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Head-to-head · Databases And Backend

Amazon RDS vs Amazon DynamoDB

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Amazon RDS #2 in Databases And Backend 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Amazon RDS
Amazon DynamoDB #4 in Databases And Backend 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit AWS DynamoDB

Amazon RDS leads on 0 checks, Amazon DynamoDB on 1, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAmazon RDS · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly Amazon DynamoDB

Amazon RDS scores higher on our rubric for databases and backend: 9.2 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

Amazon DynamoDB offers free plan; Amazon RDS doesn't.

Amazon RDS is the better fit for teams wanting managed relational databases on AWS. Amazon DynamoDB is the better fit for applications needing a scalable managed NoSQL database.

  • Amazon RDS fits best

    Teams wanting managed relational databases on AWS

  • Amazon DynamoDB fits best

    Applications needing a scalable managed NoSQL database

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Amazon RDS 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Amazon DynamoDB 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 9.0
Ranking #2 in Databases And Backend #4 in Databases And Backend
Best for Teams wanting managed relational databases on AWS Applications needing a scalable managed NoSQL database
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not checked yet —
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Phone, Live chat, Email, Community, Docs · 24/7 Docs
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS
Integrations 8 integrations 2 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Amazon RDS 0/4 · Amazon DynamoDB 0/4
Built-in auth Not checked yet Not checked yet
Realtime data sync Not checked yet Not checked yet
Serverless functions Not checked yet Not checked yet
File storage Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Database model Not checked yet Not checked yet
Deployment model Not checked yet Not checked yet
API style Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Automates provisioning, patching, backups, and recovery
  • Offers Multi-AZ deployments and read replicas
  • Integrates with CloudWatch, Secrets Manager, and other AWS services
  • On-demand billing adds automatic scaling without capacity planning.
  • Global tables support multi-Region, multi-active deployments.
  • Transactions, streams, TTL, PartiQL and vector search cover varied workloads.
Cons
  • Usage-based pricing varies by engine, instance class, Region, and storage
  • Engine and configuration choices affect backup retention and maximum connections
  • Less suited to teams seeking a database service outside AWS
  • Cloud-only deployment excludes on-premises or self-hosted use.
  • Documented integrations are Amazon S3 and AWS Backup.
  • Paid costs vary with Region, capacity mode, table class and optional features.
Our verdict

Amazon RDS is a managed relational database service for teams that want AWS to handle operational tasks while they choose a supported database engine. Options include PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, Db2, and Aurora. It fits…

Read the review →

Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed, serverless NoSQL database for applications that need predictable low-latency access at scale. It stores items in tables with primary keys and supports web, desktop, mobile and API-based applications…

Read the review →
  1. Amazon RDSDatabases And Backend 9.2Paid
  2. Amazon DynamoDBDatabases And Backend 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Amazon RDS — where it wins

    • Automates provisioning, patching, backups, and recovery
    • Offers Multi-AZ deployments and read replicas
    • Integrates with CloudWatch, Secrets Manager, and other AWS services

    Where it doesn't

    • Usage-based pricing varies by engine, instance class, Region, and storage
    • Engine and configuration choices affect backup retention and maximum connections
    • Less suited to teams seeking a database service outside AWS

  • Amazon DynamoDB — where it wins

    • On-demand billing adds automatic scaling without capacity planning.
    • Global tables support multi-Region, multi-active deployments.
    • Transactions, streams, TTL, PartiQL and vector search cover varied workloads.

    Where it doesn't

    • Cloud-only deployment excludes on-premises or self-hosted use.
    • Documented integrations are Amazon S3 and AWS Backup.
    • Paid costs vary with Region, capacity mode, table class and optional features.

More comparisons

All databases and backend comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update