Best Cloud SQL (2025)
Ranked picks for cloud sql. No "it depends."
Supabase
Postgres + auth + storage + realtime. The Firebase that doesn't lock you in.
Full Rankings
Postgres + auth + storage + realtime. The Firebase that doesn't lock you in.
Pros
- +Open source
- +Generous free tier
- +Full Postgres
- +Auth built-in
- +Realtime
Cons
- -Newer ecosystem
- -Less documentation
- -Some rough edges
Serverless MySQL with branching. DevOps for databases.
Pros
- +Database branching
- +Serverless
- +No downtime deploys
Cons
- -MySQL only
- -No foreign keys
- -Free tier removed
Serverless Postgres with branching. PlanetScale vibes, Postgres reality.
Pros
- +Serverless Postgres
- +Branching
- +Generous free tier
- +Scale to zero
Cons
- -Newer
- -Cold starts
- -Smaller community
The cockroach of databases: hard to kill, spreads everywhere, and surprisingly good at SQL.
Pros
- +Strong consistency across distributed nodes without manual sharding
- +PostgreSQL wire protocol compatibility for easy migration
- +Automatic data replication and rebalancing for high availability
Cons
- -Higher latency compared to single-node databases due to distributed overhead
- -Complex licensing and pricing can be a headache for scaling
Google's data warehouse that makes querying petabytes feel like a casual stroll, as long as you don't mind the bill.
Pros
- +Serverless architecture means zero infrastructure management
- +Blazing-fast SQL queries on massive datasets with Google's distributed processing
- +Built-in machine learning and seamless integration with Google Cloud services
Cons
- -Costs can spiral quickly with complex queries or large data scans
- -Limited control over performance tuning compared to self-managed warehouses
AWS's database that makes you feel fancy without the price tag of Oracle, but still costs more than your rent.
Pros
- +Fully managed with automatic scaling, backups, and patching
- +Up to 5x MySQL and 3x PostgreSQL performance with cloud-optimized storage
- +High availability and durability through multi-AZ replication
- +MySQL and PostgreSQL compatibility for easy migration
Cons
- -Can get expensive quickly with scaling and I/O costs
- -Vendor lock-in to AWS ecosystem
- -Limited to AWS regions, which might affect latency for global apps
Managed databases for people who'd rather not manage databases. It's like having a DBA on retainer, but cheaper and less opinionated.
Pros
- +Automates backups, patching, and scaling, so you can focus on your app instead of babysitting servers
- +Supports multiple engines like PostgreSQL and MySQL, making it easy to switch or standardize
- +Built-in high availability with Multi-AZ deployments, because downtime is for amateurs
Cons
- -Costs can sneak up on you with instance sizes and storage, especially if you forget to turn things off
- -Limited control over the underlying OS and some database settings, which can be frustrating for power users
SQL Server's cloud-bound cousin. All the enterprise-grade features, none of the hardware headaches.
Pros
- +Fully managed with automated backups and high availability
- +Built-in intelligence for performance tuning and security
- +Supports serverless compute and Hyperscale for massive scalability
Cons
- -Can get pricey for high-performance workloads
- -Limited to Microsoft SQL Server compatibility
MySQL with a Microsoft hug—managed so you don't have to babysit your database.
Pros
- +Fully managed with automated backups and patching
- +High availability built-in with flexible server options
- +Seamless integration with other Azure services
- +Strong security features like encryption and firewall rules
Cons
- -Can get pricey compared to self-hosted MySQL
- -Limited control over underlying infrastructure
Head-to-head comparisons
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