PostgreSQL
The world's most advanced open source relational database
Overview
PostgreSQL has earned its position as the default database choice for modern applications. It combines the reliability and ACID compliance of a traditional relational database with advanced features - JSONB columns, full-text search, geospatial queries, and row-level security - that often eliminate the need for specialized databases.
For startup teams, PostgreSQL's versatility means fewer databases to manage. Need a document store? Use JSONB columns. Need search? Use full-text search with tsvector. Need geospatial queries? PostGIS extension. This consolidation reduces operational complexity while your team is small.
The ecosystem of managed PostgreSQL services - Supabase, Neon, PlanetScale, and traditional cloud providers - means you can start with a managed instance and scale without database expertise. As you grow, PostgreSQL's proven ability to handle millions of rows and thousands of concurrent connections gives you headroom.
Key Features
ACID Compliant
Full transaction support with data integrity guarantees
JSONB Support
Store and query JSON data with indexing and operators
Full-Text Search
Built-in text search with ranking and stemming
Extensions
PostGIS, pg_vector, timescaledb, and hundreds more
Row-Level Security
Fine-grained access control at the row level
Replication
Streaming replication and logical replication for scaling reads
Why We Recommend PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is our default database recommendation for nearly every project. Its combination of reliability, features, and ecosystem means teams rarely outgrow it - and the managed hosting options eliminate operational burden.