Snowflake is the Database Management System of the Year 2024

DB-Engines reveals Snowflake as the DBMS of the Year 2024, beating PostgreSQL and Oracle.

DB-Engines is today announcing that Snowflake is our DBMS of the Year for 2024, the third time it has claimed the top spot having previously been ranked first place in 2021 and 2022. Second in the rankings was PostgreSQL, followed by Oracle in third place. Snowflake has emerged as the most popular database management system over the past year, outpacing all other 423 monitored systems. 

Snowflake is a cloud-based data warehousing company that has gained significant traction in recent years. Its unique architecture allows for the separation of storage and compute, providing flexibility and scalability. Snowflake’s support for multi-cloud environments and its data sharing capabilities have made it a popular choice for businesses looking to leverage cloud data warehousing. Snowflake’s rise in the rankings reflects its growing influence and adoption in the industry. 

Nearly 35 years ago, the database system known as Postgres made its debut. Since then, PostgreSQL has undergone significant transformations, driven by a continuous stream of enhancements that ensure it remains at the cutting edge of DBMS technology, while also offering a dependable and stable platform. PostgreSQL 17, launched in September 2024, introduced additional performance enhancements and expanded replication options, among other improvements. All of this continues to make PostgreSQL one of the most successful open-source projects ever. 

Oracle continues to be a strong contender in the DBMS market. Oracle Database offers a comprehensive and integrated approach to data management, providing high performance, scalability, and security. Oracle’s commitment to innovation and its extensive suite of data services have solidified its position in the top ranks. 

For more information about navigating the complexities of managing multiple databases, read more here.  

Please note: This blog post has been updated to correct previously incorrect information regarding the rankings of the Database Management Systems. Snowflake is now listed as the DBMS of the Year 2024, followed by PostgreSQL in second place and Oracle in third place. 

Methodology 

DB-Engines calculates the DBMS of the Year by subtracting the January 2024 from the January 2025 scores. They use the difference between each DBMS’s score, rather than a percentage growth, which would favor systems with lower popularity at the beginning of the year. The DBMS of the Year is an illustration of how much each system increased in popularity during the year. You can read more about the exact methodology here, but in short they rank popularity of DBMS based on how much people are discussing and communicating about each system, including job offers, professional profile entries and citations on the web.

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