SQLite vs Neon for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

SQLite Overview

SQLite is the simplest way to add a relational database to any project. No server, no configuration, no network. A single file holds your entire database. Open it, run SQL, close it. Deployments involve copying one file. Backups involve copying one file. Every aspect of SQLite is designed for simplicity.

The performance story is often misunderstood. SQLite runs inside your application process, so reads have zero network latency. With WAL mode enabled, concurrent reads don't block each other. For read-heavy workloads on a single server, SQLite can actually outperform networked PostgreSQL because there's no TCP overhead, no connection pooling, and no serialization/deserialization of query results over the wire.

I prototype with SQLite, and I'm not ashamed to ship with it. Plenty of production applications serve thousands of users on SQLite without issues. The key constraint is single-writer: only one process can write at a time. For most web applications with moderate write traffic, this isn't a bottleneck. For high-concurrency write workloads, that's when you look elsewhere.

Neon Overview

Neon is serverless PostgreSQL with some genuinely useful innovations. Your database scales to zero when nobody is using it and resumes in milliseconds when a query arrives. Database branching lets you create copies of your production data for testing migrations. Autoscaling adjusts compute based on load. It's PostgreSQL without the operational overhead.

The free tier is solid: 0.5GB storage, 190 compute hours per month, and branching support. For side projects with occasional traffic, you might never need to pay. The database suspends after inactivity, so you're not burning compute hours when nobody is hitting your app. This makes Neon particularly cost-effective for the portfolio of side projects that most solo developers accumulate.

Neon gives you full PostgreSQL. Every extension, every function, every feature. PostGIS for geospatial, pg_trgm for fuzzy search, JSONB for flexible document storage within a relational model. The entire PostgreSQL ecosystem is available, which means your knowledge and tools transfer directly.

Key Differences

Deployment model. SQLite is embedded. It runs inside your application with no external dependencies. Neon is a cloud service. Your application connects over the network. This has cascading implications for latency, offline capability, infrastructure complexity, and cost.

Read performance. SQLite reads are faster for co-located workloads because there's no network hop. Neon reads traverse the network, adding a few milliseconds. For most web applications, both are fast enough. For latency-sensitive operations with thousands of reads per second, SQLite's in-process access is measurably faster.

Write concurrency. SQLite allows one writer at a time. Concurrent write requests queue up. Neon's PostgreSQL handles multiple concurrent writers. If your application needs many users writing simultaneously (real-time collaboration, high-frequency transactions), Neon handles it without the bottleneck that SQLite creates.

Database branching. Neon lets you branch your database like a git repository. Create a branch, test a migration against production data, merge when it's safe. SQLite has no branching concept. You test migrations against a copy of your database file, which works but is more manual. Neon's branching is a workflow improvement that reduces migration risk.

PostgreSQL ecosystem. Neon gives you access to hundreds of PostgreSQL extensions. SQLite has its own extension ecosystem, but it's smaller and less standardized. If you need PostGIS, full-text search with pg_trgm, or any specialized PostgreSQL capability, Neon provides it natively.

Scaling path. SQLite scales vertically on one server. When you outgrow it, migrating to PostgreSQL is a common path. Neon is already PostgreSQL, so there's no database migration if you start there. You scale by upgrading your Neon plan. Starting with Neon avoids a future migration step.

Cost structure. SQLite is free forever. No hosting fees, no tier limits, no metering. Neon's free tier is generous but has limits. If your project grows beyond the free tier, you're paying $19/month. For solo developers running many projects simultaneously, SQLite's zero cost per project is a significant advantage.

Offline support. SQLite works offline because it's a local file. Neon requires network connectivity. For mobile apps, desktop apps, or any application that must function without internet, SQLite is the only choice.

When to Choose SQLite

• You want zero configuration and zero ongoing costs
• Offline functionality or embedded database scenarios (mobile, desktop, CLI)
• Prototyping and rapid iteration where setup time matters
• Single-server deployment comfortably handles your write traffic
• You prefer maximum simplicity and data portability (single file)
• You're building a project that may never outgrow a single server

When to Choose Neon

• You need concurrent write support for multiple users
• PostgreSQL extensions (PostGIS, pg_trgm) are requirements
• Database branching for safe migration testing improves your workflow
• You're building a web application that will eventually need to scale
• You want to avoid a future SQLite-to-PostgreSQL migration
• Serverless scaling (scale to zero for dormant projects) fits your usage pattern

The Verdict

Both earn 9/10, and that's intentional. They're both excellent choices for solo developers, just for different scenarios.

SQLite is the right starting point for prototypes, MVPs, desktop apps, mobile apps, and any project where simplicity and zero cost matter most. You can't beat "no setup, no server, no bill." The performance is excellent for single-server deployments, and the simplicity lets you focus entirely on your application logic.

Neon is the right choice when you know your project needs PostgreSQL features: concurrent writes, advanced extensions, branching for migration safety, or a clear path to scaling. Starting with Neon avoids a future migration from SQLite to PostgreSQL.

My practical advice: if you're unsure which to use, start with SQLite. Build your application, ship it, get users. If you hit SQLite's limitations (write concurrency, need for PostgreSQL extensions, scaling beyond one server), migrate to Neon. The migration from SQLite to PostgreSQL is well-documented, and ORMs like Prisma and Drizzle make the switch manageable.

Alternatively, if you're building a SaaS that you expect to scale and want to avoid migration work down the road, start with Neon. The free tier is generous enough for early development, and you get PostgreSQL from day one. Either path works. The important thing is to pick one and start building.