Neon: Pricing, Features & Alternatives
Neon is a serverless PostgreSQL database designed for modern cloud-native applications. It separates storage and compute, supports instant branching, scale-to-zero, and integrates with platforms like Vercel for startups and production workloads.
Who it’s for: Developers who want serverless Postgres that scales to zero when idle and branches like Git for previews and tests.
Category
Database
Pricing
Free tier available
Free tier
Yes
Best for
Database: serverless Postgres, branching, preview environments
Neon at a Glance
- What it is
- Serverless Postgres
- Database engine
- PostgreSQL
- How you pay
- Per compute-unit hour and GB-month; no minimum
- Free access
- 100 CU-hours and 1 GB per project; no card
- Beyond the database
- Branching, auth
Checked November 2026 against Neon pricing.
Neon Pricing Plans (2026)
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| FreePopular | $0 / month |
| Launch | Usage-based |
| Scale | Usage-based |
Pricing summary: Free · then usage-based. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.
Key Neon Features
- Free: 100 compute-unit hours a project, 1 GB storage per project, 100 projects, no card
- Launch: $0.106 per compute-unit hour and $0.35 per GB-month, no monthly minimum
- Scale: $0.222 per compute-unit hour, up to 56 compute units, 25 branches included
- Scales to zero after 5 minutes idle
- Copy-on-write branches on every plan
- Built-in auth: 60,000 monthly active users on Free
- Owned by Databricks
Pros
- +True serverless PostgreSQL
- +Scale-to-zero reduces idle costs
- +Instant database branching
- +Excellent Vercel integration
- +Great for preview environments
Cons
- −Usage-based pricing can be unpredictable
- −Not ideal for always-on heavy workloads
- −Enterprise features are limited
Best Neon Alternatives
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Neon Compared
Neon FAQ
What is Neon used for?⌄
Neon is a database tool. Serverless PostgreSQL with autoscaling, branching, and usage-based pricing.
Is Neon free?⌄
Yes. Neon has a free tier you can start with, and paid plans for more usage and features.
How much does Neon cost?⌄
Neon is free to use, with usage-based pricing on some features.
What are the best Neon alternatives?⌄
Popular Neon alternatives include Supabase, AWS RDS (PostgreSQL), GCP Cloud SQL (PostgreSQL), Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Xata. Compare pricing and features on our Neon alternatives page.
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