Quick answer
Aiven - Aiven gives you one free managed service of each type, including PostgreSQL with 1GB of storage. Cloudflare D1 gives you up to 10 SQLite-style databases, and it is part of the Workers Free plan.
How the free tiers compare
Aiven's free tier has no trial expiry and needs no payment details. It covers PostgreSQL, Apache Kafka, OpenSearch and Valkey, with one free service per type on each account. The free PostgreSQL service has 1GB of storage and 1GB of RAM. Services run on a single node. D1 on Workers Free allows 5 million rows read a day, 100,000 rows written a day and 5 GB of storage.
Aiven vs Cloudflare D1 free tier, side by side
| AivenFTV 59 | Cloudflare D1FTV 46 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free database | PostgreSQL with 1GB storage and 1GB RAM | Up to 10 databases on Workers Free |
| Storage | 1GB for PostgreSQL | 5 GB total |
| Caps | 1GB RAM per service, single node | 5 million rows read and 100,000 rows written per day |
| Free services | One per service type: PostgreSQL, Kafka, OpenSearch and Valkey | 10 databases on one account |
| First paid plan | Developer - $5/mo with 8 GB of storage | Workers Paid, billed by usage |
After you outgrow the free tier
Aiven PostgreSQL plans start with Developer at $5 a month and 8 GB of storage. Hobbyist starts at $12 a month. Startup starts at $75 and adds a 99.99% uptime SLA. Business starts at $180. D1 on Workers Paid includes 25 billion rows read and 50 million rows written a month, then charges $0.001 per million rows read and $1.00 per million rows written.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Aiven | Cloudflare D1 |
|---|---|---|
| Need more than 1GB of data | $5/mo for Developer, with 8 GB of storage | Free up to 5 GB, then $0.75 per GB-month on Workers Paid |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Aiven when…
- You want a standard PostgreSQL server you can connect to from anywhere.
- You also want Kafka, OpenSearch or Valkey on the free plan.
- You want to move to a paid plan later without migrating.
Pick Cloudflare D1 when…
- Your app runs on Cloudflare Workers.
- You want 5 GB of storage instead of 1GB.
- You prefer a per-row daily allowance to a fixed server.
Bottom line
Pick Aiven for a conventional PostgreSQL server and a clear upgrade path. Pick D1 if your app runs on Workers and 5 GB is enough.
Read the full listings: Aiven and Cloudflare D1. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.