Learning databases
A safe, free environment to learn PostgreSQL and SQL on a real managed instance — no installation required.
Free managed PostgreSQL® database
Launch a free hosted PostgreSQL® database instantly with Aiven's fully managed platform. Perfect for prototyping, experimenting, and learning PostgreSQL without setup headaches. Connect securely from anywhere, explore powerful PostgreSQL as a service features, and upgrade seamlessly to larger production plans as your needs grow.
Digital Ocean supported
100% open-source compatible
SOC 2 & ISO 27001 Certified
Get building
No credit card · Ready in 2 minutes · Cancel anytime
What's included
Aiven offers a fully managed, always-free PostgreSQL cloud database. It includes 1GB of storage, 1GB of RAM, and 1 CPU per virtual machine. It requires no credit card to sign up, has no time limits, and includes automated backups, network costs, and popular extensions like PostGIS.
Unlike trial tiers and toy sandboxes, Aiven gives you a real, dedicated PostgreSQL instance on managed infrastructure — the same platform our enterprise customers run in production. Start free with no credit card, then scale to a high-availability paid plan with one click and zero data loss when you're ready.
Free plan limits at a glance
- 1 GB storage, 1 GB RAM, 1 CPU per VM
- Single-node (no high availability)
- Support via documentation only (no ticket or chat support)
- Service powers off after a period of inactivity (you'll be notified by email and in-platform beforehand)
- Not recommended for high-traffic production workloads
Who is it for?
Aiven’s free PostgreSQL® plan is ideal for anyone who is looking to easily get started with managed PostgreSQL®, whether it's for personal or professional use. It's perfect for small-scale projects, prototypes, and experiments, it offers essential features for a quick start.
Test and prototype
Spin up a throwaway PostgreSQL instance to validate ideas during product development. Test schema changes, queries, and integrations against a real managed database without touching production or paying for it.
Learn PostgreSQL
Get hands-on with database concepts, SQL, and application development on a live PostgreSQL instance. No local setup or Docker headaches — connect and start querying in minutes.
Integrate your framework
Connect from Django, Rails, Node, Spring, or any framework using standard PostgreSQL drivers. Wire up your app's data layer against managed Postgres and move on to building features.
Optimize with AI
Use Aiven's AI database optimizer to analyze the queries running against your database and get index recommendations — included on the free plan, so you can learn good performance habits early.
Use case
What developers build on free PostgreSQL
Building MVPs
Back your minimum viable product with managed Postgres, then upgrade to high availability the moment you find traction — no migration, no data loss.
Side projects and hackathons
Stand up a database in minutes for a weekend build or hackathon, with no credit card and no surprise bill.
Testing microservices
Give each service its own dedicated Postgres instance to test integrations and data flows in isolation from production.
Includes Popular PostgreSQL Extensions: PostGIS, TimescaleDB, and pgvector
Description | Links | |
|---|---|---|
PostGIS | Add geospatial data types and queries to store and analyze location data. Link to PostGIS docs. | |
TimescaleDB | Turn PostgreSQL into a time-series database for metrics, IoT, and event data at scale. Link to TimescaleDB docs. | |
pgvector | Store and search vector embeddings for AI, semantic search, and RAG applications. Link to pgvector docs/blog. |
Benefits of your free Aiven for PostgreSQL® service
Covers everything
Save time with Aiven’s free plan that covers all the essentials, including virtual machine, backup, and networking costs. No unexpected charges arising.
Aiven's dedicated PostgreSQL® instances
Aiven's dedicated managed PostgreSQL® instances offer maximum security and privacy for your data, consistent performance levels, and the ability to fine-tune for optimal performance.
Monitoring and log access
By having access to monitoring and logs, you can proactively identify and address issues before they escalate, gaining valuable insights into the performance of your database over time.
Terraform integration
Manage your service using the Aiven Terraform provider, and automate the provisioning and management of your PostgreSQL® database. Easily deploy, manage and scale your database infrastructure with the most popular infrastructure-as-code tool.
Secure and compliant
Aiven services hold certifications such as SOC2, ISO27001, PCI-DSS, and GDPR compliance. You can also set up easy and secure authentication with SSO.
AI-driven optimization recommendations
Leverage the Aiven AI database optimizer to review the queries running against your database and receive AI-driven index recommendations to optimize your workloads.
Free PostgreSQL® tier resource limits
With Aiven's free hosted PostgreSQL® plan, you operate on an exclusive virtual machine, ensuring there is no sharing of resources and no disturbances from other users. Our user-friendly interface makes managing your database easy, but you can also use Aiven’s CLI or Terraform, or the Aiven MCP server.
Feature | |
|---|---|
Dedicated VMs | 1 |
CPU per VM | 1 |
RAM per VM | 1 GB |
Total storage | 1 GB |
Cloud | Selected cloud regions around the world |
All networking costs included | ✓ |
Seamless upgrade to other plans | ✓ |
One-click version upgrade | ✓ |
Performance graphs | ✓ |
Data encrypted on disk and network | ✓ |
Backups for disaster recovery | ✓ |
AI-driven optimization recommendations | ✓ |
Support |
Frequently asked questions
PostgreSQL® is free as an open-source software, but if you opt for managed services or choose to use it in conjunction with specific platforms, there might be associated costs.
Aiven offers free managed PostgreSQL® service and also a paid version with full capabilities, support and features of the Aiven data platform.
Aiven for PostgreSQL® is a managed, scalable PostgreSQL database deployable in a variety of clouds. Aiven offers a free plan, aimed at small-scale projects, prototypes, and experiments.
Yes. Aiven offers a free tier with no hidden fees, allowing you to use a managed PostgreSQL instance with defined resource limits at zero cost.
There's no time limit when using Aiven for PostgreSQL® free plan. However, in order to provide a good service to the community, unused instances will be stopped.
Yes. You can upgrade to any paid Aiven PostgreSQL plan directly from the console without downtime or data loss.
Sign up with Aiven to deploy your initial PostgreSQL® database is quick and easy through our web UI. No credit card needed.
First, choose your preferred region, then click 'Create Service.' Then connect to your database using provided connection details for popular tools. Lastly secure your connection and load data with available workflows for migrating from an existing database or importing sample data.
Alternatively, manage your free service using the Aiven CLI or our Terraform provider.
The free plan includes 1 GB storage, 1 GB RAM, and 1 CPU on a single node (no high availability), with support via documentation. It's free indefinitely with no time limit, but the service is automatically powered off after a period of inactivity — you'll be notified in advance by email and in the Aiven platform. It isn't recommended for high-traffic production workloads; upgrade for more resources, high availability, and full support.
No. You can sign up and deploy your free PostgreSQL database without entering any payment details.
No. The free plan covers your VM, backups, and networking with no extra charges. Pricing is fully transparent if and when you choose to scale.
No. The free plan runs on a single node with 1GB storage, 1GB RAM, and 1 CPU and is designed for learning, prototyping, and small projects — not high-traffic production. Upgrade to a high-availability plan for production use.
Create your free Aiven for PostgreSQL® service
Set up your fully managed PostgreSQL® db in less than 5 minutes. It's easy and quick - simply access our web console or use our API, CLI, or Terraform. Check out our docs and sign up with your Github or Google account!
Migrate your own database
Test it on Aiven platform from an external PostgreSQL® with this migration process (aiven-db-migrate)
Import dataset if you don't have data ready to use
Import exoplanets dataset or Pagila sample dataset to your hosted Aiven for PostgreSQL® to see it in action.