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Amazon RDS vs DuckDB

Amazon RDS logo

Amazon RDS

Software

Set up, operate, and scale a relational database in the cloud

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DuckDB logo

DuckDB

Software

Fast in-process analytical database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DuckDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Amazon RDS no super-user access or direct host connectivity limits advanced customization; DuckDB client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines, DuckDB covers In-process Execution.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon RDS and DuckDB actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon RDS and DuckDB differ
AttributeAmazon RDSDuckDB
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsAWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-regionLinux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly
Founded20062019

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 RDS

  • Multiple DB Engines
  • Automated Backups
  • Multi-AZ Deployment
  • Read Replicas
  • Encryption
  • Performance Insights
  • Automatic Scaling
  • MySQL

Only in DuckDB

  • In-process Execution
  • Columnar Storage
  • Vectorized Execution
  • Rich SQL Support
  • Parquet Support
  • CSV/JSON Import
  • Zero Dependencies
  • Python

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amazon RDS

  • Transaction processingnot DuckDB
  • Data storagenot DuckDB
  • Application backendnot DuckDB
  • Reportingnot DuckDB
  • Data analyticsnot DuckDB

DuckDB

  • Analytics and data warehousingnot Amazon RDS
  • OLAP queries and data explorationnot Amazon RDS
  • Data science and machine learning workflowsnot Amazon RDS
  • Multi-format data ingestion and processingnot Amazon RDS

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amazon RDS

  • No super-user access or direct host connectivity limits advanced customization
  • Pricing unpredictable and expensive compared to GCP alternatives with equivalent features
  • Limited access to system procedures and tables requiring advanced permissions
  • No Oracle RAC (Real Application Clusters) support for high-availability Oracle deployments

DuckDB

  • Client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon RDS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Amazon RDS review.

DuckDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DuckDB review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon RDS if

  • You need multiple db engines.
  • You work on AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region.
  • You also want automated backups.
Amazon RDS review

Choose DuckDB if

  • You need in-process execution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
  • You also want columnar storage.
DuckDB review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon RDS or DuckDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon RDS starts at On request and DuckDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon RDS or DuckDB?
DuckDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Amazon RDS and Free for DuckDB.
Does Amazon RDS or DuckDB run on more platforms?
Amazon RDS runs on AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region. DuckDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
Can I use DuckDB for free?
Yes. DuckDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Amazon RDS starts at On request.
What is Amazon RDS best used for?
Amazon RDS is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what DuckDB is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon RDS do that DuckDB cannot?
Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines, Automated Backups, Multi-AZ Deployment, Read Replicas. DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Columnar Storage, Vectorized Execution, Rich SQL Support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amazon RDS: What databases does Amazon RDS support?

Amazon RDS supports Amazon Aurora, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle Database, and Microsoft SQL Server as managed database engines.

Source
Amazon RDS: Does Amazon RDS handle backups automatically?

Yes. Amazon RDS automates backup configuration, backing up your database and transaction logs. Blue/Green Deployments allow safer updates by mirroring production in staging before applying changes.

Source
Amazon RDS: How does Amazon RDS Proxy improve performance?

Amazon RDS Proxy is a managed database proxy that makes applications more scalable by reducing database connection overhead, more resilient to database failures, and more secure through built-in authentication.

Source
Amazon RDS: Does Amazon RDS provide read replicas?

Yes. Amazon RDS supports read replicas across availability zones and regions, enabling horizontal scaling of read capacity while maintaining a single write primary.

Source
Amazon RDS: Can I access the host directly via SSH or Remote Desktop?

No. Amazon RDS does not allow direct host access via SSH, Telnet, or Windows Remote Desktop Connection. Database access is limited to database clients and management console.

Source
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