The DB-Engines Ranking ranks database management systems by popularity, covering over 410 systems. The ranking criteria include number of search engine results when searching for the system names, Google Trends, Stack Overflow discussions, job offers with mentions of the systems, number of profiles in professional networks such as LinkedIn, mentions in social networks such as Twitter. The ranking is updated monthly. It has been described and cited in various database-related articles.
By grouping over specific database features like database model or type of license, regularly published statistics reveal historical trends which are used in strategic statements.
In June 2024, the assets of DB-Engines were bought by Redgate Software. Redgate stated that it would retain the DB-Engines branding and identity and continue to provide trusted and independent monthly database ranking reports.
The DB-Engines DBMS portal was created in 2012 and is maintained by the Austrian consulting company Solid IT. Based on its ranking, DB-Engines grants a yearly award for the system that gained most in popularity within a year.
The award winners are:
The ranking comes from an average of the following parameters after normalization:
DB-engine ranking list as of November 2025: