Tools / PostgreSQL
About PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is an open source object-relational database system with over 35 years of active development. It runs on all major operating systems and is maintained by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group, a community of volunteers rather than a single company. The project releases new major versions annually; as of September 2026, PostgreSQL 19 is in beta (Beta 4), with supported stable releases including 18.6, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24. PostgreSQL 14 reaches end of life on November 12, 2026. The project is developed through public mailing lists, and the website includes full documentation, a feature matrix, download packages for many platforms, and details on community events such as PGConf.EU and regional PGDays.
What it is
PostgreSQL is an object-relational database system that has been in active development for over 35 years. It is open source and free to download and use. The project describes itself as having a strong reputation for reliability, feature robustness, and performance.
Releases and versioning
The PostgreSQL Global Development Group releases new major versions roughly yearly. At the time of this listing, PostgreSQL 19 Beta 4 was released on September 24, 2026, and the project encourages testing it on non-production workloads. Current minor releases include 18.6, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 (all dated August 13, 2026). PostgreSQL 14 will stop receiving fixes on November 12, 2026, so anyone running it in production is advised to upgrade. The versioning policy is documented on the site.
Documentation and support
The official documentation covers installation and usage, and there is a feature matrix for comparing capabilities. Support is community-based: mailing lists (with public archives), user groups, and community events. Managing a mailing list subscription requires a free PostgreSQL community account.
Community
Development happens in the open through mailing lists and public contribution channels. The site lists upcoming community events, including PGDay São Paulo, PGConf.EU 2026, PG Down Under 2026, PGCONF.ASIA 2026, and PgConf.Nepal 2026, along with local user groups and training sessions. Events marked with a badge are recognized under the project's community event guidelines.
Governance and funding
PostgreSQL is governed by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group. The site has a donate page for those who want to support the project financially. It is not owned by a vendor, and the homepage does not mention paid tiers or commercial licensing — the database itself is free and open source.
Alternatives
None of the alternatives currently listed in this directory are comparable — they are app-building starter kits, SaaS launch tools, AI APIs, and product management software, not database systems. If you're evaluating relational databases, look at MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, or Microsoft SQL Server instead (none of which are listed here yet). }
Similar to PostgreSQL
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