PostgreSQL vs SurrealDB
Both are alternatives to MongoDB Atlas. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as SurrealDB vs PostgreSQL — same comparison, one verdict.
PostgreSQL is open source (PostgreSQL License (permissive)) and SurrealDB is not (BSL 1.1 (source-available, converts to Apache-2.0 over time)) — so the real question is whether you want to own the managed databases stack or rent it.
PostgreSQL
TOP PICKThe default answer, and JSONB means you may not need a document store.
Postgres is the most capable open database in general use and the one most teams should reach for first. The detail that matters on this page: JSONB gives you schemaless document storage with indexing and rich querying inside a relational database, so you can hold documents where they suit and use joins, transactions and constraints everywhere else. Add pgvector for embeddings and full-text search built in, and a large share of MongoDB deployments turn out to be Postgres deployments that took a detour. PostgreSQL Licence — permissive, foundation-governed, and not going to change.
SurrealDB
Documents, graph and relational in one engine — but check the licence.
SurrealDB is a Rust multi-model database combining document, graph and relational access through a single SQL-like language, with real-time queries and permissions built in. It is genuinely interesting engineering and around 32.8k stars. One correction that matters and that most listings get wrong: the core is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1, not an open-source licence. BSL restricts offering it as a competing service and converts to Apache-2.0 after a set period. For internal use that is usually fine; for anyone building a product on top, read it first.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| PostgreSQL | SurrealDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 98 | 68 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first data | Yes | Yes |
| License | PostgreSQL License (permissive) | BSL 1.1 (source-available, converts to Apache-2.0 over time) |
| Pricing | Free and open source. Managed options exist from every cloud, usually cheaper than Atlas. | Free to self-host under BSL terms. Managed cloud is paid. |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 4 GB for a real application database | 4 GB |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $24–48/mo for a 4–8 GB instance, against managed Postgres at 2–3× that for equivalent specs | $18–40/mo for a single node |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 1 hour to run, a day to configure properly | 1 hour |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Real and non-negotiable: backups you have actually restored, major-version upgrades roughly annually, and index maintenance as the data grows. | Moderate, and version churn is the real cost. |
PostgreSQL is Macrostack's recommended MongoDB Atlas alternative, so it's our pick here.
Weighing both against staying on MongoDB Atlas? Is MongoDB Atlas free? What it actually costs →
PostgreSQL
Strengths
- +JSONB covers most document workloads without giving up relational features
- +pgvector and full-text search built in — no second database
- +Governance by a foundation; the licence will not be changed under you
- +Every cloud offers a managed version, so you are never captive to one
Trade-offs
- −Migrating from MongoDB means rewriting queries, not just moving data
- −Horizontal sharding is harder than MongoDB's
- −Genuinely document-shaped workloads at huge scale fit MongoDB better
- −Operating it yourself is still real work
SurrealDB
Strengths
- +Document, graph and relational in a single engine — genuinely rare
- +Real-time queries and row-level permissions built in
- +Rust, fast, and can embed directly in an application
- +Converts to Apache-2.0 on a published schedule
Trade-offs
- −BSL 1.1 is NOT open source, despite how it is usually listed
- −Young relative to Postgres or MongoDB
- −Smaller ecosystem and fewer battle-tested deployments
- −Multi-model flexibility is also more ways to model something badly
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose PostgreSQL
if you want the source and the option to fork it, and jSONB covers most document workloads without giving up relational features.
Choose SurrealDB
if document, graph and relational in a single engine — genuinely rare.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — migrating from MongoDB means rewriting queries, not just moving data, and bSL 1.1 is NOT open source, despite how it is usually listed. If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
PostgreSQL vs SurrealDB — common questions
Is PostgreSQL a better fit than SurrealDB for managed databases?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: PostgreSQL scores 98 to SurrealDB's 68 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. SurrealDB earns its place on a different axis — document, graph and relational in a single engine — genuinely rare. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
PostgreSQL keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. SurrealDB is still self-hostable, so the files stay on your server either way — but it is not local-first by design, so check what its export produces before you rely on it.
Can I self-host PostgreSQL or SurrealDB?
Both can be self-hosted. The difference is what it costs you in time rather than whether it is possible — see the setup and maintenance rows above.
Are PostgreSQL and SurrealDB both alternatives to MongoDB Atlas?
Yes — both appear in our MongoDB Atlas comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off MongoDB Atlas and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
More MongoDB Atlas head-to-heads
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-08-07. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.