Database & Data Management · head to head
DynamoDB vs Amazon Aurora
DynamoDB
Database & Data Management
Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Amazon Aurora
Database & Data Management
MySQL and PostgreSQL-compatible relational database built for the cloud
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Amazon Aurora has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins; Amazon Aurora aurora requires AWS ecosystem knowledge and integration with other AWS services
- They diverge on capability: DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Amazon Aurora covers MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DynamoDB and Amazon Aurora actually diverge.
| Attribute | DynamoDB | Amazon Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | AWS | AWS Cloud |
Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Database & Data Management), 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 DynamoDB
- Single-digit Millisecond Latency
- Serverless
- Auto-scaling
- Global Tables
- Point-in-time Recovery
- Encryption
- Streams
- Lambda
Only in Amazon Aurora
- MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible
- 5x MySQL Performance
- Auto-scaling Storage
- Global Database
- Serverless v2
- Multi-master
- Fault Tolerant
- AWS Lambda
Both cover
- Web support
- Aws support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DynamoDB
- High-scale, variable-workload applicationsnot Amazon Aurora
- Mobile and IoT device backendsnot Amazon Aurora
- Real-time analytics and dashboardsnot Amazon Aurora
- Multi-region, globally distributed applicationsnot Amazon Aurora
Amazon Aurora
- Transaction processingnot DynamoDB
- Data storagenot DynamoDB
- Application backendnot DynamoDB
- Reportingnot DynamoDB
- Data analyticsnot DynamoDB
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Amazon Aurora
- Aurora requires AWS ecosystem knowledge and integration with other AWS services
- Pricing can become expensive with high-traffic applications using many read replicas
- Limited support for non-relational data types compared to NoSQL alternatives
Pricing, plan by plan
DynamoDB
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.
Amazon Aurora
Free- Serverless v2$0.12/hour
- Auto-scaling
- Pay per ACU
- Instant scaling
- Provisioned$29/month
- Dedicated instances
- Predictable performance
- Reserved capacity
Which should you pick?
Choose DynamoDB if
- You need single-digit millisecond latency.
- You work on AWS.
- You also want serverless.
Choose Amazon Aurora if
- You need mysql/postgresql compatible.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on AWS Cloud.
- You also want 5x mysql performance.
Questions people ask
- Is DynamoDB or Amazon Aurora better?
- Neither clearly leads. DynamoDB starts at On request and Amazon Aurora at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, DynamoDB or Amazon Aurora?
- Amazon Aurora has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for DynamoDB and Free for Amazon Aurora.
- Does DynamoDB or Amazon Aurora run on more platforms?
- DynamoDB runs on AWS. Amazon Aurora runs on AWS Cloud.
- Can I use Amazon Aurora for free?
- Yes. Amazon Aurora has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DynamoDB starts at On request.
- What is DynamoDB best used for?
- DynamoDB is most often used for high-scale, variable-workload applications, mobile and iot device backends, real-time analytics and dashboards, multi-region, globally distributed applications. Of those, high-scale, variable-workload applications and mobile and iot device backends are not what Amazon Aurora is typically brought in for.
- What can DynamoDB do that Amazon Aurora cannot?
- DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables. Amazon Aurora covers MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible, 5x MySQL Performance, Auto-scaling Storage, Global Database. Both handle Web support, Aws support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Amazon Aurora: Is Amazon Aurora compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL?
Yes, Amazon Aurora offers MySQL and PostgreSQL compatibility with full compatibility to their open-source counterparts, allowing you to migrate existing databases with standard tools.
SourceAmazon Aurora: What uptime SLA does Amazon Aurora provide?
Aurora is designed for up to 99.99% single-region uptime and 99.999% multi-region uptime with automatic failover.
SourceAmazon Aurora: How much does Amazon Aurora cost?
Aurora uses serverless, usage-based pricing where you pay only for consumed capacity. Typical pricing ranges from $50-70 per month for minimal setups to $400-600 per month for small production clusters.
SourceAmazon Aurora: Can Amazon Aurora scale automatically?
Yes, Aurora automatically scales to match workload demands without performance degradation, supporting both read and write scaling.
SourceAmazon Aurora: How many read replicas does Aurora support?
Aurora supports up to 15 low-latency read replicas for distributing read traffic across your application.
Source