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Amazon Neptune

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Fully managed graph database service on AWS

Data & DatabasesCloud & InfrastructureManaged DatabasesServerless Databases
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Reviews onG2
30 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

From $0.1/mo

Biggest pro

Managed graph database

Biggest con

AWS lock-in

TL;DR - Amazon Neptune

  • Amazon Neptune is a fully managed graph database service for building applications with connected data
  • It supports both property graph and RDF models with Apache TinkerPop and SPARQL query languages
  • Pricing based on instance size starting around $0.10/hour for the smallest instance
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
4.4/5 across review platforms

What is Amazon Neptune?

Editorial review
Amazon Neptune is a graph database for connected data. When relationships between entities matter as much as the entities themselves-social networks, fraud detection, recommendations-Neptune handles queries that would crush relational databases. Both property graph and RDF models are supported, so you can choose the approach that fits your data. Fully managed on AWS means no database administration headaches. Organizations modeling complex relationships find Neptune makes queries natural that would require painful SQL joins. The graph model matches how you actually think about connected data.

Available on: Web

how we evaluateSourceaws.amazon.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Managed graph database
  • AWS integrated
  • High availability
  • SPARQL and Gremlin
  • Good for knowledge graphs

Cons

  • AWS lock-in
  • Expensive
  • Learning curve
  • Complex pricing
  • Limited features vs Neo4j

Ratings Across the Web

4.4(30 reviews)
G230 reviews
4.4/5

What people say

“Amazon Neptune is one of the best way to backups and it is only done from a few clicks.”via G2

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Graph databaseManagedGremlinSPARQLServerless optionAWS

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Jul 27, 2026

Most Popular

On-Demand

$0.1/per db.r5.large hour

Pay-as-you-go

  • Graph database
  • Auto-scaling
  • High availability
  • All features

Serverless

Usage-based

Auto-scaling

  • NCU-based pricing
  • Scale to zero
  • No capacity planning
Calculate your costView full pricing

Is Amazon Neptune worth the price?

85/100

Amazon Neptune's pricing is fair, especially with the On-Demand tier starting at $0.1 per db.r5.large hour, offering a predictable cost for consistent usage.

The Serverless option provides flexibility for variable workloads, though its usage-based pricing requires careful monitoring. It's best for businesses needing a fully managed, scalable graph database without significant upfront investment.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Data transfer out of AWS regions

I/O operations beyond free tier

Backup storage costs

Additional AWS services integration fees

How Amazon Neptune Compares to Competitors

Compared to self-hosting graph databases like Neo4j, Neptune's On-Demand pricing at $0.1 per db.r5.large hour can be more expensive for continuous, high-utilization workloads due to managed service overhead. However, it significantly reduces operational costs and complexity compared to managing infrastructure and scaling manually, which can be a substantial hidden cost for alternatives.

Reviews

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4.4/5

Across 30 verified user reviews on G2

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Best Amazon Neptune Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

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Native graph database platform

4.5
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ArangoDBPaid

Multi-model database for graphs, documents, and key-value

4.5
Dgraph logo
DgraphFreemium

Distributed graph database with GraphQL

4.7
TigerGraph logo
TigerGraphFreemium

Enterprise graph database and analytics

4.7
JanusGraph logo
JanusGraphFree

Distributed graph database for scale

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Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Amazon Neptune vs Neo4jHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsAmazon Neptune vs ArangoDBHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsAmazon Neptune vs DgraphHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Amazon Neptune FAQ

How does Amazon Neptune handle complex data relationships?

Amazon Neptune is a graph database specifically designed for connected data, making queries natural for relationships that would be challenging for relational databases. It supports both property graph and RDF models, allowing users to choose the best approach for their data's structure. This design helps organizations model complex relationships efficiently.

Which teams benefit most from using Amazon Neptune?

Teams working with social networks, fraud detection, or recommendation engines find Amazon Neptune particularly useful. It is also well-suited for organizations that need to build knowledge graphs and require high availability for their connected data. The graph model aligns with how these teams typically think about relationships between entities.

How is Amazon Neptune priced?

Amazon Neptune is a paid product without a permanently free tier. Its pricing model is described as complex, reflecting the managed nature and various features offered. Users should review the specific pricing details on the AWS platform.

Can Amazon Neptune be used for fraud detection?

Yes, Amazon Neptune is well-suited for fraud detection because it excels at querying relationships between entities. Its graph database capabilities allow for efficient analysis of connections that might indicate fraudulent activity. This makes it easier to identify patterns that would be difficult to uncover with traditional databases.

What kind of trade-offs should users consider when adopting Amazon Neptune?

Users should consider the potential for AWS lock-in and the associated costs, as Amazon Neptune is described as expensive. There is also a learning curve involved with graph databases, and its pricing model can be complex. While powerful, it may have limited features compared to some competitors like Neo4j.

How does Amazon Neptune compare to Neo4j?

Amazon Neptune is a fully managed graph database service on AWS, offering high availability and integration with the AWS ecosystem. While it supports SPARQL and Gremlin, it is noted to have more limited features compared to Neo4j. Neo4j is another prominent graph database that may offer a different set of capabilities.

Does Amazon Neptune support standard graph query languages?

Yes, Amazon Neptune supports both SPARQL and Gremlin, allowing users to query their graph data using established languages. This flexibility enables users to choose the query language that best fits their data model and existing skill sets. It also supports both property graph and RDF models.

Source: aws.amazon.com

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