Best ProxySQL Alternatives in 2026
The top ProxySQL alternatives are Heimdall Database Proxy, ShardingSphere-Proxy and TurbineProxy: 15 database proxy software our editors would look at instead of ProxySQL, in our ranking order.
ProxySQL: A free, open-source proxy for routing, pooling, balancing, and managing database traffic. Where it falls short: self-hosted deployment requires your team to operate the software.
Switching from ProxySQL? For most database proxy software buyers the best ProxySQL 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 ProxySQL Alternative
- Self-hosted deployment requires your team to operate the software
- Commercial support, consulting, training, and managed services are quote-based
- Its feature breadth may be more than a simple proxy deployment needs
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 ProxySQL 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 ProxySQL:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 9.2
A broad database proxy with pooling, routing, analytics, security, and failover.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Heimdall Data -
Best forOpen-source multi-database proxy deployments
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A mature, free PostgreSQL pooler for self-hosted infrastructure.
- Load balancing
- Connection pooling
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit PgBouncer -
Best forPostgreSQL pooling with Patroni
A focused PostgreSQL pooler for teams that need Patroni-aware fallback and routing.
- Automatic failover
- Load balancing
- Connection pooling
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit PgDoorman
ProxySQL Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to ProxySQL?
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 ProxySQL?
Yes. Heimdall Database Proxy, ShardingSphere-Proxy, TurbineProxy, HeliosProxy and Cloudflare Hyperdrive have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for ProxySQL alternatives?
Self-hosted deployment requires your team to operate the software; Commercial support, consulting, training, and managed services are quote-based; Its feature breadth may be more than a simple proxy deployment needs.
Which ProxySQL alternative has the most maximum connections?
Cloudflare Hyperdrive, with 100 connections.
How do I switch from ProxySQL?
Export your data from ProxySQL (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 ProxySQL.
How to Switch from ProxySQL
- Export your data from ProxySQL (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 ProxySQL.
ProxySQL vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Connection pooling | Query routing | Load balancing | Supported databases | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ProxySQL | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL protocol, PostgreSQL protocol, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Percona Server for MySQL, ClickHouse | 9.2 |
| 1 | Heimdall Database Proxy | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon RDS, Oracle, SQL Server, MariaDB, DB2, Greenplum, Redshift | 9.4 | |
| 2 | ShardingSphere-Proxy | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL, PostgreSQL, openGauss, Firebird | 9.0 |
| 3 | TurbineProxy | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | MySQL, PostgreSQL | 8.8 |
| 4 | HeliosProxy | Free | Self-hosted | Yes | Yes | Yes | PostgreSQL-compatible databases | 8.7 | |
| 5 | MariaDB MaxScale | No | Both | Yes | Yes | Yes | MariaDB Server, MySQL-compatible servers, ColumnStore, Enterprise Cluster, MongoDB protocol | 8.6 | |
| 6 | Cloudflare Hyperdrive | Yes | Managed | Yes | PostgreSQL 9.0–17.x; MySQL 5.7–8.x; MariaDB; PostgreSQL- and MySQL-compatible providers | 8.5 | |||
| 7 | PgDog | Yes | Free | Both | Yes | Yes | Yes | PostgreSQL | 8.4 |
| 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
- ProxySQL vs Heimdall Database Proxy
- ProxySQL vs ShardingSphere-Proxy
- ProxySQL vs TurbineProxy
- ProxySQL vs HeliosProxy
- ProxySQL vs MariaDB MaxScale
- ProxySQL vs Cloudflare Hyperdrive
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Last updated · How we research and update