SQL vs Serverless Databases

The universal language for talking to databases, because everyone loves a good SELECT * FROM drama meets databases that scale like magic, but watch out for the surprise bills when the magic gets too real. Here's our take.

SQL

Nice Pick

The universal language for talking to databases, because everyone loves a good SELECT * FROM drama.

Pros

• Standardized across major databases like PostgreSQL and MySQL
• Simple syntax for basic queries like SELECT and INSERT
• Powerful for complex joins and aggregations
• Widely supported with extensive documentation

Cons

• Vendor-specific extensions can break portability
• Performance tuning often requires deep database knowledge

Serverless Databases

Databases that scale like magic, but watch out for the surprise bills when the magic gets too real.

Pros

• Zero infrastructure management—no servers to provision or patch
• Automatic scaling up and down based on demand, so you only pay for what you use
• Built-in high availability and backups, reducing operational overhead

Cons

• Costs can spike unpredictably with sudden traffic surges
• Limited control over performance tuning and database internals

The Verdict

Use SQL if: You want standardized across major databases like postgresql and mysql and can live with vendor-specific extensions can break portability.

Use Serverless Databases if: You prioritize zero infrastructure management—no servers to provision or patch over what SQL offers.

The Bottom Line

SQL wins

The universal language for talking to databases, because everyone loves a good SELECT * FROM drama.