8 Microsoft Azure SQL Database Alternatives That Simplify Database Management

Pricing and product information are correct as of December 2, 2024, and subject to change.

Cloud-native applications have changed how businesses handle data storage and management. Self-hosted databases give you complete control, but they also burden your team with maintenance tasks that take valuable time away from doing what you do best: building great applications. As organizations increasingly prioritized developer productivity in the late 2000s, many began shifting away from self-hosted databases toward managed solutions that could automate routine maintenance. Microsoft Azure SQL Database launched in 2010 as one of the first cloud-based relational database services, providing automated management of routine database administration tasks including patches, backups, and performance scaling.

While Microsoft Azure SQL Database is a good fit for some use cases, startups and growing businesses often need alternatives that better align with their changing requirements. Whether you need more straightforward pricing, better performance, or improved developer tools, these might be a better solution for your database needs.

How to choose the right managed database service

Choosing the right managed database service isn’t just about features and pricing. Yes, those matter, but it’s also about finding a solution that helps your team build better applications faster (and more reliably). There’s a lot to think about when exploring options, but we recommend starting with the following criteria:

• Performance and reliability: Look at the provider’s track record for uptime, their SLA guarantees, and their database performance metrics. Consider factors like IOPS limits, connection pooling capabilities, and read replica options.

• Cost structure: Analyze pricing models and potential hidden costs. Look for providers with transparent pricing that includes essential features like backups, monitoring, and high availability. Consider whether reserved instances or volume discounts align with your usage patterns.

• Scaling capabilities: Understand how the platform handles both vertical and horizontal scaling. Check if the provider offers automated scaling options, and verify that scaling operations don’t require extended downtime.

• Backup and recovery: Evaluate the backup frequency, retention policies, and restore capabilities. Look for providers with point-in-time recovery and the ability to restore to different regions or instances.

• Security features: Look for features like encryption at rest and in transit, network isolation, and access controls. Consider whether the provider meets your compliance requirements (like SOC 2, HIPAA, or GDPR).

• Geographic availability: Consider the provider’s data center locations in relation to your user base and regulatory requirements. Look for options that support cross-region replication and disaster recovery (if you need high availability across regions).

• Developer experience: Evaluate the quality of management interfaces, API documentation, and development tools. Consider whether the platform provides features like connection pooling, query analysis, and performance insights.

8 Microsoft Azure SQL Database alternatives

The managed database landscape offers compelling alternatives for organizations seeking options beyond Microsoft Azure SQL Database services. From DigitalOcean’s developer-friendly approach to robust enterprise platforms, these solutions deliver powerful database management without the complexity. Here are eight standout options worth considering:

1. DigitalOcean Managed Databases

DigitalOcean Managed Databases provides a developer-friendly approach to database management that balances simplicity with power. The platform supports popular engines like PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MongoDB with automatic updates and daily backups included at no extra cost. Whether you’re scaling a production workload or launching your first database-driven application, DigitalOcean’s predictable pricing and straightforward management helps developers focus on building great applications instead of managing infrastructure.

Key features:

• Global availability across multiple regions

• Automated daily backups with point-in-time recovery

• Simple horizontal scaling with read-only nodes

• Built-in monitoring and alerting

• Private networking with end-to-end encryption

• Automated failover for high availability

• One-click standby nodes for redundancy

• Enterprise-class hardware for consistent performance

Pricing information:

• Basic clusters starting at $15/month (1 vCPU, 1GB RAM)

• Flexible sizing up to 16 vCPUs and 64GB RAM

• Options for general purpose and storage-optimized workloads

• MongoDB clusters from $15/month

• PostgreSQL and MySQL clusters from $15/month

• Redis caching from $15/month

• Free automated backups included

• No hidden fees for standard features

2. AWS RDS

Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) delivers a mature managed database platform that’s reliable in enterprise environments. The service supports multiple database engines and provides deep integration with other AWS services. While powerful, RDS comes with AWS’s characteristic complexity—both in configuration options and pricing structure. For organizations already invested in AWS infrastructure, RDS offers advanced features like cross-region replication and fine-grained performance controls (though these functions come with a steeper learning curve).

Key features:

• Extensive database engine options

• Multi-AZ deployments for high availability

• Performance Insights for query analysis

• Integration with AWS security features

• Automated backup and patching

• Easy scaling of compute and storage

• Advanced monitoring capabilities

• Custom parameter groups for fine-tuning

Pricing information:

• Pay-per-use model based on instance type

• Storage charged per GB-month

• Additional costs for backup storage

• I/O charges for certain instance types

• Reserved instances available for discounts

• Separate charges for data transfer

3. Google Cloud SQL

Google Cloud SQL delivers a fully managed relational database service supporting MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server engines. The platform seamlessly integrates with Google Cloud’s ecosystem while providing enterprise-grade security and reliability features. It stands out for automated operations and scaling capabilities, though some teams may find the initial setup process and IAM configurations more involved compared to simpler alternatives.

Key features:

• Support for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server

• Automated replication and failover

• Automatic storage increases

• Integrated with Cloud IAM and VPC Service Controls

• Real-time monitoring and diagnostics

• Cloud SQL Auth Proxy for secure connections

• Automated and on-demand backups

• Regional and cross-regional availability

Pricing information:

• Prices vary by region.

• High availability (HA) configuration doubles vCPU and memory costs

• Network egress: free within region, $0.12/GB between regions, $0.19/GB to internet

• Committed use discounts available with 1-year or 3-year terms

• Per-second billing with new customer $300 credit available

4. MongoDB Atlas

MongoDB Atlas delivers a cloud-native document database service that simplifies working with MongoDB. The platform provides simple scaling capabilities and developer-friendly features like built-in search, data visualization, and native time series support. Whether you’re building a modern application or migrating an existing MongoDB workload, Atlas provides tools to streamline your database operations.

Key features:

• Auto-scaling and self-healing deployments

• Built-in search and data visualization

• Multi-cloud and multi-region support

• Performance optimization tools

• Integrated data lake capabilities

• Advanced security controls

• Native time series collections

• Comprehensive monitoring tools

Pricing information:

• Free tier available for small workloads

• Shared clusters starting at $0.08 per hour

• Dedicated clusters from $57 per month

• Additional costs for data transfer

• Pay-as-you-go or committed pricing options

• Storage billed per GB-month

5. Akamai Connected Cloud Databases (formerly Linode)

Akamai Connected Cloud Databases combines traditional Linode’s simplicity with Akamai’s global edge network to deliver managed database services. The platform provides a great balance of performance and pricing, making it a great fit for teams that need reliable database hosting without complex configuration options. And with their acquisition by Akamai, the service now includes improved content delivery capabilities and edge computing features.

Key features:

• High-performance SSD storage

• Automated backup systems

• Built-in replication options

• Global data center presence

• Native DDoS protection

• Real-time monitoring tools

• Easy horizontal scaling

• Developer-friendly interface

Pricing information:

• MySQL and PostgreSQL clusters starting at $65/month (4GB RAM)

• High-availability options with 3-node clusters from $195/month

• Dedicated instances scaling up to 512GB RAM ($8,320/month)

• Multiple deployment options (single node or 3 nodes)

• No additional charges for backups

• Predictable monthly pricing

• Free inbound data transfer

• Straightforward billing structure

6. Vultr Managed Databases

Vultr Managed Databases offers a simple, easy approach to database hosting with a focus on performance and global availability. The platform provides managed PostgreSQL and MySQL instances across a global network of data centers that works well for teams that need reliable database services without the overwhelming features and price structure of larger cloud providers.

Key features:

• Automatic failover capabilities

• Daily automated backups

• 25+ global locations

• One-click deployment

• Automated patches and updates

• Built-in monitoring

• High availability options

• Dedicated vCPU configurations

Pricing information:

• Regular performance starting at $15/month (1GB RAM, 1 vCPU)

• Optimized instances from $90/month (4GB RAM, 1 vCPU)

• High-performance options from $18/month

• Storage included based on tier (25GB-12TB)

• Optional replica nodes available

• Hourly billing flexibility

• No hidden fees or charges

• Multiple performance tiers available

7. ScaleGrid

ScaleGrid offers a fully managed database hosting service that supports multiple cloud providers including AWS, Azure, and DigitalOcean. The platform’s multi-cloud flexibility and dedicated hosting options simplify database operations while giving teams more control over their infrastructure choices, whether you’re running MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Redis.

Key features:

• Cross-platform database support

• Multi-cloud deployment options

• Custom machine selection

• Advanced monitoring tools

• Automated backups

• Dedicated VM options

• Custom VPC support

• 24/7 technical support

Pricing information:

• Multi-cloud deployment options

• Customizable machine types

• Free migration support

• No vendor lock-in

• Flexible scaling options

• Volume discounts available

8. Heroku Postgres

Heroku Postgres delivers a proven PostgreSQL service trusted by developers for over a decade. The platform focuses on simplicity and integration with Heroku’s broader platform-as-a-service offerings. It’s primarily designed for Heroku users, but the service works well as a standalone database solution for teams that value simplicity and reliable performance.

Key features:

• Automated health checks

• Point-in-time recovery

• Follower databases

• Fork and follow capability

• Data clips for sharing

• Built-in performance analytics

• Automatic vacuuming

• Continuous protection

Pricing information:

• Essential tier starting at $5/month (1GB storage)

• Standard tier from $50/month (64GB+ storage)

• Premium tier from $200/month with high availability

• Storage options up to 4TB

• RAM configurations from 4GB to 768GB

• Automatic encryption at rest

• Private and Shield options for compliance needs

• Prorated to the second billing

Build your data layer on DigitalOcean Managed Databases

Choosing the right database service isn’t just about features—it’s about finding a partner that simplifies your entire database management journey. DigitalOcean Managed Databases delivers everything teams need to get up and running fast, all while offering transparent pricing and dependable uptime. Instead of spending time on database administration, your teams can focus on what matters most: building great applications.

DigitalOcean’s straightforward management console and API tools help developers work efficiently, while automated backups and failover capabilities help keep your data safe. The platform supports popular engines like PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MongoDB to make it easy to migrate existing applications or start fresh.

Plus, DigitalOcean offers more than just managed databases. It’s a complete cloud platform designed to help modern businesses grow without traditional cloud complexity. Your teams get access to a complete cloud platform—from Droplets for compute and Spaces for object storage to App Platform for application deployment hosting—all with the same predictable pricing and developer-friendly approach.

→ Sign up today and simplify your database management.