Free Databases for Beginners: Where to Start?

Not sure which database to start with? Here are the best free options for beginners along with why they’re great for learning SQL.

If you're new to databases, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is: Which database engine should I start with? With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. SQL databases power everything from small applications to massive enterprise systems, but not all of them are beginner-friendly.

The good news? You don’t need to spend a dime to get started. Many excellent database engines are available for free, making it easy to practice SQL, build projects, and develop a solid understanding of database management. If you're looking for a hands-on way to learn, structured courses like SQL Basics can help you get comfortable with SQL fundamentals while working with real databases.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best free database engines for beginners. We’ll break down their features, discover why they’re great for learning, and examine what kind of projects they’re best suited for. Whether you’re just starting with SQL or looking for a database to experiment with, you’ll find the right option here.

SQLite

SQLite is one of the easiest databases for beginners because it requires almost no setup – you don’t need to install a server or configure anything complicated. Instead of running on a database server, SQLite stores all data in a single file, making it lightweight and perfect for small projects or learning SQL on your own computer. However, SQLite has some limitations. While it follows SQL standards in many ways, it also has some non-standard functions and weak data typing, meaning you can store text in a column meant for numbers. This can make it harder to transfer queries to other databases later. Still, if you’re just getting started and want a simple way to practice SQL, SQLite is a great choice.

How to Start With SQLite

1. Install SQLite

• Windows: Download the SQLite command-line tool from org and extract it.
• Mac/Linux: SQLite is usually pre-installed. If not, install it using:
  • macOS: brew install sqlite
  • Linux (Debian/Ubuntu): sudo apt install sqlite3

2. Create and Connect to a Database

Open a terminal and run:

sqlite3 mydatabase.db

This creates or opens a database file called mydatabase.db.

3. Create a Table

Once inside a sqlite command prompt, run:

CREATE TABLE users (
    id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
    name TEXT,
    age INTEGER
);

4. Insert Data

Once inside a sqlite command prompt, run:

INSERT INTO users (name, age) VALUES ('Alice', 25);
INSERT INTO users (name, age) VALUES ('Bob', 30);

5. Import Data From a CSV File

First, ensure your CSV file users.csv is formatted like this:

name,age
Charlie,22
David,28

Then, in SQLite, enable CSV mode and import:

.mode csv
.import users.csv users 

6. Query Data

In sqlite, run:

SELECT * FROM users;

SQL Server Express

SQL Server is a powerful relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft, widely used in enterprise applications for managing and analyzing data. It supports advanced querying, transactions, and integrations with various Microsoft tools.

SQL Server Express is the free edition of SQL Server, designed for beginners, students, and small-scale applications. It includes essential database features while imposing limitations on database size (10GB per database) and system resources. Despite these limits, it’s a great starting point for learning SQL, especially in a Windows environment, as it instegrates seamlessly with tools like SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Visual Studio.

How to Start With SQL Server Express

1. Install SQL Server Express

• Download: Download SQL Server Express from Microsoft’s website.
• Install: Run the installer, choose Basic Installation, and follow the prompts.
• Enable Authentication: Enable Authentication by selecting Mixed Mode (SQL Server + Windows Authentication) and setting a password for the "sa" user.
• Install SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) from Microsoft's website to manage databases.

2. Create and Connect to a Database

Open SSMS and connect to localhost\SQLEXPRESS. Create a database by running:

CREATE DATABASE MyDatabase;

Use the database by running:

USE MyDatabase;

3. Create a Table and Insert Data

Create a table using:

CREATE TABLE Users (
  ID INT IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY, 
  Name NVARCHAR(50), 
  Age INT
);

Insert sample data using:

INSERT INTO Users (Name, Age) 
VALUES ('Alice', 25), ('Bob', 30);

4. Import Data From CSV

Ensure the CSV file is formatted as follows:

Name,Age
Charlie,22
David,28

Run the following command in SSMS:

BULK INSERT Users FROM 'C:\Path\To\users.csv' 
WITH (FORMAT='CSV', FIRSTROW=2, FIELDTERMINATOR=',', ROWTERMINATOR='\n');

5. Query Data

Run

SELECT * FROM Users; 

to view the data.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source relational database management system known for its reliability, extensibility, and strong support for SQL standards. It’s widely used in both small projects and large-scale applications due to its advanced features, including full ACID compliance, JSON support, and powerful indexing capabilities.

For beginners, PostgreSQL offers a great learning experience with robust documentation and a supportive community. While it requires some setup, tools like pgAdmin make database management easier. Compared to SQLite or MySQL, PostgreSQL has a steeper learning curve, but once you get past the initial setup, it offers a great learning experience and helps build strong SQL fundamentals. It’s an excellent choice for those who want to start with a free, production-grade database that can scale as their skills grow.

How to Start With PostgreSQL

1. Install PostgreSQL

• Download: Download PostgreSQL from org.
• Install: Run the installer, select pgAdmin, and follow the prompts.
• Start PostgreSQL: Open pgAdmin or use the terminal with psql.
  

2. Create and Connect to a Database

In pgAdmin, right-click Databases, select Create, then Database, name it, and click Save.

Or in psql, run

CREATE DATABASE mydatabase;

then "\c mydatabase;" to connect.

3. Create a Table and Insert Data

Run

REATE TABLE users (
  Cid SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, 
  name TEXT, 
  age INT
);

Then insert data using

INSERT INTO users (name, age) 
VALUES ('Alice', 25), ('Bob', 30);

4. Import Data From CSV

In psql, run:

\copy users(name, age) FROM 'C:/path/to/users.csv' DELIMITER ',' CSV HEADER;

5. Query Data

Run

SELECT * FROM users;

to view the data.

MySQL

MySQL is one of the most popular databases, often used for websites, data analysis, and business applications. It is fast, reliable, and easy to use, making it a great choice for beginners learning SQL.

The free version, MySQL Community Edition, is open-source under the GPL license. This means anyone can use it for personal or business projects, but if they change the source code and share the software, they must also share those changes. However, companies that want to use MySQL in closed-source products without sharing modifications need to buy a commercial license from Oracle.

For most beginners and small businesses, the free version is enough, but companies with special licensing needs should check Oracle’s rules.

How to Start With MySQL

1. Install MySQL

• For Windows, download and install MySQL Community Edition from mysql.com. Select MySQL Server and MySQL Workbench.
• For Linux or macOS, install via package manager:
  • On Debian/Ubuntu, run sudo apt install mysql-server
  • On macOS with Homebrew, run brew install mysql

Start MySQL:

sudo systemctl start mysql   # Linux
mysql.server start       	# macOS

2. Connect to MySQL From Terminal

Run mysql -u root -p and enter your root password when prompted. Then create and use a database by running:

CREATE DATABASE mydatabase;
USE mydatabase;

3. Create a Table and Insert Data

Run the following SQL commands to create a table and insert sample data:

CREATE TABLE users (
  id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, 
  name VARCHAR(50), 
  age INT
);
INSERT INTO users (name, age) 
VALUES ('Alice', 25), ('Bob', 30);

4. Import Data From CSV

 Ensure that the CSV file users.csv is formatted as follows:

name,age
Charlie,22
David,28

Then, run the following SQL command in MySQL:

LOAD DATA INFILE '/path/to/users.csv' INTO TABLE users 
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ',' LINES TERMINATED BY '\n' IGNORE 1 ROWS (name, age);

5. Query Data

To view the inserted data, run:

SELECT * FROM users;

BigQuery

BigQuery is Google Cloud’s fully managed, serverless data warehouse designed for fast SQL-based analytics on large datasets. Unlike traditional databases, BigQuery operates in the cloud and is optimized for querying massive amounts of data using a pay-as-you-go pricing model. It’s widely used for business intelligence, machine learning, and large-scale data analysis.

For beginners, BigQuery Sandbox provides a completely free, no-credit-card-required way to explore and practice SQL on real-world datasets. The sandbox allows users to run queries with certain limits, such as 10 GB of storage and 1 TB of processed query data per month. This makes it an excellent option for those looking to learn SQL in a cloud environment without worrying about setup or costs.

How to Start With BigQuery

Since BigQuery is a fully managed, cloud-based service, there’s no traditional installation process like with MySQL or PostgreSQL. However, beginners can set up access to BigQuery and start using it quickly. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Get Started With BigQuery

• Sign in to Google Cloud: Go to the BigQuery Console and sign in with a Google account.
• You can use BigQuery Sandbox for free without needing a credit card.

2. Create and Connect to a Dataset

In the BigQuery Console, click "Create Dataset," choose a name, and click "Create." Use the SQL workspace in the browser to run queries.

3. Upload Data From a CSV File

Select your dataset, click "Create Table," and choose "Upload." Select your CSV file, set the table name, define the schema (column names and data types), and click "Create Table" to import.

4. Query Data

To retrieve data from a table, run:

SELECT * 
FROM your_project_id.your_dataset.your_table 
LIMIT 10;

You can also query public datasets with:

SELECT * 
FROM bigquery-public-data.samples.natality 
LIMIT 5;

SQL Fiddle

SQL Fiddle is a free, web-based tool that allows beginners to write and test SQL queries without installing a database. It provides an interactive environment where users can create sample schemas, insert data, and run queries in different database engines like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server.

This tool is especially useful for learning SQL, debugging queries, and sharing database problems with others. Since SQL Fiddle runs entirely in the browser, there’s no need for setup, making it a great starting point for beginners who want hands-on SQL practice without managing database installations. However, it has some limitations, such as occasional downtime and fewer customization options compared to local database environments.

SQL Practice Databases

If you want to practice SQL with real-world data, the SQL Databases for Practice course on LearnSQL.com is a great option. It provides several pre-built datasets from different industries, allowing you to explore and analyze data without setting up anything on your own.

The course includes datasets such as:

• University database with tables related to students, courses, and enrollments, useful for practicing queries on academic records.
• E-commerce database containing customer orders, product details, and payments, ideal for analyzing online store data.
• Music database featuring information on artists, albums, and tracks, helping users practice queries related to media and entertainment.

Each dataset offers a different learning experience, allowing you to work with various data structures and relationships. You can write queries, test SQL techniques, and gain hands-on experience with real-world data.

Since everything runs in the browser, there’s no need for installation. Whether you're preparing for a job interview, improving your SQL skills, or just exploring data, this course provides a free and structured way to practice SQL.

Conclusion

Choosing the right database to practice SQL can be overwhelming, but there are plenty of free options that make it easy to get started. Whether you prefer a lightweight, no-setup option like SQLite, a cloud-based solution like BigQuery Sandbox, or a full-featured database like PostgreSQL or SQL Server Express, each has its own strengths for learning SQL.

If you're looking for a comprehensive learning experience, LearnSQL.com offers interactive courses that let you practice SQL directly in your browser – no installation required. The All Forever SQL Package gives you lifetime access to a structured learning path, covering everything from SQL basics to advanced techniques. It’s a great way to practice with real-world datasets while following step-by-step courses that build your skills over time.

The best way to master SQL is through hands-on experience. Whether you choose a self-hosted database or an interactive learning platform like LearnSQL.com, the key is to keep practicing, exploring data, and refining your queries.