Convex vs PostgreSQL

At a Glance

Attribute	Convex	PostgreSQL
Category	Database	Database
Pricing Model	freemium	open-source
Starting Price	Free / $25/mo	Free
Free Tier	Yes	Yes
Open Source	No	Yes
Platforms	—	linux, macos, windows, containers

Convex

PostgreSQL

Convex

No features listed.

PostgreSQL

Convex

Pros

The reactive query system means your UI automatically updates when data changes without writing any WebSocket or polling code+154
TypeScript end-to-end from database schema to frontend hooks — no API layer to define, no types to duplicate+142
The local development experience with hot reload is the fastest iteration loop I've found for full-stack TypeScript+127
Mutations run as transactions by default, which means you get ACID guarantees without thinking about it+118
Built-in scheduling for background jobs means you don't need a separate queue service for async work+98

Cons

Get the next comparison in your inbox

Weekly digest — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Heavy vendor lock-in — the data model and query language are proprietary and migrating away would require a full rewrite+167
Free tier limits are easy to hit in production with a modest user base and the paid jump is steep for early-stage apps+139
The reactivity model is powerful but adds mental complexity — reasoning about what triggers a re-render requires learning new patterns+103
Not a good fit if you need complex SQL-style analytics or reporting — the document model makes aggregations verbose+88