AWS Aurora costs $25/mo.
These cost $0.
5 free alternatives to AWS Aurora, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for AWS Aurora is Supabase (Apache-2.0 Open Source). Across this category, 1 self-hostable tool is available (including Supabase). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $1,500/year compared to AWS Aurora's $25/mo subscription.
The catch: Supabase replaces Convex's document/function runtime with PostgreSQL, SQL migrations, row-level security, and separate services, so the application architecture must be rewritten rather than simply moved.
AWS Aurora vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $25/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supabase | open source | Apache-2.0 | Self-host | ★ 114.6k | AWS Aurora vs Supabase → |
| TiDB | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 40.7k | AWS Aurora vs TiDB → |
| Neon Postgres | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 23.3k | AWS Aurora vs Neon Postgres → |
| Turso | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 17.3k | AWS Aurora vs Turso → |
| OceanBase | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 10.4k | AWS Aurora vs OceanBase → |
The picks
5 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Supabase
open sourceApache-2.0Self-host114.6knov 2026Provides a full backend stack built on Postgres: authentication, auto-generated APIs, edge functions, realtime subscriptions, file storage, and vector search.
The catch vs AWS AuroraSupabase replaces Convex's document/function runtime with PostgreSQL, SQL migrations, row-level security, and separate services, so the application architecture must be rewritten rather than simply moved.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedcliself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted Supabase project, or the official Docker Compose stack; `supabase start` runs the local stack
- setup
- Self-hosting is not 'just Postgres': the Compose stack needs many secrets and services, plus SMTP, object storage, TLS, backups, observability, and coordinated upgrades.
- your data
- Relational data, auth records, and platform metadata live in PostgreSQL; Realtime consumes the Postgres replication stream; object data lives in the configured storage backend with metadata in Postgres; edge-function and migration source stays in project files. Supabase Cloud stores and operates the managed copy.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
TiDB
open sourceOpen SourceLocal40.7knov 2026Distributed SQL database combining OLTP and OLAP capabilities, offering horizontal scalability, high availability, and real-time analytics.
The catch vs AWS AuroraCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/pingcap/tidb or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 03
Neon Postgres
open sourceOpen SourceLocal23.3knov 2026Cloud-native, auto-scaling Postgres with instant branching, bottomless storage, and pay-per-use pricing
The catch vs AWS AuroraCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/neondatabase/neon or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 04
Turso
open sourceOpen SourceLocal17.3knov 2026Turso provides a simple developer experience with SQLite compatibility, allowing you to build and scale multi-tenant applications with unlimited databases.
The catch vs AWS AuroraCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/tursodatabase/libsql or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 05
OceanBase
open sourceOpen SourceLocal10.4knov 2026Scalable, high-availability database system supporting OLTP, OLAP, and hybrid transactional/analytical processing workloads.
The catch vs AWS AuroraCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/oceanbase/oceanbase or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
AWS Aurora Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 5 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · AWS Aurora open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to AWS Aurora?+
The top free alternative to AWS Aurora is Supabase (open source, Apache-2.0). Provides a full backend stack built on Postgres: authentication, auto-generated APIs, edge functions, realtime subscriptions, file storage, and vector search. Other popular AWS Aurora replacements include TiDB, Neon Postgres, Turso.
Can I self-host a free replacement for AWS Aurora?+
Yes. Of the 5 free alternatives to AWS Aurora, 1 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Supabase (Apache-2.0).
How much does switching from AWS Aurora to a free alternative save?+
AWS Aurora starts at $25/month per seat ($300/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Supabase saves $1,500 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own AWS Aurora clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for AWS Aurora is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for AWS Aurora or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 5 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Supabase.
What is the catch when switching from AWS Aurora to Supabase?+
Supabase replaces Convex's document/function runtime with PostgreSQL, SQL migrations, row-level security, and separate services, so the application architecture must be rewritten rather than simply moved.
