Best Cetus Alternatives in 2026
The top Cetus alternatives are Heimdall Database Proxy, ProxySQL and ShardingSphere-Proxy: 15 database proxy software our editors would look at instead of Cetus, in our ranking order.
Cetus: A Linux self-hosted proxy for MySQL routing, pooling, splitting, and sharding. Where it falls short: runs on linux only.
Switching from Cetus? For most database proxy software buyers the best Cetus alternative is Heimdall Database Proxy, built for broad, enterprise-grade database proxying. Cloudflare Hyperdrive offers the most maximum connections (100 connections).
Why People Look for a Cetus Alternative
- Runs on Linux only
- Requires a self-hosted deployment model
- Supports MySQL rather than a broader range of databases
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallHeimdall Database Proxy9.4
Broad, enterprise-grade database proxying
Visit Heimdall Database Proxy - Best free optionHeimdall Database Proxy9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Heimdall Database Proxy - Most maximum connectionsCloudflare Hyperdrive8.5
100 connections
Visit Cloudflare Hyperdrive
All 15 Cetus Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forBroad, enterprise-grade database proxying
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.3
A broad database proxy with pooling, routing, analytics, security, and failover.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Heimdall Data -
Best forFree, mature MySQL/PostgreSQL proxying
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.3
A free, open-source proxy for routing, pooling, balancing, and managing database traffic.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
9.2/10★★★★★Visit ProxySQL -
Best forOpen-source multi-database proxy deployments
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.3
A self-hosted proxy for routing, scaling, and high availability across four database protocols.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit ShardingSphere -
Best forModern MySQL/PostgreSQL proxy teams
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.3
A self-hosted Rust proxy for pooling, routing, failover, consistency, and database visibility.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit TurbineProxy -
Best forAdvanced PostgreSQL proxy engineering
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.3
A deep self-hosted PostgreSQL proxy for teams building advanced traffic and failover control.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit HeliosProxy -
Best forEnterprise MariaDB proxy operations
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.3
A feature-rich MariaDB proxy for routing, failover and production database operations.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit MariaDB -
Best forManaged edge database connectivity
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.3
A managed edge proxy for Workers applications connecting to existing databases.
- Automatic failover
- Connection pooling
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Cloudflare -
Best forFree PostgreSQL pooling and sharding
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.3
A free PostgreSQL proxy with pooling, routing, replica balancing, and sharding.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit PgDog -
Best forPostgreSQL HA and replication proxying
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.3
A feature-rich PostgreSQL proxy for teams running their own database clusters.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Pgpool-II -
Best forFree PostgreSQL pooling with sharding
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.3
A focused, free PostgreSQL proxy for pooling, routing, failover, and sharding.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit PgCat -
Best forMySQL sharding and distributed transactions
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.3
A focused Linux proxy for MySQL sharding, routing, pooling, and distributed transactions.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit DBLE -
Best forManaged MySQL proxying on Alibaba Cloud
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.3
A focused managed proxy for MySQL workloads needing routing, pooling, and failover support.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Alibaba Cloud -
Best forFocused PostgreSQL pooling and routing
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.3
A focused self-hosted proxy for PostgreSQL pooling, routing, balancing, and observability.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Odyssey -
Best forMulti-tenant PostgreSQL pooling
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.3
Open-source PostgreSQL pooling with multi-tenancy, routing, metrics, and cluster resilience.
- Query routing
- Load balancing
- Connection pooling
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Supavisor -
Best forMature, free PostgreSQL connection pooling
- Better than Cetus:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.3
A mature, free PostgreSQL pooler for self-hosted infrastructure.
- Load balancing
- Connection pooling
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit PgBouncer
Cetus Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Cetus?
Heimdall Database Proxy: #1 in our Database Proxy Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad database proxy with pooling, routing, analytics, security, and failover.
Is there a free alternative to Cetus?
Yes. Heimdall Database Proxy, ProxySQL, ShardingSphere-Proxy, TurbineProxy and HeliosProxy have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Cetus alternatives?
Runs on Linux only; Requires a self-hosted deployment model; Supports MySQL rather than a broader range of databases.
Which Cetus alternative has the most maximum connections?
Cloudflare Hyperdrive, with 100 connections.
How do I switch from Cetus?
Export your data from Cetus (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Cetus.
How to Switch from Cetus
- Export your data from Cetus (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Cetus.
Cetus vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Connection pooling | Query routing | Load balancing | Supported databases | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Cetus | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | MySQL | 7.3 | ||
| 1 | Heimdall Database Proxy | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon RDS, Oracle, SQL Server, MariaDB, DB2, Greenplum, Redshift | 9.4 | |
| 2 | ProxySQL | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL protocol, PostgreSQL protocol, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Percona Server for MySQL, ClickHouse | 9.2 |
| 3 | ShardingSphere-Proxy | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL, PostgreSQL, openGauss, Firebird | 9.0 |
| 4 | TurbineProxy | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL, PostgreSQL | 8.8 |
| 5 | HeliosProxy | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | PostgreSQL-compatible databases | 8.7 | |
| 6 | MariaDB MaxScale | No | Both | Yes | Yes | Yes | MariaDB Server, MySQL-compatible servers, ColumnStore, Enterprise Cluster, MongoDB protocol | 8.6 | |
| 7 | Cloudflare Hyperdrive | Yes | Managed | Yes | PostgreSQL 9.0–17.x; MySQL 5.7–8.x; MariaDB; PostgreSQL- and MySQL-compatible providers | 8.5 | |||
| 8 | PgDog | Yes | Free | Both | Yes | Yes | Yes | PostgreSQL | 8.4 |
| 9 | Pgpool-II | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | PostgreSQL | 8.3 |
| 10 | PgCat | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | PostgreSQL | 8.2 |
| 11 | DBLE | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL, ClickHouse | 8.1 | |
| 12 | ApsaraDB RDS Database Proxy | Yes | Managed | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL | 8.0 | |
| 13 | Odyssey | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | PostgreSQL | 7.9 | |
| 14 | Supavisor | Free | Both | Yes | Yes | Yes | PostgreSQL | 7.8 | |
| 15 | PgBouncer | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | No | Yes | PostgreSQL | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update