SQLite vs Postgres for your SaaS: which one should you start with?
By Muhammad Akbar·July 29, 2026
The database choice for your SaaS matters. But the default answer: "always use Postgres": doesn't account for early-stage realities.
SQLite advantages
- Zero ops: No server to configure. The database is a single file.
- Free: Turso's free tier gives you 500 MB storage and 1 billion requests.
- Simple: No connection pooling, no replication, no configuration.
- Fast: Reads are faster than Postgres for single-server setups (no network round-trip).
- Enforced simplicity: You can't make complex queries that don't work.
Postgres advantages
- Concurrency: Handles multiple simultaneous writes better.
- Features: Full-text search, JSONB, PostGIS, array types.
- Ecosystem: Better ORM support, more tools, larger community.
- Scaling: Read replicas, connection pooling, horizontal scaling.
- Default standard: Most tutorials and boilerplates assume Postgres.
When to start with SQLite
- Bootstrapped SaaS with fewer than 1,000 users
- Single-server deployment
- Read-heavy workloads
- Budget-conscious development
- Prototyping and MVPs
When to switch to Postgres
- More than 5 concurrent writers
- Need full-text search or geospatial features
- Multi-server deployment
- Team of multiple developers
- Need connection pooling for scale
CheapStack approach
The SaaS Starter ($49) uses SQLite via Turso: free tier covers most MVPs.
The SaaS Boilerplate ($59) supports both SQLite and Postgres. Set DATABASE_TYPE=postgres and point to your Neon or Supabase URL when you're ready to scale.
This gives you the option to start simple and upgrade without rewriting code.
About the author: Muhammad Akbar builds affordable developer tools at CheapStack and writes about bootstrapping products on realistic budgets.