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Neon vs Turso
Comparing two database platforms on pricing, features, free tier, and trade-offs.
Quick summary
Neon — Serverless Postgres. Neon is a serverless Postgres platform with branching, autoscaling, and a generous free tier.
Turso — SQLite for production. Turso is a distributed SQLite database built on libSQL, offering edge replicas and a generous free tier.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Neon | Turso |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $19/mo | $29/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Engine | PostgreSQL | SQLite (libSQL) |
| Branching | Yes | No |
| Free Tier | 0.5GB storage | 500 databases, 9GB |
| Serverless | Yes | Yes |
| Scale-to-zero | Yes | Yes |
| Point-in-time Recovery | Yes | 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
Turso
SQLite for production
Pros
- Edge replicas close to users
- Very generous free tier
- Low latency reads
Cons
- SQLite limits write scale
- Newer tool, less tooling
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 Turso 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 Turso?
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 Turso?
Neon starts at $19/mo, while Turso starts at $29/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Neon to Turso?
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 Turso open source?
Yes, both Neon and Turso are open source and can be self-hosted.
Does Neon or Turso have a free tier?
Both Neon and Turso 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.