Neon vs Convex
Neon vs Convex (Backend & Database). Agent test scores: Neon 9.5/10, Convex 8.7/10. Neon scored 0.8 higher overall in our separate rubric v0.1 tests (editions and tasks can differ — see Edition tested and the notes below). Pricing: Neon — Launch: usage-based, no minimum ($0.106/CU-hour); Convex — Starter $0 + usage; Professional $25/dev/mo.
Every fact on this page comes from our tool records and test logs. Last updated:
- VibeToolRank score
- 9.5/10
- Last tested
- 2026-10-16
- Runs
- 3 runs
- Outcome score
- 9/10
- Edition tested
- Neon Free plan, API v2 + serverless HTTP driver, Postgres 18.6
- Free plan
- Yes: 100 CU-hours/project/mo, 1 GB storage/project (20 GB account total), 5 GB transfer/project, 10 branches/project
- Price
- Launch: usage-based, no minimum ($0.106/CU-hour)
- Pricing checked
- 2026-10-16
- VibeToolRank score
- 8.7/10
- Last tested
- 2026-10-16
- Runs
- 3 runs
- Outcome score
- 9/10
- Edition tested
- Open-source local backend (anonymous local deployment via Convex CLI), not Convex Cloud
- Free plan
- Yes: 1M function calls, 0.5 GB DB
- Price
- Starter $0 + usage; Professional $25/dev/mo
- Pricing checked
- 2026-10-16
Side by side
| Field | Neon | Convex |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | NeonServerless Postgres. | ConvexReactive backend-as-a-service. |
| Pricing | NeonLaunch: usage-based, no minimum ($0.106/CU-hour) | ConvexStarter $0 + usage; Professional $25/dev/mo |
| Free tier | NeonYes: 100 CU-hours/project/mo, 1 GB storage/project (20 GB account total), 5 GB transfer/project, 10 branches/project | ConvexYes: 1M function calls, 0.5 GB DB |
| Pricing verified | Neon2026-10-16 | Convex2026-10-16 |
| Edition tested | NeonNeon Free plan, API v2 + serverless HTTP driver, Postgres 18.6 | ConvexOpen-source local backend (anonymous local deployment via Convex CLI), not Convex Cloud |
| Tested on | Neon2026-10-16 | Convex2026-10-16 |
| Outcome score | Neon9 | Convex9 |
| Speed score | Neon10 | Convex9 |
| Cost score | Neon10 | Convex10 |
| Developer experience score | Neon9 | Convex7 |
| Reliability score | Neon10 | Convex8 |
| Overall score | Neon9.5 | Convex8.7 |
What our tests found
Neon
3/3 runs: one API call created a Postgres branch with compute that answered queries ~2s later; created a todos table, inserted, updated and read rows, then deleted the branch. Database-only task (no auth). TCP 5432 was blocked by our test box, so we used Neon's HTTPS driver.cloud free plan
- A new Postgres branch was queryable about 2s after one API call
- Branching makes throwaway test databases trivial
- HTTPS serverless driver works where TCP 5432 is blocked
- The projects API demanded org_id even for a single-org account
- Our test covered the database only, not auth
- We could not verify a plain TCP connection from our test box
Who it’s for: Indie devs who want serverless Postgres with instant branches for previews, tests and AI agents.
Convex
3/3 runs: push functions, insert and query rows, arg validation, all OK in about 7-8s each (warm). The self-hosted Docker images on ghcr.io returned denied for anonymous pulls.local OSS
- Push functions, insert, query and validation passed 3 of 3 runs
- Each run took about 7-8 seconds
- Free tier includes 1M function calls
- Self-hosted Docker images returned 'denied' for anonymous pulls in our test
Who it’s for: TypeScript developers who want a reactive backend with functions and a database in one.
Verdict
Scores use rubric v0.1 from separate runs. Editions and tasks can differ (see Edition tested and What our tests found); some tests were a single run, which caps reliability scores. Overall: Neon 9.5, Convex 8.7. Check the free-tier limits above against your project before choosing.
FAQ
Which is better, Neon or Convex?
In our tests Neon scored higher overall (9.5/10 vs 8.7/10). Scores use the same rubric (v0.1) but came from separate runs; editions and tasks may differ (see Edition tested and test summaries), so check the per-dimension scores for what matters to you.
Is Neon free?
Yes: 100 CU-hours/project/mo, 1 GB storage/project (20 GB account total), 5 GB transfer/project, 10 branches/project (pricing checked 2026-10-16).
Is Convex free?
Yes: 1M function calls, 0.5 GB DB (pricing checked 2026-10-16).
How much does Neon cost compared with Convex?
Neon: Launch: usage-based, no minimum ($0.106/CU-hour). Convex: Starter $0 + usage; Professional $25/dev/mo.
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Scores come from our own tests and are never for sale; sponsored placements are always labelled. Some links are affiliate links (currently Railway). Disclosure