Neon vs Onfido: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Neon positions itself as "serverless postgres with scale-to-zero and branching" while Onfido goes after "real identity at global scale" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — Neon uses a freemium approach and Onfido a enterprise-based model, 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. Onfido requires a paid commitment upfront, so make sure it matches your workflow before signing. Onfido (founded 2012) 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
| Neon | Onfido | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 82/100 | 79/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Serverless Postgres with scale-to-zero and branching | Real identity at global scale |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Neon | Onfido |
|---|---|---|
| PostgreSQL compatible | Yes | No |
| Scale to zero | Yes | No |
| Database branching | Yes | No |
| Autoscaling | Yes | No |
| Point-in-time restore | Yes | No |
| ID document verification | No | Yes |
| Biometric verification | No | Yes |
| Liveness detection | No | Yes |
| 160+ countries | No | Yes |
| KYC workflows | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Neon means going without ID document verification, Biometric verification, Liveness detection (which Onfido offers). Choosing Onfido means losing PostgreSQL compatible, Scale to zero, Database branching. 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. Onfido (501-1000 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
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
Choose Onfido if...
- You're ready to invest from $null/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Is Neon or Onfido better?
Neon scores 82/100 compared to Onfido's 79/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Neon excels at ease of use (9/10) while Onfido scores 7/10.
How much does Neon cost compared to Onfido?
Neon starts at free (free tier available). Onfido starts at free. Neon is the more affordable option.
Does Neon or Onfido have a free plan?
Neon offers a free tier. Onfido does not — its cheapest plan starts at $null/mo.
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