Softwr

Software · head to head

Amazon RDS vs DynamoDB

Amazon RDS logo

Amazon RDS

Software

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DynamoDB logo

DynamoDB

Software

Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Amazon RDS no super-user access or direct host connectivity limits advanced customization; DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines, DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Amazon RDS and DynamoDB differ
AttributeAmazon RDSDynamoDB
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
PlatformsAWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-regionAWS

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 RDS

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

Only in DynamoDB

  • Single-digit Millisecond Latency
  • Serverless
  • Auto-scaling
  • Global Tables
  • Point-in-time Recovery
  • Streams
  • Lambda
  • API Gateway

Both cover

  • Encryption
  • Web support
  • Aws support

What people use each for

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

Amazon RDS

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

DynamoDB

  • High-scale, variable-workload applicationsnot Amazon RDS
  • Mobile and IoT device backendsnot Amazon RDS
  • Real-time analytics and dashboardsnot Amazon RDS
  • Multi-region, globally distributed applicationsnot 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

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 RDS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Amazon RDS review.

DynamoDB

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB 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 DynamoDB if

  • You need single-digit millisecond latency.
  • You work on AWS.
  • You also want serverless.
DynamoDB review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon RDS or DynamoDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon RDS starts at On request and DynamoDB at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon RDS or DynamoDB?
Amazon RDS starts at On request and DynamoDB at On request.
Does Amazon RDS or DynamoDB run on more platforms?
Amazon RDS runs on AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region. DynamoDB runs on AWS.
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 DynamoDB is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon RDS do that DynamoDB cannot?
Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines, Automated Backups, Multi-AZ Deployment, Read Replicas. DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables. Both handle Encryption, Web support, Aws 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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Amazon RDS

More on DynamoDB

Keep looking

Other head to heads