15 Best Databases for Web Apps to Use in 2025 

The selection of a database for web development is an important step during its development. To facilitate the smooth functioning of an application and project performance, data management, and scalability, a well-structured database must be set up. As technology projects forward, databases are nowhere behind, and developers need to keep the best in mind. As the year 2025 approaches, here are the top 15 databases to consider while working on web applications.  

PostgreSQL  

One of the most powerful open-source relational databases for web development is PostgreSQL, which covers the field with its best reputation. It is increasingly reliable and performs complex queries seamlessly. Relational web applications requiring sophisticated and complex data manipulation are easily handled through this database’s XML and JSON addition alongside advanced indexing techniques.  

PostgreSQL Features:  

• Guarantees ACID compliance, which assures transaction reliability.  
• Includes multi-version concurrency control (MVCC).  
• Full-text search capabilities.  
• Enhances system performance by supporting stored procedures in several languages.  

Ideal for: E-commerce platforms, highly scalable analytics applications, and large-scale content management systems.  

MySQL  

A stalwart in web development, MySQL is widely used due to it being incredibly simple, fast, and reliable. Despite its age, this best database for web apps comfortably sits on the developer’s top choices for building robust and scalable applications.  

MySQL Features:  

• Fast indexing and execution of already provided queries.  
• Easily scales from small to enterprise level.  
• Supports clustering and replication for high availability.
• User management with secured authentication.

Ideal for: Blogs, SaaS services, and eCommerce.

MongoDB

With formidable performance and storage capabilities, the best database for web apps, NoSQL MongoDB is a perfect fit for applications with unorganized or semi-organized data due to its flexibility and scalability. 

MongoDB Features: 

• Modern applications and systems have easy integration options with JSON-like document storage.
• Sharing provides Built-in horizontal scaling.
• Real-time analytics is available.
• Faster development cycles are possible because of a schema-less design.

Ideal for: IoT applications, real-time analytics, and dynamic content-based platforms.

Redis

Being a high-speed In-Memory Key-Value Store, Redis stands out due to its often usage as a caching layer, where it greatly enhances application performance. For modern-day web applications, the capability to handle millions of requests per second makes Redis indisposable.

Redis Features:

• Response time is above 1 millisecond.
• Flexible storage options for data structures like hashes, lists, and sets.
• Real-time messaging is possible with Pub/Sub. 
• Clustering is supported for scalability.

Ideal for: Caching, real-time applications, and leaderboards.

Microsoft SQL Server

This type of enterprise-grade relational database is extremely powerful and user-friendly due to its integration with Microsoft’s Azure and ecosystem. In addition to these, it is very commonplace to find in large-scale business applications.

Microsoft SQL Server Features: 

• Advanced security is provided with the built-in feature “Always Encrypted.”
• Integrated AI and machine learning capabilities. 
• Support of big data clusters. 
• The “Always On” feature of this best database for web apps provides high availability.

Ideal for: Enterprise trading (ERP), business intelligence, and CRM systems.

Oracle Database

This premium-level database option is quite popular in the banking sector. It manages large multi-business transactions with the best possible security and services.

Oracle Features:

• Multi-model data management.
• Advanced data analytics tools.
• Automatic indexing of data for optimized queries.
• AI-based performance tuning.

Ideal for: Financial systems, ERP solutions, and large-scale enterprise applications.

SQLite

If you are looking for a lightweight serverless and best database for web apps, then this option is just for you. SQLite is a perfect choice for small-level applications that do not require detailed database management.

SQLite Features:

• Configured from the ground up.
• Database files are portable.
• Transactions that comply with ACID.
• Ideal for embedded applications.

Ideal for: Mobile applications, IoT devices, and desktop applications.

Cassandra

This Apache database is highly scalable NoSQL and is best suited to managing bulk data on many servers.

Cassandra Features:

• Decentralized for fault-tolerant architecture.
• Linear scalability guarantees there isn’t a single point of failure.
• Best for time-stamped data.
• Permits multi-datacenter replication.

Ideal for: Large-scale data analytics, IoT applications, and real-time processing.

MariaDB

This is a successor of mySQL and was developed to meet the demands for an enterprise-grade open-source database. 

MariaDB Features:

• Better storage engines.
• Enhanced replication of data.
• Strong focus on security and scalability.
• Includes support for hard structure data using JSON functions.

Ideal for: Business systems, cloud solutions, and analytic tools. 

Firebase Realtime Database

It is a Google-supported NoSQL database that enables mobile and web applications to access it due to its rapid data synchronization feature.

Firebase Realtime Database Features:

• Provides real-time data synchronization across multiple clients.
• Enables system offline capability while automatically syncing data when reconnection is available.
• Integrates with Firebase Authentication and Firebase Cloud Functions.

Ideal for: Mobile applications, collaborative software, and chat programs.

Elasticsearch

Elasticsearch can be described as an open-source search engine that serves the purpose of analyzing data. This best database for web apps is very popular for indexing and fetching large data sets.

Elasticsearch features:

• Allows for full-text searches with near real-time indexing.
• Can be distributed across multiple systems.
• Can analyze logs and event data.

Ideal for: Applications that rely on searching, log analyzing, and monitoring systems.

Couchbase

Couchbase is a powerful and the best database for web apps due to its combination of NoSQL structure and supportive partial SQL-styled query language integration.

Couchbase features:

• Document and key-value storage multi-model database.
• Fast retrieval of data due to built-in caching.
• Support for mobile device synchronization.

Ideal for: Applications used in high-speed transactions, microcontrollers, and gaming IoTs.

Neo4j

A graph database designed specifically to maintain complicated relationships among data entities is known as Neo4j. 

Neo4j Features:

• The database for web development employs graph-based queries.
• Real-time suggestion functionality is served in an efficient manner.
• The database is capable of scaling with large sets of data.

Ideal for: Recommend services, fraud detection, and social network analysis.

Amazon Db2

With always-on availability and automatic scaling, Amazon DynamoDB stands out as a fully-managed NoSQL database service, accessible to clients without requiring high levels of technical expertise.

Amazon Db2 Features 

• On-demand proactive scaling Modular structure
• Real-time response to applications maintained at millisecond level
• Automatic feature for both security and backup

Ideal For: Serverless applications, gaming, and IoT workloads

IBM Db2

Similar to Amazon Dynamo, IBM Db2 is another example of a fully managed high-performance database; however, it is tailored for AI-powered applications.

IBM Db2 Features 

• Optimization of queries through AI features
• Efficient processing of data at high speeds
• Deployment support for multiple clouds

Ideal For: Analytics powered by AI, enterprises, and institutions

When it comes to choosing the best-performance databases to run your application, users are never short of options. You can get the best web app development services that can be according to your needs and requirements. Depending on the specific needs of the project, users may require more traditional, structured databases of the MySQL and PostgreSQL variety, No-SQL DBs like MongoDB or Cassandra, or more niche solutions such as Redis and Neo4j.