Neon vs Amazon Aurora Serverless: Head-to-Head Comparison

Quick Verdict

Neon is the better pick for serverless apps and preview environments on Postgres. Amazon Aurora Serverless is the better pick for AWS workloads with variable traffic.

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At a Glance

Feature	Neon	Amazon Aurora Serverless
Best For	Serverless apps and preview environments on Postgres	AWS workloads with variable traffic
Pricing	Free tier, then usage-based pricing	Pay-as-you-go usage pricing
Free to Start	Yes	No
License	Open source	Proprietary
Deployment	Managed cloud	Managed cloud
Link	Visit Neon	Visit Amazon Aurora Serverless

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Detailed Breakdown

Neon

Serverless Postgres with branching

Pros:

• Scale-to-zero compute
• Instant database branching
• Standard Postgres compatibility

Cons:

• Cold starts after scaling to zero
• Some Postgres extensions unavailable

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Amazon Aurora Serverless

Auto-scaling MySQL and PostgreSQL on AWS

Pros:

• Automatic capacity scaling
• MySQL and Postgres compatibility
• Deep AWS integration

Cons:

• AWS only
• Pricing can be complex to estimate

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Key Differences

• Positioning: Neon — serverless Postgres with branching. Amazon Aurora Serverless — auto-scaling MySQL and PostgreSQL on AWS.
• Licensing differs: Neon is open source while Amazon Aurora Serverless is proprietary.
• Neon can be started for free, while Amazon Aurora Serverless requires a paid plan. Amazon Aurora Serverless pricing: pay-as-you-go usage pricing.
• Signature strength: Neon — scale-to-zero compute. Amazon Aurora Serverless — automatic capacity scaling.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Neon better than Amazon Aurora Serverless?

It depends on your requirements. Neon is a strong fit for serverless apps and preview environments on Postgres, while Amazon Aurora Serverless suits AWS workloads with variable traffic.

Is Neon free to use?

Yes, you can start with Neon for free. Pricing model: Free tier, then usage-based pricing.

Is Amazon Aurora Serverless free to use?

Amazon Aurora Serverless does not have a permanent free plan. Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go usage pricing.

Can I self-host Neon or Amazon Aurora Serverless?

Neon is offered as a managed service: managed cloud. Amazon Aurora Serverless is offered as a managed service: managed cloud.

What are the main drawbacks of Neon and Amazon Aurora Serverless?

Neon: cold starts after scaling to zero; some Postgres extensions unavailable. Amazon Aurora Serverless: AWS only; pricing can be complex to estimate.