Software · head to head
Amazon Aurora vs DynamoDB
Amazon Aurora
Software
MySQL and PostgreSQL-compatible relational database built for the cloud
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
DynamoDB
Software
Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Amazon Aurora has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Amazon Aurora aurora requires AWS ecosystem knowledge and integration with other AWS services; DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
- They diverge on capability: Amazon Aurora covers MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible, DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Amazon Aurora and DynamoDB actually diverge.
| Attribute | Amazon Aurora | DynamoDB |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | AWS Cloud | AWS |
Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2006).
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 Amazon Aurora
- MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible
- 5x MySQL Performance
- Auto-scaling Storage
- Global Database
- Serverless v2
- Multi-master
- Fault Tolerant
- AWS Lambda
Only in DynamoDB
- Single-digit Millisecond Latency
- Serverless
- Auto-scaling
- Global Tables
- Point-in-time Recovery
- Encryption
- Streams
- Lambda
Both cover
- Web support
- Aws support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Amazon Aurora
- Transaction processingnot DynamoDB
- Data storagenot DynamoDB
- Application backendnot DynamoDB
- Reportingnot DynamoDB
- Data analyticsnot DynamoDB
DynamoDB
- High-scale, variable-workload applicationsnot Amazon Aurora
- Mobile and IoT device backendsnot Amazon Aurora
- Real-time analytics and dashboardsnot Amazon Aurora
- Multi-region, globally distributed applicationsnot Amazon Aurora
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Amazon Aurora
- Aurora requires AWS ecosystem knowledge and integration with other AWS services
- Pricing can become expensive with high-traffic applications using many read replicas
- Limited support for non-relational data types compared to NoSQL alternatives
DynamoDB
- NoSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
- Limited query flexibility; requires thinking in terms of keys and indexes rather than ad-hoc queries
Pricing, plan by plan
Amazon Aurora
Free- Serverless v2$0.12/hour
- Auto-scaling
- Pay per ACU
- Instant scaling
- Provisioned$29/month
- Dedicated instances
- Predictable performance
- Reserved capacity
DynamoDB
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Amazon Aurora if
- You need mysql/postgresql compatible.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on AWS Cloud.
- You also want 5x mysql performance.
Choose DynamoDB if
- You need single-digit millisecond latency.
- You work on AWS.
- You also want serverless.
Questions people ask
- Is Amazon Aurora or DynamoDB better?
- Neither clearly leads. Amazon Aurora starts at Free and DynamoDB at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Amazon Aurora or DynamoDB?
- Amazon Aurora has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Amazon Aurora and On request for DynamoDB.
- Does Amazon Aurora or DynamoDB run on more platforms?
- Amazon Aurora runs on AWS Cloud. DynamoDB runs on AWS.
- Can I use Amazon Aurora for free?
- Yes. Amazon Aurora has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DynamoDB starts at On request.
- What is Amazon Aurora best used for?
- Amazon Aurora is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what DynamoDB is typically brought in for.
- What can Amazon Aurora do that DynamoDB cannot?
- Amazon Aurora covers MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible, 5x MySQL Performance, Auto-scaling Storage, Global Database. DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables. Both handle Web support, Aws support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Amazon Aurora: Is Amazon Aurora compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL?
Yes, Amazon Aurora offers MySQL and PostgreSQL compatibility with full compatibility to their open-source counterparts, allowing you to migrate existing databases with standard tools.
SourceAmazon Aurora: What uptime SLA does Amazon Aurora provide?
Aurora is designed for up to 99.99% single-region uptime and 99.999% multi-region uptime with automatic failover.
SourceAmazon Aurora: How much does Amazon Aurora cost?
Aurora uses serverless, usage-based pricing where you pay only for consumed capacity. Typical pricing ranges from $50-70 per month for minimal setups to $400-600 per month for small production clusters.
SourceAmazon Aurora: Can Amazon Aurora scale automatically?
Yes, Aurora automatically scales to match workload demands without performance degradation, supporting both read and write scaling.
SourceAmazon Aurora: How many read replicas does Aurora support?
Aurora supports up to 15 low-latency read replicas for distributing read traffic across your application.
Source