RDS vs DynamoDB

Relational SQL databases versus managed NoSQL for AWS workloads.

Overview

What is being compared

RDS runs managed relational databases; DynamoDB is a managed key-value and document store. The choice centers on data model, query flexibility and consistency requirements.

  • Engines — PostgreSQL, MySQL, Aurora — Key-value and document store
  • Data model — Relational tables — Items looked up by key
  • Queries — Complex queries and joins — Key lookups and known access patterns
  • Headline strength — ACID transactions — Single-digit millisecond latency at any scale
  • Fits — Complex relational models, ad-hoc queries, reporting, multi-table joins and transactions — Single-table access patterns, high-throughput lookups, global tables, serverless auto-scaling storage

What each one does natively

Green is a native strength, yellow works with limits, and red is a poor fit that needs a workaround.

> [!TIP] The data paths of each, a money transfer in both and the choice between them play step by step in Visual Explanation below.

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