
The best database monitoring tools in 2026
A practical guide to the best database monitoring tools in 2026, grouped by the kind of team each one suits, with an honest note on where each is strong and where it is not.

Summer Lambert
Track performance and change for +12 database platforms
Quickly and easily understand database performance, so your databases run fast and stay fast.
Free licence includes 1 database instance · No agents · Self-hosted or cloud

4.8/5 on G2
DBmarlin monitors database performance, tracks changes and helps your databases run fast.
Provides an easy to use and consistent way to monitor many different database platforms both self-hosted and in the cloud.
Captures SQL statement text and wait states so you can see exactly where the time is spent when executing SQL within your databases.
Auto-detects changes to schema objects, database parameters and explain plans so you can see their impact on performance.
Allows you to register events such as code releases, or other important events, helping you diagnose the impact of changes against your databases.
Provides actionable insights and advice that lets you tune your database without expert knowledge.
Creates a modern and consistent user interface across different database technologies that are easy to understand for experts and non-experts.
Track query performance, wait events, and resource usage across all your database instances in one unified dashboard. Spot regressions the moment they happen.
Ask questions and get instant recommendations from any screen. Use the Co-pilot for insights on wait events, SQL tuning, indexing, query rewrites, and more.
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“Being able to use one tool for tracking the query performance and health of all our database technologies has been a real game changer”
Andrew Bickerton
Principal DBA · THG Ingenuity

“AP were an early partner of Instana and we are pleased to see DBmarlin integrate into Instana which will benefit all our customers.”
Mirko Novakovic
Co-founder · Instana

“Using DBmarlin has transformed our visibility of database performance across our estate. Over the past few years we have built a great partnership, with many of our requests feeding directly into the DBmarlin roadmap”
Jay Cooke
Head of BI and Database Solutions · THG Ingenuity
We started with a blank sheet of paper and have created a next-generation database monitoring solution engineered to make it easier to ensure your databases run fast and stay fast. With DBmarlin, we aim to democratise the ability to guarantee good database performance by putting the right information in the hands of more people. Now you don’t need to be a DBA to ensure good performance. Instead, DBmarlin makes it easy for anyone without specialist database tuning expertise to understand problems and take positive action.
Read full storyDBmarlin monitors and accelerates performance across all the major databases



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A practical guide to the best database monitoring tools in 2026, grouped by the kind of team each one suits, with an honest note on where each is strong and where it is not.

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