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Neon vs PocketBase
Side-by-side comparison of Neon and PocketBase.
Quick summary
Neon — Serverless Postgres. Neon is a serverless Postgres platform with branching, autoscaling, and a generous free tier.
PocketBase — Open source backend in 1 file. PocketBase is an open-source Go backend, bundled as a single executable, with embedded SQLite, auth, realtime, and admin UI.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Neon | PocketBase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $19/mo | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Engine | PostgreSQL | — |
| Branching | Yes | — |
| Free Tier | 0.5GB storage | Unlimited (self-host) |
| Serverless | Yes | — |
| Scale-to-zero | Yes | — |
| Point-in-time Recovery | Yes | — |
| Auth | — | Yes |
| Storage | — | Yes |
| Database | — | SQLite |
| Realtime | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Edge Functions | — | No |
| Row Level Security | — | Yes |
Neon
Serverless Postgres
Pros
- Git-like branching for databases
- Scale-to-zero saves money
- Standard Postgres
Cons
- Cold starts after scale-to-zero
- Younger platform vs RDS
PocketBase
Open source backend in 1 file
Pros
- Zero-config single binary
- Fast and lightweight
- Great for small-to-medium apps
Cons
- SQLite limits horizontal scale
- Single maintainer
- No managed cloud offering
Which should you choose?
Choose Neon if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage. Choose PocketBase if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Neon or PocketBase?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Neon is the safer default because Neon has a larger community and more third-party integrations, which often translates to better long-term support. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Neon cheaper than PocketBase?
Neon starts at $19/mo, while PocketBase starts at Free. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Neon to PocketBase?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Neon-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most database migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is Neon or PocketBase open source?
Yes, both Neon and PocketBase are open source and can be self-hosted.
Does Neon or PocketBase have a free tier?
Both Neon and PocketBase offer a free tier.
Which is best for startups and indie hackers?
Startups usually optimize for the lowest friction to ship and the cheapest possible free tier. The one with the most generous free tier here is Neon. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.