Databases · head to head
Aiven vs Ninox
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Aiven the free plan gives 1 VM with 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM and 1 GB storage, and cannot pick a specific cloud or region; Ninox free plan limited to 5 users and 5,000 records
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Aiven and Ninox actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Aiven
- Multi-cloud Support
- Automated Backups
- Seamless Upgrades
- VPC Peering
- End-to-end Encryption
- Compliance
- Observability
- PostgreSQL
Only in Ninox
Nothing recorded that Aiven does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Aiven
- Running managed open source databases without operating themnot Ninox
- Multi-cloud deployment across AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, DigitalOcean, OVH and UpCloudnot Ninox
- Highly available data services with automatic failovernot Ninox
- Prototyping on a small free instance before scaling upnot Ninox
Ninox
- No-code database solutions for small to medium teamsnot Aiven
- Workflow automation and process managementnot Aiven
- Customer data and project tracking with custom viewsnot Aiven
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Aiven
- The free plan gives 1 VM with 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM and 1 GB storage, and cannot pick a specific cloud or region
- Free and Developer tiers have no integrations and no connection pooling
- Connection pooling, database forks and dynamic disk sizing need the Business or Premium plan
- A 99.99 percent uptime SLA starts at the Startup plan from $75 a month
- High availability with automatic failover starts at Business from $180 a month
Ninox
- Free plan limited to 5 users and 5,000 records
- API call limits restrict automation on lower tiers (1,000/month free, 10,000/month team)
- Only 7-day history on free plan vs. unlimited on Business
Pricing, plan by plan
Aiven
Free- Free TrialFree
- $300 credits
- 30 day trial
- All services
- Startup$19/month
- Single node
- Basic support
- Daily backups
Ninox
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 5 users
- 100 MB storage
- Up to 5,000 records
- Team$25/month
- 5 GB storage per user
- 50,000 records per user
- 10,000 API calls per user per month
- Business$40/month
- 10 GB storage per user
- 250,000 records per user
- 50,000 API calls per user per month
- Enterprise$null/custom
- Custom pricing available
- Dedicated support
- Custom solutions and governance
Which should you pick?
Choose Aiven if
- You need multi-cloud support.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp, Do.
- You also want automated backups.
Questions people ask
- Is Aiven or Ninox better?
- Neither clearly leads. Aiven starts at Free and Ninox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Aiven or Ninox?
- Aiven starts at Free and Ninox at Free.
- Does Aiven or Ninox run on more platforms?
- Aiven runs on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp, Do. Ninox runs on Web.
- Can I use Aiven for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Aiven best used for?
- Aiven is most often used for running managed open source databases without operating them, multi-cloud deployment across aws, google cloud, azure, digitalocean, ovh and upcloud, highly available data services with automatic failover, prototyping on a small free instance before scaling up. Of those, running managed open source databases without operating them and multi-cloud deployment across aws, google cloud, azure, digitalocean, ovh and upcloud are not what Ninox is typically brought in for.
- What can Aiven do that Ninox cannot?
- Aiven covers Multi-cloud Support, Automated Backups, Seamless Upgrades, VPC Peering.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Aiven: What does Aiven's free tier include and does it have any time limit?
The free tier includes PostgreSQL with 1 VM, 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM, and 1 GB storage with access to limited cloud and region selections. There are no time limitations on the free tier, though Aiven reserves the right to shut down accounts that violate policies or remain unused for extended periods.
SourceNinox: How much does Ninox cost?
Ninox is free for individuals with up to 5 users. Team plan is 25 EUR per user per month (billed annually), and Business plan is 40 EUR per user per month (billed annually). Enterprise plans have custom pricing.
SourceAiven: How is Aiven billed and what are the monthly costs for each tier?
Aiven bills services by the hour and invoices monthly, charging only for what you actually run. PostgreSQL pricing starts at 5 dollars per month for Developer, 12 dollars per month for Hobbyist, 75 dollars per month for Startup, 180 dollars per month for Business, and 270 dollars per month for Premium. All paid tiers offer hourly billing options as well.
SourceNinox: Is Ninox free?
Yes, Ninox offers a free plan for up to 5 users with 100 MB storage and 5,000 records. No payment required to start, and includes all core views: table, form, chart, kanban, maps, and calendar.
SourceAiven: What backup retention periods are included at different Aiven tiers?
Backup retention increases with tier level: Startup tier provides 2 days of backup retention, Business tier offers 14 days, and Premium tier includes 30 days. Point-in-time restore is available on all paid tiers.
SourceNinox: What is Ninox Team plan pricing?
The Team plan costs 25 EUR per user per month (billed annually). It includes 5 GB storage per user, 50,000 records, 10,000 API calls per month per user, and 30-day history. Annual billing is required.
SourceAiven: Is high availability included in Aiven pricing or charged separately?
High availability, backups, and routine maintenance are all included in the tier costs with no separate charges. The Business tier includes 2 VMs with automatic failover, and Premium includes 3 VMs with a second standby node.
SourceAiven: Does Aiven offer a trial period to test premium features?
Aiven offers a 30-day free trial to access premium features beyond what the free plan provides.
SourceRelated pages
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