Cetus

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.3 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Open-source MySQL proxy with sharding
• Paid from
  Free
• Deployment model
  Self-hosted
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Supports transparent proxying, pooling, routing, and read-write splitting
  • Adds database sharding, prepared statements, and distributed transactions
  • Offers status monitoring, administration, compression, and Docker deployment

• Where it doesn't

  • Runs on Linux only
  • Requires a self-hosted deployment model
  • Supports MySQL rather than a broader range of databases

Our verdict on Cetus

Cetus is open-source middleware written in C that sits between applications and MySQL backends as a transparent proxy. It is aimed at teams managing MySQL-compatible connections that need database-layer routing, connection pooling, read-write splitting, or sharding. Applications can connect through MySQL-compatible interfaces, while Cetus handles capabilities such as SQL routing, prepared statements, result-set compression, status monitoring, administration, and distributed transaction processing. Its open-source model and Linux support make it a fit for teams comfortable operating database infrastructure themselves.

The feature set is focused on scaling and controlling traffic at the database layer. Backend connection pooling can manage connections between the proxy and databases, while SQL read-write splitting and routing provide separate ways to direct queries. Database sharding extends that control across multiple database partitions. The combination is useful for MySQL environments where traffic distribution and data placement matter more than a simple connection-forwarding proxy. Docker deployment is also documented, giving infrastructure teams an additional deployment path alongside Linux-based operation.

Cetus is most suitable for engineering teams that want an open-source, self-hosted MySQL proxy with sharding and routing capabilities. It is less suitable for organizations seeking a managed service, broad multi-database support, or a non-Linux deployment. The published positioning includes high-availability use cases, but load balancing and automatic failover are not established here, so teams choosing Cetus for those requirements should evaluate those capabilities separately. Choose it when transparent proxying, pooling, read-write splitting, SQL routing, and sharding are central requirements; consider an alternative when operational simplicity or wider platform coverage matters more.

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Cetus pricing

Cetus fact sheet

Alternatives to Cetus

• Heimdall Database ProxyA broad database proxy with pooling, routing, analytics, security, and failover.9.4
• ProxySQLA free, open-source proxy for routing, pooling, balancing, and managing database traffic.9.2
• ShardingSphere-ProxyA self-hosted proxy for routing, scaling, and high availability across four database protocols.9.0

See all Cetus alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update