Best Database for Next.js 2026 | PostgreSQL vs Supabase vs Neon

Databases

Research on databases, data persistence layers, ORMs, and managed database services for 2026.

Database Research for Modern Applications

In 2026, the database landscape is shifting toward serverless architectures, edge deployment, and AI/ML integration. PostgreSQL continues dominating as the default choice for new applications, but managed services like Supabase, Neon, and Turso are offering developer experiences that eliminate traditional database operations.

Choosing the Best Database for Your Stack

For Next.js Applications

PostgreSQL remains the recommended database, with Supabase offering the fastest path to production. Its built-in auth, storage, and real-time features eliminate the need to assemble these components separately. For projects requiring advanced features, Neon’s serverless scaling and database branching capabilities provide enterprise-grade flexibility.

For Serverless & Edge Deployments

Turso (libSQL edge deployment) and Cloudflare D1 offer zero-cold-start database access perfect for edge functions. Their global distribution and pay-per-query models make them ideal for applications with unpredictable traffic patterns.

For AI/ML Applications

Vector databases are becoming essential infrastructure. pgvector extensions for PostgreSQL, Pinecone for managed solutions, and Neon’s AI features enable semantic search, RAG implementation, and vector similarity search directly within your database.

ORM Selection for 2026

Drizzle ORM has emerged as the developer favorite for its type-safety, performance, and SQL-first approach. While Prisma remains popular, Drizzle’s zero-abstraction philosophy and better TypeScript integration make it the modern choice for new projects.

  • Serverless-First: Databases that scale to zero are becoming default
  • Edge Replication: Global data distribution is table stakes
  • AI Integration: Native vector search and ML features
  • Developer Experience: Managed services over self-hosted

Explore our database research to build data layers that scale with your application’s growth.