- MySQL hosting comes in three forms: a database bundled with shared web hosting, MySQL you install on a VPS or cloud VM, and a managed MySQL service that handles backups, patching and failover.
- The main managed MySQL hosts are Amazon RDS and Aurora, Google Cloud SQL, Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server, DigitalOcean Managed MySQL and PlanetScale (Vitess, MySQL-compatible).
- Free MySQL hosting exists but is limited: Oracle's Always Free HeatWave instance, Azure's 12-month free offer for first-time users, Google Cloud credits and AWS Free Tier credits.
- Choose by where your application runs, how much operational work you can take on, whether you need high availability, and how predictable the bill must be.
Types of MySQL hosting
"MySQL hosting" can mean three quite different things, and the right one depends on what you are building.
- MySQL with web hosting. Shared web hosting plans commonly include one or more MySQL or MariaDB databases managed through a control panel and phpMyAdmin. This suits a WordPress site or small PHP application on the same host, but you usually cannot tune the server, scale it independently or reach it from other networks. Check the plan's database size and connection limits.
- Self-managed MySQL on a VPS or cloud VM. You install MySQL Community Edition yourself. You get full control and pay only for the server, but you own backups, upgrades, security and replication.
- Managed MySQL (database as a service). A cloud provider runs MySQL for you, with automated backups, patching, monitoring and optional high availability. This is the usual choice for production applications.
For the general trade-offs across engines, see our database hosting guide in the related pages below.
MySQL hosting providers compared
These are the managed MySQL hosting services most teams shortlist. Each runs in its provider's regions, and each documents its own MySQL version support and limits. For a deeper side-by-side with a priced workload, see our managed MySQL comparison in the related pages.
| Provider | Service | MySQL versions | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | Amazon RDS for MySQL; Aurora MySQL-compatible | RDS: Community Edition 8.4 and 8.0 | Applications already on AWS |
| Google Cloud | Cloud SQL for MySQL | 8.0, 8.4 and 9.7 among supported versions | Applications on Google Cloud |
| Microsoft Azure | Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server | Community Edition 5.7, 8.0 and 8.4 | Applications on Azure; stop and start to save cost |
| DigitalOcean | Managed MySQL | 8.0 clusters upgraded to 8.4 from 30 October 2026 | Small teams wanting flat monthly prices |
| PlanetScale | Vitess (MySQL-compatible, sharded) | Vitess | Large or fast-growing datasets needing sharding |
| Oracle | MySQL HeatWave on OCI | Developed by the MySQL team | MySQL plus built-in analytics; Always Free instance |
Free MySQL hosting options
Free MySQL hosting is useful for learning and prototypes; none of these options is meant for a business-critical database.
- Oracle Cloud Always Free: one standalone HeatWave (MySQL) instance in your home region with up to 50 GB of storage and 50 GB of backup storage, with no time limit stated.
- Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server: usable with limited resources for testing and development for 12 months for first-time users.
- AWS: the AWS Free Tier page now offers new accounts up to 200 USD in credits over 6 months on the Free plan, usable on Amazon RDS. The RDS for MySQL pricing page still describes the older allowance of 750 hours a month for a year, so confirm which applies to your account.
- Google Cloud: new customers get 300 USD in credits to spend on Cloud SQL.
PlanetScale's pricing page lists no free MySQL plan. Free plans for other engines are covered in our free database hosting guide (related pages).
How to choose a MySQL hosting service
- Put the database next to the application. Latency and data transfer charges both favour the same provider and region.
- Decide how much you want to operate. A managed service removes patching and backups; a VPS gives control at the cost of your time.
- Check version support. RDS, Cloud SQL, Azure and DigitalOcean all support MySQL 8.4; older versions can carry extended support fees, as on Amazon RDS.
- Plan for high availability. Single-node clusters are fine for development; production usually needs a standby or replica, which adds the cost of at least one more node.
- Model the bill. Compare a flat monthly plan (DigitalOcean) with per-hour compute plus storage (the hyperscalers) for your actual size.
To manage your hosted database, see the best MySQL GUI tools, phpMyAdmin and MySQL Workbench. If you are still choosing an engine, see MySQL vs PostgreSQL and MariaDB vs MySQL.
Pricing
Prices from the provider's official pricing pages, checked 8 October 2026, region Azure East US; Google Cloud Iowa (us-central1); DigitalOcean flat list price, in USD, excluding tax. List prices only; discounts, commitments and your actual usage change the bill.
Entry-level list prices for a small MySQL database. Amazon RDS for MySQL instance prices are published in an interactive table our verification tool could not read, so they are not quoted; use the AWS Pricing Calculator.
| Service and size | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle HeatWave, Always Free | 0 USD | One instance, up to 50 GB storage |
| Azure Flexible Server, Burstable B1s (1 vCore, 1 GiB) | 6.205 USD per month | Storage 0.115 USD per GB-month extra |
| Azure Flexible Server, Burstable B1ms (1 vCore, 2 GiB) | 12.41 USD per month | East US |
| Cloud SQL db-f1-micro (shared core, 0.6 GiB) | 0.0105 USD per hour | About 7.67 USD for 730 hours; no SLA |
| Cloud SQL db-g1-small (shared core, 1.7 GiB) | 0.035 USD per hour | About 25.55 USD for 730 hours; no SLA |
| DigitalOcean Managed MySQL, 1 GiB, 1 vCPU | 15.15 USD per month | Single node, for development and testing |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best MySQL hosting?
There is no single best host. For production on a major cloud, use the managed service of the cloud your application runs on (Amazon RDS, Cloud SQL or Azure Flexible Server). For a small team that wants simple monthly pricing, DigitalOcean is a common choice. For sharding at very large scale, PlanetScale.
Is there free MySQL hosting?
Yes, with limits. Oracle Cloud's Always Free tier includes one HeatWave (MySQL) instance with up to 50 GB of storage, Azure offers a 12-month free MySQL Flexible Server for first-time users, and AWS and Google Cloud give new customers credits.
Can I host MySQL with my web hosting plan?
Usually, yes: shared web hosting plans commonly include MySQL databases for sites on the same host. They are not designed for databases that other servers connect to, or for heavy workloads.
Is managed MySQL worth it compared with a VPS?
A managed service costs more than the raw server but includes backups, patching, monitoring and failover. If nobody on your team wants to run MySQL operations, managed hosting is usually the safer choice.
Which MySQL version should a host offer?
Look for MySQL 8.4, which Amazon RDS, Cloud SQL, Azure Flexible Server and DigitalOcean support. DigitalOcean is upgrading MySQL 8.0 clusters to 8.4 from 30 October 2026.
Sources
- Amazon RDS for MySQL
- Amazon RDS for MySQL pricing
- AWS Free Tier
- Cloud SQL pricing
- Cloud SQL for MySQL features
- Microsoft Learn: Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server overview
- Azure Database for MySQL pricing
- DigitalOcean Managed Databases pricing
- DigitalOcean docs: Managed MySQL
- PlanetScale pricing
- Oracle Cloud Free Tier
Checked 8 October 2026.
How we research cloud database guides: our editorial method. CodeWithSQL earns nothing from the providers mentioned.