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Databases · head to head

Oracle Database vs PostgreSQL

Oracle Database logo

Oracle Database

Databases

The world's most complete, reliable, and secure database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PostgreSQL logo

PostgreSQL

Databases

The world's most advanced open source relational database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Oracle Database high licensing costs for Enterprise Edition with option packs potentially doubling the effective per-processor cost; PostgreSQL requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
  • They diverge on capability: Oracle Database covers PL/SQL, PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Oracle Database and PostgreSQL actually diverge.

Attributes where Oracle Database and PostgreSQL differ
AttributeOracle DatabasePostgreSQL
PlatformsOn-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, UnixLinux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix
Founded19771996

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Oracle Database

  • PL/SQL
  • Real Application Clusters
  • Data Guard
  • Advanced Compression
  • In-memory Database
  • Multitenant Architecture
  • Oracle Cloud
  • SQL Developer

Only in PostgreSQL

  • ACID Compliance
  • JSON/JSONB Support
  • Full-text Search
  • Extensibility
  • Advanced Indexing
  • Replication
  • pgAdmin
  • DBeaver

Both cover

  • Partitioning
  • Linux support
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Oracle Database

  • Transaction processing
  • Data storage
  • Application backend
  • Reporting
  • Data analytics

PostgreSQL

  • Transaction processing
  • Data storage
  • Application backend
  • Reporting
  • Data analytics

Both are used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting, data analytics, 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.

Oracle Database

  • High licensing costs for Enterprise Edition with option packs potentially doubling the effective per-processor cost
  • Requires skilled database administrators for proper setup, configuration, and maintenance
  • High hardware requirements increase infrastructure costs; less suitable for resource-constrained environments

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

Oracle Database

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Oracle Database review.

PostgreSQL

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Oracle Database if

  • You need pl/sql.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on On-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix.
  • You also want real application clusters.
Oracle Database review

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.
PostgreSQL review

Questions people ask

Is Oracle Database or PostgreSQL better?
Neither clearly leads. Oracle Database 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, Oracle Database or PostgreSQL?
Oracle Database starts at Free and PostgreSQL at Free.
Does Oracle Database or PostgreSQL run on more platforms?
Oracle Database runs on On-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix. PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
Can I use Oracle Database for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Oracle Database best used for?
Oracle Database is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting.
What can Oracle Database do that PostgreSQL cannot?
Oracle Database covers PL/SQL, Real Application Clusters, Data Guard, Advanced Compression. PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Full-text Search, Extensibility. Both handle Partitioning, Linux support, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Oracle Database: What is the licensing cost of Oracle Database Enterprise Edition?

Oracle Database Enterprise Edition is priced at 47,500 USD per processor as of April 2026. Named User Plus licensing costs 950 USD per user. Pricing varies based on licensing metric chosen.

Source
PostgreSQL: Is PostgreSQL completely free?

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

Source
Oracle Database: Does Oracle Database offer a free tier or trial?

Oracle Database offers Oracle Database Free Edition, a no-cost version for development and testing. However, no free trial is available for paid editions.

Source
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
Oracle Database: What are the deployment options for Oracle Database?

Oracle Database can be deployed on premises or through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Pricing and features vary based on deployment model selected.

Source
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
Oracle Database: What database management capabilities does Oracle Database provide?

Oracle Database is a converged, multi-model database management system offering in-memory computing, NoSQL, and MySQL database options with comprehensive data management and security features.

Source
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
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