Serverless PostgreSQL with instant branching, autoscaling from zero, and usage-based pricing for modern applications.
A serverless PostgreSQL database that scales automatically, branches like code, and costs nothing when idle — perfect for modern apps and AI workloads.
Neon is a serverless PostgreSQL platform that separates compute and storage to enable instant database branching, automatic scaling from zero, and usage-based billing. Unlike traditional managed PostgreSQL that requires provisioning fixed capacity, Neon scales automatically to match workload demand and pauses idle databases to eliminate costs during inactivity. The standout feature is database branching — instant, copy-on-write copies of your entire database that share base data and only consume storage for changes. This enables Git-like workflows where every pull request can have its own isolated database environment with its own connection string. Neon's GitHub integration automatically creates branches for pull requests and provides migration previews. The platform maintains full PostgreSQL compatibility including extensions like pgvector for vector similarity search, PostGIS for geospatial data, and TimescaleDB for time-series workloads. Connection pooling is built on pgBouncer and handles up to 10,000 concurrent connections. Point-in-time recovery allows restoring to any second within the retention period (6 hours on Free, 7 days on Launch, 30 days on Scale). Read replicas are available on all plans for offloading read-heavy queries. Neon Auth provides built-in authentication based on Better Auth with one-click setup, supporting up to 60K monthly active users on Free and 1M on Launch. The Free tier includes 100 projects, 100 compute-unit hours per project monthly, and 0.5GB storage per project. The Launch tier is usage-based at $0.106/CU-hour and $0.35/GB-month with typical spend around $15/month. The Scale tier supports up to 1,000+ projects with 56 CU compute, private networking, IP allowlists, SOC2, and HIPAA compliance. All plans include multi-AZ storage, autoscaling, read replicas, monitoring dashboards, and GDPR/ISO compliance by default.
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Neon delivers genuinely innovative serverless PostgreSQL with database branching that transforms development workflows and scale-to-zero billing that eliminates costs for idle databases. Cold starts of 500-2000ms are the main trade-off. Best for teams wanting modern Postgres with Git-like workflows and pay-for-what-you-use pricing.
Git-like branching using copy-on-write technology. New branches share base data and only consume storage for changes. Each branch gets its own connection string and compute.
Use Case:
Creating isolated database environments for each pull request so developers can test schema migrations against real data without affecting production.
Compute scales automatically based on demand from 0.25 to 56 CU (up to 224GB RAM on Scale tier). Idle databases pause automatically and resume within 500-2000ms on first connection.
Use Case:
Handling traffic spikes for a SaaS application during business hours while paying nothing overnight when no one is querying the database.
Continuous backup with second-level granularity. Restore to any specific second within the retention period without traditional backup/restore processes. 6 hours Free, 7 days Launch, 30 days Scale.
Use Case:
Recovering from an accidental DELETE statement by restoring the database to the exact second before the query executed.
pgBouncer-based connection pooling handles up to 10,000 concurrent connections efficiently, included on all plans at no extra cost.
Use Case:
Running a serverless application on Vercel where each function invocation opens a new connection — pooling prevents hitting PostgreSQL's connection limits.
Automatically creates database branches for pull requests with schema migration previews. Branches are deleted when PRs are merged or closed.
Use Case:
Configuring CI/CD so every PR automatically gets a fresh database branch, runs migration tests, and reports results directly in the PR comments.
Built-in authentication based on Better Auth with one-click setup. Supports up to 60K MAUs on Free and 1M on Launch, eliminating the need for a separate auth service.
Use Case:
Adding user authentication to a new SaaS app without configuring a separate auth provider — enable Neon Auth and start building login flows immediately.
Free
monthly
$15.00/mo
monthly
$701.00/mo
monthly
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In 2026, Neon enhanced agent capabilities with improved cold start performance, better branching workflows, enhanced monitoring tools, and new features for optimizing serverless database costs.
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