This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database DevSecOps tool which supports amazon rds and some other alternatives.
| Update History | Comment |
|---|---|
| 2025/05/21 | Initial version. |
Amazon's Relational Database Service (RDS) is a popular managed database service that simplifies database administration tasks. However, organizations often explore alternatives due to cost concerns, specialized requirements, or architectural preferences. This article provides a concise overview of RDS alternatives, covering both self-hosted solutions and other cloud providers' offerings.
Understanding Amazon RDS: Benefits and Limitations
Amazon RDS, launched in 2009, provides managed database services for popular engines like MySQL and PostgreSQL. It handles routine tasks such as provisioning, patching, backups, and monitoring, allowing teams to focus on application development.
It supports the following database engines:
- Open Source: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and Amazon Aurora (MySQL-Compatible and PostgreSQL-Compatible Editions).
- Commercial: SQL Server, Oracle, and IBM Db2.
Key Benefits:
- Automatic software patching and backups
- Read replicas for improved performance
- Multi-availability zone deployments
- Integration with other AWS services
Limitations:
- Vertical scaling constraints despite high costs
- Complex pricing model leading to unexpected expenses
- Limited customization for specialized workloads
- Restricted administrative access to underlying systems
AWS Alternatives
Amazon Aurora
Amazon Aurora is a cloud-native relational database service developed by AWS. It is compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL databases and offers enhanced performance, reliability, and scalability compared to traditional RDS instances.
Key Features:
- Distributed, fault-tolerant architecture that replicates data across multiple availability zones
- Up to 5x better throughput than MySQL on RDS and up to 3x better performance than PostgreSQL on RDS
- Automatic storage scaling and database replication
- Available in standard provisioned and serverless configurations
Aurora was designed and built from the ground up to take advantage of the cloud, with numerous improvements to the database engine implemented by AWS themselves. It automatically handles tasks like database replication, failover, and recovery, making it a powerful alternative to standard RDS.
Other Hyperscale Alternatives
GCP Cloud SQL
Google Cloud SQL is Google's fully managed relational database service that makes it easy to set up, maintain, manage, and administer relational databases on Google Cloud Platform.
Key Features:
- Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server database engines
- Handles routine database tasks such as backups and patch management
- Integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud services
- Offers automatic storage increases and high availability configuration
- Straightforward pricing model that some users find more transparent than AWS
Cloud SQL follows a traditional managed database model with managed VMs and persistent disk storage. It's particularly well-suited for organizations already invested in the Google Cloud ecosystem or those looking for a straightforward managed database service with predictable pricing.
GCP AlloyDB for PostgreSQL
AlloyDB is Google's high-performance, PostgreSQL-compatible database service designed specifically for demanding enterprise workloads.
Key Features:
- Cloud-native architecture with disaggregated compute and storage
- Up to 4x faster for transactions and 100x faster for analytics compared to standard PostgreSQL
- Built-in columnar engine for hybrid transactional/analytical processing (HTAP)
- Fully elastic storage/compute with auto-scaling capabilities
- 99.99% SLA with sub-minute failover and zero-downtime maintenance
AlloyDB uses a modern, cloud-native architecture with separate compute and storage layers, delivering high performance and scalability specifically for PostgreSQL. It includes a distributed storage system built for PostgreSQL, independent compute scaling with smart caching, and a built-in columnar engine for analytics.
AlloyDB is the better choice for enterprise PostgreSQL workloads, HTAP (Hybrid Transactional/Analytical Processing), and mission-critical systems, while Cloud SQL is more suitable for general-purpose applications and multi-engine needs.
Azure SQL Database
Microsoft Azure offers several managed database services that compete with RDS, including Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Azure Database for MySQL, and Azure SQL Database (for Microsoft SQL Server).
Key Features:
- Automated backups, high availability, and security features
- Integration with other Azure services
- Intelligent performance recommendations and advanced threat protection
- Geo-redundant backups and flexible scaling options
Azure's database offerings provide similar benefits to RDS and integrate well with other Azure services, making them a natural choice for organizations already using Microsoft's cloud platform. For organizations heavily invested in Microsoft technologies or those using hybrid cloud architectures with on-premises Microsoft infrastructure, Azure's database services offer seamless integration and familiar management interfaces.
Other DBaaS provider
DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean Managed Databases provides a simplified database service for PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, and MongoDB. It's designed with developers in mind, offering a straightforward setup process and user-friendly management interface.
Key Features:
- Automatic backups and standby nodes for high availability
- End-to-end encryption and horizontal scaling through read-only nodes
- Transparent pricing model and developer-friendly features
- Simplified management compared to larger cloud providers
DigitalOcean's offering is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses, startups, and individual developers looking for a cost-effective and easy-to-use managed database service without the complexity of larger cloud providers.
DigitalOcean's managed PostgreSQL service starts at $15 per month for a basic instance with 1GB of RAM and 10GB of storage, making it an affordable option for smaller workloads.
Aiven
Aiven is a fully managed open-source database service provider that offers PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, Kafka, and other data infrastructure services across all major cloud platforms.
Key Features:
- Multi-cloud deployment options (AWS, GCP, Azure, DigitalOcean, etc.)
- High availability with automatic backups and failover
- Advanced monitoring and metrics
- Enterprise-grade security with encryption and VPC peering
- Seamless scaling and version upgrades
Aiven's PostgreSQL service includes all the extensions you might need out of the box and is now AI-optimized. Their platform allows you to deploy and manage databases across different cloud providers from a single interface, providing flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in.
Aiven is particularly suitable for organizations that want to leverage open-source technologies with professional management and support, or those looking for a consistent database experience across multiple cloud environments.
Timescale Cloud
Timescale Cloud is a fully managed, cloud-native database service built on PostgreSQL, tailored for time-series and analytics workloads. It extends PostgreSQL with features optimized for handling time-stamped data, making it ideal for applications like IoT, financial analytics, and monitoring systems.
Key Features:
- Time-Series Optimizations: Utilizes hypertables and continuous aggregates for efficient storage and querying of time-series data.
- Data Compression: Achieves up to 95% storage savings through native compression techniques.
- Performance: Offers up to 350x faster queries and 44% faster data ingestion compared to Amazon RDS PostgreSQL for time-series workloads.
- Managed Service: Provides automated backups, high availability, and seamless scaling without manual intervention.
- Developer-Friendly: Maintains full SQL support, allowing developers to leverage existing PostgreSQL tools and expertise.
For organizations dealing with large volumes of time-series data, Timescale Cloud offers a performant and cost-effective solution that combines the reliability of PostgreSQL with specialized time-series capabilities.
Cost Comparison (us-east-1)
To provide a clear comparison of database costs across different providers, below is pricing information for various RDS alternatives in the us-east-1 region (or equivalent). This comparison focuses on PostgreSQL offerings with similar specifications to enable direct comparison.
Comparison Table for Basic PostgreSQL Instance (2 vCPU, 8GB RAM, 100GB Storage)
| Provider | Service | Monthly Cost (est.) | Pricing Model | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | RDS PostgreSQL | $210-230 | Pay-as-you-go or reserved instances | Automatic backups, Multi-AZ option |
| AWS | Aurora PostgreSQL | $290-320 | Pay-as-you-go or reserved instances | Enhanced performance, auto-scaling storage |
| GCP | Cloud SQL | $190-210 | Pay-as-you-go | Straightforward pricing, seamless GCP integration |
| GCP | AlloyDB | $260-290 | Pay-as-you-go | 4x faster transactions, columnar engine for analytics |
| Azure | Database for PostgreSQL | $200-230 | Pay-as-you-go or reserved capacity | Intelligent performance recommendations |
| DigitalOcean | Managed PostgreSQL | $120-140 | Fixed monthly pricing | Simple pricing, developer-friendly |
| Aiven | PostgreSQL | $200-220 | Tiered plans with hourly billing | Multi-cloud deployment, all-inclusive pricing |
| Timescale | Timescale Cloud | $180-210 | Usage-based (compute + storage) | Time-series optimizations, columnar compression |
Cost-Saving Considerations
-
Reserved Instances/Commitments: AWS, GCP, and Azure offer significant discounts (up to 60%) for 1-3 year commitments.
-
Right-sizing: Choosing the appropriate instance size for your workload can significantly reduce costs.
-
Storage Optimization:
- Timescale Cloud's columnar compression can reduce storage costs by up to 95% for time-series data
- Aurora's storage auto-scaling only charges for what you use
- DigitalOcean's fixed pricing includes storage allocations
-
Serverless Options:
- Aurora Serverless v2 (minimum 0.5 ACUs at ~$0.06/hour in us-east-1)
- AlloyDB Omni through Aiven (starting at $90/month)
-
Free Tiers:
- AWS RDS: 750 hours of db.t4g.micro instance per month for 12 months
- Azure: 12 months of free services for new customers
- GCP: $300 free credit for new customers
- Timescale Cloud: Free tier available for development
Performance vs. Cost Considerations
When evaluating cost, it's important to consider performance benefits that may justify higher prices:
- Aurora PostgreSQL: 3x better performance than standard RDS PostgreSQL
- AlloyDB: 4x faster for transactions, 100x faster for analytics than standard PostgreSQL
- Timescale Cloud: Up to 350x faster queries for time-series data compared to RDS
- DigitalOcean: Lower performance but significantly lower cost for basic workloads
Conclusion
When choosing an alternative to Amazon RDS, consider your specific workload requirements, budget constraints, and existing cloud investments. Each alternative offers distinct advantages:
- Amazon Aurora provides enhanced performance within the AWS ecosystem
- GCP Cloud SQL offers a straightforward managed service with multi-engine support
- GCP AlloyDB delivers high-performance PostgreSQL for enterprise workloads
- Azure SQL Database integrates seamlessly with Microsoft technologies
- DigitalOcean provides simplified, cost-effective database management
- Aiven offers multi-cloud flexibility with open-source technologies
- Timescale Cloud excels for time-series data with significant performance advantages
For specialized workloads like time-series data, purpose-built solutions like Timescale Cloud can offer substantial performance and cost benefits over general-purpose database services. From a cost perspective, DigitalOcean offers the most affordable option for predictable workloads, while AWS Aurora and GCP AlloyDB provide premium performance at higher price points.
