Free managed MySQL database
Spin up a fully managed MySQL database in the cloud, free forever — no expiry, no 30-day trial. Start prototyping and building today, and scale to large production environments whenever you're ready.
Digital Ocean supported
100% open-source compatible
SOC 2 & ISO 27001 Certified
Always free. No credit card required. No 30-day trial.
A fully managed, always-free MySQL cloud database
Aiven offers a fully managed, always-free MySQL cloud database. It includes 1GB of storage, 1GB of RAM, and 1 CPU per virtual machine. It requires no credit card to sign up, has no time limits, and includes automated backups, network costs, and automated patching.
Who the free MySQL plan is for
The Free Tier gives you always-on, managed infrastructure for learning, building web apps, and CMS backends.
Note: This plan runs on a single-node setup with 1GB Storage and 1GB RAM, and is designed for small workloads, not high-traffic production environments.
Web apps & CMS backends
Run the database behind your web app, WordPress, or headless CMS on managed infrastructure that stays on.
Build your MVP
Ship a working prototype fast, then upgrade to high availability the day you find product-market fit - no data migration.
Test microservices architectures
Spin up a dedicated MySQL instance to test services and integrations without touching production.
Free plan limits
What's included
and where to upgrade when you outgrow it
- 1 GB storage, 1 GB RAM
- Single-node (no high availability)
- Support via documentation only (no ticket or chat support)
- Service powers off after a period of inactivity (you'll be notified by email and in-platform beforehand)
- Not recommended for high-traffic production workloads
Free Tier Resource Limits & Features
With Aiven's free hosted MySQL plan, you run on your own dedicated virtual machine, with no resource sharing and no "noisy neighbours". Enjoy premium MySQL as a service capabilities such as daily backups, Terraform integration, and more. Our easy-to-use and intuitive GUI simplifies managed database operations, but you can also use Aiven’s CLI or Terraform for infrastructure management.
Feature | |
|---|---|
Dedicated VMs | 1 |
CPU per VM | 1 |
RAM per VM | 1 GB |
Total storage | 1 GB |
Cloud | Selected cloud regions around the world |
All networking costs included | ✓ |
Seamless upgrade to other plans | ✓ |
One-click version upgrade | ✓ |
Performance graphs | ✓ |
Data encrypted on disk and network | ✓ |
Backups for disaster recovery | ✓ |
Support |
Why Choose Aiven for Free Cloud MySQL Hosting?
Covers everything
Save time with Aiven's free managed plan that covers all the essentials, including virtual machine, backup, and networking costs. No extra charges popping up.
Aiven's dedicated MySQL instances
Aiven's dedicated MySQL as a service instances offer maximum security and privacy for your data, consistent performance levels, and the ability to fine-tune for optimal performance.
Monitoring and log access
With access to monitoring and logs, you can identify and resolve issues before they become critical, and gain insight into how your database is performing over time.
Terraform integration
Manage your service using the Aiven Terraform provider, and automate the provisioning and management of your managed MySQL database. Easily deploy, manage and scale your database infrastructure with the most popular infrastructure-as-code tool.
Secure and compliant
All Aiven services have certifications like SOC2, ISO27001, PCI-DSS and GDPR. You can also set up easy and secure authentication with SSO.
Backups for disaster recovery
Create your free Aiven for MySQL service
Ready to take Aiven for MySQL for a spin? Set up your MySQL database in less than 10 minutes. It's easy and quick - simply access our web console or use our API, CLI, or Terraform. Check out our docs and sign up with your Github or Google account!
Migrate your own database
Test it on Aiven platform from an external MySQL with this migration process.
Back up and restore
Back up and restore your MySQL data to another storage service by using mysqldump to ensure access to your data in case a failure occurs.
Aiven is all about open source
Standard Open Source Technology
By using MySQL as a service, you can transfer your data seamlessly to other services or platforms with no additional costs or complexity. This also means it's easy to switch to Aiven from another service or platform.
Same robust Aiven services
Aiven’s free MySQL hosting is built on the same robust platform that our enterprise customers trust. You can be confident that your database is in good hands, and that it's backed by the same powerful tools and technology that all our customers rely on.
Add more services
You can expand your MySQL database with other free services like Aiven for Redis®* or Aiven for PostgreSQL®. Redis, for instance, can be used as a cache to speed up queries and reduce latency, which can be particularly useful for applications that require real-time data processing or handling large volumes of data.
Frequently asked questions
MySQL® is free as an open-source software, but if you opt for managed services or choose to use it in conjunction with specific platforms, there might be associated costs.
Aiven offers free managed MySQL® service and also a paid version with full capabilities, support and features of the Aiven data platform.
Sign up with Aiven to deploy your initial MySQL® database is quick and easy through our web UI. No credit card needed.
First, choose your preferred region, then click 'Create Service.' Then connect to your database using provided connection details for popular tools. Lastly secure your connection and load data with available workflows for migrating from an existing database or importing sample data.
Alternatively, manage your free service using the Aiven CLI or our Terraform provider.
The free plan includes 1 GB storage, 1 GB RAM on a single node (no high availability), and support via documentation. It's free indefinitely with no time limit, but the service is automatically powered off after a period of inactivity — you'll be notified in advance by email and in the Aiven platform. It isn't recommended for high-traffic production workloads; upgrade for more resources, high availability, and full support.
No. You can sign up and deploy your free MySQL database without entering any payment details.
No. The free plan covers your VM, backups, and networking with no extra charges. Pricing is fully transparent if and when you choose to scale.
No. The free plan runs on a single node with 1GB storage and 1GB RAM and is designed for learning, prototyping, and small workloads — not high-traffic production. Upgrade to a high-availability plan for production use.
