Best PgDog Alternatives in 2026

Free#8 of 31 in Database Proxy SoftwareDatabase Connection Pooling Software

The top PgDog alternatives are Heimdall Database Proxy, ProxySQL and ShardingSphere-Proxy: 15 database proxy software our editors would look at instead of PgDog, in our ranking order.

8.4/10Editor score

Visit PgDog

PgDog8.4 Visit PgDog

15 alternatives
Updated Nov 2026
Our PgDog verdict

PgDog: A free PostgreSQL proxy with pooling, routing, replica balancing, and sharding. Where it falls short: supports PostgreSQL rather than multiple database engines.

Switching from PgDog? For most database proxy software buyers the best PgDog 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 PgDog Alternative

Supports PostgreSQL rather than multiple database engines
Failover detection is disabled by default
AGPLv3 licensing may not suit every deployment or distribution model

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 PgDog 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.

1
Heimdall Database Proxy
Best forBroad, enterprise-grade database proxying
- Better than PgDog:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.4
A broad database proxy with pooling, routing, analytics, security, and failover.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Free plan Our Heimdall Database Proxy verdict → Visit Heimdall Data
9.4/10★★★★★
Visit Heimdall Data
2
ProxySQL
Best forFree, mature MySQL/PostgreSQL proxying
- Better than PgDog:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 8.4
A free, open-source proxy for routing, pooling, balancing, and managing database traffic.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Free plan Our ProxySQL verdict → Visit ProxySQL
9.2/10★★★★★
Visit ProxySQL
3
ShardingSphere-Proxy
Best forOpen-source multi-database proxy deployments
- Better than PgDog:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.4
A self-hosted proxy for routing, scaling, and high availability across four database protocols.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Free plan Our ShardingSphere-Proxy verdict → Visit ShardingSphere
9.0/10★★★★☆
Visit ShardingSphere
4
TurbineProxy
Best forModern MySQL/PostgreSQL proxy teams
- Better than PgDog:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.4
A self-hosted Rust proxy for pooling, routing, failover, consistency, and database visibility.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Free plan Our TurbineProxy verdict → Visit TurbineProxy
8.8/10★★★★☆
Visit TurbineProxy
5
HeliosProxy
Best forAdvanced PostgreSQL proxy engineering
- Better than PgDog:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 8.4
A deep self-hosted PostgreSQL proxy for teams building advanced traffic and failover control.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Open source Our HeliosProxy verdict → Visit HeliosProxy
8.7/10★★★★☆
Visit HeliosProxy
6
MariaDB MaxScale
Best forEnterprise MariaDB proxy operations
- Better than PgDog:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 8.4
A feature-rich MariaDB proxy for routing, failover and production database operations.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our MariaDB MaxScale verdict → Visit MariaDB
8.6/10★★★★☆
Visit MariaDB
7
Cloudflare Hyperdrive
Best forManaged edge database connectivity
- Better than PgDog:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 8.4
A managed edge proxy for Workers applications connecting to existing databases.
- Automatic failover
- Connection pooling
Free plan Our Cloudflare Hyperdrive verdict → Visit Cloudflare
8.5/10★★★★☆
Visit Cloudflare
8
Pgpool-II
Best forPostgreSQL HA and replication proxying

A feature-rich PostgreSQL proxy for teams running their own database clusters.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Free plan Our Pgpool-II verdict → Visit Pgpool-II
8.3/10★★★★☆
Visit Pgpool-II
9
PgCat
Best forFree PostgreSQL pooling with sharding

A focused, free PostgreSQL proxy for pooling, routing, failover, and sharding.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Free plan Our PgCat verdict → Visit PgCat
8.2/10★★★★☆
Visit PgCat
10
DBLE
Best forMySQL sharding and distributed transactions

A focused Linux proxy for MySQL sharding, routing, pooling, and distributed transactions.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Open source Our DBLE verdict → Visit DBLE
8.1/10★★★★☆
Visit DBLE
11
ApsaraDB RDS Database Proxy
Best forManaged MySQL proxying on Alibaba Cloud

A focused managed proxy for MySQL workloads needing routing, pooling, and failover support.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Free plan Our ApsaraDB RDS Database Proxy verdict → Visit Alibaba Cloud
8.0/10★★★★☆
Visit Alibaba Cloud
12
Odyssey
Best forFocused PostgreSQL pooling and routing

A focused self-hosted proxy for PostgreSQL pooling, routing, balancing, and observability.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Open source Our Odyssey verdict → Visit Odyssey
7.9/10★★★★☆
Visit Odyssey
13
Supavisor
Best forMulti-tenant PostgreSQL pooling

Open-source PostgreSQL pooling with multi-tenancy, routing, metrics, and cluster resilience.
- Query routing
- Load balancing
- Connection pooling
Open source Our Supavisor verdict → Visit Supavisor
7.8/10★★★★☆
Visit Supavisor
14
PgBouncer
Best forMature, free PostgreSQL connection pooling

A mature, free PostgreSQL pooler for self-hosted infrastructure.
- Load balancing
- Connection pooling
Free plan Our PgBouncer verdict → Visit PgBouncer
7.7/10★★★★☆
Visit PgBouncer
15
PgDoorman
Best forPostgreSQL pooling with Patroni

A focused PostgreSQL pooler for teams that need Patroni-aware fallback and routing.
- Automatic failover
- Load balancing
- Connection pooling
Open source Our PgDoorman verdict → Visit PgDoorman
7.6/10★★★★☆
Visit PgDoorman

PgDog Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to PgDog?

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 PgDog?

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 PgDog alternatives?

Supports PostgreSQL rather than multiple database engines; Failover detection is disabled by default; AGPLv3 licensing may not suit every deployment or distribution model.

Which PgDog alternative has the most maximum connections?

Cloudflare Hyperdrive, with 100 connections.

How do I switch from PgDog?

Export your data from PgDog (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 PgDog.

How to Switch from PgDog

Export your data from PgDog (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 PgDog.

PgDog vs Each Alternative

#	Tool	Free plan	Paid from	Deployment model	Connection pooling	Query routing	Load balancing	Supported databases	Score
8	PgDog	Yes	Free	Both	Yes	Yes	Yes	PostgreSQL	8.4
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	Pgpool-II	Yes	Free	Self-hosted	Yes	Yes	Yes	PostgreSQL	8.3
9	PgCat	Yes	Free	Self-hosted	Yes	Yes	Yes	PostgreSQL	8.2
10	DBLE		Free	Self-hosted	Yes	Yes	Yes	MySQL, ClickHouse	8.1
11	ApsaraDB RDS Database Proxy	Yes		Managed	Yes	Yes	Yes	MySQL	8.0
12	Odyssey		Free	Self-hosted	Yes	Yes	Yes	PostgreSQL	7.9
13	Supavisor		Free	Both	Yes	Yes	Yes	PostgreSQL	7.8
14	PgBouncer	Yes	Free	Self-hosted	Yes	No	Yes	PostgreSQL	7.7
15	PgDoorman		Free	Self-hosted	Yes	No	Yes	PostgreSQL 10+	7.6

Head-to-Head

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated 14 Nov 2026 · How we research and update