[ compare ] PostgresRun vs Amazon RDS

Same Postgres. A third of the RDS bill.

Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL is dependable and deeply integrated with AWS. It's also expensive, runs on network-attached storage, and leaves the tuning to you. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at how PostgresRun compares.

$ start free → get a free bill audit

[01] the short version

Why teams move off RDS.

RDS prices a fully-managed 8 GB instance around ~$200/mo before you add Multi-AZ, provisioned IOPS, RDS Proxy and a support plan. The storage is EBS — network-attached — so heavy workloads hit IO latency that's hard to tune away.

PostgresRun runs the same PostgreSQL 17 on local NVMe with dedicated CPU, includes off-site PITR backups and built-in pooling, and prices the comparable box at $62/mo. You also get a real Postgres expert instead of a tiered support contract.

[02] side by side

Feature comparison.

A fully-managed 8 GB PostgreSQL database, like for like.

Feature	Amazon RDS	PostgresRun
Price (8 GB managed)	~$200/mo	$62/mo
Storage	EBS network disk	Local NVMe
CPU	Shared / burstable on smaller tiers	Dedicated on Pro+
Backups	Configurable; storage billed extra	Included, off-site
Point-in-time recovery	Yes	Yes, included
Connection pooling	RDS Proxy (extra cost)	PgBouncer, included
Read replicas	Yes (extra)	Yes
Major-version upgrades	Manual, with downtime	Online, assisted
Extensions	Broad, AWS-gated list	40+, one click
Migration help	Self-service (DMS)	Free, hands-on
Support	Paid support plans	Postgres expert, included
Setup time	Minutes to hours (VPC, params)	< 2 minutes
Lock-in	AWS ecosystem	Standard PG, leave anytime

Prices are indicative list prices for a comparable single-node, 8 GB managed instance as of 2026 and will vary by region and options. Send us your current RDS bill and we'll work out your real number.

[03] what you gain

Beyond the price tag.

NVMe instead of EBS

Local NVMe means higher IOPS and lower, more predictable query latency — without provisioning (and paying for) IOPS.

A human who tunes Postgres

Slow query? Bad plan? Message an expert who'll help you fix it — not a support tier that restarts the instance.

We move you for free

No wrestling with DMS. We plan and run the cutover with you, with minimal downtime, at no cost.

No surprise line items

Backups, pooling and IOPS aren't separate charges. One predictable monthly price per database.

When AWS RDS might fit better

We'd rather you pick the right tool. RDS or Aurora can be the better call when:

You're deeply committed to AWS and need tight IAM, VPC and PrivateLink integration.
You require a specific compliance attestation that only the hyperscalers currently carry.
You need Aurora-style multi-region or 15-replica scale-out today.

If that's you, RDS is a fine choice. If not, you're likely overpaying for it.

[04] questions

Switching from RDS.

Will my app need code changes?

No. It's standard PostgreSQL — you change the connection string and you're done. Any driver, ORM or framework that works with RDS works here.

How much downtime does the migration take?

For most databases, minutes. We replicate your data ahead of time and cut over in a short window we schedule with you. Large or write-heavy databases get a tailored plan.

Do you support the same extensions as RDS?

We support 40+ of the most-used extensions including pgvector, PostGIS and pg_stat_statements. If you depend on a specific one, ask us before you migrate.

What about Multi-AZ / high availability?

Add a synchronous standby with automatic failover on Scale and up. Talk to us about your availability target and we'll size it.