PGCat vs Supavisor: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for PGCat and Supavisor side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
PGCat
PostgreSQL pooler and proxy with sharding, load balancing, and failover support.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Supavisor requires payment)
Supavisor
A scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres.
Best for you if:
- • You want significantly improves PostgreSQL performance under high load
| At a Glance | PGCat | Supavisor |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan |
Category | Data & Databases DevOps | DevOps Data & Databases |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose PGCat or Supavisor?
Choose PGCat if
- You want a fully free tool (Supavisor requires payment)
- You want enhances PostgreSQL performance and scalability
- You want provides robust failover and load balancing for high availability
- You work in data & databases, not DevOps
Choose Supavisor if
- You want significantly improves PostgreSQL performance under high load
- You want essential for serverless applications to manage database connections efficiently
- You work in DevOps, not data & databases
In-Depth Analysis
PGCat
PostgreSQL pooler and proxy with sharding, load balancing, and failover support.
PGCat's pricing is extremely generous, as it offers a fully functional, open-source solution completely free of charge.
Strengths
- Pro: Enhances PostgreSQL performance and scalability.
- Pro: Provides robust failover and load balancing for high availability.
- Pro: Offers advanced features like sharding and mirroring (though some are experimental).
- Pro: Multi-threaded architecture efficiently uses multicore machines.
- Pro: Open-source with an MIT license.
Weaknesses
- Con: Some advanced features (sharding, mirroring) are still experimental.
- Con: Requires Rust for local development.
- Con: Optimal performance recommends 4 CPUs for default worker settings.
Key features
Supavisor
A scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres.
Strengths
- Pro: Significantly improves PostgreSQL performance under high load.
- Pro: Essential for serverless applications to manage database connections efficiently.
- Pro: Reduces the resource consumption on the PostgreSQL server.
- Pro: Open-source, allowing for transparency and community contributions.
Weaknesses
- Con: Adds an additional layer of infrastructure to manage.
- Con: Configuration can be complex for advanced use cases.
- Con: Requires understanding of connection pooling concepts.
Key features
Plans and prices: PGCat vs Supavisor
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PGCat |
| github.com/postgresml/pgcat read Oct 22, 2026 |
| Supavisor | No plan prices on file | supabase.com/pricing |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on PGCat pricing and Supavisor pricing.
Key Takeaways
PGCat
- Choose if you want PostgreSQL pooler and proxy with sharding, load balancing, and failover support
Supavisor
- Choose if you want a scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do PGCat and Supavisor compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Both have a free plan.
What are PGCat and Supavisor used for?
PGCat: PostgreSQL pooler and proxy with sharding, load balancing, and failover support. Supavisor: A scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres.
What does PGCat cost vs Supavisor?
PGCat is free. Supavisor has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 22, 2026.
What's the main difference between PGCat and Supavisor?
PGCat's main strength: enhances PostgreSQL performance and scalability. Supavisor's main strength: significantly improves PostgreSQL performance under high load.