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Databases · head to head

Amazon RDS vs RAD Studio

Amazon RDS logo

Amazon RDS

Databases

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

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Amazon RDSFull review
RAD Studio logo

RAD Studio

Developer Tools

Cross-platform native app development with Delphi and C++Builder

From
$2000/perpetual
Free plan
No
Visit RAD StudioFull review

The short version

  • RAD Studio is a cross-platform IDE.
  • Amazon RDS is free; RAD Studio starts at $2000/mo.
  • Where Amazon RDS falls short: no super-user access or direct host connectivity limits advanced customization.
  • Where RAD Studio falls short: professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon RDS and RAD Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon RDS and RAD Studio differ
AttributeAmazon RDSRAD Studio
Starting priceFree$2000/perpetual
Pricing modelUsage-basedOne-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Multi-AZ, Multi-regionWeb
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: founded for RAD Studio.

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 RAD Studio

Nothing recorded that Amazon RDS does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Amazon RDS

  • Transaction processingnot RAD Studio
  • Data storagenot RAD Studio
  • Application backendnot RAD Studio
  • Reportingnot RAD Studio
  • Data analyticsnot RAD Studio

RAD Studio

  • Building Windows desktop applications with VCL componentsnot Amazon RDS
  • Creating iOS and Android apps from shared Delphi codebasenot Amazon RDS
  • Connecting to Oracle databases through FireDAC connectivitynot Amazon RDS
  • Building REST web services that run on Linux serversnot 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

RAD Studio

  • Professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
  • Enterprise edition steps up to $3,400 license plus $1,199 maintenance, and Architect edition to $4,416 license plus $2,183 maintenance
  • The perpetual license only entitles the buyer to updates for one year; continued access to new updates and upgrades requires an annually renewable Update Subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon RDS

Free
  • On-Demand InstancesOn request
  • Reserved InstancesOn request
  • Database Savings PlansOn request

RAD Studio

$2000/perpetual
  • Professional Edition$2,000 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $599
    • Total $2,599 + Tax
  • Enterprise Edition$3,400 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $1,199
    • Total $4,599 + Tax
  • Architect Edition$4,416 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $2,183
    • Total $6,599 + Tax

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon RDS if

  • You need multiple db engines.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Multi-AZ, Multi-region.
  • You also want automated backups.
Amazon RDS review

Choose RAD Studio if

Nothing in the data separates RAD Studio from Amazon RDS on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

RAD Studio review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon RDS or RAD Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon RDS starts at Free and RAD Studio at $2000/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon RDS or RAD Studio?
Amazon RDS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Amazon RDS and $2000/perpetual for RAD Studio.
Does Amazon RDS or RAD Studio run on more platforms?
Amazon RDS runs on Web, Multi-AZ, Multi-region. RAD Studio runs on Web.
Can I use Amazon RDS for free?
Yes. Amazon RDS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RAD Studio starts at $2000/perpetual.
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 RAD Studio is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon RDS do that RAD Studio cannot?
Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines, Automated Backups, Multi-AZ Deployment, Read Replicas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amazon RDS: What is included in the AWS Free Tier for RDS?

For signups before July 15, 2025: 750 hours per month of single-AZ database instance usage (12 months), 20 GB General Purpose SSD storage monthly, 20 GB automated backup storage monthly, available engines include MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQL Server Express Edition. For signups after July 15, 2025: choice between Free Plan or Paid Plan, $100 in credits plus up to $100 additional credits for activating foundational services, credits valid 12 months. Free Tier unavailable in AWS GovCloud (US) and China (Beijing) regions.

Source
RAD Studio: How much does RAD Studio cost?

RAD Studio uses perpetual licensing: Professional Edition $2,000 perpetual license + $599 first year maintenance ($2,599 total + tax). Enterprise Edition $3,400 license + $1,199 maintenance ($4,599 total + tax). Architect Edition $4,416 license + $2,183 maintenance ($6,599 total + tax).

Source
Amazon RDS: How is data transfer priced in RDS?

Same Availability Zone (EC2 to RDS) is free. Multi-AZ replication is free. Cross-AZ within same region is 0.01 USD per GB in and out. Cross-region snapshots and backups follow standard data transfer charges.

Source
RAD Studio: What is the difference between RAD Studio editions?

Professional Edition ($2,599 total + tax) targets individual developers. Enterprise Edition ($4,599 total + tax) adds multi-tier app capabilities. Architect Edition ($6,599 total + tax) includes advanced database and cloud features. All three include perpetual licenses.

Source
Amazon RDS: What database engines are supported by RDS?

Aurora, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, SQL Server, and IBM Db2. Pricing varies by engine.

Source
RAD Studio: Does RAD Studio offer Kai AI integration and discounts?

Yes, adding Kai AI to any edition provides discounts: 25% off Professional ($2,136 + tax), 30% off Enterprise ($3,394 + tax), and 40% off Architect ($4,109 + tax). This promotion is active through August 31, 2026.

Source
Amazon RDS: What cost components are included in RDS monthly pricing?

DB instance hours (billed in 1-second increments, 10-minute minimum), storage per GB per month, I/O requests (Aurora and magnetic storage only), provisioned IOPS per month, backup storage, and data transfer fees.

Source
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