PostgreSQL review
Bottom line
PostgreSQL is a free, open source relational database that also handles JSON, full-text search, and replication in one system. Its clearest strength is the breadth of built-in features at no license cost, backed by decades of development. The main cost is operational: no managed hosting tier is listed, so buyers need in-house or contracted administration. It suits engineering teams that want full control over their data stack and have the skills to run it.
What is PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL is an open source object-relational database system that stores and queries structured data for applications, from small projects to large production workloads. It traces its origins to 1986, when the POSTGRES project began at the University of California, Berkeley, and it has been ACID-compliant since 2001. It addresses the need for a database that keeps data intact under concurrent access while still scaling to very large datasets.
Day to day, developers use standard SQL to define tables, constraints, and indexes, including B-tree, GiST, GIN, and BRIN indexes, and they can store JSONB documents alongside relational rows. Administrators handle backup, point-in-time recovery, streaming and logical replication, and table partitioning. Extensions such as PostGIS add geospatial functions, and stored functions and procedures can be written in PL/pgSQL, Perl, Python, or Tcl.
Teams that use it range from freelancers and small businesses to mid-size companies and enterprises. Named users include CAIXA, a bank in Brazil, and Listfusion, which reports working with databases of 400GB and more. The software is free to download and use under its open source license, and no paid tiers are listed. Total cost comes from hosting, administration, and any outside support a buyer chooses to add.
What sets PostgreSQL apart from typical database tools is its extensibility and standards conformance. Users can define custom data types, build functions, and write code in several languages without recompiling the database. As of version 18, it conforms to at least 170 of the 177 mandatory SQL:2023 Core features. The project also acts as a CVE Numbering Authority, publishes its own vulnerability records, and ships security fixes in minor version updates.
Who it's for
- Development teams building custom business applications
- Organizations seeking open source databases without license fees
- Teams that store relational and JSON data together
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a fully managed database service
- Teams that need a hosted, point-and-click administration console
Typical uses
- Transactional business applications
- Geospatial data with PostGIS
- Application data with JSON documents
- Replicated standby and reporting databases
PostgreSQL user reviews
No published reviews yet. Be the first.
PostgreSQL alternatives and comparisons
PostgreSQL is the only database product we list so far. Browse the category as more are added.