PostgreSQL vs SQLite
PostgreSQL
postgresql.org
SQLite
sqlite.orgSide by side
| Figure | PostgreSQL | SQLite |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $12.50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 16 |
| Spec score · Database Software | 8.3 (#34) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Spec score · Relational Databases | 7.6 (#23) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Spec score · Sql Databases | 7.7 (#18) | 8.7 (#4) |
| Spec score · Transaction Data Store Software | 7.6 (#24) | 8.7 (#8) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| License | The PostgreSQL License permits use, copying, modification, and distribution for any purpose without a fee or written agreement, subject to its conditions. | SQLite source code is in the public domain and is free for commercial or private use without a license. |
| Platforms | The project says PostgreSQL runs on all major operating systems and provides downloads for Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, and Solaris. | The project lists Android, BSD, iOS, Linux, Mac, Solaris, VxWorks, and Windows as supported platforms. |
| Security | Listed security features include GSSAPI, LDAP, SCRAM-SHA-256, certificate and OAuth 2.0 authentication, access controls, row- and column-level security, and multi-factor authentication. | The security guidance says SQLite is extensively fuzz-tested and recommends defensive settings and lower input limits for applications accepting untrusted SQL. |
| Support | Community support options include documentation, community resources, mailing lists, and IRC, while commercial support and PostgreSQL-specific hosting are available from listed providers. | SQLite offers a free public forum as well as paid private email and technical support options. |
| What it does | PostgreSQL is an open source object-relational database system that uses and extends SQL to store and scale complex data workloads. | SQLite is an in-process C library that provides a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration SQL database engine. |
Plans
SQLite
- Public ForumFree
- SQLiteFree
- SQLite Consortium Membership$150 a year
- Technical Support$885 a year
- Annual Maintenance Subscription$1,500 a year
- Annual Maintenance Subscription$1,500 a year
- CEROD$2,000, paid once
- CEROD$2,000, paid once
- SQLite Encryption Extension (SEE)$2,000, paid once
- SQLite Encryption Extension (SEE)$2,000, paid once
In their own words
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is a free, open-source database system for storing and scaling complex data workloads. It uses SQL and adds object-relational capabilities, with support for primitive and structured values as well as documents, geometric data, and custom types. Its supported formats include JSON/JSONB, XML, arrays, ranges, and UUIDs. For data integrity, it provides keys, constraints, locks, transactions, savepoints, and SQL-standard transaction isolation levels. Performance tools include multiple index types, query planning and optimization, parallel processing, partitioning, just-in-time expression compilation, and asynchronous I/O. Recovery and availability features include write-ahead logging, several replication methods, point-in-time recovery, and active standbys. Security options include multiple authentication methods, access controls, row- and column-level security, and multi-factor authentication. Extensions, procedural languages, and foreign data wrappers can connect PostgreSQL to other databases or streams. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and is self-hosted; no managed service is listed. The PostgreSQL License permits use, copying, modification, and distribution without a fee, subject to its conditions.
SQLite
SQLite is a transactional SQL database engine that runs within an application, without a separate server process or configuration. Each complete database resides in a single disk file that works across platforms. Its SQL features include partial indexes, indexes on expressions, JSON, common table expressions, and window functions. Transactions are atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable, including after system crashes and power failures. A database file can have unlimited simultaneous readers, but only one writer at a time. The project recommends SQLite for device-local storage with low writer concurrency and less than a terabyte of content. SQLite is free for commercial or private use, with source code in the public domain. Downloads include source and precompiled binaries for Android, Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows, along with WebAssembly and JavaScript bundles for web applications. A free public forum is available, alongside paid private email and technical support options. The maker is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was founded in 2000.