# Which is the best free SQL Database can you recommend? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2017, 9:52am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/which-is-the-best-free-sql-database-can-you-recommend/12872 "2017-03-30T09:52:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ArielP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@ArielP](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/ArielP)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 9:52am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/which-is-the-best-free-sql-database-can-you-recommend/12872/1 "2017-03-30T09:52:08Z")
Hello, We are interested install ignition in our company, we were thinking install MSSQL2016 Standart, but there are others free alternatives. Can you recomend me which is the best free option of SQL Database to use? (MSSQL Express have to low performance). thanks ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:40am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/which-is-the-best-free-sql-database-can-you-recommend/12872/2 "2017-03-30T11:40:48Z")
I always choose PostgreSQL when a customer leaves the decision to me. But I expect you’ll get many answers. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 12:08pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/which-is-the-best-free-sql-database-can-you-recommend/12872/3 "2017-03-30T12:08:51Z")
[This article](http://insights.dice.com/2015/03/19/why-i-choose-postgresql-over-mysqlmariadb/) might help, when you have to face the MySQL (or MariaDB) vs. PostgreSQL question. I think the licensing point is particularly important in the system integration world. ---
**Author:** ![richardNZ15](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/richardnz15/32/33373_2.png) [@richardNZ15](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/richardNZ15)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/which-is-the-best-free-sql-database-can-you-recommend/12872/4 "2017-03-30T21:20:08Z")
We use MariaDB and it has been pretty awesome for us so far. Especially if you are able to utilize TokuDB compression. Historian data is compressed substantially. ---
**Author:** ![nmudge](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/nmudge/32/3394_2.png) [@nmudge](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/nmudge)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/which-is-the-best-free-sql-database-can-you-recommend/12872/5 "2017-07-24T14:35:41Z")
The [Database Module](http://www.perfectabstractions.com/database-module.html) embeds the H2 SQL database engine into Ignition. It is the easiest and fasted way to get started using databases in Ignition. > **[Database Module](https://www.perfectabstractions.com/database-module.html)** > > The Database Module is the easiest, fastest and most convenient way to use SQL databases with Ignition. Installing the Database Module sets you up with everything you need to start working with a... ---
**Author:** ![Tommy1555](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/tommy1555/32/19636_2.png) [@Tommy1555](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Tommy1555)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 2:06pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/which-is-the-best-free-sql-database-can-you-recommend/12872/6 "2020-11-23T14:06:22Z")
PostgreSQL is an absolute mastodon, I would recommend beginning with it. SQLite is also a very good option, it’s extremely lightweight and easy-to-use. Read this [article](https://yalantis.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-database/) to learn the pros and cons of other database solutions.