Almost every business needs a database. Whether it's for storing basic customer details or for processing huge troves of technical and financial data, platforms such as Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle Database have long been keystones of commerce.
Lately, though, the way we access them has been changing. Historically, these packages would have been running on powerful on-site servers, but nowadays there are plenty of cloud-native options – also known as Database as a Service offerings, or DBaaS for short.
Using a cloud database means you don't need to own, administer or upgrade the server hardware. Your host takes care of all of that – and if you need more computing power or storage your database host can be upgraded with a few clicks. In many cases, it can even scale automatically to keep pace with usage.
Cloud databases may also include AI functions to help you more easily and efficiently manage and access your database. However, the precise features can vary across different providers, as can the supported technologies. Here's our pick of the top six cloud databases, to help you choose the right one for your business.
Best cloud databases 2025
Amazon Relational Database Service
REASONS TO BUY
- Free tier
- Supports multiple formats
- Additional storage types
Amazon's cloud database is designed to be both simple to use and highly scalable. Its Aurora database engine is compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL, so you can easily import existing databases, or create new ones with confidence that you'll be able to migrate away in future should you need to. Alternatively, you can use Amazon's cloud servers to host native databases using MariaDB, Oracle, and other engines.
Whichever you choose, Amazon RDS also takes care of keeping the OS and database platform up to date and creating regular backups – as well as allowing you to create database snapshots at any time. You can configure redundant copies of your database too, to automatically take over in the event of a systems outage.
If Amazon RDS has a weakness, it's that – as with many DBaaS platforms – you don't control the underlying server system or database engine, so it's not suitable for those who want to apply their own low-level customizations and tweaks. Others though will love the simplicity of the Amazon service, and usage-based pricing means your budget will only grow with your business.
Google Cloud SQL
REASONS TO BUY
- Fully managed service
- Relational databases
- Automatic failover protection
Google's DBaaS offering lets you run MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Microsoft SQL Server on managed cloud hardware. Whichever you choose, Google automatically takes care of backups and database replication, and will also automatically scale with your needs so you never need to worry about running out of resources.
One distinctive feature of Google Cloud SQL is the integration of Google's Gemini AI assistant. This can help you quickly generate SQL code using natural-language prompts, or conveniently summarise existing code structures. You can also get AI-assisted recommendations for performance optimizations, data protection, and risk management.
Google Cloud SQL is designed for larger organizations – that's clear from the fact that the two service tiers are called "Enterprise" and "Enterprise Plus", with the latter supporting enormous database deployments with up to 128 virtual CPUs. Both service levels are priced according to how much computing power, RAM, and storage you're using, but new users get $300 of free credit – enough to give the platform a proper trial before committing.
IBM Db2
REASONS TO BUY
- Multiple db services
- AI functionality
- Rolling security updates
Db2 is not just a database but an entire data application platform, upon which you can conveniently and efficiently build entire apps. You can run it locally or on a cloud server; the DBaaS edition has a particular focus on low-latency performance and includes an AI component that learns from your usage and automatically optimizes your database for top performance.
The platform is designed to be as robust as possible, with excellent stability and uptime; for complete peace of mind, you can run a backup on-premises Db2 instance, or migrate your installation to a different provider.
The free cloud-based "Lite" service supports five connections and up to 200MB of data, while the standard tier starts with two virtual CPUs, 8GB of RAM, and 20GB of storage. Switch to the Enterprise plan and your database can grow to a maximum of 56 virtual CPUs, with 240GB of RAM and 24TB of storage.
If you're looking for the easiest database to deploy and use, the relative complexity of Db2 might not be your best choice. It's also not directly cross-compatible with other database products but includes tools to assist with the migration of apps designed for other platforms such as MySQL and Oracle.
Microsoft Azure SQL Database
REASONS TO BUY
- 12 months free
- Always free services
- Pay as you go
Microsoft offers two slightly different cloud database offerings. An Azure SQL Managed Instance is effectively a Microsoft SQL Server installation running on hosted hardware, which you can administer just as you would a local database server.
The more modern option is Azure SQL Database – a true DBaaS service that includes automatic scaling, backups, geo-replication, and performance tuning. It's the natural choice for businesses looking to set up a new database, rather than migrating an existing SQL Server setup.
Since Azure SQL Database is part of the larger Azure ecosystem, it can easily connect to other cloud modules, including the full suite of development and DevOps tools. It also includes the Copilot AI assistant: which allows administrators to use natural-language commands to manage databases, or describe specific data operations and have them instantly translated into SQL queries.
Services can scale up to 128 virtual CPU cores and up to 830GB of RAM, but another convenient aspect of Azure SQL Database is that you can opt to pay in terms of "Database Transaction Units" – that is, actual usage – and leave worrying about specific resource allocations to the Azure cloud.
MongoDB Atlas
REASONS TO BUY
- Ideal for custom applications
- Versatile platform for storing, querying, and processing data
Compared to the other providers on this list, MongoDB is a relative outsider, with less than a 1% share of the global database market. However, its cloud-based Atlas offering has several features that make it ideal for certain roles.
One thing that's distinctive about MongoDB is its flexible document model for data. Rather than following the row-and-column strictures of traditional relational databases, you can drop in any sort of data – even unstructured information dumps – and create custom applications to pull out and process the specific parts you're interested in. The flip side is that MongoDB doesn't use SQL, but there are tools to help you convert SQL queries and procedures to MongoDB Query API syntax, and data can be imported in JSON or CSV format.
Another unusual feature is that you can choose whether you want your service to be hosted on AWS, Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure, meaning MongoDB will fit into almost any existing cloud portfolio. This is a good thing, as while Atlas supports auto-scaling and auto-backup, it doesn't have a built-in AI assistant like its rivals.
If you're looking to move an existing structured database into the cloud then a different DBaaS provider will likely suit you better – but for businesses seeking a versatile platform for storing, querying, and processing data, and not needing to keep continuity with legacy code or content, MongoDB Atlas is well worth investigating.
Oracle Database
REASONS TO BUY
- Easy maintenance
- Secure encryption
- Data management
Oracle is one of the world's most popular database platforms. It's highly robust and scalable on local hardware, and Oracle Base provides its signature benefits in a cloud-native implementation. Needless to say, it offers all the usual cloud features such as automatic backup and disaster-recovery services, and dynamic scaling for computing and storage resources. The cloud platform also includes extensive access control and threat-intelligence features, to help keep your database secure.
Under the bonnet, Oracle's Database 23ai engine includes AI-powered querying and management of both structured and unstructured data. This makes it a powerful platform for data-driven app development; thanks to Oracle's long industry presence there are plenty of coding resources available, or you can use the low-code Oracle APEX environment to create responsive online apps in a browser.
While Oracle isn't the cheapest option, it's offered in four different service tiers (Standard, Enterprise, High Performance, and Extreme Performance) and a choice of Intel, AMD or Arm architectures to suit different needs. It's the obvious choice for businesses with an existing investment in Oracle, and the company's "bring your own licence" terms let you reduce the cost of migration by transferring on-premises software entitlements onto the cloud service.
Other cloud database services to consider
There's been a profusion in the number of cloud platforms in recent years, offered by a large range of companies. As database-driven software remains the norm, it remains key to ensure whichever cloud platform option you take that it can probably support your database types and size, and properly integrate with other IT infrastructure, not least monitoring for security or errors. Here we'll briefly cover some additional cloud database options worth looking at as well:
DataStax uses Apache Cassandra to form the backbone of its cloud platform, supporting native, hybrid, and multi-cloud services. Its Enterprise service aims to deliver a powerful, scaleable, and always-on database. DataStax also provides manage services for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. The company has also launched its Astra DB database as a service product to make it easier for developers to build their applications on Apache Cassandra.
MongoDB Atlas is an automated cloud service that makes it much easier to manage databases in the cloud, allowing users to focus on application development instead. It offers global support for over 60 cloud regions and comes with distributed fault tolerance along with backup options to ensure business continuity. On-demand scaling, resource optimisation, and fully automated structure provisioning means that MongoDB could be particularly attractive for innovative enterprise.
Zoho Creator is something a little different - it's not so much a cloud database management platform as much as an easy way to build your own database in the cloud. This is especially useful for smaller companies who might want to build their own apps but would otherwise find a big-name cloud management package overkill. It runs through a simple drag-and-drop interface which allows full customisation, and as part of the Zoho suite of apps means it will easily integrate with other Zoho products.
Couchbase is also a little different in that it allows you to build your own databases running N1QL, which allows for far more complex data storage than MySQL normally allows. This means being able to build databases in the cloud which are layered and works better for JSON. Additionally, it has built-in analytics, easy replication, and enterprise-grade security. So if you require a more innovative database platform with the flexibility of NoSQL, Couchbase may be worth looking at.
