Neon

Overview

A cloud version of the Postgres database that scales automatically and can shut off when idle so you only pay for what you use. It can also make instant copies of a database.

General use

Developers use it as the database behind an app, and use its instant copies to test changes safely against real data.

Insight

The draw is that it can sleep when idle and make instant copies of a database, so test setups with real-shaped data are cheap and quick. The sleep feature adds a short delay on the first request after a quiet spell, which can catch you out. It is a younger service, so it has less of a track record than the big providers. Best for side projects and test environments where cost and quick copies matter.