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Neon
Serverless PostgreSQL platform with storage and compute separated, scale-to-zero, and instant database branching.
What it is
Neon is a serverless relational database platform built on PostgreSQL. By separating compute from storage, Neon starts Postgres compute on demand, scales it with load, and lets it go idle when unused. Developers don't have to manage persistent database server instances or overprovision compute.
When it fits
Neon works especially well for modern full-stack web apps and developer preview environments. The Neon documentation includes Next.js guides for connecting an app to a Postgres database built for serverless use. Branching also lets CI/CD systems and pull request workflows create copy-on-write clones of a production database, so developers can test migrations and schema changes against real data.
What to watch
Teams budgeting for Neon should track Compute Unit (CU) hours on the pricing page. The Free plan includes 100 CU-hours per project each month, which supports intermittent development and low-traffic apps because compute scales to zero when traffic stops. Apps that run continuously with sustained query activity use the monthly allowance quickly, and they need paid plans beyond the Free plan allowance.
- Developers building serverless web apps that need real PostgreSQL compatibility
- Teams that need instant copy-on-write database branching for preview environments and automated CI testing
- Builders who want cost-effective development databases that scale down automatically when idle
- Compute scales with load and can scale to zero, with storage separated from compute.Source: neon.com · checked Nov 2026
- Branches are copy-on-write clones of data that can be created from a current or past state.Source: neon.com · checked Nov 2026
- The Free plan has no time limit and does not require a credit card.Source: neon.com · checked Nov 2026
- The Free plan includes 100 CU-hours of compute per project each month.Source: neon.com · checked Nov 2026
- The Free plan includes 1 GB of Postgres storage per project, up to 20 GB across all projects.Source: neon.com · checked Nov 2026