Workers vs Amazon RDS

Serverless edge computing that actually works, because who wants to babysit servers? meets managed databases for people who'd rather not manage databases. Here's our take.

Workers

Nice Pick

Serverless edge computing that actually works, because who wants to babysit servers?

Pros

• Globally distributed edge network for ultra-low latency
• No server management or cold starts to worry about
• Supports JavaScript, WebAssembly, and other languages
• Built-in DDoS protection and security features

Cons

• Pricing can get tricky with high-volume usage
• Limited execution time per request (10ms CPU time for free tier)
• Debugging edge-specific issues can be a pain

Amazon RDS

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

The Verdict

Use Workers if: You want globally distributed edge network for ultra-low latency and can live with pricing can get tricky with high-volume usage.

Use Amazon RDS if: You prioritize automates backups, patching, and scaling, so you can focus on your app instead of babysitting servers over what Workers offers.

The Bottom Line

Workers wins

Serverless edge computing that actually works, because who wants to babysit servers?