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Head-to-head · Database Proxy Software

Heimdall Database Proxy vs ShardingSphere-Proxy

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Heimdall Database Proxy #1 in Database Proxy Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Heimdall Data
ShardingSphere-Proxy #3 in Database Proxy Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit ShardingSphere

Heimdall Database Proxy leads on 0 checks, ShardingSphere-Proxy on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreHeimdall Database Proxy · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth

Heimdall Database Proxy scores higher on our rubric for database proxy software: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

On deployment model, Heimdall Database Proxy gives you Both where ShardingSphere-Proxy offers Self-hosted.

Heimdall Database Proxy is the better fit for broad, enterprise-grade database proxying. ShardingSphere-Proxy is the better fit for open-source multi-database proxy deployments.

  • Heimdall Database Proxy fits best

    Broad, enterprise-grade database proxying

  • ShardingSphere-Proxy fits best

    Open-source multi-database proxy deployments

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Side by side

Feature Heimdall Database Proxy 9.4/10 Visit ↗ ShardingSphere-Proxy 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.0
Ranking #1 in Database Proxy Software #3 in Database Proxy Software
Best for Broad, enterprise-grade database proxying Open-source multi-database proxy deployments
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Heimdall Database Proxy 4/4 · ShardingSphere-Proxy 4/4
Connection pooling ✓ ✓
Query routing ✓ ✓
Load balancing ✓ ✓
Automatic failover ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model Both Self-hosted
Supported databases MySQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon RDS, Oracle, SQL Server, MariaDB, DB2, Greenplum, Redshift MySQL, PostgreSQL, openGauss, Firebird
Maximum connections Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports pooling, routing, load balancing, caching, and failover
  • Works with major relational databases and cloud platforms
  • Enterprise Plus adds multi-tenant routing, masking, and GDPR auditing
  • Combines sharding, routing, pooling, and read/write splitting
  • Supports failover, load balancing, migration, and distributed transactions
  • Runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS with four protocol options
Cons
  • Enterprise features require paid editions
  • Community Edition is specifically for Greenplum deployments
  • Its broad feature set may exceed narrow proxying needs
  • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to operate the proxy
  • No commercial paid tiers for teams seeking a managed plan
  • Protocol access centers on MySQL, PostgreSQL, openGauss, and Firebird
Our verdict

Heimdall Database Proxy is a data access layer for application developers, database administrators, and architects. It sits between applications and SQL databases in cloud or on-premise environments, providing connection pooling,…

Read the review →

ShardingSphere-Proxy is a self-hosted transparent database proxy in the Apache ShardingSphere ecosystem. It provides a common proxy endpoint for applications and database tools while applying rules for sharding, query routing, read/write…

Read the review →
  1. Heimdall Database ProxyDatabase Proxy Software 9.4Free plan
  2. ShardingSphere-ProxyDatabase Proxy Software 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Heimdall Database Proxy — where it wins

    • Supports pooling, routing, load balancing, caching, and failover
    • Works with major relational databases and cloud platforms
    • Enterprise Plus adds multi-tenant routing, masking, and GDPR auditing

    Where it doesn't

    • Enterprise features require paid editions
    • Community Edition is specifically for Greenplum deployments
    • Its broad feature set may exceed narrow proxying needs

  • ShardingSphere-Proxy — where it wins

    • Combines sharding, routing, pooling, and read/write splitting
    • Supports failover, load balancing, migration, and distributed transactions
    • Runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS with four protocol options

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to operate the proxy
    • No commercial paid tiers for teams seeking a managed plan
    • Protocol access centers on MySQL, PostgreSQL, openGauss, and Firebird

Heimdall Database Proxy vs ShardingSphere-Proxy: questions

Which is better for database proxy software, Heimdall Database Proxy or ShardingSphere-Proxy?

Heimdall Database Proxy scores higher on our rubric for database proxy software: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

How do Heimdall Database Proxy and ShardingSphere-Proxy compare?

All 5 checks we put side by side come out level: neither leads on any.

Do Heimdall Database Proxy and ShardingSphere-Proxy have a free plan?

Heimdall Database Proxy: Yes. ShardingSphere-Proxy: Yes.

More comparisons

All database proxy software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update