Neon
Neon is a managed, cloud-hosted PostgreSQL service for relational databases.
What Neon is
Neon is a managed, cloud-hosted PostgreSQL service for relational databases. It adjusts compute resources to workload, can suspend compute during inactivity, and resumes it when database activity returns. Database branches are isolated, can be created in about a second, and share data through copy-on-write storage. Neon also supports connection pooling with PgBouncer, read replicas, high availability, point-in-time recovery, JSON data, and seven-day backup retention. An API lets teams manage projects and databases programmatically. Documented workflows include Vercel, Prisma, Drizzle ORM, GitHub Actions, and Neon’s CLI. The Free plan is free, with limits of 10 projects, 50 CU-hours per month per project, 0.5 GB storage per project, 10 branches per project, and 5 GB monthly egress. Launch is $0.11 a month, billed at $0.106 per CU-hour; Scale is $0.22 a month, billed at $0.222 per CU-hour. Neon states that stored data is encrypted with AES-256 and data in transit uses TLS 1.2 or higher. It supports API, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.
Good
- Free plan is available
- Compute can pause during inactivity and resume on activity
- Isolated branches share data through copy-on-write storage
- Supports read replicas and point-in-time recovery
- API supports programmatic project and database management
Watch out
- Free plan limits projects, storage, compute hours, branches, and egress
- Launch and Scale are usage-based plans
- Support questions are directed to its Discord community
Who it suits
Neon suits developers and teams building PostgreSQL-backed projects who want managed cloud databases, branching, and programmatic management. Its plans describe Launch for growing projects and early startups, and Scale for production workloads needing advanced security, availability, and compliance features.
Verdict
Neon combines managed PostgreSQL with workload-based compute, branching, and programmatic controls. The free tier has stated resource limits, while Launch and Scale have usage-based billing.
Plans and prices
From Neon's own pricing page, checked 30 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 10 projects · 50 CU-hours/month per project · 0.5 GB storage per project · 10 branches/project · 5 GB/month egress · Free |
| Launch | $0.11 a month | Usage-based with no monthly minimum · 10 branches/project included, then $0.002 per branch-hour · autoscaling up to 16 CU · 100 GB/month egress · $0.106 per CU-hour; $0.35 per GB-month storage |
| Scale | $0.22 a month | 1,000 projects · 99.95% SLA-backed uptime · private networking and IP allow lists · 25 branches/project included · 30-day Instant Restore window · $0.222 per CU-hour; usage-based with no monthly minimum |
The facts
Each one read from Neon's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API
- Neon provides an API for managing projects and databases programmatically.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Autoscaling
- Neon automatically adjusts database compute resources based on workload.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Branching
- Neon database branches are isolated, can be created in about a second, and share data through copy-on-write storage.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Compliance
- Neon states it undergoes annual SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 audits, and has achieved HIPAA compliance.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Connection pooling
- Neon supports connection pooling using PgBouncer.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- Neon documents integrations and workflows involving Vercel, Prisma, Drizzle ORM, GitHub Actions, and its CLI.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Product
- Neon describes itself as a serverless, cloud-hosted PostgreSQL database service.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Scale to zero
- Neon can suspend compute after inactivity and restart it when database activity resumes.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Security
- Neon states that stored data is encrypted with AES-256 and data in transit uses TLS 1.2 or higher.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- Neon directs customers to its Discord community for questions and discussion.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Use cases
- Neon describes its Launch plan as suited to growing projects and early startups, and Scale as intended for production workloads requiring advanced security, availability, and compliance features.checked 30 Sep 2026
The company
- Company
- Neon says it joined Databricks in May 2025 and is now part of the Databricks Platform.checked 30 Sep 2026
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