Managed PostgreSQL has become the default for most web applications. But pricing varies enormously—from free tiers with strict limitations to enterprise plans costing hundreds per month. This comparison helps you find the best value for your specific needs.
Quick Price Comparison (Comparable Resources)
All prices below are for a managed PostgreSQL instance with approximately 2 GB RAM and 25 GB storage, the minimum reasonable production configuration:
| Provider | Configuration | Monthly Price | Backups | EU Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS RDS | db.t3.small, 20 GB gp3 | ~$35-50/mo | Automated | Yes |
| Google Cloud SQL | db-custom-1-3840, 25 GB SSD | ~$40-55/mo | Automated | Yes |
| Azure Database | Burstable B1ms, 32 GB | ~$30-45/mo | Automated | Yes |
| DigitalOcean | Basic 1 vCPU, 2 GB, 25 GB | $22/mo | Automated | Yes (AMS) |
| Aiven | Hobbyist+ | ~$25-30/mo | Automated | Yes |
| Railway | Usage-based | ~$15-30/mo | Manual | No |
| DanubeData | Small: 1 vCPU, 2 GB, 25 GB NVMe | €19.99/mo | Automated + offsite | Germany |
Serverless PostgreSQL (Pay Per Query)
If your database usage is sporadic or very light, serverless PostgreSQL can be cheaper:
| Provider | Free Tier | Pricing Model | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neon | 0.5 GB storage, 191 hours | Compute-hours + storage | Dev/test, light production |
| Supabase | 500 MB, pauses after 7 days | Fixed plans from $25/mo | Apps needing auth + realtime |
| Vercel Postgres | 256 MB | Compute + storage | Next.js projects on Vercel |
Serverless databases are great for development and low-traffic apps. But once you have consistent traffic, fixed-price managed instances become more cost-effective and predictable.
What to Look for in Managed PostgreSQL
Must-Have Features
- Automated backups: Daily at minimum, with retention policy
- SSL/TLS connections: Encrypted connections between your app and database
- Monitoring: CPU, memory, connections, and query metrics
- Version support: PostgreSQL 15, 16, or 17
- Scaling: Ability to resize without migration
Nice-to-Have Features
- Read replicas: Scale reads independently
- Connection pooling: Handle more concurrent connections
- Point-in-time recovery: Restore to any second, not just daily snapshots
- Offsite backups: Backups stored separately from the database
Provider Details
AWS RDS PostgreSQL
The most feature-rich option, but also the most complex to price. Charges include: instance hours, storage, I/O operations, backup storage beyond the free tier, and data transfer. A simple setup can easily cost $50+/month before egress charges.
Pros: Global regions, IAM integration, Performance Insights, point-in-time recovery, Aurora Serverless option
Cons: Complex pricing, expensive at small scale, vendor lock-in risk with Aurora
Google Cloud SQL
Similar to AWS RDS in features. Clean interface but pricing is opaque until you run the calculator.
Pros: Good BigQuery integration, Cloud IAM, automated maintenance
Cons: Expensive for small workloads, connection limits on smaller tiers
DigitalOcean Managed Databases
Simpler than hyperscalers, with transparent pricing. The $22/month plan is a solid production starting point.
Pros: Simple pricing, good UI, trusted free data migrations
Cons: Limited PostgreSQL configuration options, fewer enterprise features
Neon
Serverless PostgreSQL with branching—you can create database branches like git branches. Excellent for development workflows.
Pros: Database branching, generous free tier, serverless scaling
Cons: Cold start latency, compute-hour billing can be unpredictable, relatively new
Supabase
More than a database—it's a Firebase alternative with auth, realtime subscriptions, and storage. Uses PostgreSQL under the hood.
Pros: Full backend platform, good free tier, built-in auth and realtime
Cons: Free tier pauses after inactivity, pro plan starts at $25/mo for the platform (not just DB)
DanubeData Managed PostgreSQL
Managed PostgreSQL running on dedicated NVMe hardware in Germany. Straightforward plans with included backups and monitoring.
Pros: NVMe storage, EU data residency, read replicas, automated + offsite backups, transparent pricing, part of a full platform (VPS, caches, storage)
Cons: Single datacenter (Germany), no serverless/branching option, smaller community
Cost at Different Scales
Small Production App (5-10 GB database)
| Provider | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| AWS RDS (db.t3.micro) | ~$180-250/year |
| DigitalOcean (Basic $15) | $180/year |
| Supabase (Pro) | $300/year |
| Neon (Pro, low usage) | ~$228/year |
| DanubeData (Small) | ~€240/year |
Medium Production App (25-50 GB database)
| Provider | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| AWS RDS (db.t3.medium) | ~$600-900/year |
| DigitalOcean (General $60) | $720/year |
| Aiven (Business) | ~$600-1,200/year |
| DanubeData (Medium) | ~€480/year |
Recommendation by Use Case
| Use Case | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby/development | Neon or Supabase | Free tiers, database branching |
| Small production app (US) | DigitalOcean or Railway | Simple, affordable, good UI |
| Small production app (EU) | DanubeData | EU data residency, NVMe, backups |
| Full-stack Firebase alt. | Supabase | Auth, realtime, storage included |
| Enterprise (global) | AWS RDS or Google Cloud SQL | Global regions, enterprise features |
| GDPR-sensitive production | DanubeData or Aiven | European provider, EU data only |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest managed PostgreSQL for production?
For a dedicated instance with automated backups in Europe, DanubeData starts at €19.99/month. DigitalOcean starts at $15/month for a basic plan. For serverless (pay-per-query), Neon's free tier works for very light workloads.
Is self-hosted PostgreSQL cheaper?
In raw server cost, yes—you can run PostgreSQL on a €4-8/month VPS. But you take on backup management, monitoring, security patching, and incident response. For most teams, the management overhead exceeds the price difference.
Which managed PostgreSQL has the best free tier?
Neon offers the most generous free tier for PostgreSQL: 0.5 GB storage, 191 compute-hours per month, and database branching. Supabase offers 500 MB but pauses after 7 days of inactivity.
Can I add read replicas to managed PostgreSQL?
AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL, DigitalOcean, Aiven, and DanubeData all support read replicas. Neon and Supabase handle read scaling differently through their serverless architectures.
Ready to deploy PostgreSQL in Europe? Start with DanubeData and get €50 in signup credit.