Fastly vs Neon: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Fastly positions itself as "real-time cdn and edge computing for high-performance apps" while Neon goes after "serverless postgres with scale-to-zero and branching" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — Fastly uses a usage-based-based model and Neon a freemium approach, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Neon lets you start for free, which means you can validate the fit before committing budget. Fastly requires a paid commitment upfront, so make sure it matches your workflow before signing. Fastly (founded 2011) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while Neon (2021) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.
At a glance
| Fastly | Neon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| Starting price | $50/mo | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Best for | Real-time CDN and edge computing for high-performance apps | Serverless Postgres with scale-to-zero and branching |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Fastly | Neon |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Yes | No |
| DDoS protection | Yes | No |
| Instant cache purge | Yes | No |
| WAF | Yes | No |
| Real-time analytics | Yes | No |
| PostgreSQL compatible | No | Yes |
| Scale to zero | No | Yes |
| Database branching | No | Yes |
| Autoscaling | No | Yes |
| Point-in-time restore | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Fastly means going without PostgreSQL compatible, Scale to zero, Database branching (which Neon offers). Choosing Neon means losing CDN, DDoS protection, Instant cache purge. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
What company size tells you
Neon (51-200 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Fastly (501-1,000 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose Fastly if...
- You're ready to invest from $50/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Neon if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Frequently asked questions
Is Fastly or Neon better?
Neon scores 82/100 compared to Fastly's 76/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Fastly excels at ease of use (6/10) while Neon scores 9/10.
How much does Fastly cost compared to Neon?
Fastly starts at $50/mo. Neon starts at free (free tier available). Neon is the more affordable option.
Does Fastly or Neon have a free plan?
Neon offers a free tier. Fastly does not — its cheapest plan starts at $50/mo.
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