Amazon Web Services · Managed service
Amazon Aurora
Relational
AWS; MySQL-compatible or PostgreSQL-compatible database
When to consider it
Evaluate Aurora for relational applications on AWS that fit one of its supported compatibility models. Compare it with RDS for the same engine, using realistic read/write patterns and recovery requirements.
What to check
Aurora is not identical to stock MySQL or PostgreSQL. Check engine features, extension support, I/O pricing, replica behavior, and regional write topology.
Official documentation ↗Amazon Web Services · Managed service
Amazon Aurora DSQL
Relational / Distributed SQL
AWS; serverless distributed SQL with PostgreSQL compatibility
When to consider it
A candidate for distributed transactions with concurrent regional read/write endpoints and strong consistency. Consider it when the selected AWS region set and supported SQL features match a new or adaptable application.
What to check
DSQL is distinct from Aurora PostgreSQL. Validate supported SQL, transaction retries, snapshot isolation, and region sets; current multi-region clusters do not span continents.
Official documentation ↗Amazon Web Services · Managed service
Amazon DocumentDB
Document
AWS; document database with MongoDB compatibility
When to consider it
Evaluate DocumentDB when a document workload belongs in AWS and its supported MongoDB-compatible interfaces cover the application. Include a comparison with MongoDB Atlas and a relational JSON approach.
What to check
MongoDB compatibility does not mean it runs MongoDB or supports every feature. Test operators, indexes, transactions, drivers, and migration tools against the exact DocumentDB engine version.
Official documentation ↗Amazon Web Services · Managed service
Amazon DynamoDB
Key-value / Document
AWS; managed key-value and document database
When to consider it
Useful for predictable key-oriented access patterns where partition design and managed scaling suit the application. Design primary keys and secondary indexes from the reads the application must perform.
What to check
Hot keys, indexes, and consistency choices affect the design. Global table consistency modes and index read guarantees differ; check the exact API and configuration.
Official documentation ↗Amazon Web Services · Managed service
Amazon ElastiCache
Cache / Key-value
AWS; managed Valkey, Redis OSS, and Memcached offerings
When to consider it
Useful for offloading repeated reads, session access, and other low-latency cache operations from a primary database. Select an engine and deployment based on actual client and data requirements.
What to check
Treat eviction, persistence, failover, and cache rebuilding as explicit choices. ElastiCache and durable database services serve different reliability needs.
Official documentation ↗Amazon Web Services · Managed service
Amazon Neptune
Graph
AWS; managed graph database
When to consider it
Consider Neptune when graph traversals or RDF queries are central and the selected graph model and query language match the application. Fraud relationships and connected-data queries are common evaluation scenarios.
What to check
Property graphs and RDF are different modeling choices. Test supported query languages, highly connected nodes, ingestion, and the regional deployment topology.
Official documentation ↗Amazon Web Services · Managed service
Amazon OpenSearch Service
Search
AWS; managed search and analytics service
When to consider it
A candidate for indexed search, log exploration, and retrieval workloads in AWS. It provides a managed operating path for workloads that match the supported OpenSearch features.
What to check
Choose provisioned or serverless capabilities deliberately. Index mappings, shard design, ingestion, access controls, and reindexing still require ownership.
Official documentation ↗Amazon Web Services · Managed service
Amazon RDS
Relational
AWS; PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle Database, or Db2
When to consider it
A managed hosting choice when you want an established relational engine on AWS. It is especially relevant when engine compatibility and reducing routine infrastructure maintenance matter more than changing the data model.
What to check
RDS is a service, not a single database engine. Versions, licensing, extensions, administrative access, and availability options depend on the selected engine and configuration.
Official documentation ↗Amazon Web Services · Analytics platform
Amazon Redshift
Analytics
AWS; managed data warehouse with provisioned and serverless options
When to consider it
A warehouse candidate for SQL reporting, analytical joins, and data pipelines in AWS. Evaluate it when the workload needs shared analysis rather than a primary store for application transactions.
What to check
Compare query concurrency, data layout, ingestion, and compute choices. PostgreSQL-related SQL familiarity does not make Redshift a replacement for an OLTP PostgreSQL server.
Official documentation ↗