Neon vs Convex
Neon is a serverless Postgres database platform that separates storage and compute so databases scale to zero when idle, with instant copy-on-write branching for development or testing. Convex combines a document-relational database with server-side TypeScript functions and automatic real-time subscriptions, so client apps get live-updating data without hand-written caching or websocket code. Choose Neon if you want standard Postgres with branching and plan to add your own backend functions; choose Convex if you want a TypeScript-first backend where functions and data model live together with automatic reactivity.
Facts checked on against the official sources listed at the end. Usage numbers update daily.
Best for
Standard Postgres with instant branching, paired with your own backend functions
Free plan.
Best for
A TypeScript-first backend with automatic reactive data and built-in functions
Free plan. Paid from $25 a developer a month for the Professional plan.
Neon vs Convex at a glance
| Compared on | Neon | Convex |
|---|---|---|
| Data model | Relational (Postgres) | Document-relational database with server-side TypeScript functions |
| Backend functions | Not included; add your own API layer or framework | TypeScript functions defined and run directly within Convex |
| Realtime updates | Not built in; requires Postgres LISTEN/NOTIFY or a separate layer | Automatic reactive subscriptions on any query result, no manual caching or websockets |
| Database branching | Instant, copy-on-write branching for full database copies | No built-in equivalent |
| Licensing | Apache-2.0 (core storage engine), fully open source | Functional Source License, converting to Apache-2.0 two years after each release |
| Scale-to-zero compute | Yes, core feature | Usage-based pricing without the same scale-to-zero compute model |
| Open source | Yes, Apache-2.0 (core storage engine) | No, Functional Source License (converts to Apache-2.0 after two years) |
| Free plan | Yes: 0.5 GB storage and 100 compute hours a month per project, no credit card required | Yes: 25 million function calls, 50 GB database storage, 100 GB file storage and 50 GB data egress a month included |
| Paid plans from | Not listed | $25 a developer a month for the Professional plan |
| Made by | Neon, Inc. (a Databricks company) | Convex, Inc. |
| Launched | 2021 | Not listed |
What's the difference between Neon and Convex?
Database vs integrated backend
Neon is a standalone Postgres database; Convex bundles the database with server-side TypeScript functions, so schema, queries and backend logic live in one system rather than being assembled from separate pieces.
Reactivity requires more setup on Neon
Convex makes every query result automatically reactive, pushing updates to clients with no manual caching or websocket code; Neon has no built-in equivalent, so realtime features need to be built using Postgres's LISTEN/NOTIFY or a separate realtime service.
Branching style differs
Neon's instant, copy-on-write database branching creates full copies of a Postgres database for development or testing; Convex has no direct equivalent feature for branching its data.
Licensing differs
Neon's core storage engine is Apache-2.0 licensed and fully open source; Convex's backend source is available under the Functional Source License, which converts to Apache-2.0 two years after each release.
Neon vs Convex pricing
Neon has a free plan (0.5 GB storage, 100 compute hours/month) and usage-based Launch and Scale plans billed hourly. Convex's Free & Starter tier is pay-as-you-go with generous included usage, and Professional is $25 per developer a month.
Neon
Free: 0.5 GB storage and 100 compute hours a month per project. Launch and Scale: usage-based, billed hourly for compute and storage.
- Free
- $0 a month
- Launch
- Usage-based, billed hourly
- Scale
- Usage-based, billed hourly
Convex
Free & Starter: 25M function calls, 50 GB database storage, 100 GB file storage, 50 GB egress a month included. Professional: $25 a developer a month with log streaming, backups and compliance reports.
- Free & Starter
- $0 a month
- Professional
- $25 a developer a month
- Business & Enterprise
- From $2,500 a month
Prices in USD from the official pricing pages on 3 October 2026. They change often, so confirm on neon.com and convex.dev before you commit.
Usage and activity
Neon has 83% more GitHub stars than Convex (23.2k against 12.7k). Weekly npm downloads: 5.2M for @neondatabase/serverless and 2M for convex.
| Measure | Neon | Convex |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 23,210 | 12,703 |
| npm downloads a week | 5.2M (@neondatabase/serverless) | 2M (convex) |
| Latest release | release-proxy-88…, 1 year ago | None on GitHub |
From the public GitHub and npm APIs, updated daily. Stars and downloads show developer interest, not product quality.
Should you choose Neon or Convex?
Choose Neon if
- You want standard Postgres with full SQL and relational features
- You want instant database branching for previews, tests or development copies
- You're comfortable building or choosing your own backend function layer separately
- You want compute that scales to zero and back up automatically
Choose Convex if
- You want backend functions and data schema defined together in TypeScript
- You want every query to be automatically reactive without writing caching or websocket code
- Self-hosting or source-available licensing matters to you
- You're building a modern TypeScript/React-based stack from scratch
Switching between Neon and Convex
Moving from Neon to Convex means migrating relational Postgres tables into Convex's document-relational schema and rewriting any API or backend functions as Convex TypeScript functions, gaining automatic reactivity without hand-wiring realtime listeners. Moving from Convex to Neon means exporting Convex's data into relational Postgres tables and building a separate backend function layer and realtime mechanism to replace what Convex handled automatically.
Neon vs Convex: common questions
Does Neon include backend functions like Convex?
No. Neon is a database service only; you'd pair it with your own API layer, serverless functions or framework, whereas Convex bundles TypeScript functions directly with its database.
Is Convex open source?
Convex's backend source is available on GitHub under the Functional Source License, which converts to Apache-2.0 two years after each release. Neon's core storage engine is Apache-2.0 licensed outright.
Can Neon support realtime updates like Convex?
Not out of the box. Postgres supports LISTEN/NOTIFY for basic realtime signaling, but it requires custom implementation, unlike Convex's automatic reactive subscriptions on every query.
Does Convex support instant branching like Neon?
No, Convex doesn't offer an equivalent feature for creating instant copy-on-write copies of its database the way Neon does for Postgres.
Which is better for a TypeScript-first app?
Convex is built specifically around TypeScript functions and schema living together, which can mean less boilerplate for a TypeScript-first app compared to pairing Neon's Postgres database with a separate backend framework.
Other options to consider
All databases tools
Supabase
Open source Postgres development platform with auth, instant APIs, realtime, storage and edge functions.
Redis
In-memory data store used as a cache, database and message broker, available self-hosted or as Redis Cloud.
MongoDB Atlas
MongoDB's fully managed cloud database service, with a free tier and usage-based paid tiers.
Firebase
Google's backend-as-a-service platform for mobile and web apps: database, auth, hosting and functions.
Sources
More sources for each tool are on the Neon and Convex pages.
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