- For learning SQL on your own computer, a native install of a free edition is the simplest start; every major engine has one.
- Docker suits developers who need several engines or versions side by side, or a disposable database for a project; data must live in a volume to survive.
- A free cloud tier avoids installing anything and works from any computer, within monthly limits set by the provider.
- Free editions differ in what they allow: SQL Server Developer is for development only, while SQL Server Express, PostgreSQL, MySQL Community, SQLite and Oracle Database Free can run in production within their terms.
Native install, Docker or a free cloud tier?
There are three common ways to get a database to practise on or build with. They give you the same SQL, so the choice is about convenience, resources and how long the database needs to live.
| Native install | Docker container | Free cloud tier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you install | The database server (and usually a GUI tool) on your computer | Docker, then one image per engine and version | Nothing locally except a client tool |
| Best for | Beginners on one computer; a course or a single project | Developers needing several engines or versions, CI pipelines, throwaway databases | Working from several computers; trying a managed service |
| Limitations | Upgrades and uninstalls are manual; one version per instance | Data lost on docker rm unless it is in a volume; some images are x86-64 only | Monthly compute and storage caps; needs an internet connection and an account |
| Start with | The install guide for your engine | The Docker guide for your engine | The free database hosting overview |
Our recommendation
If you are following the SQL Beginner Course, install one engine natively, with its usual GUI tool, and stay with it until the basics are familiar. Move to Docker when you need a second engine, a specific version or a clean database for each project. Choose a cloud tier when you cannot install software on your computer, or when the database must be reachable from more than one machine.
Free editions of the main databases
Every engine below can be downloaded free from its vendor. The limits column shows what the free edition does not allow, as stated on the vendor's pages on 8 October 2026; the guide column names the CodeWithSQL guide (published guides are listed by section further down this page).
| Engine | Free edition | Licence and limits | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQL Server | Express; Standard Developer and Enterprise Developer | Express: production allowed, 50 GB per database in SQL Server 2025. Developer editions: development and test only | SQL Server Express, How to Install SQL Server, SQL Server in Docker |
| PostgreSQL | The whole product (one edition) | PostgreSQL License, a liberal open source licence; each major version supported for 5 years | How to Install PostgreSQL; PostgreSQL in Docker |
| MySQL | MySQL Community Server | Open source; choose the 8.4 LTS series or the Innovation series | How to Install MySQL on Windows; MySQL and MariaDB in Docker |
| MariaDB | MariaDB Server | Open source; in the standard repositories of major Linux distributions | MySQL and MariaDB in Docker |
| Oracle | Oracle AI Database Free (26ai) | Up to 2 CPUs, 2 GB RAM and 12 GB of user data; no patches | Oracle Database Free and XE |
| MongoDB | MongoDB Community Server | Free download; MongoDB Atlas is the managed service | How to Install MongoDB; MongoDB and Redis in Docker |
| SQLite | The whole library (one edition) | Public domain; serverless, so there is no server to install | How to Install SQLite |
Running databases in Docker
Docker packages software in containers, isolated environments that contain everything the application needs, so a database runs the same way on Windows, macOS and Linux without installing the engine on the host. PostgreSQL, MySQL and MongoDB are published as Docker Official Images on Docker Hub, and Microsoft publishes SQL Server images in its own registry, which makes it easy to run PostgreSQL 18 for one project and PostgreSQL 16 for another.
Two points catch people out. First, a container's data disappears when the container is removed; Docker describes volumes as the preferred way to persist data, and each of our Docker guides uses one. Second, not every image runs on every processor: Microsoft supports its SQL Server images only on Intel and AMD x86-64 hosts, which matters on Apple silicon Macs. Docker Desktop is free for personal use, education and small businesses, but larger organisations need a paid subscription.
Free cloud database tiers
Cloud providers offer free allowances that are enough for learning. For example, Microsoft's Azure SQL Database free offer gives each database 100,000 vCore seconds of compute, 32 GB of data and 32 GB of backup storage a month, for up to 10 databases per subscription. Limits, regions and the end of free periods vary, so read the provider's current terms before you rely on one. Our cloud section compares them: free database hosting, the Azure SQL Database free tier, the AWS RDS free tier and free PostgreSQL hosting.
After the install: backups and migration
The backup guides cover the native dump tools, mysqldump for MySQL and pg_dump with pg_restore for PostgreSQL. Whatever tool you use, practise a restore on a spare database before you need one.
The migration guides cover moving between engines: a general step-by-step method with a checklist, SQL Server Migration Assistant, and the common SQL Server to PostgreSQL and MySQL to PostgreSQL moves. For a printable list, see the database migration checklist. When an install or connection fails, the SQL Server error library explains the common error numbers.
All guides
Install a database
- SQL Server Express: Download, Install, Limits & Upgrade Path
- How to Install SQL Server (Developer & Express) Step by Step
- How to Install PostgreSQL on Windows, Mac & Linux
- How to Install MySQL on Windows (Community Server + Workbench)
- Oracle Database Free & XE: Download, Install & Limits
- How to Install MongoDB on Windows (Community Server + Compass)
- How to Install SQLite and Use It (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Run databases in Docker
- PostgreSQL in Docker: Run Postgres with Docker & Docker Compose
- SQL Server in Docker: Run MSSQL on Linux, Windows & Intel Macs
- MySQL & MariaDB in Docker: Setup with Docker Compose
- MongoDB & Redis in Docker: Quick Setup Guide
Back up and restore
- mysqldump: How to Back Up & Restore MySQL Databases
- pg_dump & pg_restore: How to Back Up PostgreSQL Databases
Migrate between databases
- Database Migration: Step-by-Step Guide, Tools & Checklist
- SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA): Complete Guide
- SQL Server to PostgreSQL Migration Guide
- MySQL to PostgreSQL Migration Guide
Frequently asked questions
Which database should a beginner install first?
Any of SQL Server Express or Developer, PostgreSQL or MySQL Community works for learning SQL. Pick the one your course, job or project uses; the core SQL is the same. Our SQL Beginner Course uses T-SQL (SQL Server) by default.
Is Docker better than installing a database directly?
Not better, different. Docker makes it easy to run several engines or versions and to throw a database away, but adds Docker itself and the need for volumes. A native install is simpler if you only need one database.
Are free database editions safe to use in production?
Some are licensed for it: SQL Server Express, PostgreSQL, MySQL Community, MariaDB and SQLite. SQL Server Developer editions are for development and test only. Oracle AI Database Free may be deployed anywhere, but Oracle provides no patches for it and recommends supported editions for production.
Where should I download database installers from?
Only from the vendor's own site or package repository. Every guide here links to the official download page and never to a mirror.
Sources
- Microsoft SQL Server downloads
- Microsoft Learn: Run SQL Server Linux container images with Docker
- PostgreSQL: Licence
- PostgreSQL: Versioning policy
- MySQL 8.4 Reference Manual: Installing MySQL
- MySQL Community Downloads
- MariaDB Foundation: Download MariaDB Server
- Oracle: Oracle Database Free FAQ
- MongoDB: Community Edition download
- SQLite: About SQLite
- Docker Docs: Docker overview
- Docker Hub: postgres official image
- Docker Hub: mysql official image
- Docker Hub: mongo official image
- Docker Docs: Volumes
- Docker Docs: Install Docker Desktop on Mac
- Microsoft Learn: Azure SQL Database free offer
Checked 8 October 2026.
How we research guides: our editorial method. We link only to official downloads and never host installers.