6 Best MySQL Database Hosting Services (CHEAP) in 2023

Since MySQL is open source, you might think cheap MySQL hosting is easy to find. But that’s not the case – not if you care about the quality of your hosting. Some MySQL hosts are affordable but neglect performance, and you don’t want to have to deal with slow loading speeds or constant downtime.

Other hosts make you pay for a bunch of extra features you don’t necessarily need, and then “cheap hosting” suddenly doesn’t seem so cheap anymore.

The good news is that there are some excellent options out there – you just have to know where to look. That’s why I tested dozens of MySQL hosting services to find the best ones, that actually provide good features and performance for really good prices. I’ve been in this field for a long time and I have high standards, and I only recommend hosts I’d feel comfortable using myself.

What We Look For in the Best Cheap MySQL Database Hosting Services

MySQL databases are offered as part of almost every shared hosting plan, but a cheap plan alone is not enough to get on this list.  The MySQL hosts I’m recommending are more than just affordable. They provide:

• Fast and reliable performance – Quality database hosting should come with a near-perfect uptime record and phenomenal loading speeds. I look for powerful hosting that will make your database connections fly.
• Storage space – Your MySQL database might not be comprised of files, but all those rows and columns take up space. This all counts toward your storage limit, so I’m looking for hosts that provide generous or even unlimited disk space.
• Easy management – Unless you’re a data scientist, you probably aren’t fluent in SQL (the language used to work with MySQL databases). The hosts on my list provide user-friendly control panels and phpMyAdmin, tools that turn MySQL management into a point-and-click experience.
• Auto installers – If you’re planning on using your MySQL database to install WordPress or another CMS (content management system), the basic process requires opening up a database, setting users, configuring permissions, and only then running the installer. Not with these hosts. One-click installers automate the whole process for you.
• Quality extras – The best database hosts don’t skimp on useful features, even if their prices are affordable. Whether it’s an SSL security certificate, 24/7 support, or a CDN, these hosts all provide something extra.

1. Hostinger – Cheap MySQL Hosting With Great Performance

With prices for shared hosting starting at only $1.99 a month, it’s easy to think Hostinger couldn’t possibly be providing good quality. But guess what – it is possible for a hosting service to be both cheap and good. Really good.

Hostinger provides excellent loading speeds and a high uptime rate – in fact, when I tested the service for a period of three months, it scored higher on my performance tests than any other shared host. Two MySQL databases are available starting with the basic shared hosting plan, so no matter which plan you choose, you’ll have everything you need to build your website or application.

What’s the catch? You don’t get data backups on the Single and Premium plans, and there is no dedicated phone support. There is 24/7 live chat support available and the agents are professional, but I found that sometimes the response times can be a bit longer than I’d like.

Features

• Host more than two MySQL databases – Starting from Premium, one step up from the basic hosting plan, you get unlimited MySQL databases. That means you can host as many MySQL projects as you want on the same hosting plan.
• More than enough disk space – The basic plan comes with 30 GB of storage space, and from there it only goes up. Even a product-heavy e-commerce store will have space to grow.
• Professional support – Hostinger’s support agents really know their stuff. Aided by the company’s detailed knowledge base, they managed to answer every question I threw at them. Note that live chat only becomes available after signup.
• 30-day money-back guarantee – If you decide to quit the service within the first 30 days, you’ll get your full payment back. Just log into your cPanel hosting panel and deactivate your account.

To see the performance test results for yourself, check out our Hostinger review. 

2. 1&1 IONOS – Unlimited MySQL Databases Available For a Big Discount

If you’re running a large project that requires unlimited databases and unlimited sites, 1&1 IONOS is your cheapest option. The mid-tier Business plan can be had for a significant discount if you’re a new customer, which makes it even cheaper than the more limited entry-level plan.

Unfortunately, these prices do not last. After the first term of your hosting, the discount will expire and the plan will renew at a higher price. This means Hostinger is still the less expensive option in the long-term. Regardless, this is the best initial term pricing you’re going to get – no other host comes close.

In addition, every MySQL database you create can have up to 2GB of space. This, along with unlimited storage, makes 1&1 IONOS one of your most flexible options.

Features

• Dedicated personal support – 1&1 IONOS assigns every customer their very own support advisor. All your support queries will go through them (when they are available). They provide help and advice tailored to your particular needs.
• Easy-to-use proprietary control panel – The 1&1 IONOS control panel offers an intuitive interface, making it easy to manage your websites and databases. Included SEO and marketing tools can be accessed through this dashboard as well.
• Automatic daily backups – Your website files and databases will be backed up daily. Your last six days of backups are always available for restoration.
• Manage hosting on the go – 1&1 IONOS offers a mobile app that allows you to manage your hosting, monitor performance, and even contact support. 

To learn more, read our comprehensive 1&1 IONOS review.

3. InterServer – No-Commitment Monthly Hosting With Robust Security

While most hosting companies will entice you into multi-year contracts, InterServer offers shared hosting at a low monthly price with no need for a commitment. This monthly rate is lower than the renewal fees of many other hosts, making InterServer one of your best bets for long-term value.

What interested me further about Interserver was its focus on security. Every customer gets access to the InterShield security solution, which combines an AI-driven firewall, an in-house malware database, and an automatic virus scanner. If you’re using MySQL databases to store sensitive data, all of the above security measures are absolutely critical. 

InterServer also promises to restore your websites or databases for free if they are ever compromised. It will even investigate why the problem occured and fix any vulnerabilities found in the process.

The only downside is that InterServer’s data centers are located only in the USA, so performance tends to be slightly disappointing in other countries.

Features

• Unlimited MySQL databases – Despite the low monthly price, InterServer includes unlimited databases, websites, storage, and traffic. You’ll have plenty of room to grow.
• Affordable VPS plans – If you’re looking to create a customized MySQL project and require complete control, you’ll need a VPS. VPS plans with InterServer are not only affordable, but also include a premium license for the Webuzo control panel.
• Free CloudFlare CDN integration – Dynamic sites with constant updates will not experience much of a difference in performance, but for mostly static sites a CDN can improve global loading times dramatically.
• RAID-10 SSD storage – Your databases will be mirrored across multiple SSD drives. If one drive fails, your data will be safe on another. This offers a greater level of redundancy than most other budget hosts.

For more information, take a look at our InterServer review.

4. InMotion Hosting – Best MySQL Database Performance

If your databases are running into performance issues, InMotion Hosting may have your answer. InMotion Hosting’s NVMe SSD drives can increase the speed of your databases significantly, by delivering higher input/output per second than traditional SSD. You’ll also benefit from markedly lower latency.

While this hardware is usually locked to premium plans with other hosts (if they offer it at all), InMotion Hosting offers NVMe SSDs at budget prices. These aren’t available with the entry-level plan, but the Launch plan offers unlimited NVMe SSD storage, MySQL databases, and websites for only a slight increase in price.

InMotion Hosting is more expensive than the other providers above – especially after renewal. Still, you aren’t going to find NVMe SSD storage for a lower price, and it can bring great benefits to projects and sites that rely on database performance, like online stores.

Features

• Two U.S. data centers – InMotion operates a data center on each coast, providing highly competitive performance to U.S. users. Any MySQL-based application aimed at American audiences will be in good hands with InMotion.
• Free domain name – In the Launch plan and up, InMotion Hosting will cover your domain name registration costs for the first year of hosting. To access this offer, register a new domain name with InMotion Hosting or transfer an existing one.
• Bonus advertising credits – The Launch plan also offers $150 in free advertising credits, helping your site be more visible online. It’s not a huge amount, but it’s enough to get a new website off the ground.
• 90-day money-back guarantee – With a guarantee period three times the industry standard, you’ll be able to test-drive your hosting for a long time and still get a complete refund if you decide to cancel.

Want to know more? Read through our InMotion Hosting review.

5. SiteGround – User-Friendly Control Panel & Good Support

If you’re still learning your way around MySQL, SiteGround offers a beginner-friendly environment. Its proprietary control panel, Site Tools, is one of the best I’ve ever worked with – it’s simple to navigate, responsive, and best of all, easy to manage databases with. 

This is further helped by automatic daily backups available in every plan – if you make a critical mistake, it’s easy to roll back. And SiteGround’s support team will assist you to set up and configure your MySQL databases. 

That said, SiteGround’s plans are rather expensive upon renewal, despite being tight on storage – the basic plan only includes 10GB of SSD space. Even the most advanced plan only offers 40GB.

While you technically have unlimited MySQL databases, you’ll have to work within the restrictions of these storage limits – though this will be more than adequate for most websites, and even fairly large databases with tens of millions of entries.

Features

• Renewable hosting – SiteGround is committed to carbon neutrality, matching 100% of its energy consumed with renewable energy.
• Easy WordPress site creation – If you plan to link your MySQL database with a WordPress site, SiteGround makes it easy to get one up and running. By answering a few simple questions, the WordPress Starter wizard will create a basic framework for your site and install any necessary plugins. The entire process takes just a few minutes.
• Optimized PHP – The GrowBig and GoGeek plans include a 30% increase in PHP processing thanks to a uniquely optimized server setup. This increases the speed with which your site displays content stored in the database, such as blog posts.
• Free CDN – Visitors located further away from your chosen data center may experience longer page loading times. SiteGround’s free CDN helps you avoid this by keeping cached copies of your site’s pages and images on additional servers across the world.

Check out our SiteGround review for the details.

6. Hostwinds – Reliable Developer Solution With Lots of Potential

What makes Hostwinds interesting is its potential for performance. If you have the technical knowledge to thoroughly optimize your databases and any associated sites, Hostwinds can provide impressive website performance – potentially better than any other host on this list.

Unfortunately, without putting in the time to optimize your database-driven site, loading speeds may be underwhelming. Hostwinds is a DIY solution that you’ll benefit more from as a seasoned web developer. Support isn’t too reliable either, so there isn’t much here for beginners.

That said, prices are low, and every plan includes unlimited SSD storage and MySQL databases. Your total number of domains are limited in every plan besides the expensive Ultimate, but other than this, you’ll have an affordable platform to build whatever you wish.

Features

• Free dedicated IP – Every plan comes with a free dedicated IP address, which you’ll need if you wish to create a private network for your database, or use a premium SSL certificate to process e-commerce transactions on your website.
• Optional cloud backups – Hostwinds offers nightly automatic backups for free, but you may choose to purchase the premium cloud backup service. Unlike the regular backups, your data will be stored in multiple cloud instances for maximum redundancy.
• 99.9999% uptime guarantee – You are guaranteed no downtime in excess of 31.6 seconds per year. If downtime does occur, you may be compensated with a service credit covering the cost of all days affected.
• Monitoring – Your MySQL database is the heart of whatever you’re building, so you want to be sure that any issues will be taken care of immediately. Hostwinds’ 24/7 monitoring service does exactly that, notifying the company’s engineers the moment something happens.

Want to know more? Take a look at our Hostwinds review.

Get a Cheap MySQL Hosting Service That Can Still Deliver Results

No matter what you plan to do, it’s important that you don’t fall for the first cheap database hosting solution that comes your way. The hosts I’ve assembled in this list are affordable, but also fast, reliable, and filled with great features.

For the best balance between performance and affordability, I’d choose Hostinger. It’s inexpensive, yet faster than most hosts on this list – though you will be limited to just two databases in the entry-level plan.

If you’d prefer unlimited databases without having to pay a premium, try 1&1 IONOS. It offers the absolute lowest starting price along with unlimited storage. You won’t have to worry about hitting any limits.

If security is a priority, check out InterServer. Its robust in-house security solution provides comprehensive protection for your databases and any associated sites and apps. Its simple monthly billing also offers great long-term value, without the need for you to commit to a long-term contract. 

Still unsure? The comparison table below may help you reach a decision.

FAQ

Is there any free MySQL hosting available?

Yes. Free hosting services exist, and some of them even provide free MySQL hosting. That being said, I recommend that you avoid them.

Free MySQL hosting suffers from almost no resources, resulting in slow or even unresponsive websites. It’s also rarely secured, making your website an easy target for online attackers. It’s better to skip free hosting altogether, and instead choose a quality budget shared hosting plan.

Which MySQL host is the fastest

If you’re keeping to a budget, Hostinger offers great page loading speed. That said, for the absolute best database performance, I’d recommend checking out InMotion Hosting – its NVMe SSD technology can make a real difference.

Which MySQL host is the most secure?

By combining a proactive approach and multiple security layers, all the providers on this list have proven to be worthy of your trust. However, InterServer has the edge, thanks to its custom in-house security suite that’s a step above the third-party solutions many other hosts use.

Which MySQL host is best for me?

It depends on your particular needs and budget. I’d recommend comparing all the above hosts to find the solution that best suits your project. If you don’t find anything that really works in this article, you may want to try our list of the top ten web hosts in 2023 for more suggestions.