HeliosProxy
HeliosProxy is an open-source, self-hosted PostgreSQL data-plane for connection routing, failover, traffic replay, and database upgrades.
What HeliosProxy is
HeliosProxy is an open-source, self-hosted PostgreSQL data-plane for connection routing, failover, traffic replay, and database upgrades. It offers session, transaction, and statement pooling, with connection multiplexing of up to 100:1. Routing options include lag-aware replica selection, workload-based routing, and circuit breaking for failing backends. Its cache includes local-memory, Redis-backed, and semantic tiers, with invalidation when writes occur. Transaction Replay can move sessions to a new primary and may replay reads or transactions when conditions allow. However, SQL-level prepared statements, session temporary tables, open cursors, advisory locks, and extended-protocol SET statements are not restored after failover. A WASM plugin runtime offers five hook points, Ed25519 signature verification, and OCI artifact distribution. The admin console includes topology, plugin, chaos, shadow-execution, and traffic-replay panels. Authentication options include JWT, OAuth 2.0, LDAP, and API keys. HeliosProxy works with PostgreSQL 12+ and compatible backends, and has Docker, Kubernetes, and standalone deployment options. It is free under Apache 2.0.
Good
- Free under the Apache 2.0 license
- Offers three pooling modes
- Cache invalidates on writes
- Supports multiple authentication methods
- Works with PostgreSQL 12+ and compatible backends
Watch out
- Several types of session state are not restored after failover
- Self-hosted deployment is required
Who it suits
HeliosProxy suits teams running PostgreSQL-compatible databases that need configurable pooling, routing, or failover. It is aimed at users comfortable with self-hosted deployment options such as Docker, Kubernetes, or standalone installation.
Verdict
HeliosProxy offers pooling, routing, caching, and failover functions for PostgreSQL-compatible environments. Before relying on failover, account for the session state it does not restore.
Plans and prices
From HeliosProxy's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| HeliosProxy | Free | Open source under Apache 2.0 · 46 feature modules · Works with PostgreSQL-wire-compatible databases |
The facts
Each one read from HeliosProxy's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Admin
- A built-in admin web console provides topology, plugin, chaos, shadow-execution, and traffic-replay panels, using the proxy's JWT or API-key admin authentication.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Caching
- Its cache has local-memory, Redis-backed, and semantic tiers, with cache invalidation on writes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The maker documents Docker, Kubernetes, and standalone deployment options.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Failover
- Transaction Replay can re-home sessions to a new primary and offers optional read or transaction replay when conditions allow.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Failover limits
- SQL-level prepared statements, session temporary tables, open cursors, advisory locks, and extended-protocol SET statements are not restored across failover.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- It works with PostgreSQL 12+ and PostgreSQL-compatible backends including Amazon RDS, Aurora, Cloud SQL, Azure Database, CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, TimescaleDB, Citus, and AlloyDB.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- HeliosProxy is open source under the Apache 2.0 license.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- The WASM plugin runtime has five hook points and supports Ed25519 signature verification and OCI artifact distribution.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Pooling
- It offers session, transaction, and statement pooling modes, with up to 100:1 connection multiplexing.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- HeliosProxy is a programmable PostgreSQL data-plane for connection routing, failover, traffic replay, and database upgrades.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Routing
- It supports lag-aware replica routing, workload-based routing, and circuit breaking for failing backends.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- The proxy supports JWT, OAuth 2.0, LDAP, and API-key authentication, with identity claim-to-database-role mapping.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The company lists a support contact at [email protected] and links to community support on Discord.checked 9 Oct 2026
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