ElephantSQL vs ScaleWay Database
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
ElephantSQL provides hosted PostgreSQL instances with automated backups, scaling, and monitoring. It supports developers, startups, and enterprises who need a reliable relational database without managing infrastructure. The service offers a free tier for small projects and a range of paid plans with higher storage, performance, and SLA guarantees. Deployments are available in multiple cloud regions and integrate with common CI/CD pipelines.
ScaleWay Database is a fully managed Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) offering reliable PostgreSQL and MySQL hosting. It removes the operational burden of database administration by automating routine tasks such as backups, patching, and scaling. Designed for developers and businesses of all sizes, the platform ensures high availability, security, and performance for critical data workloads. Users can easily spin up instances via console or API and focus entirely on application development rather than infrastructure management.
- Fully managed with automatic backups
- Free tier for small projects
- Multi‑region availability
- Simple web UI and API
- Fully managed infrastructure reduces operational overhead
- Predictable hourly and monthly pricing models
- Seamless integration with Scaleway cloud ecosystem
- Automated backups and point-in-time recovery
- Limited to PostgreSQL only
- Higher tiers can become costly for large workloads
- No on‑premises deployment option
- Limited to PostgreSQL and MySQL engines
- Fewer advanced enterprise features compared to AWS RDS
- Data centers primarily focused in Europe
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to ElephantSQL
View all →Fully managed, scalable SQL database service built seamlessly for Heroku developers.
Enterprise-grade cloud platform offering high performance, security, and a generous free tier.
Worry-free fully managed database hosting for modern cloud applications.
Alternatives to ScaleWay Database
View all →Fully managed, scalable cloud databases on any major provider

A fully managed, distributed SQL database built for resilience and global scale.
Fully managed, scalable SQL database service built seamlessly for Heroku developers.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataScaleWay offers predictable paid pricing with higher SLA and European‑centric regions, while ElephantSQL provides a free tier and broader multi‑cloud region coverage but at a slightly lower SLA.
Key differences
- •Pricing model: ScaleWay is paid‑only; ElephantSQL includes a free tier.
- •SLA: ScaleWay guarantees 99.95% uptime vs. ElephantSQL's 99.9%.
- •Region focus: ScaleWay limited to three European datacenters; ElephantSQL spans US, EU, APAC across AWS, Azure, GCP.
- •Engine support: ScaleWay supports PostgreSQL and MySQL; ElephantSQL only PostgreSQL.
- •Backup granularity: Both offer daily backups and point‑in‑time restore, but ScaleWay mentions automated daily backups explicitly.
Pricing & value
ElephantSQL offers a free tier (20 MB) for testing, whereas ScaleWay has no free tier.
Uptime & reliability
ScaleWay SLA is 99.95%, higher than ElephantSQL's 99.9%.
Performance
Both provide automated backups, point‑in‑time recovery, and managed infrastructure; no performance metrics given.
Developer experience
ElephantSQL includes a web console, REST API, and integration with monitoring tools; ScaleWay only mentions dashboards.
Regions & compliance
ElephantSQL covers US, EU, APAC across three cloud providers; ScaleWay limited to Paris, Amsterdam, Warsaw.
Support
Neither product description provides specific support details.
Lock‑in
ScaleWay integrates with its own cloud ecosystem, potentially reducing migration friction compared to multi‑cloud ElephantSQL.
Choose ElephantSQL if…
Startups or developers wanting a free tier and global multi‑cloud availability.
Choose ScaleWay Database if…
Enterprises needing higher SLA, MySQL support, and European data residency.
Common questions
Can I run MySQL with ElephantSQL?
No, ElephantSQL only supports PostgreSQL.
Is there a free option for production workloads?
ElephantSQL offers a free tier (20 MB); ScaleWay has no free tier.
Which service provides higher uptime guarantees?
ScaleWay guarantees 99.95% uptime, compared to ElephantSQL's 99.9%.