Database & Data Management · head to head
PostgreSQL vs Cloudinary
PostgreSQL
Database & Data Management
The world's most advanced open source relational database
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Cloudinary
Database & Data Management
Image and video API for developers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PostgreSQL requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments; Cloudinary paid plans jump from a free tier straight to $224 per month, with usage priced on transformations, storage, and bandwidth credits that consume quickly at scale
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PostgreSQL and Cloudinary actually diverge.
| Attribute | PostgreSQL | Cloudinary |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix | Web |
| Founded | 1996 | Unknown |
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 PostgreSQL
- ACID Compliance
- JSON/JSONB Support
- Full-text Search
- Extensibility
- Advanced Indexing
- Partitioning
- Replication
- pgAdmin
Only in Cloudinary
Nothing recorded that PostgreSQL does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PostgreSQL
- Transaction processingnot Cloudinary
- Data storagenot Cloudinary
- Application backendnot Cloudinary
- Reportingnot Cloudinary
- Data analyticsnot Cloudinary
Cloudinary
No use cases recorded yet. See the Cloudinary review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Cloudinary
- Paid plans jump from a free tier straight to $224 per month, with usage priced on transformations, storage, and bandwidth credits that consume quickly at scale
Pricing, plan by plan
PostgreSQL
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL review.
Cloudinary
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cloudinary review.
Which should you pick?
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 PostgreSQL or Cloudinary better?
- Neither clearly leads. PostgreSQL starts at Free and Cloudinary at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PostgreSQL or Cloudinary?
- PostgreSQL starts at Free and Cloudinary at Free.
- Does PostgreSQL or Cloudinary run on more platforms?
- PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix. Cloudinary runs on Web.
- Can I use PostgreSQL for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is PostgreSQL best used for?
- PostgreSQL is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what Cloudinary is typically brought in for.
- What can PostgreSQL do that Cloudinary cannot?
- PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Full-text Search, Extensibility.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
PostgreSQL: Is PostgreSQL completely free?
Yes. PostgreSQL is completely free and open source with no licensing fees or restrictions on use.
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