This post may contain paid links to my personal recommendations that help to support the site!

If you’re a small business owner, then you know that choosing the right database can be a daunting task.

With so many options on the market, how do you know which is best for your needs?

In this blog post, I’ll compare 5 of the best databases for small businesses available and help you decide which one is right for you. Each database has its own unique set of features, so it’s important to choose one that will fit your specific needs.

Keep reading to learn more!

What Is the Best Database for Small Business?

Let’s jump into each of these database products and find out more!

1. Zoho Creator

Overview:

Zoho Creator is a database system built for small businesses. It allows you to create and deploy custom business applications quickly, streamline processes, and get more done in less time.

Zoho Creator offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that’s easy to use even if you don’t have any coding experience.

Key Features:

  • Drag and drop interface
  • Simple to use without coding experience
  • Native integrations with other Zoho products
  • Robust security features
  • No database knowledge required
  • Has good chat, email and phone support

Pricing:

Zoho Creator has a 15-day free trial as well as paid options.

Here are the pricing plans available:

  • Professional Plan: $25/month
  • Ultimate Plan: $400/year

For each of these plans, free trials are available for you to try out before you make a purchase!

My Take:

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, reliable database system that’s perfect for small businesses, then Zoho Creator is a great choice.

With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and native integrations with other Zoho products, it’s sure to help you get things done faster and easier.

The pricing options are also quite reasonable, so it’s definitely worth a try!

2. Airtable

Overview:

Airtable is a cloud-based database system that helps small businesses organize and manage their data quickly and easily using low-code application development. Their cloud databases are also capable of storing data.

It provides an intuitive user interface with powerful features such as collaboration tools, custom views, and automation capabilities. This makes it perfect for creating no-code apps, or customer relationship management if the need arises.

Airtable is commonly used among entrepreneurs who are just starting to expand their small businesses. Having a reliable cloud database makes running modern businesses much easier too.

Key Features:

  • Powerful collaboration tools
  • Flexible user interface
  • Intuitive interface
  • Custom views
  • Automation capabilities
  • Able to create no-code apps

Pricing:

Airtable’s pricing plans include both free and paid options.

Here is their pricing lineup:

  • Free Plan: Free
  • Plus Plan: $10/user/month
  • Pro Plan: $20/user/month
  • Enterprise Plan: Contact Airtable sales

Not sure which to choose?

If you’re still a small company, you can opt for the Plus Plan at only $10/month for a maximum of 5,000 rows of data. This should be more than enough for basic data flowing through your business systems.

However, if you’re planning on expanding to a bigger operation, having a larger database is also available through the Pro Plan, which has more rows at 50,000.

There are also more integrations available with the Pro Plan. So if you’re looking to take full advantage of Airtable’s integrations, the Pro Plan should be the one for you!

My Take:

If you’re looking for a cloud-based small business database software that is easy to use and manage, then Airtable is the best choice for your small business.

With its flexible user interface, intuitive design, and powerful collaboration tools, Airtable is sure to make managing and organizing data much easier.

The free plan is great for small businesses, and the paid plans offer more features and integrations, so you can always upgrade when your business grows.

3. MySQL

Overview:

MySQL is a powerful open-source database management system best suited for small businesses because of how cost-friendly it is.

Being a relational database, this makes retrieving and accessing your business data easier through SQL queries. This means that any future data analysts can analyze data with no difficulty.

MySQL is commonly used to power the backend data management of various business uses such as websites, applications, and more.

It also offers excellent scalability, so you can quickly grow your data storage needs as your business grows.

Key Features:

  • Open-source with secure architecture to protect client data
  • Highly scalable and customizable
  • Powerful server-side scripting capability
  • Compatible with multiple operating systems
  • Commonly used database across many small and medium businesses
  • Dedicated MySQL Workbench SQL Server Studio
  • Good integrations with a content management system (CMS)

Pricing:

MySQL is free to use through its open-source database software.

However, MySQL may require some technical experience to set up well. If you’re planning to set up and learn along the way, the learning curve might be steep for complete beginners.

My Take:

If you’re looking for an open-source software database best suited for small businesses, then MySQL is the best database software for it’s low-cost.

It’s free and offers great scalability options so that you can easily upgrade your data storage as your business expands.

It might require a bit of technical knowledge to set up, but once it’s running, MySQL is sure to provide you with all the power, scalability, and reliability you need for your small business.

4. PostgreSQL

Overview:

PostgreSQL is the best database software for managing data with SQL databases in mind specifically. This is because it integrates well with many data workflows in SQL and Python.

Like MySQL, PostgreSQL offers excellent performance as it can quickly handle large data sets. It’s best used to power the backend of websites and applications.

PostgreSQL also supports advanced features! You can even manage data taken from CSV files.

Through the use of Python and SQL scripts, PostgreSQL can be your one-stop database solution for both business intelligence and data storage.

Key Features:

Pricing:

PostgreSQL is free to use through its open-source database software.

My Take:

If you want a database best suited for advanced usage and Python data workflows, then PostgreSQL is the best software choice. It’s free, offers great scalability options, and is sure to offer powerful performance when managing big data sets.

It also integrates well with many business intelligence tools which makes PostgreSQL excellent for data analysis and reporting.

However, to make full use of all the features offered by PostgreSQL, you’ll need to have some basic technical training.

5. Oracle Database

Overview:

Oracle Database is best used for large-scale data management and is best suited for enterprise businesses. However, it can also be used by small businesses as well!

Oracle supports managing large amounts of data, providing secure data access, and more.

It’s an excellent choice if you’re planning to expand your business significantly in the future, as it can accommodate the growth of your company with ease.

Key Features:

  • Secure architecture with professional encryption
  • Powerful scalability features to accommodate large amounts of high-performance data
  • Cloud-based or on-premise autonomous database options
  • Flexible and customizable database operations
  • Compatible with multiple operating systems and platforms
  • Supports supply chain management and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Pricing:

Oracle Database is available for purchase through contacting sales. Database cost varies according to your business needs.

My Take:

When it comes to the best database software for small businesses, Oracle Database is a great choice. It’s secure and offers reliable performance and scalability features to accommodate a growing business.

It’s best suited for enterprise businesses or those planning on expanding significantly in the future. However, it can also be used by small businesses that need a more powerful database solution.

Due to the cost involved, it might not be best suited for small businesses on a tight budget. But if you are serious about investing in your business growth, then Oracle Database is the best choice.

Related Questions

Which database is used for small business?

The best databases for small businesses are Zoho Creator, Airtable, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle. Each of these platforms has its own unique features that make them suitable for different applications. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your specific needs and budget.

Some other good options include Google Cloud and Microsoft SQL Server

What is the best open-source database?

The best open-source database is PostgreSQL. It’s a powerful, reliable platform that supports both SQL and NoSQL databases. It’s also one of the most popular open-source databases on the market and has an extensive user community for support.

Which database is best for beginners?

SQLite is best for beginners. It has a simple, user-friendly interface and is easy to learn. Plus, it’s open-source, so you can get started quickly without worrying about hefty licensing fees. It uses a serverless transactional SQL database engine that also supports stored procedures..

Are open-source databases secure?

Yes, open-source databases are generally secure. Most open-source database platforms have highly secure architecture and advanced encryption features to protect data.

However, you should always take the necessary steps to ensure your data is kept safe. This includes setting up firewalls and restricting access to certain users through access control.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best database for small business can be a daunting task. That said, the best databases available for small businesses in 2023 are Zoho Creator, Airtable, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle.

Each of these databases has unique features and advantages which will suit different types of applications and user experiences. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your specific needs and budget.

By understanding each of these databases’ features, you can make an informed decision about building a powerful database system for your small business!

All the best in making your decision!