Turso
Database · Free · since 2022 · open source
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Turso is a edge-hosted distributed database built on libSQL (SQLite fork) for ultra-low latency reads. It handles edge sqlite, embedded replicas, branching, and multi-region, and it's best suited for developers wanting sqlite at the edge. Launched in 2022, it's a relatively recent entrant that's been gaining traction.
The free plan is free 9 gb total storage — enough for most people to evaluate whether it fits. Since it's open-source, you can self-host for free with no user limits. It's designed for small teams, striking a balance between simplicity and collaboration features.
pros
- Open source and transparent
- Includes Edge SQLite as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
- Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
- Free 9 GB total storage — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
cons
- Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in database
- Community support can be slower than the dedicated support teams at commercial alternatives
top Turso alternatives
Supabase Open-source Firebase alternative providing a Postgres database, authentication, storage, and edge functions. Free 
PlanetScale Serverless MySQL platform with branching, non-blocking schema changes, and unlimited scalability. $39/mo 
Neon Serverless Postgres with autoscaling, branching, and a generous free tier for modern applications. Free 
Firebase Google's app development platform providing a realtime database, authentication, hosting, and cloud functions. Free 
Airtable Low-code platform combining spreadsheet simplicity with database power, automations, and interfaces. Free 
Xata Serverless database platform with full-text search, analytics, and file attachments on Postgres. Free Turso compared
Supabase vs Turso · PlanetScale vs Turso · Neon vs Turso · Firebase vs Turso · Airtable vs Turso · Xata vs Turso · Turso vs MongoDB Atlas · Turso vs CockroachDB
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Supabase Open-source Firebase alternative providing a Postgres database, authentication, storage, and edge functions. Free PlanetScale Serverless MySQL platform with branching, non-blocking schema changes, and unlimited scalability. $39/mo Neon Serverless Postgres with autoscaling, branching, and a generous free tier for modern applications. Free Firebase Google's app development platform providing a realtime database, authentication, hosting, and cloud functions. Free Airtable Low-code platform combining spreadsheet simplicity with database power, automations, and interfaces. Free Xata Serverless database platform with full-text search, analytics, and file attachments on Postgres. Free