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Best SPQR Alternatives in 2026

Free#20 of 31 in Database Proxy Software

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

7.2/10Editor score

Visit SPQR

SPQR7.2 Visit SPQR

15 alternatives
Updated Oct 2026
Our SPQR verdict

SPQR: A focused self-hosted choice for PostgreSQL sharding and distributed transactions. Where it falls short: self-hosted deployment requires PostgreSQL infrastructure management.

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

Self-hosted deployment requires PostgreSQL infrastructure management
Designed for PostgreSQL rather than multiple database engines
Its focus is sharding and routing, not a broad database platform

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 SPQR 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 SPQR:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.2
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 SPQR:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.2
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 SPQR:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.2
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 SPQR:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.2
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 SPQR:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.2
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 SPQR:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.2
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 SPQR:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.2
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
PgDog
Best forFree PostgreSQL pooling and sharding
- Better than SPQR:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.2
A free PostgreSQL proxy with pooling, routing, replica balancing, and sharding.
- Automatic failover
- Query routing
- Load balancing
Free plan Our PgDog verdict → Visit PgDog
8.4/10★★★★☆
Visit PgDog
9
Pgpool-II
Best forPostgreSQL HA and replication proxying
- Better than SPQR:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.2
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
10
PgCat
Best forFree PostgreSQL pooling with sharding
- Better than SPQR:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.2
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
11
DBLE
Best forMySQL sharding and distributed transactions
- Better than SPQR:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.2
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
12
ApsaraDB RDS Database Proxy
Best forManaged MySQL proxying on Alibaba Cloud
- Better than SPQR:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.2
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
13
Odyssey
Best forFocused PostgreSQL pooling and routing
- Better than SPQR:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.2
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
14
Supavisor
Best forMulti-tenant PostgreSQL pooling
- Better than SPQR:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.2
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
15
PgBouncer
Best forMature, free PostgreSQL connection pooling
- Better than SPQR:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.2
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

SPQR Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to SPQR?

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 SPQR?

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 SPQR alternatives?

Self-hosted deployment requires PostgreSQL infrastructure management; Designed for PostgreSQL rather than multiple database engines; Its focus is sharding and routing, not a broad database platform.

Which SPQR alternative has the most maximum connections?

Cloudflare Hyperdrive, with 100 connections.

How do I switch from SPQR?

Export your data from SPQR (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 SPQR.

How to Switch from SPQR

Export your data from SPQR (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 SPQR.

SPQR vs Each Alternative

#	Tool	Free plan	Paid from	Deployment model	Connection pooling	Query routing	Load balancing	Supported databases	Score
20	SPQR		Free	Self-hosted	Yes	Yes		PostgreSQL	7.2
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 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update