Softwr

No-Code · head to head

Corteza vs PostgreSQL

Corteza logo

Corteza

No-Code

Apache-licensed open source low-code platform, formerly Crust, positioned against Salesforce

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit CortezaFull review
PostgreSQL logo

PostgreSQL

Databases

Open source relational database

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PostgreSQLFull review

The short version

  • PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system.
  • Both are free.
  • Only Corteza lists Corteza Low Code; only PostgreSQL lists ACID Compliance.
  • Where PostgreSQL falls short: requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Corteza and PostgreSQL actually diverge.

Attributes where Corteza and PostgreSQL differ
AttributeCortezaPostgreSQL
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hostedLinux, Windows, macOS
CategoryNo-CodeDatabases

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for PostgreSQL, founded for Corteza.

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 Corteza

  • Corteza Low Code
  • Automation and workflow
  • Bundled CRM
  • Case management
  • Federation
  • Role-based access control
  • Corteza Messaging and integrations
  • Self-hosted deployment

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.

Corteza

  • A European public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor feenot PostgreSQL
  • An NGO replacing a Salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring costnot PostgreSQL
  • An integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commerciallynot PostgreSQL
  • A mid-size European company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount growsnot PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL

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

Where each one falls short

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

Corteza

  • Planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond
  • No pricing is published for Planet Crusts support, hosting or implementation services, so the true running cost of a supported deployment cannot be estimated without a sales conversation
  • The connector ecosystem is small compared with commercial low-code platforms, so integrations with common SaaS tools usually mean writing against the REST API rather than installing something
  • Hiring is hard: almost nobody has Corteza on a CV, so you are training internal developers on a niche platform and you cannot easily replace them
  • The bundled CRM is a starting point rather than a mature product, and teams that expect Salesforce-equivalent sales functionality out of the box will spend months building the gap themselves

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

Corteza

Free
  • Corteza communityFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed with no feature gating
    • Low-code builder, workflow engine, CRM and case management included
    • Self-hosted on your own infrastructure
  • Planet Crust support and servicesOn request
    • Commercial support, hosting and implementation from Planet Crust
    • Custom application development
    • Training

PostgreSQL

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Corteza if

  • You need corteza low code.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted.
  • You also want automation and workflow.
Corteza review

Choose PostgreSQL if

  • You need acid compliance.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want json/jsonb support.
PostgreSQL review

Questions people ask

Is Corteza or PostgreSQL better?
Neither clearly leads. Corteza 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, Corteza or PostgreSQL?
Corteza starts at Free and PostgreSQL at Free.
Does Corteza or PostgreSQL run on more platforms?
Corteza runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted. PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Corteza for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Corteza best used for?
Corteza is most often used for a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee, an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost, an integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commercially, a mid-size european company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount grows. Of those, a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee and an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost are not what PostgreSQL is typically brought in for.
What can Corteza do that PostgreSQL cannot?
Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Automation and workflow, Bundled CRM, Case management. PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Full-text Search, Extensibility.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Corteza: Is Corteza the same thing as Crust?

Yes. The project was branded Crust and renamed Corteza in 2019 when Crust Technology donated it to the Commons Conservancy.

PostgreSQL: Is PostgreSQL completely free?

Yes. PostgreSQL is completely free and open source with no licensing fees or restrictions on use.

Source
Corteza: Who owns the code?

The Commons Conservancy, a Dutch foundation. Planet Crust in Cork is the primary developer and sells commercial services around it.

PostgreSQL: 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.

Source
Corteza: Is there a paid enterprise edition?

No. Corteza is Apache 2.0 with no feature gating. Planet Crust sells support, hosting and development instead of a restricted edition.

PostgreSQL: 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.

Source
Corteza: Can it genuinely replace Salesforce?

For case management and a straightforward sales pipeline on a self-hosted footprint, yes. For a large sales organisation relying on AppExchange products and a mature ecosystem, no.

PostgreSQL: 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.

Source
PostgreSQL: 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
Share

Related pages

More on Corteza

More on PostgreSQL

Keep looking

Other head to heads