Which Database Fits Your Query Patterns and Ops Budget?
SQL vs NoSQL is the wrong question. Pick the right database based on query patterns, consistency needs, and operational complexity. We help you decide.
MG Software defaults to Supabase as our database solution. The combination of a fully managed PostgreSQL database with built-in authentication, realtime functionality, and auto-generated APIs significantly accelerates our development. For projects with serverless requirements, Neon is an excellent alternative.
The right database choice is fundamental to the performance, scalability, and reliability of your application. In 2026 the landscape is richer than ever: serverless databases that automatically scale to zero, database branching that works like Git for your schema, and AI-powered query optimization that handles complex queries in milliseconds. The traditional SQL versus NoSQL choice has become more nuanced. PostgreSQL now has JSON support that rivals MongoDB, while MongoDB has added ACID transactions. Fully managed platforms like Supabase and Neon handle operational management so your team can focus on building features instead of managing servers. We benchmarked four database platforms on query latency, write throughput, connection pooling, and migration tooling using a standardized e-commerce dataset with two million rows. Developer experience, managed hosting options, backup strategies, and long-term operational costs were assessed separately by two engineers who used each platform in production.
How did we select these tools?
We benchmarked each database on query latency, write throughput, connection pooling, and migration tooling using a standardized e-commerce dataset with 2M rows. Developer experience, managed hosting options, and long-term operational cost were scored independently by two engineers.
How do we evaluate these tools?
- Performance and scalability under production workloads: query latency, write throughput, and connection pooling
- Developer experience: quality of tooling, ORM support, migration tooling, and documentation
- Managed hosting options and operational simplicity: backups, monitoring, alerting, and point-in-time recovery
- Cost and flexibility of the pricing model, including predictability during growth and traffic spikes
- Ecosystem and compatibility: support by ORMs, drivers, and frameworks in your tech stack
- Security and compliance: encryption, row-level security, audit logging, and GDPR compliance capabilities
1. Supabase (PostgreSQL)
Open-source Firebase alternative built on PostgreSQL that provides a complete backend platform. Supabase offers database, authentication, realtime subscriptions, storage, and edge functions from a single dashboard. The Pro plan starts at $25 per month with 8 GB storage and point-in-time recovery. Row-level security policies enable fine-grained access control directly at the database level.
Pros
- +Fully managed PostgreSQL with all advanced features including extensions
- +Built-in authentication, storage, realtime, and edge functions
- +Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs via PostgREST
- +Generous free tier with 500 MB storage for prototypes and small projects
- +Row-level security for fine-grained data access control without middleware
Cons
- -Vendor lock-in when relying heavily on Supabase-specific features like auth hooks
- -Edge functions are still more limited than dedicated serverless platforms
- -Complex queries require direct SQL knowledge beyond the auto-generated APIs
- -Storage costs increase significantly above 100 GB on the Pro plan
2. PlanetScale (MySQL)
Serverless MySQL platform based on Vitess, the database technology that powers YouTube at scale. PlanetScale offers schema branching for safe migrations, zero-downtime schema changes, and automatic horizontal scaling. The Scaler plan starts at $29 per month with 10 GB storage. The platform uses a unique non-blocking schema change workflow that eliminates the need for maintenance windows.
Pros
- +Schema branching for safe database migrations with deploy requests
- +Zero-downtime schema changes in production without locking tables
- +Automatic horizontal scaling via Vitess sharding technology
- +Excellent developer experience with CLI, dashboard, and Insights analytics
- +Connection pooling and query caching built into the platform
Cons
- -No support for foreign key constraints due to Vitess architecture
- -MySQL limitations compared to PostgreSQL for advanced data types and extensions
- -Free tier discontinued, requiring a paid plan for any usage
- -Fewer managed service features compared to Supabase such as auth and storage
3. MongoDB Atlas
Fully managed cloud version of MongoDB, the most popular document database with over 46,000 customers. Atlas offers flexible schemaless data models, horizontal scalability through sharding, and a powerful aggregation framework for analytics. The shared tier starts free with 512 MB storage. Atlas Search provides full-text search powered by Apache Lucene without requiring a separate search engine.
Pros
- +Flexible schema ideal for rapidly changing data models and content management
- +Powerful aggregation framework for complex analytical queries
- +Multi-cloud availability across AWS, Azure, and GCP with global clusters
- +Atlas Search provides built-in full-text search powered by Lucene
- +Time Series collections optimized for IoT and event data workloads
Cons
- -Multi-document ACID transactions add latency and should be used sparingly
- -Higher storage costs per GB than relational alternatives like PostgreSQL
- -Can be overkill for applications with primarily relational data structures
- -Query language differs from SQL which requires learning for SQL-experienced teams
4. Neon (Serverless PostgreSQL)
Serverless PostgreSQL platform that automatically scales to zero and offers database branching for development workflows. Neon separates storage and compute to enable instant branching and cost-efficient scaling. The Launch plan starts at $19 per month with 10 GB storage. Cold starts typically complete within 500 milliseconds, making Neon suitable for low-traffic applications that benefit from scale-to-zero.
Pros
- +Automatic scale-to-zero so you only pay for actual compute usage
- +Database branching for development, testing, and preview environments
- +Fully compatible with the PostgreSQL ecosystem including all extensions
- +Quick setup with a generous free tier offering 0.5 GB storage
- +Serverless driver for HTTP-based connections from edge functions
Cons
- -Cold starts on inactive databases add 300 to 500 ms to first queries
- -Relatively new platform with less production track record at enterprise scale
- -Fewer additional services than Supabase, focused purely on database
- -Compute costs can become unpredictable with bursty high-traffic workloads
5. CockroachDB
Distributed SQL database that provides PostgreSQL compatibility with built-in horizontal scaling and multi-region replication. CockroachDB Serverless offers a consumption-based model starting with a generous free tier of 10 GB storage and 50 million request units. The database guarantees serializable isolation across globally distributed nodes, making it ideal for applications that need strong consistency across regions.
Pros
- +Automatic horizontal scaling with built-in data distribution across nodes
- +Multi-region replication with strong consistency guarantees for global apps
- +PostgreSQL wire compatibility allows use of existing PostgreSQL drivers and ORMs
- +Serverless tier with generous free allowance for development and small workloads
- +Survives node and region failures without manual intervention or data loss
Cons
- -Higher query latency than single-region databases due to distributed consensus
- -More complex operational model than managed single-node PostgreSQL services
- -Premium pricing for dedicated clusters compared to simpler managed PostgreSQL
- -Some PostgreSQL features and extensions are not yet supported in CockroachDB
Which tool does MG Software recommend?
MG Software defaults to Supabase as our database solution. The combination of a fully managed PostgreSQL database with built-in authentication, realtime functionality, and auto-generated APIs significantly accelerates our development. For projects with serverless requirements, Neon is an excellent alternative.
How MG Software can help
MG Software helps organizations choose, set up, and optimize the right database for their application requirements. We analyze your data model, query patterns, and growth projections to recommend whether PostgreSQL, MySQL, or a document database is the best fit. For new projects we typically deploy Supabase with row-level security, optimized indexes, and automated backups. For teams running legacy databases, we handle migrations from MySQL to PostgreSQL, set up connection pooling with Supavisor or PgBouncer, and configure monitoring dashboards so you can spot slow queries before they impact users. We also design database branching workflows with Neon for safe schema changes and implement CI checks that validate migrations before deployment. Whether you need a serverless database for a prototype or a highly available multi-region setup for enterprise workloads, our team guides you from architecture to production.
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