Neon separates storage from compute, which buys two things that matter: scale-to-zero when nobody is querying, and database branches that let you spin up a copy of production for a migration test or a preview deployment. It is plain Postgres, so nothing you know stops working.
Who it is for
A team running preview environments that wants a throwaway database branch for every pull request.
Key features
- Postgres with copy-on-write branching
- Scale to zero when idle
- Branches per preview deployment
- Point-in-time restore on paid plans
- Standard Postgres drivers and extensions
- Usage-based compute billing
Where it falls short
The free tier suspends idle databases and the first query afterwards is slow, and the branching model is a concept your team has to learn before it pays off.
Pricing
Free tier includes a small storage and compute allowance and suspends idle databases; paid is usage-based, and the gate is that always-on compute and longer restore windows cost extra.
Prices move; the tier structure is the part that stays true. Check current pricing on Neon.
Alternatives to Neon
Frequently asked
Is Neon free?
Partly. Free tier includes a small storage and compute allowance and suspends idle databases; paid is usage-based, and the gate is that always-on compute and longer restore windows cost extra.
What is Neon best for?
A team running preview environments that wants a throwaway database branch for every pull request.
What are the best alternatives to Neon?
The closest substitutes we list are Railway and Supabase. They sit in a similar price bracket but make a different trade-off, so read the weaknesses section of each review before switching.
Which platforms does Neon run on?
Neon is available on Web.