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PGCat vs Supavisor: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between PGCat and Supavisor comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.

Bottom line: PGCat is our overall pick for data & databases workflows. Pick Supavisor if you need a free tier to start with.

··Methodology
Editor reviewed0 verified reviews comparedPricing checked Aug 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:

PGCat

PostgreSQL pooler and proxy with sharding, load balancing, and failover support.

Best for you if:

  • • You need something completely free
  • • PostgreSQL connection pooler and proxy.
  • • Supports sharding, load balancing, and failover.

Supavisor

A scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres.

Best for you if:

  • • Open-source PostgreSQL connection pooler.
  • • Improves database scalability and performance.
At a Glance
PGCatPGCat
SupavisorSupavisor
Starts at
FreeFree tier available
FreeFree tier available
Best For
Data & DatabasesData & Databases
Rating
--
Free plan
 Yes Yes

Choose PGCat or Supavisor?

PGCat

Choose PGCat if

PostgreSQL pooler and proxy with sharding, load balancing, and failover support.

  • Enhances PostgreSQL performance and scalability.
  • Provides robust failover and load balancing for high availability.
  • Offers advanced features like sharding and mirroring (though some are experimental).
  • You want a fully free tool (Supavisor requires payment)
Supavisor

Choose Supavisor if

A scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres.

  • Significantly improves PostgreSQL performance under high load.
  • Essential for serverless applications to manage database connections efficiently.
  • Reduces the resource consumption on the PostgreSQL server.
TOP RATED
PGCat logo

PGCat

PostgreSQL pooler and proxy with sharding, load balancing, and failover support.

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Supavisor logo

Supavisor

A scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres.

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FeaturePGCatSupavisor
Pricing ModelFreeFreemium
User RatingNo ratings yetNo ratings yet
Categories
Data & DatabasesDeveloper Tools
Data & DatabasesDevOps

In-Depth Analysis

PGCatPGCat

PostgreSQL pooler and proxy with sharding, load balancing, and failover support.

Starts at Free
Great value

PGCat's pricing is extremely generous, as it offers a fully functional, open-source solution completely free of charge.

Strengths

  • +Enhances PostgreSQL performance and scalability.
  • +Provides robust failover and load balancing for high availability.
  • +Offers advanced features like sharding and mirroring (though some are experimental).
  • +Multi-threaded architecture efficiently uses multicore machines.
  • +Open-source with an MIT license.

Weaknesses

  • -Some advanced features (sharding, mirroring) are still experimental.
  • -Requires Rust for local development.
  • -Optimal performance recommends 4 CPUs for default worker settings.

Key features

Transaction poolingSession poolingMulti-threaded runtime (Tokio asynchronous)Load balancing of read queries between replicas and primaryAutomatic failover with health checksAdmin database statistics (pgbouncer and pgcat databases)

SupavisorSupavisor

A scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres.

Starts at Free

Strengths

  • +Significantly improves PostgreSQL performance under high load.
  • +Essential for serverless applications to manage database connections efficiently.
  • +Reduces the resource consumption on the PostgreSQL server.
  • +Open-source, allowing for transparency and community contributions.

Weaknesses

  • -Adds an additional layer of infrastructure to manage.
  • -Configuration can be complex for advanced use cases.
  • -Requires understanding of connection pooling concepts.

Key features

Cloud-native architectureConnection poolingSupport for PostgreSQL wire protocolScalable connection managementOpen-source

Pricing: PGCat vs Supavisor

PlanPGCatSupavisor
Tier 1
Free
Open Source
N/A

Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on PGCat pricing and Supavisor pricing.

Who Should Use What?

On a budget?

PGCat is free. Supavisor is freemium.

Go with: PGCat

Want the highest-rated option?

Neither has ratings yet.

Too early to call on ratings — compare on features and pricing.

Value user reviews?

Neither has ratings yet.

Too early to call — neither has ratings yet.

3 Questions to Help You Decide

1

What's your budget?

PGCat is free. Supavisor is freemium. Go with PGCat if free matters most.

2

What's your use case?

Both are data & databases tools. Compare their specific features to decide.

3

How important are ratings?

Neither has ratings yet.

Key Takeaways

PGCat

  • Completely free
  • Our pick for this comparison

Supavisor

  • Choose if you want a scalable, high-performance connection pooler for Postgres

The Bottom Line

PGCat is our pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PGCat or Supavisor better?

PGCat is rated in our evaluation. PGCat is free and Supavisor is freemium.

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 completely free. Supavisor is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.

Related Comparisons & Resources

PGCat AlternativesSupavisor AlternativesPGCat Full ReviewSupavisor Full Review
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