Neon

neon.tech
Database
Few Days

Serverless Postgres for modern applications

How to Replace Neon

Overview

Neon is a fully managed serverless PostgreSQL database platform that separates compute and storage for efficient scaling. It provides instant provisioning, branching capabilities, and automatic backups with a developer-friendly interface.

Features

45 features across 15 categories

AI Features(1)

Vector SearchAIPremium

Native vector support with pgvector extension for AI/ML workloads.

Architecture(1)

Storage Separation

Decoupled storage and compute architecture for independent scaling and cost optimization.

Backup(2)

Automated Backups

Daily automated backups with 7-day retention for free tier, extended for paid plans.

Time-travel Recovery

Restore database to any point in time with point-in-time recovery.

Cost Optimization(2)

Compute Pausing

Automatically pause idle compute to eliminate costs during inactive periods.

Cost Optimization DashboardAIPremium

Insights and recommendations to optimize database costs and resource usage.

Data Management(1)

Data Import/Export

Import data from PostgreSQL dumps or export to standard backup formats.

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Database(5)

Extensions Library

Access to PostgreSQL extensions including pgvector, PostGIS, and custom extensions.

Full-text Search

Advanced full-text search capabilities with PostgreSQL built-in features.

JSON Support

Native JSONB data type with indexing and query capabilities.

PostgreSQL 14+

Latest PostgreSQL versions with access to modern extensions and features.

Transactions Support

Full ACID transaction support for data consistency and reliability.

Also in: Microsoft 365, Lacework, Airtable

Development(6)

CLI Tool

Command-line interface for managing projects, branches, and connections.

Database Branching

Create instant database branches for testing and development without duplicating data.

Database CloningPremium

Clone entire databases instantly for testing, staging, and migration purposes.

Endpoint ManagementPremium

Create and manage multiple compute endpoints with different configurations.

Schema ManagementPremium

Visual schema editor and migration tools for managing database structure.

Unlimited Branches

Create unlimited database branches for development and testing workflows.

Also in: Kissflow, Lattice, WordPress.com

Extensions(1)

Geographic QueriesPremium

PostGIS extension for geographic data and spatial queries.

Integration(4)

API Access

REST API for programmatic management of databases and compute resources.

Connection String Templates

Pre-configured connection strings for popular frameworks and languages.

Logical ReplicationPremium

Stream changes from Neon to external databases or applications in real-time.

Webhook Integrations

Trigger webhooks on database events like compute scaling or branch operations.

Monitoring(4)

Alert ConfigurationPremium

Set up alerts for resource limits, performance issues, and quota thresholds.

Metrics and Monitoring

Real-time monitoring of compute usage, connections, and database performance.

Query AnalyticsAIPremium

AI-powered insights into slow queries and optimization recommendations.

Usage Analytics

Detailed analytics on storage, compute hours, and data transfer.

Organization(1)

Project Organization

Organize multiple projects and databases within a single workspace.

Performance(6)

Auto-scaling ComputeAIPremium

Automatic adjustment of compute resources based on workload demands.

Connection Pooling

Built-in PgBouncer for efficient connection management and reduced latency.

Instant Provisioning

New databases are ready to use in seconds without initialization delay.

Multi-region SupportPremium

Deploy databases across multiple geographic regions for latency optimization.

Read ReplicasPremium

Create read-only replicas in different regions for improved query performance.

Serverless Compute

Auto-scaling compute that pauses during inactivity to reduce costs.

Security(7)

Custom Roles

Create custom database roles with specific permissions and ownership.

Database Activity LogsPremium

Audit logs for connection attempts, user actions, and administrative changes.

Encryption at Rest

Data encrypted at rest using industry-standard encryption algorithms.

IP AllowlistingPremium

Restrict database access by configuring IP address allowlists.

Role-based Access Control

Granular permission management with PostgreSQL roles and privileges.

SSL/TLS Encryption

All connections encrypted in transit with SSL/TLS protocols.

Vault IntegrationPremium

Secure credential storage with integration to HashiCorp Vault.

Support(3)

Community Support

Active community forums and Discord channel for peer support and discussions.

Developer Documentation

Comprehensive guides and API documentation for integration and development.

Premium SupportPremium

Priority email and chat support with faster response times.

Team Management(1)

Team CollaborationPremium

Invite team members with role-based access control for collaborative development.

Pricing

Free

Free
  • Small projects
  • up to 3GB storage
  • shared compute

Pro

Popular
$14/mo
  • Growing apps
  • dedicated compute
  • auto-scaling

Business

$69/mo
  • Production workloads
  • priority support
  • read replicas

Enterprise

Contact Sales
  • Custom solution
  • dedicated support
  • SLA

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Neon

Monthly$14/mo
Yearly$168/yr
5-Year Total$840

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~5 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyEasy

Total Cost Comparison

1 Year
SaaS
$168
DIY
$240
3 Years
SaaS
$504
DIY
$720
5 Years
SaaS
$840
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 45 features at easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Neon alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 45 features.

Buy Neon

Better Value
Monthly cost$140/mo
3-year total$5,040
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$36,000
Maintenance$540/mo
3-year total$55,440
Dev time~3 months

Buying Neon saves ~$50,400 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 45 features and a BuildScore of 4/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

27 known integrations

Apollo GraphQLAWS LambdaCloudflare WorkersDatadogDataGripDBeaverDjangoDockerDrizzle ORMGitHub ActionsGitLab CIGoogle Cloud FunctionsGrafanaHasuraIFTTTNew RelicNext.jsNode.js pgPgAdminPostgRESTPrismapsycopg2SlackSQLAlchemySupabaseVercelZapier