You don't have to pay for an account. No. MySql is a database engine that runs on your machine, like mssql or oracle. As such, as a user you cant actually *do* anything with it like you can with access or those sort of programs. You need another application to use it (or a website etc). mysql is often used as the back of a shopping website. I think from what you have said so far that it is really not the sort of program you are looking for. However, if I am wrong, and you have it installed on your IT, the only way to access it unless you have some GUI is to access it in a terminal. Here is something I found which might help.