In a world where IT is constantly reinventing itself – or is at least pretending to do so – it is astonishing how long certain market leaders remain in place. Database solutions such as Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server are still standard in many companies. Not because there is no technological alternative, but because that is how it has always been done. And that is precisely the problem.

PostgreSQL is one of the most underrated technologies in our industry. Open source, freely available, technically advanced – and yet ignored or neglected by many decision-makers. Why is that?

The myth of enterprise quality: commercial databases are not automatically better

There are two main arguments that commercial databases traditionally use to promote themselves: stability and support. Both are important – no question. But anyone who believes that only proprietary software meets these requirements has not seriously looked at PostgreSQL in the last twenty years.

PostgreSQL is not just any open source project kept alive by a few idealists. It is developed by an active, global community – including many companies that earn their money with it. The release cycles are predictable, the code is transparent and bug tracking is public. Anyone who wants to can even get involved themselves. Or commission others to do so. The options are more diverse than with any commercial solution – and they are not tied to a single provider.

Feature parity? Long since achieved – and often surpassed

The perception that PostgreSQL is a "MySQL for advanced users" persists. But anyone who seriously examines its range of functions will quickly realise that PostgreSQL not only keeps up – it even surpasses many of its commercial counterparts.

  • ACID compliance? Of course.
  • Complex transactions? No problem.
  • Stored procedures, triggers, window functions? All there.
  • Geodata, JSON, full-text search, materialised views? Likewise.
  • Extensibility through extensions such as PostGIS or TimescaleDB? Yes. And these are not just nice add-ons, but serious, production-ready technology.

What's more, PostgreSQL is constantly evolving – without artificial product cycles or sales pressure. Features are added because they make sense, not because they look good in a release marketing campaign.

True cost clarity instead of a licence jungle

Commercial databases don't just cost money – they also cost nerves. Licence models that are so complicated that you'd have to be a lawyer specialising in IT to understand them. Unexpected costs during peak loads. Fear of audits. And that constant feeling of being stuck in a golden cage: comfortable, but inflexible.

PostgreSQL is not free because it is worthless – but rather because it operates on a different principle. Development is carried collectively and use is free. In other words: complete control over operations and future development, no vendor lock-in, and no licence fees – not now and not ever. And: full cost control. Especially in times of shrinking budgets, this is a factor that is often underestimated.

Open source as an attitude – not as a cost-cutting measure

It's not just about money. Choosing PostgreSQL is also a political decision: against monoculture, against lack of transparency, against concentration of power. And for open standards, for technical sovereignty, for sustainability. Because PostgreSQL is not just a tool – it is part of a larger ecosystem that focuses on cooperation rather than exploitation.

It's always a good idea to make conscious decisions, whether we're shopping, travelling, or choosing an energy supplier. It's high time to start doing so in IT as well. Proprietary software is not a force of nature. It's a habit. And habits can be changed.

PostgreSQL: More than just an alternative

Anyone who still automatically reaches for Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server today should ask themselves why. From a technical point of view, there are hardly any reasons not to use PostgreSQL. The arguments in favour of commercial software have long since been debunked – and what remains is often just a gut feeling. That's fine. But it shouldn't be confused with rationality.

PostgreSQL is powerful, stable, expandable, secure and economical. Above all, it is independent. And that is precisely what makes it so valuable – in an industry that all too often focuses on convenience rather than responsibility.