# Prisma Postgres vs Neon: TypeScript app hosting or Neon backend primitives? (/compare/neon)

> Prisma Postgres vs Neon: TypeScript app hosting or Neon backend primitives? For the complete Prisma website index, see [llms.txt](https://www.prisma.io/llms.txt). A Markdown version of any listed page is available at its `.md` URL — this one is `/compare/neon.md`.

Checked November 2026.
dateModified: 2026-11-09

Both are managed PostgreSQL. Pick Prisma Postgres for optional Prisma ORM and Prisma Compute in one project. Pick Neon for Functions, Auth, Object Storage, and AI Gateway. Checked November 2026.

Pick [Prisma Postgres](/docs/postgres) when you want managed PostgreSQL with [Prisma ORM](/docs/orm) optional, and [Prisma Compute](/docs/compute) hosting the TypeScript app as HTTP services in the same Prisma project. Pick [Neon](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/backend-overview) when you want Postgres plus Functions, Managed Better Auth, Object Storage, and AI Gateway, with the UI on a host such as Vercel or Netlify.

[Get started with Prisma Postgres](https://console.prisma.io) [Create an instant database](https://create-db.prisma.io/web)

By [Martin Janse van Rensburg](/blog/author/martin-janse-van-rensburg) · Updated November 2026 · 10 min read[X](https://x.com/vanrensbird)[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/martjvr/)[GitHub](https://github.com/vanrensbird)

Prisma makes Prisma Postgres\. Neon figures come from the pages listed under [Sources](/compare/neon#sources), checked November 2026\.

## When should I choose Neon or Prisma Postgres?

| Neon | Prisma Postgres |
| --- | --- |
| You want Neon Functions, Managed Better Auth, Object Storage, and AI Gateway next to Postgres, declared in one `neon.ts`. | You want [Prisma ORM](/docs/orm) available on the same platform as the database. Prisma ORM is optional; any Postgres client works. |
| You want the UI on a host such as Vercel or Netlify, with Neon running the backend next to the database. | You want [Prisma Compute](/docs/compute) to host the TypeScript app as HTTP services next to [Prisma Postgres](/docs/postgres). |
| You want copy-on-write database branches that include parent data, and instant restore within the plan's history window. | You want a [preview branch](/docs/compute/branching) that can own its app services and database. |
| You want database compute billed in CU-hours that go to $0 while scale-to-zero has suspended the compute. | You prefer operation-based database pricing with spend limits on paid plans. |

Want the whole app, frontend included, hosted next to the database? See [Neon alternatives with app hosting and Postgres in one place (2026)](/blog/neon-vs-prisma-postgres-app-hosting-in-one-place) and, for more hosts, [App hosting platforms with managed Postgres compared (2026)](/blog/app-hosting-platforms-with-managed-postgres-2026).

## How do Neon and Prisma Postgres compare?

Neon and Prisma Postgres are both managed PostgreSQL. Neon adds backend primitives next to the database and keeps full-app hosting on a separate platform. Prisma Postgres sits next to an optional ORM and Prisma Compute. Columns are in alphabetical order.

| Feature | Neon | Prisma Postgres |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Database | Managed PostgreSQL (Lakebase Postgres) with autoscaling, connection pooling, and scale-to-zero. Works with any language, framework, or ORM that supports Postgres. | [Prisma Postgres](/docs/postgres) is managed PostgreSQL that autoscales, with no instance to size or upgrade. Prisma Postgres has no cold starts. Any Postgres client works with it, so Prisma ORM is optional. |
| ORM on the same platform | No first-party ORM. Teams pick an external ORM or SQL client, such as Drizzle or Prisma ORM pointed at Neon. | [Prisma ORM](/docs/orm) is a first-party type-safe ORM on the same platform. It is optional. |
| App hosting | Neon Functions run backend logic next to the database. Neon recommends hosting the UI on a separate platform such as Vercel or Netlify. | [Prisma Compute](/docs/compute) hosts the TypeScript app as HTTP services. It runs next to Prisma Postgres in the same project, on one bill. Compute has no built-in cron scheduler today; native cron is planned for early 2027. WebSocket servers are not supported today; support is planned for early 2027. |
| Branches and previews | A Neon branch is a copy-on-write clone of Postgres. Object Storage, Functions, Auth, and AI Gateway can branch with the data. The Neon-managed Vercel integration can create a database branch per preview deployment. | A Prisma [preview branch](/docs/compute/branching) can own its Compute services and databases. Production data is not copied into that database. |
| Database pricing model | Compute in CU-hours plus storage and other usage. Launch is $0.106 per CU-hour. Scale is $0.222 per CU-hour. Storage is $0.35 per GB-month on paid plans. Suspended compute is $0. | Operations plus storage, with spend limits on paid plans. [Prisma Postgres Free](/postgres/free-postgresql-hosting) includes 200,000 operations a month and 2 GB of storage. |
| Auth, object storage, and AI gateway | Managed Better Auth, S3-compatible Object Storage, and an AI Gateway ship as Neon backend primitives, declared in `neon.ts`. | S3-compatible Object Store buckets live in the project, next to its databases and Compute apps; pricing and plan limits are not published yet. Use integrations with other tools for auth and an AI gateway. |
| Point-in-time restore | Instant restore within the project's history window on paid plans: up to 7 days on Launch, up to 30 days on Scale, billed at $0.20 per GB-month. Free lists a 6-hour history window with a 1 GB limit, and does not list instant restore as a plan feature. | Paid Prisma Postgres plans include daily backups, taken only on days the database has activity and kept 7 days on Starter and Pro and 30 days on Business, that you restore from the Console in place, keeping the connection strings, or into a new database. Point-in-time recovery is coming in November 2026. Free has no backups. |

## Where does each one fit?

### Neon

Neon is managed Postgres that has grown backend primitives around the database. Its [backend overview](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/backend-overview) describes Functions, Object Storage, Managed Better Auth, and AI Gateway declared in `neon.ts`, with the UI hosted elsewhere.

- Backend primitives such as Functions, Object Storage, Managed Better Auth, and AI Gateway should sit next to Postgres.
- A preview should start from a copy-on-write clone that includes parent data.
- Instant restore within a history window should be available today.
- The UI should stay on a frontend host such as Vercel, with Neon creating a database branch per preview deployment.

### Prisma Postgres

Prisma Postgres fits a team that wants PostgreSQL next to the TypeScript app. [Prisma ORM](/docs/orm) is optional. [Prisma Compute](/docs/compute) is separate app hosting in the same Prisma project.

- The database should be PostgreSQL, with SQL and the Postgres ecosystem.
- Prisma ORM should be available, and optional, on that database.
- The TypeScript app should deploy as HTTP services on Prisma Compute, in the same Prisma project as the database.
- Database usage should be billed by operations and storage, with a spend limit on paid plans.

## What does Prisma Postgres do that Neon doesn't?

### A first-party ORM, when you want one

Prisma ORM is a type-safe data layer on the same platform as Prisma Postgres. It is optional. You can skip it and use SQL or another Postgres client.

### Full TypeScript app hosting

Prisma Compute hosts the TypeScript app as HTTP services next to Prisma Postgres. The current release focuses on HTTP. WebSocket servers are not supported today; support is planned for early 2027. Compute has no built-in cron scheduler today; native cron is planned for early 2027.

### App and database on a preview branch

A Prisma preview branch can own its application services, deployments, and Prisma Postgres databases. Production data is not copied into that database. See [Compute branching](/docs/compute/branching).

### Operation-based database pricing

Prisma Postgres bills database usage by operations and storage. Starter, Pro, and Business list spend limits. Neon bills database compute in CU-hours alongside storage and other usage-based meters.

## How much do Neon and Prisma Postgres cost?

| Cost | Neon | Prisma Postgres |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free plan | $0 a month. No credit card required. 100 CU-hours per project, 1 GB of Postgres storage per project, 20 GB account total. | Prisma Postgres Free is $0. No credit card required. 200,000 operations a month, 2 GB of storage, and 50 databases. |
| Paid plans | Launch and Scale are pay-as-you-go with no monthly minimum. Launch is $0.106 per CU-hour. Scale is $0.222 per CU-hour. | Starter is a $10 monthly base with Compute usage metered on top; Pro ($49) and Business ($129) work the same way. Database operations and storage past each plan's included amount are billed too. |
| Database storage on paid plans | $0.35 per GB-month. Unlimited storage that grows with usage. Extra branches above the plan allowance are $1.50 per branch-month. | Starter includes 10 GB, then $2.00 per GB. Pro includes 50 GB, then $1.50 per GB. Business includes 100 GB, then $1.00 per GB. |
| Spend controls | Spending notifications on Launch and Scale, which only alert; a compute size limit caps compute spend; per-project quotas set through the Neon API suspend compute. Invoices under $0.50 are not collected. | Spend limits on Starter, Pro, and Business. |

Prisma Postgres has a Free plan: $0 a month for 200,000 operations, 2 GB of storage, and 50 databases. No credit card required. The [pricing page](/pricing) lists the paid plans. Neon Free includes 100 CU-hours per project and 1 GB of Postgres storage per project ([Neon pricing](https://neon.com/pricing), November 2026\). Business at $129 a month adds [HIPAA with a signed BAA](/postgres/hipaa), SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001.

## When is Prisma Postgres the wrong choice?

- You want Neon Functions, Managed Better Auth, Object Storage, or AI Gateway as first-party primitives next to Postgres. Prisma Postgres does not include those. See [How a Neon backend fits together](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/backend-overview).
- You want a preview that starts from a copy-on-write clone of production data. A Prisma preview branch gets its own database; production data is not copied. See [Compute branching](/docs/compute/branching).
- You need instant restore to a moment inside a history window today. On paid plans, Prisma Postgres restores daily backups, taken only on days the database has activity, in place or into a new database, and point-in-time recovery is coming in November 2026. Neon documents instant restore on paid plans at [Neon pricing](https://neon.com/pricing).
- You want database compute that bills $0 while the instance is suspended, rather than operation-based pricing. Neon CU-hours stop while scale-to-zero has suspended compute; storage still bills.

## How do I switch from Neon to Prisma Postgres?

1. Create an empty Prisma Postgres database. Prisma ORM is optional. The [migrate from Neon](/docs/guides/switch-to-prisma-postgres/from-neon) guide uses `pg_dump` and `pg_restore` over the direct connection.
2. Dump the selected Neon branch and database with a direct (non-pooler) connection string, then restore into Prisma Postgres. The dump copies PostgreSQL schemas and data. It does not reproduce Neon branch history, Functions, Auth, Object Storage, or other Neon backend services.
3. Point the app at the Prisma Postgres connection string. Host the HTTP app on Prisma Compute, or keep the frontend host you already use.

## How do I switch from Prisma Postgres to Neon?

1. Create a Neon project and dump Prisma Postgres with `pg_dump` over the direct connection, then restore into Neon. Both sides are PostgreSQL.
2. Point the app at the Neon `DATABASE_URL`. Keep using SQL or an ORM; Neon has no first-party ORM.
3. Publish the UI with a provider such as Vercel or Netlify, as the [full-backend guide](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/full-backend-quickstart) describes. Add Functions, Auth, Object Storage, or AI Gateway in `neon.ts` if you need those primitives. Prisma Postgres stays in place until you stop using it.

## What do teams say about Prisma Postgres?

Two teams on what Prisma ORM and Prisma Postgres do for them.

> “Prisma makes database management incredibly easy. Prisma's built-in type safety helps us avoid mistakes that happen with manual setups.”

Ron Cohen, Co-founder & CTO, Bucket

> “We chose Prisma because it provides us with type safety directly from the database. It has helped us tremendously to catch possible errors early on.”

Omar López, Sr. Software Engineer, Cal.com

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Prisma Postgres copy production data onto preview branches?

No. A Prisma preview branch can own its Compute services and databases, but production data is not copied into that database. A Neon branch is a copy-on-write clone that includes parent data. Source: [Compute branching](/docs/compute/branching) and [Neon branching](https://neon.com/docs/introduction/branching), October 2026.

### Does Neon host the frontend?

Neon Functions run backend logic next to the database. Neon's full-stack guide keeps the UI on a host such as Vercel, Netlify, or self-hosted Node. Source: [Build a full backend with Next.js and Neon](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/full-backend-quickstart), October 2026.

### Do I need Prisma ORM to use Prisma Postgres?

No. Prisma Postgres is PostgreSQL. Any Postgres client works with it, so Prisma ORM is optional. Source: [Prisma Postgres](/docs/postgres), October 2026.

### How do Neon and Prisma Postgres bill for the database?

Neon bills database compute in CU-hours ($0.106 on Launch, $0.222 on Scale) plus $0.35 per GB-month of storage on paid plans. Prisma Postgres bills operations and storage, with spend limits on paid plans. Prisma Postgres Free includes 200,000 operations and 2 GB of storage, with no credit card. Source: [Neon pricing](https://neon.com/pricing) and [Prisma pricing](/pricing), October 2026.

### Does Prisma Postgres have point-in-time recovery?

On paid plans, Prisma Postgres restores from daily backups today, and point-in-time recovery is coming in November 2026. Backups are taken only on days the database has activity and kept 7 days on Starter and Pro and 30 days on Business, and you restore one from the database's Backups tab in the Console, in place, keeping the connection strings, or into a new database. Neon paid plans list instant restore within a history window of up to 7 days on Launch and 30 days on Scale. Source: [Prisma Postgres backups](/docs/postgres/database/backups), [Prisma pricing](/pricing) and [Neon pricing](https://neon.com/pricing), October 2026.

## Ready to build with Prisma?

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Need a database? [Create an instant database](https://create-db.prisma.io/web).

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## Sources

Every competitor figure on this page comes from these pages, checked November 2026\.

### Neon

- [Neon pricing](https://neon.com/pricing)
- [How a Neon backend fits together](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/backend-overview)
- [Build a full backend with Next.js and Neon](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/full-backend-quickstart)
- [Neon branching](https://neon.com/docs/introduction/branching)
- [Integrating Neon with Vercel](https://neon.com/docs/guides/vercel-overview)
- [Apache License 2.0](https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/blob/main/LICENSE)

### Prisma Postgres, Prisma ORM, and Prisma Compute

- [Prisma Postgres](/docs/postgres)
- [No cold starts on Prisma Postgres](/blog/prisma-postgres-the-future-of-serverless-databases)
- [Object Store buckets](/docs/storage)
- [Object storage on Prisma Compute](/docs/compute/object-storage)
- [Prisma ORM docs](/docs/orm)
- [Prisma Compute](/docs/compute)
- [Compute limitations](/docs/compute/limitations)
- [Compute branching](/docs/compute/branching)
- [Migrate from Neon](/docs/guides/switch-to-prisma-postgres/from-neon)
- [existing-database guide](/docs/prisma-orm/add-to-existing-project/postgresql)
- [Apache License 2.0](https://github.com/prisma/prisma/blob/main/LICENSE)
- [Prisma Postgres pricing](/pricing)