# Prisma Postgres

[Prisma Postgres](https://www.prisma.io/postgres?utm_source=docs) is a managed PostgreSQL database with built-in connection pooling and edge runtime support.

To your application it is a regular PostgreSQL database behind a connection string:

```
Your application

      ↓ DATABASE_URL

Prisma Postgres
```

Any PostgreSQL client works: Prisma ORM, `psql`, Kysely, Drizzle, `node-postgres`, or anything else that speaks Postgres.

## [Getting started](#getting-started)

### [1. Create a database](#1-create-a-database)

The fastest way, with no account required:

::::tabs
:::tab{title="bun"}
```
bunx create-db@latest
```
:::

:::tab{title="pnpm"}
```bash
pnpm dlx create-db@latest
```
:::

:::tab{title="yarn"}
```bash
yarn dlx create-db@latest
```
:::

:::tab{title="npm"}
```bash
npx create-db@latest
```

`create-db` creates a temporary Prisma Postgres database and prints a connection string plus a claim URL. Open the claim URL to keep the database in your workspace. See [create-db](/guides/introduction-2-postgres-npx-create-db) for details. You can also create databases in the [Console](https://console.prisma.io/?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=content\&utm_content=postgres) or with the [Prisma CLI](/guides/platform-postgres) (`npx prisma postgres create`).
:::
::::

`create-db` creates a temporary Prisma Postgres database and prints a connection string plus a claim URL. Open the claim URL to keep the database in your workspace. See [create-db](/guides/introduction-2-postgres-npx-create-db) for details. You can also create databases in the [Console](https://console.prisma.io/?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=content\&utm_content=postgres) or with the [Prisma CLI](/guides/platform-postgres) (`npx prisma postgres create`).

### [2. Copy the connection string](#2-copy-the-connection-string)

`create-db` prints it once. For an existing database, open it in [Prisma Console](https://console.prisma.io/?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=content\&utm_content=postgres) and click **Connect to your database**. Store it where your app reads configuration:

```title=".env"
DATABASE_URL="postgres://...@db.prisma.io:5432/postgres?sslmode=require"
```

### [3. Connect and run a query](#3-connect-and-run-a-query)

Pick the client you use; each quickstart takes you from connection string to a first query:

[Prisma ORM quickstart Define a data contract and query with Prisma ORM.](/guides/prisma-postgres-2-prisma-postgres-quickstart-prisma-orm)[Prisma ORM 7 quickstart Connect with the current GA release of Prisma ORM.](/guides/prisma-orm-2-v7-prisma-orm-quickstart-prisma-postgres)[Kysely quickstart Connect Prisma Postgres from Kysely.](/guides/prisma-postgres-2-prisma-postgres-quickstart-kysely)[Drizzle ORM quickstart Connect Prisma Postgres from Drizzle ORM.](/guides/prisma-postgres-2-prisma-postgres-quickstart-drizzle-orm)

Also available: the [TypeORM quickstart](/guides/prisma-postgres-2-prisma-postgres-quickstart-typeorm) and [Connecting to your database](/guides/database-connecting-to-your-database), which covers connection strings for `psql`, GUI tools, and serverless runtimes.

If you work with a coding agent, copy this prompt:

```title="Use with your agent Use with your agent"
Create a Prisma Postgres database for this project.

1. Run `npx create-db@latest`. It creates a temporary Prisma Postgres database without an account and prints a connection string plus a claim URL.

2. Put the connection string in `.env` as DATABASE_URL and wire it into whichever of Prisma ORM, Kysely, Drizzle, TypeORM, or node-postgres the project already uses (detect it from package.json; if none, ask me). Verify the connection with one trivial query such as `select 1`.

3. Remind me to open the claim URL to keep the database in my Prisma workspace.

Current docs: https://www.prisma.io/docs/postgres.md.
```

## [What's included](#whats-included)

Each Prisma Postgres database includes the following, with no extra services to configure:

- **Connection pooling**: a dedicated PgBouncer instance runs alongside your database, with nothing to set up or manage. It also works for serverless and edge deployments. See [Connection pooling](/guides/database-connection-pooling).
- **Edge and serverless support**: connect from Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge Functions, and other edge runtimes via the [serverless driver](/guides/database-serverless-driver), which uses HTTP instead of TCP.
- **Automated backups** (Starter, Pro, and Business plans): daily snapshots, kept for 7 or 30 days depending on the plan. See [Backups](/guides/database-backups).

## [Local development](#local-development)

Run Prisma Postgres locally with `prisma dev`, then switch to cloud when ready.

- [Local Postgres](/guides/local-development-2-postgres)

## [Use with the rest of Prisma](#use-with-the-rest-of-prisma)

Each integration is optional. Prisma Postgres works with any PostgreSQL client.

- If you use [Prisma ORM](/guides/prisma-orm-prisma-orm), the quickstart provisions a database and connects it to your data contract.
- If you deploy on [Prisma Compute](/guides/deploy-compute), each branch of a Compute project can have its own Prisma Postgres database; pass the connection string through [environment variables](/guides/features-2-compute-environment-variables).
- For a multi-service application, [Prisma Composer](/guides/concepts-databases) declares a database as a service dependency and injects the connection at runtime.

## [Manage](#manage)

- [Connecting to your database](/guides/database-connecting-to-your-database)
- [Connection pooling](/guides/database-connection-pooling)
- [Backups](/guides/database-backups)
- [PostgreSQL extensions](/guides/database-postgres-extensions)
- [Troubleshooting](/guides/more-2-troubleshooting)
- [FAQ](/guides/more-2-faq)

## [Billing and limits](#billing-and-limits)

Prisma Postgres uses usage-based pricing and includes spend controls.

- [Pricing](https://www.prisma.io/pricing)
- [Operations-based billing explained](https://www.prisma.io/blog/operations-based-billing?utm_source=docs)
- [FAQ: estimating costs](/guides/more-2-faq#is-there-a-sample-workload-to-estimate-my-expected-charges)

In Prisma Console, you can track usage, set spend limits, and view billing details.

<img src="../img/site-assets/www.prisma.io/docs/img/postgres/billing-metrics.png" alt="Billing and Usage dashboard metrics.">

## [Technical details](#technical-details)

Prisma Postgres is based on **PostgreSQL v17** and uses a unikernel-based architecture.

Learn more: [Prisma Postgres: Building a modern PostgreSQL service](https://pris.ly/ppg-early-access?utm_source=docs).

:::callout{intent="note"}
Note

Postgres, PostgreSQL, and the Slonik Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada and are used with permission.
:::

## Related pages

- [Authentication & Tools](./authentication-tools-index.md)
- [Build](./build-index.md)
- [Changelog](../changelog.md)
- [Concepts](./concepts-index.md)
- [Console commands](./console-commands-index.md)
- [Contract Authoring](./contract-authoring-index.md)
- [Core Concepts](./core-concepts-index.md)
- [Data Modeling](./data-modeling-index.md)
- [Database](./database-index.md)
- [DB commands](./db-commands-index.md)

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