or joining our Discord community to share your feature suggestions and engage with other users. Your input is valuable as we strive to enhance Chroma's functionality and usability.

LanceDB is an accessible, open-source database specifically designed for AI development. It offers features such as hyperscalable vector search and sophisticated retrieval capabilities for Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), along with support for streaming training data and the interactive analysis of extensive AI datasets, making it an ideal foundation for AI applications. The installation process takes only seconds, and it integrates effortlessly into your current data and AI toolchain. As an embedded database—similar to SQLite or DuckDB—LanceDB supports native object storage integration, allowing it to be deployed in various environments and efficiently scale to zero when inactive. Whether for quick prototyping or large-scale production, LanceDB provides exceptional speed for search, analytics, and training involving multimodal AI data. Notably, prominent AI companies have indexed vast numbers of vectors and extensive volumes of text, images, and videos at a significantly lower cost compared to other vector databases. Beyond mere embedding, it allows for filtering, selection, and streaming of training data directly from object storage, thereby ensuring optimal GPU utilization for enhanced performance. This versatility makes LanceDB a powerful tool in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

Microsoft has invested significant effort in creating a robust synergy between .NET and SQL Server, and VistaDB encapsulates this strength in a compact and easy-to-deploy format. The VistaDB engine consists of a singular, lightweight managed assembly that can be integrated with your application, with each database represented as a standalone file. By leveraging Xamarin, it is possible to have a complete relational database management system (RDBMS) right on your mobile device. VistaDB serves as a fully compliant ADO.NET data provider, offering support for Entity Framework, ADO.NET, and Typed Datasets, alongside its own direct access API tailored for efficient cursor operations. Thanks to ADO.NET, VistaDB seamlessly integrates with a broad spectrum of third-party object-relational mappers (ORMs), reporting tools, and additional resources. It also fully embraces the ADO.NET provider factory model, enabling developers to create a unified codebase that can adapt to either VistaDB or SQL Server during runtime. This versatility extends to a multitude of applications built on ADO.NET, encompassing not just your own software but also various reporting systems, ORMs, and other data-centric libraries within the .NET ecosystem. With VistaDB’s capabilities, developers can harness the power of a full-fledged database system while enjoying the simplicity of deployment and use.

Perst is an open source, dual-licensed object-oriented embedded database management system (ODBMS) created by McObject. It comes in two versions: one designed as an all-Java embedded database and another tailored for C# applications within the Microsoft .NET Framework. This database system enables developers to efficiently store, sort, and retrieve objects, ensuring high speed while maintaining low memory and storage requirements. By utilizing the object-oriented features of both Java and C#, Perst showcases a significant performance edge in benchmarks like TestIndex and PolePosition when compared to other embedded database solutions in Java and .NET. One of its standout capabilities is its ability to store data directly in Java and .NET objects, which eliminates the need for translation typical in relational and object-relational databases, thereby enhancing run-time performance. With a compact core comprised of only five thousand lines of code, Perst demands minimal system resources, making it an attractive option for resource-constrained environments. This efficiency not only benefits developers but also contributes to the overall responsiveness of applications utilizing the database.

Firebird is a relational database that incorporates numerous features compliant with ANSI SQL standards and is compatible with Linux, Windows, and multiple Unix systems. It boasts remarkable concurrency, impressive performance, and robust support for stored procedures and triggers, making it a popular choice for various applications. Since its inception in 1981, Firebird has been utilized in production environments under different names. The Firebird Project operates independently, consisting of C and C++ developers, technical advisors, and supporters who contribute to the ongoing development of this multi-platform relational database management system, which is based on the source code released by Inprise Corp (now Borland Software Corp) on July 25, 2000. Moreover, the Firebird Project provides a wealth of documentation for users, developers, and administrators, ranging from beginner Quick Start guides to in-depth expert articles that explore numerous aspects of the Firebird system. This extensive resource ensures that anyone working with Firebird can find the information they need to optimize their experience.

CUBRID is a relational database management system (DBMS) specifically designed for online transaction processing (OLTP) that adheres to ANSI SQL standards, offering features such as MVCC support, high-availability capabilities, and user-friendly GUI tools for database management and migration. Additionally, it boasts compatibility with Oracle and MySQL, and supports a range of interfaces, including JDBC. Installation is straightforward, and it includes native GUI-based administration tools to streamline the development process. CUBRID's architecture is multi-threaded and multi-server, equipped with a native broker middleware, a cost-based optimizer, and advanced caching methods to enhance OLTP performance. It also incorporates highly reliable automatic failover technology via the CUBRID Heartbeat engine core, ensuring minimal downtime. With multi-volume support and automatic volume expansion, it can handle an extensive number of databases, tables, and indexes without size limitations. Furthermore, its robust features make it suitable for dynamic and scalable applications in various industries.

InterSystems Cache®, a high-performance database, powers transaction processing applications all over the globe. It's used for everything, from mapping a million stars in the Milky Way to processing a trillion equity trades per day to managing smart energy grids. InterSystems has developed Cache, a multi-model (object-relational, key-value), DBMS and application server. InterSystems Cache offers multiple APIs that allow you to work with the same data simultaneously: key/value, relational/object, document, multidimensional, object, object, and object. Data can be managed using SQL, Java, node.js.NET, C++ and Python. Cache also offers an application server that hosts web apps (CSP, REST, SOAP and other types TCP access for Cache data).

Berkeley DB encompasses a suite of embedded key-value database libraries that deliver scalable and high-performance data management functionalities for various applications. Its products utilize straightforward function-call APIs for accessing and managing data efficiently. With Berkeley DB, developers can create tailored data management solutions that bypass the typical complexities linked with custom projects. The library offers a range of reliable building-block technologies that can be adapted to meet diverse application requirements, whether for handheld devices or extensive data centers, catering to both local storage needs and global distribution, handling data volumes that range from kilobytes to petabytes. This versatility makes Berkeley DB a preferred choice for developers looking to implement efficient data solutions.

IBM Informix® is a highly adaptable and efficient database that can effortlessly combine SQL, NoSQL/JSON, as well as time series and spatial data. Its flexibility and user-friendly design position Informix as a top choice for diverse settings, ranging from large-scale enterprise data warehouses to smaller individual application development projects. Moreover, due to its compact footprint and self-managing features, Informix is particularly advantageous for embedded data management applications. The rising demand for IoT data processing necessitates strong integration and processing capabilities, which Informix fulfills with its hybrid database architecture that requires minimal administrative effort and has a small memory footprint while delivering robust functionality. Notably, Informix is well-equipped for multi-tiered architectures that necessitate processing at various levels, including devices, gateway layers, and cloud environments. Furthermore, it incorporates native encryption to safeguard data both at rest and in transit. Additionally, Informix supports a flexible schema alongside multiple APIs and configurations, making it a versatile choice for modern data management challenges.

Experience the lightning-fast NoSQL database tailored for mobile and IoT applications, complete with built-in data synchronization. ObjectBox boasts a performance that is ten times superior to its competitors, significantly enhancing response times and facilitating real-time functionality. Our benchmarks speak for themselves, supporting a comprehensive range of systems from sensors to servers. Compatibility extends across various platforms, including Linux, Windows, macOS/iOS, Android, and Raspbian, whether you choose embedded solutions or containerized setups. Enjoy seamless data synchronization with ObjectBox's ready-to-use features, ensuring that your data is accessible precisely when and where it’s needed, allowing you to launch your application more swiftly. Develop applications that operate both online and offline, providing a reliable experience without the dependency on a continuous internet connection, creating an “always-on” atmosphere for users. Save valuable time and development resources by expediting your time-to-market, reducing both development costs and lifecycle expenses, while allowing developers to focus on high-value tasks, as ObjectBox mitigates potential risks. Moreover, ObjectBox can decrease cloud expenses by up to 60% by storing data locally at the edge and efficiently synchronizing only the necessary information. This approach not only optimizes performance but also enhances data management and accessibility across your applications.

Effortlessly handle intricate models with ArcadeDB while ensuring no sacrifices are made. Forget the need for Polyglot Persistence; there's no requirement for various databases. Within a single ArcadeDB Multi-Model database, you can efficiently store graphs, documents, key-value pairs, and time series data all together. Because each model is inherently integrated into the database engine, concerns about translation delays are eliminated. ArcadeDB’s engine, crafted using advanced technology, can process millions of records every second. What sets ArcadeDB apart is its consistent traversal speed, which remains unaffected by the size of the database, whether it contains a handful of records or billions. Furthermore, ArcadeDB can serve as an embedded database on a single server and has the capability to scale across multiple servers using Kubernetes. Its versatility allows it to operate on any platform while maintaining a minimal resource footprint. Your data's security is paramount; our robust, fully transactional engine guarantees durability for critical production databases. To uphold consistency across various servers, ArcadeDB employs a Raft Consensus Algorithm, ensuring that your data remains reliable and synchronized even in a distributed environment. With ArcadeDB, you can confidently manage your data needs without the hassle of juggling multiple systems.

Transform your embeddings effortlessly with a single, powerful tool. Discover an extensive database crafted to deliver embedding capabilities that previously necessitated several different platforms, making it easier than ever to enhance your machine learning endeavors swiftly and seamlessly with Embeddinghub. Embeddings serve as compact, numerical representations of various real-world entities and their interrelations, represented as vectors. Typically, they are generated by first establishing a supervised machine learning task, often referred to as a "surrogate problem." The primary goal of embeddings is to encapsulate the underlying semantics of their originating inputs, allowing them to be shared and repurposed for enhanced learning across multiple machine learning models. With Embeddinghub, achieving this process becomes not only streamlined but also incredibly user-friendly, ensuring that users can focus on their core functions without unnecessary complexity.

Businesses require a solution to maintain seamless operations of their systems, enhance data processing speed, and ensure storage reliability. In-memory technologies have emerged as effective tools for addressing these challenges. For over a decade, Tarantool has been assisting organizations globally in creating intelligent caches, data marts, and comprehensive client profiles while optimizing server utilization. This approach not only reduces the expenses associated with storing credentials compared to isolated solutions but also enhances both the service and security of client applications. Furthermore, it lowers the costs of data management by minimizing the number of separate systems that hold customer identities. By analyzing user behavior and data, companies can boost sales through improved speed and accuracy in recommending products or services. Additionally, enhancing the performance of mobile and web channels can significantly reduce user attrition. In the context of large organizations, IT systems often operate within a closed network loop, which poses risks as data circulates without adequate protection. Consequently, it becomes imperative for corporations to adopt robust strategies that not only safeguard their data but also ensure optimal system functionality.

The Mimer SQL codebase is recognized as one of the most advanced in the industry. It boasts a modular architecture that ensures exceptional maintainability, effortless scalability, and a focus on portability. Our expertise in maximizing the capabilities of computers and operating systems is reflected in Mimer SQL. Featuring a cutting-edge SQL compiler that employs the latest optimization techniques, alongside a top-tier storage engine, it establishes a foundation for unprecedented speed and efficiency, limited only by hardware constraints. The security features of Mimer SQL are continuously enhanced, leaving no aspect overlooked. It effectively safeguards data in use, in motion, and at rest, utilizing proven, reliable, and well-documented algorithms. As a perfect partner for contemporary in-vehicle computing solutions, Mimer SQL delivers performance and reliability that meet the rigorous demands of secure, adaptable, and dependable data management in the realm of modern autonomous and connected vehicles. With its innovative design, Mimer SQL ensures that users can confidently rely on it for all their data needs.

Apache Phoenix integrates OLTP and operational analytics within Hadoop, catering to low-latency applications by merging the strengths of both realms. It harnesses the power of standard SQL and JDBC APIs alongside comprehensive ACID transaction support, while also offering the adaptability of late-bound, schema-on-read capabilities typical of the NoSQL sphere by utilizing HBase as its underlying storage. Additionally, Apache Phoenix seamlessly connects with various other Hadoop components such as Spark, Hive, Pig, Flume, and MapReduce, positioning itself as a reliable data platform for OLTP and operational analytics within the Hadoop ecosystem through well-established, industry-standard APIs. The framework processes your SQL queries by translating them into a sequence of HBase scans, efficiently coordinating these scans to yield standard JDBC result sets. By directly employing the HBase API and leveraging coprocessors along with tailored filters, Apache Phoenix achieves impressive performance, typically delivering results in milliseconds for smaller queries and seconds for larger datasets containing tens of millions of rows. This remarkable efficiency makes it an ideal choice for applications demanding rapid data access and analysis.

The ITTIA DB suite brings together advanced features for time series, real-time data streaming, and analytics tailored for embedded systems, ultimately streamlining development processes while minimizing expenses. With ITTIA DB IoT, users can access a compact embedded database designed for real-time operations on resource-limited 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), while ITTIA DB SQL serves as a robust time-series embedded database that operates efficiently on both single and multicore microprocessors (MPUs). These ITTIA DB offerings empower devices to effectively monitor, process, and retain real-time data. Additionally, the products are specifically engineered to meet the needs of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) within the automotive sector. To ensure data security, ITTIA DB incorporates comprehensive protection mechanisms against unauthorized access, leveraging encryption, authentication, and the DB SEAL feature. Furthermore, ITTIA SDL adheres to the standards set forth by IEC/ISO 62443, reinforcing its commitment to safety. By integrating ITTIA DB, developers can seamlessly collect, process, and enhance incoming real-time data streams through a specialized SDK designed for edge devices, allowing for efficient searching, filtering, joining, and aggregating of data right at the edge. This comprehensive approach not only optimizes performance but also supports the growing demand for real-time data handling in today's technology landscape.

Explore, create, and manage databases utilizing Valentina DB, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite at no cost. Generate comprehensive business reports through Valentina Studio Pro, either on Valentina Server or within an application that utilizes an Application Developer Kit. Engage in backward engineering with standard practices while also employing forward engineering techniques in Valentina Studio Pro. Conduct reverse engineering to produce diagrams for pre-existing databases, and easily integrate new elements into these diagrams. Write SQL queries with features such as auto-completion and syntax highlighting, while also defining and managing favorite queries and accessing recent ones seamlessly. Benefit from a function browser that provides a dictionary for each SQL function as well as consoles that report errors, warnings, and performance metrics. Efficiently search and export result records in various formats including CSV, JSON, and Excel, while simultaneously editing the properties of multiple database objects. Delve deep into tables and fields with remarkable speed, and manage the addition or removal of users and groups, along with their associated privileges. This multifaceted approach ensures that users can handle database management with efficiency and effectiveness.

SAP HANA is an in-memory database designed to handle both transactional and analytical workloads using a single copy of data, regardless of type. It effectively dissolves the barriers between transactional and analytical processes within organizations, facilitating rapid decision-making whether deployed on-premises or in the cloud. This innovative database management system empowers users to create intelligent, real-time solutions, enabling swift decision-making from a unified data source. By incorporating advanced analytics, it enhances the capabilities of next-generation transaction processing. Organizations can build data solutions that capitalize on cloud-native attributes such as scalability, speed, and performance. With SAP HANA Cloud, businesses can access reliable, actionable information from one cohesive platform while ensuring robust security, privacy, and data anonymization, reflecting proven enterprise standards. In today's fast-paced environment, an intelligent enterprise relies on timely insights derived from data, emphasizing the need for real-time delivery of such valuable information. As the demand for immediate access to insights grows, leveraging an efficient database like SAP HANA becomes increasingly critical for organizations aiming to stay competitive.

Couchbase distinguishes itself from other NoSQL databases by delivering an enterprise-grade, multicloud to edge solution that is equipped with the powerful features essential for mission-critical applications on a platform that is both highly scalable and reliable. This distributed cloud-native database operates seamlessly in contemporary dynamic settings, accommodating any cloud environment, whether it be customer-managed or a fully managed service. Leveraging open standards, Couchbase merges the advantages of NoSQL with the familiar structure of SQL, thereby facilitating a smoother transition from traditional mainframe and relational databases. Couchbase Server serves as a versatile, distributed database that integrates the benefits of relational database capabilities, including SQL and ACID transactions, with the adaptability of JSON, all built on a foundation that is remarkably fast and scalable. Its applications span various industries, catering to needs such as user profiles, dynamic product catalogs, generative AI applications, vector search, high-speed caching, and much more, making it an invaluable asset for organizations seeking efficiency and innovation.

Neo4j's graph platform is designed to help you leverage data and data relationships. Developers can create intelligent applications that use Neo4j to traverse today's interconnected, large datasets in real-time. Neo4j's graph database is powered by a native graph storage engine and processing engine. It provides unique, actionable insights through an intuitive, flexible, and secure database.