PostgreSQL
Free, enterprise-grade SQL database for Windows developers.
Free
By: PostgreSQL Global Development Group
Pros
- Completely free, no license fees ever
- Handles JSON and relational data together
- Extremely extensible with plugins like PostGIS
- Strong data integrity and ACID compliance
- Active development, frequent security patches
- Scales from laptop projects to production
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than MySQL
- pgAdmin’s interface feels dated
- No official auto-update mechanism