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Databases · head to head

Nile vs SurrealDB

Nile logo

Nile

Databases

PostgreSQL database platform built for multi-tenant SaaS applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SurrealDB logo

SurrealDB

Databases

Multi-model database combining documents, graphs, vectors and time-series

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Nile limited to B2B SaaS use cases, not optimized for single-tenant applications; SurrealDB the listed $0.192/node/hr Scale pricing lacks transparent higher-tier rates, requiring a sales conversation for full production sizing.
  • They diverge on capability: Nile covers Multi-tenant virtualization, SurrealDB covers Multi-model engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nile and SurrealDB actually diverge.

Attributes where Nile and SurrealDB differ
AttributeNileSurrealDB
Pricing modelPay-per-use with committed pricingusage-based
PlatformsWeb, APIweb, api, windows, mac, linux
FoundedUnknown2022

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).

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 Nile

  • Multi-tenant virtualization
  • Serverless compute
  • Vector embeddings
  • Tenant branching
  • Schema migration
  • Tenant dashboards
  • Global deployment
  • PostgreSQL compatible

Only in SurrealDB

  • Multi-model engine
  • ACID transactions
  • Hybrid retrieval
  • Horizontal scaling
  • Multi-region disaster recovery
  • FIPS-compliant cryptography

What people use each for

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

Nile

  • Multi-tenant SaaS applications with per-customer isolationnot SurrealDB
  • Serverless workloads needing cost-efficient auto-scalingnot SurrealDB
  • RAG applications leveraging vector embeddingsnot SurrealDB
  • Applications requiring per-tenant analytics dashboardsnot SurrealDB
  • Cross-customer analytics using shared data tablesnot SurrealDB

SurrealDB

  • AI agent memory and retrieval-augmented generationnot Nile
  • Applications needing documents, graphs and vectors in one databasenot Nile
  • Knowledge graph construction from unstructured datanot Nile
  • Regulated workloads requiring SOC2/ISO27001/HIPAA-eligible hostingnot Nile

Where each one falls short

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

Nile

  • Limited to B2B SaaS use cases, not optimized for single-tenant applications
  • Query token abstraction makes pricing less transparent than traditional compute pricing
  • Free plan limited to 50M query tokens and 1GB storage for development
  • Serverless startup latency may impact performance-sensitive applications
  • Per-million token overages require careful monitoring to avoid surprise costs

SurrealDB

  • The listed $0.192/node/hr Scale pricing lacks transparent higher-tier rates, requiring a sales conversation for full production sizing.
  • As a newer multi-model database, it has a smaller ecosystem of drivers, ORMs and community tooling than established single-model databases.
  • HIPAA compliance is only available as an Enterprise add-on rather than included in standard paid tiers.
  • Combining multiple data models in one engine can add query-planning complexity compared to purpose-built single-model databases.

Pricing, plan by plan

Nile

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50M query tokens included
    • 1 GB storage
    • 500 connections
  • Pro$15/month
    • 150M query tokens included
    • 5 GB storage
    • 10,000 connections
  • Scale$350/month
    • 500M query tokens included
    • 50 GB storage
    • 100,000 connections
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Custom resource allocation
    • Large-scale workloads supporting millions of tenants
    • Designated support

SurrealDB

Free
  • StartFree
    • 1 free instance, then from $0.021/hr
    • 1GB storage free forever
    • Vertical scaling to terabytes
  • Scale$0.192/month
    • $0.192/node/hr
    • Production-grade fault tolerance
    • Horizontal scaling to petabytes
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Self-hosted, custom pricing
    • Clustered fault-tolerant deployments
    • FIPS-compliant cryptography

Which should you pick?

Choose Nile if

  • You need multi-tenant virtualization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want serverless compute.
Nile review

Choose SurrealDB if

  • You need multi-model engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api, windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want acid transactions.
SurrealDB review

Questions people ask

Is Nile or SurrealDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Nile starts at Free and SurrealDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Nile or SurrealDB?
Nile starts at Free and SurrealDB at Free.
Does Nile or SurrealDB run on more platforms?
Nile runs on Web, API. SurrealDB runs on web, api, windows, mac, linux.
Can I use Nile for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Nile best used for?
Nile is most often used for multi-tenant saas applications with per-customer isolation, serverless workloads needing cost-efficient auto-scaling, rag applications leveraging vector embeddings, applications requiring per-tenant analytics dashboards. Of those, multi-tenant saas applications with per-customer isolation and serverless workloads needing cost-efficient auto-scaling are not what SurrealDB is typically brought in for.
What can Nile do that SurrealDB cannot?
Nile covers Multi-tenant virtualization, Serverless compute, Vector embeddings, Tenant branching. SurrealDB covers Multi-model engine, ACID transactions, Hybrid retrieval, Horizontal scaling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nile: What are query tokens and how are they calculated?

Query tokens are abstract units of CPU and memory used when queries execute on Nile's serverless compute. The platform uses this abstraction to enable fair, predictable pay-per-use pricing.

Source
SurrealDB: What does SurrealDB cost?

SurrealDB Cloud's Start plan is free with one free instance (then from $0.021/hr), the Scale plan runs $0.192/node/hr for production workloads, and Enterprise self-hosted deployments use custom pricing.

Source
Nile: Do all Nile plans include multi-tenant isolation?

Yes. All plans including the free tier include unlimited databases, tenants, and vector embeddings with built-in data isolation.

Source
SurrealDB: Is there a free plan and what are its limits?

Yes, the Start plan includes one free instance with 1GB of storage free forever and 1GB of outbound data transfer per month, aimed at prototypes and development.

Source
Nile: What is included in the Pro plan?

The Pro plan ($15/month) includes 150M query tokens, 5GB storage, 10,000 connections, and a 99.95% SLA. SAML and MFA authentication features are available on Pro and above.

Source
SurrealDB: How is billing handled?

Customers are invoiced monthly based on actual usage in a pay-as-you-go model with no long-term commitments, though commitment-based discounts are available.

Source
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