Database & Data Management · head to head
BigQuery vs PostgreSQL
BigQuery
Database & Data Management
Serverless, highly scalable enterprise data warehouse
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
PostgreSQL
Database & Data Management
The world's most advanced open source relational database
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: BigQuery query costs can become substantial for organizations with high query volumes; PostgreSQL requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
- They diverge on capability: BigQuery covers Serverless Architecture, PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BigQuery and PostgreSQL actually diverge.
| Attribute | BigQuery | PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web, Cloud API | Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix |
| Founded | 2008 | 1996 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Database & Data Management).
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 BigQuery
- Serverless Architecture
- Petabyte Scale
- Real-time Analytics
- Machine Learning
- Geospatial Analysis
- Streaming Ingestion
- Standard SQL
- Looker
Only in PostgreSQL
- ACID Compliance
- JSON/JSONB Support
- Full-text Search
- Extensibility
- Advanced Indexing
- Partitioning
- Replication
- pgAdmin
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
BigQuery
- Business intelligencenot PostgreSQL
- Data warehousingnot PostgreSQL
- Real-time analyticsnot PostgreSQL
- Reporting
- Machine learningnot PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
- Transaction processingnot BigQuery
- Data storagenot BigQuery
- Application backendnot BigQuery
- Reporting
- Data analyticsnot BigQuery
Both are used for reporting, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
BigQuery
- Query costs can become substantial for organizations with high query volumes
- Data egress from Google Cloud incurs additional charges
PostgreSQL
- Requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
- Performance tuning requires deep knowledge of database internals
- No built-in graphical admin interface; command-line tools are primary method
Pricing, plan by plan
BigQuery
Free- Free TierFree
- 1TB queries/month
- 10GB storage/month
- Standard support
- On-demand$6.25/TB
- Pay per query
- Pay per storage
- All features
PostgreSQL
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL review.
Which should you pick?
Choose BigQuery if
- You need serverless architecture.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Cloud API.
- You also want petabyte scale.
Choose PostgreSQL if
- You need acid compliance.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
- You also want json/jsonb support.
Questions people ask
- Is BigQuery or PostgreSQL better?
- Neither clearly leads. BigQuery starts at Free and PostgreSQL at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BigQuery or PostgreSQL?
- BigQuery starts at Free and PostgreSQL at Free.
- Does BigQuery or PostgreSQL run on more platforms?
- BigQuery runs on Web, Cloud API. PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
- Can I use BigQuery for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is BigQuery best used for?
- BigQuery is most often used for business intelligence, data warehousing, real-time analytics, reporting. Of those, business intelligence and data warehousing are not what PostgreSQL is typically brought in for.
- What can BigQuery do that PostgreSQL cannot?
- BigQuery covers Serverless Architecture, Petabyte Scale, Real-time Analytics, Machine Learning. PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Full-text Search, Extensibility.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
BigQuery: How is BigQuery priced?
BigQuery charges $5 per terabyte of data processed in on-demand queries. Storage is billed separately: active storage is charged per GB, and data inactive for 90+ days moves to long-term storage at reduced rates.
SourcePostgreSQL: Is PostgreSQL completely free?
Yes. PostgreSQL is completely free and open source with no licensing fees or restrictions on use.
SourceBigQuery: What is BigQuery's architecture?
BigQuery separates compute and storage, using Google's Colossus for distributed storage and Borg for computation, allowing independent scaling of each.
SourcePostgreSQL: What platforms does PostgreSQL run on?
PostgreSQL runs on all major operating systems including Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, and commercial Unix variants, and has been proven highly scalable managing terabytes to petabytes of data.
SourcePostgreSQL: What procedural languages are supported?
PostgreSQL supports stored functions and procedures in multiple languages including PL/pgSQL, Perl, Python, Tcl, Java, JavaScript, R, and Rust.
SourcePostgreSQL: What is ACID compliance in PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL has been ACID-compliant since 2001, ensuring data integrity through atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability guarantees for all transactions.
SourcePostgreSQL: Does PostgreSQL support JSON data?
Yes. PostgreSQL supports JSON and JSONB data types for storing and querying JSON documents, along with XML and other document formats.
Source