Compare the Top Free Embedded Database Systems as of November 2025

What are Free Embedded Database Systems?

Embedded database systems are lightweight, self-contained databases that are integrated directly into applications, allowing data management without requiring a separate database server. They are optimized for performance and simplicity, often running within the same process as the host application, making them ideal for use in mobile apps, IoT devices, and small-scale applications. These databases support SQL or other query languages and offer full database functionality, including transaction management and data integrity. Embedded database systems are designed to operate with minimal configuration, providing fast, reliable data storage and retrieval within constrained environments. Their ease of integration and low resource usage make them essential for applications that need efficient local data management without the overhead of external databases. Compare and read user reviews of the best Free Embedded Database systems currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.

  • 1
    Ditto

    Ditto

    Ditto

    Ditto is an embedded database designed for mobile and edge devices that goes far beyond local storage. Unlike traditional embedded databases that operate in isolation, Ditto comes with built-in peer-to-peer sync and edge-aware connectivity, enabling devices to synchronize data without relying on a central server or constant internet access. At the core of Ditto is a CRDT-based (Conflict-Free Replicated Data Type) engine that guarantees strong eventual consistency across distributed nodes—even in fully offline, partitioned, or mobile-first environments. This allows developers to build highly resilient and collaborative applications where data is always local, yet automatically synchronized across devices when connections become available. Ditto abstracts the complexity of connectivity with dynamic, channel-agnostic discovery. Devices running Ditto form ad-hoc mesh networks using Bluetooth, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi, LAN, cellular, or any combination syncing data changes in real-time.
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  • 2
    Perst

    Perst

    McObject

    Perst is McObject’s open source, dual license, object-oriented embedded database system (ODBMS). It is available in one edition developed as an all-Java embedded database, and another implemented in C# (for Microsoft .NET Framework applications). Perst gives developers the ability to store, sort, and retrieve objects in their applications with maximum speed and with low memory and storage overhead while leveraging the object-oriented paradigm of Java and C#. In the TestIndex and PolePosition benchmarks, Perst displays one of its strongest features: its significant performance advantage over Java and .NET embedded database alternatives. Perst stores data directly in Java and .NET objects, eliminating the translation required for storage in relational and object-relational databases. This boosts run-time performance. Perst’s core consists of only five thousand lines of code. The small footprint imposes minimal demands on system resources.
    Starting Price: Free
  • 3
    IBM Informix
    IBM Informix® is a fast and flexible database with the ability to seamlessly integrate SQL, NoSQL/JSON, and time series and spatial data. Its versatility and ease of use make Informix a preferred solution for a wide range of environments, from enterprise data warehouses to individual application development. Also, with its small footprint and self-managing capabilities, Informix is well suited for embedded data-management solutions. IoT data demands robust processing and integration capabilities. Informix offers a hybrid database system with minimal administrative requirements and memory footprint combined with powerful functionality. Key features make Informix ideal for multi-tiered architectures that require processing at the device level, at gateway layers and in the cloud. Native encryption to protect data at rest and in motion. Support for flexible schema, multiple APIs and configurations.
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