Do you find yourself struggling with geospatial data in your database? You know the feeling: you need quick answers about locations, distances, and relationships between points on a map, but your database just wasn’t built for these questions.
The problem? While fantastic for traditional data, PostgreSQL on its own doesn’t natively handle the complexities of maps and coordinates.
PostGIS fixes that.
PostGIS transforms PostgreSQL into a spatial powerhouse. It adds native support for location data, letting you run complex spatial queries without patching together awkward solutions or using separate systems.
If geospatial data plays a role in what you do, you don’t just want PostGIS; you need it.
How PostGIS makes geospatial data work in PostgreSQL
Ever tried forcing PostgreSQL to handle location data without the right tools? It’s frustrating. Your queries crawl, results might lack precision, and writing even basic spatial logic becomes a headache that grows with your data.
PostGIS eliminates these problems by bringing spatial capabilities directly into PostgreSQL. No more workarounds or separate systems, just your database speaking the language of maps and locations.
With PostGIS, you get:
- Specialized data types for points, lines, and shapes that actually make sense for spatial work
- Fast spatial indexes that keep your queries quick, even with millions of records
- Built-in functions for all the spatial questions you need to answer, from simple distance checks to complex geometric operations
You can run queries like:
- Which customers are within 5 miles of this store?
- What delivery zones overlap with this zip code?
- Is this route passing through a restricted area?
- What’s the closest service center to this coordinate?
It’s not just about storing location data. PostGIS gives you the ability to ask real questions of it and actually get answers, fast.
Whether you’re tracking assets, planning infrastructure, analyzing service areas, or powering location-based features, PostGIS gives PostgreSQL the capabilities to handle it all.
Where PostGIS makes a difference for enterprise geospatial data
You’re probably already using PostgreSQL for your applications or analytics. But without PostGIS, you’re missing a key capability. Here’s how PostGIS transforms your ability to work with location data in real-world situations:
Spatial queries that actually perform
Spatial queries that actually performGeospatial data is notoriously heavy. Trying to filter, sort, or analyze it without spatial indexing leads to slow queries and overloaded servers.
PostGIS solves this with specialized spatial indexes built for geographic operations. The result? Lightning-fast queries on complex location data, no extra systems or workarounds needed.
Fewer systems to manage
Are you currently syncing data to a separate GIS platform just to run spatial operations? That approach creates data silos, sync headaches, and more infrastructure to babysit.
With PostGIS, everything stays in PostgreSQL. Your location data lives right alongside your business data, giving you a single source of truth and less complexity to manage.
Scales with cloud-native and containerized apps
If you’re running Kubernetes, microservices, or cloud deployments, traditional GIS solutions often feel like square pegs in round holes. PostGIS integrates seamlessly with containerized PostgreSQL and works perfectly with tools like Percona Operator for PostgreSQL.
This means your spatial data can scale alongside your applications without special handling or odd infrastructure exceptions.
Built for regulated, data-sensitive industries
If you work in government, utilities, healthcare, telecom, or financial services, you know the importance of data accuracy and compliance. PostGIS gives you precise spatial operations while keeping your location data inside your secure, auditable database environment, right where your other sensitive data lives.
No separate licensing or surprise costs
Many proprietary GIS tools charge extra for spatial capabilities or limit usage by user count or query volume. PostGIS is fully open source, which means no extra licenses and no unexpected bills when you scale up your spatial operations.
What are your options for running PostGIS?
PostGIS is open source and widely supported, but how you use it in production makes a big difference. Depending on your setup and team capacity, there are a few paths forward.
Option 1: The DIY approach
Yes, you can install PostGIS yourself using standard package managers, but going this route means taking on the full responsibility for its integration.
That includes:
- Making sure versions play nicely with your PostgreSQL setup
- Handling extension updates and migrations yourself
- Integrating it with your backup and high availability systems
- Tackling performance issues and spatial data quirks as they appear
This works fine if you have the time and expertise, but it adds operational overhead your team has to absorb.
Using multiple PostgreSQL extensions? While powerful, they can conflict if not managed carefully. Avoid integration headaches! Download our PostgreSQL Extension Handbook for proven strategies to ensure your extensions work seamlessly together.
Option 2: Through a commercial PostgreSQL vendor
Some proprietary PostgreSQL distributions include PostGIS, which might seem convenient. But before jumping in, ask yourself:
- Will PostGIS features be gated behind premium licensing tiers?
- Are you locked into a specific cloud provider or proprietary database fork?
- Can you use PostGIS the way you want to, or are you limited by vendor constraints?
If you’re looking to avoid lock-in or inflated licensing costs, this path might not give you the control you need long term.
Option 3: Use PostGIS with Percona for PostgreSQL
Percona includes PostGIS as part of its enterprise-ready PostgreSQL distribution, so there are no license fees, no extra installation steps, and no need to worry about whether your extensions will play nicely together.
With this option, you get:
- PostGIS fully integrated and tested to work with other key components like Patroni (HA), pgBackRest (backups), and pg_stat_monitor (observability)
- Kubernetes-ready deployments through Percona Operator for PostgreSQL
- 24/7 expert support that covers your entire stack, including geospatial data issues
- True open source with no vendor lock-in, no proprietary forks, and no usage caps on critical features
It’s everything you need to run spatial workloads at scale, minus the complexity of rolling your own or the limitations of commercial forks.
Making the right call for your spatial data
If you’re working with coordinates, shapes, or anything location-aware, you already know the limits of a traditional database setup.
Before you take on more custom code, sync jobs, or bolt-on GIS systems, it’s worth asking:
These are exactly the challenges PostGIS was built to solve. And when it’s already part of your PostgreSQL environment with support that actually understands spatial data, you get one less thing to worry about.
Geospatial workloads, minus the extra overhead
Choosing Percona for PostgreSQL means PostGIS isn’t just an add-on; it’s a core part of a tested, integrated database environment. You gain the power of spatial analysis without the integration headaches or operational burdens of a DIY setup, without the vendor lock-in or hidden costs of proprietary forks.
- Simplified operations: Get a production-ready spatial database where critical components for high availability, backups, monitoring, and container orchestration are designed to work together seamlessly with PostGIS.
- Deployment freedom: Run your geospatial workloads where it makes sense for your business, whether on-prem, in the cloud, across multiple clouds, or in containers, with consistent performance and full support.
- Confident scaling: Rely on a truly open source foundation backed by 24/7 expert support that understands the specific demands of spatial data, ensuring your applications can grow without hitting unexpected database limitations.
You don’t need to invest in a separate GIS platform or rely on custom workarounds. With PostGIS included in Percona for PostgreSQL, your geospatial data is fast, accurate, and production-ready, right from the start.
Working with geospatial data? Don’t let your database slow you down.
PostGIS gives PostgreSQL the spatial capabilities your applications demand. To avoid other performance and reliability gaps in enterprise production, download our free guide:
FAQs
What is PostGIS in PostgreSQL?
PostGIS is an open source extension that adds geospatial capabilities to PostgreSQL. It allows the database to store, query, and analyze geographic and geometric data like coordinates, polygons, and distances. With PostGIS, PostgreSQL becomes a full-featured spatial database, supporting use cases in GIS, logistics, infrastructure, and location-based services.
Why use PostGIS instead of a separate GIS system?
PostGIS lets you run spatial queries directly inside PostgreSQL, keeping your location and business data in one place. This eliminates the need for external GIS platforms, reduces data sync complexity, and simplifies infrastructure. It also scales better with cloud-native and containerized applications.
Is PostGIS production-ready for enterprise use?
Yes — PostGIS is widely used in production across industries like government, telecom, healthcare, and logistics. It offers high-performance spatial indexes, precise geometric calculations, and compliance-friendly data storage within PostgreSQL. When paired with high availability and monitoring tools, it’s fully enterprise-ready.
Does PostGIS work with Kubernetes or containers?
Yes. PostGIS works well with containerized PostgreSQL deployments, including those managed by Kubernetes operators like the Percona Operator for PostgreSQL. This makes it a great fit for scalable, cloud-native apps that depend on geospatial data.
