Databases
Managed Database
A database the provider runs for you, handling provisioning, patching, backups, replication, and failover so you only use it.
A managed database is one you connect to and query, while the provider handles everything underneath: provisioning, version patching, automated backups, replication, and failover if the primary dies. You skip the entire job of running a database well, which is genuinely hard to do reliably. DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, and Aiven all sell managed Postgres, MySQL, and Redis.
The cost is a real premium over running the same engine yourself on a plain VPS, often two to three times the raw compute price. What you buy is the operational safety net. Backups that actually work, a standby that takes over automatically, and someone else awake when replication breaks at 3am.
The decision comes down to whether database operations are a good use of your time. A solo developer or small team usually comes out ahead paying for managed. A team with real infrastructure skills and a tight budget can self-host and pocket the difference.
Go deeper
- Managed Database vs Running Your Own: The Real MathA managed PostgreSQL costs 2-4x the raw server underneath. Whether that premium is worth it depends on exactly one question: what your untested backup is worth.