Freedom251 › Database Proxy Software
HeliosProxy
What HeliosProxy is
HeliosProxy is an open-source PostgreSQL data-plane for connection routing, failover, traffic replay, and database upgrades. It offers session, transaction, and statement pooling, with up to 100:1 connection multiplexing. Routing options include lag-aware replica selection, workload-based routing, and circuit breaking for failing backends. Caching is available through local memory, Redis, and semantic tiers, with invalidation on writes. Transaction Replay can move sessions to a new primary and may replay reads or transactions when conditions permit. Some session state does not carry across failover: SQL-level prepared statements, temporary tables, open cursors, advisory locks, and extended-protocol SET statements are not restored. The WASM plugin runtime has five hook points and supports Ed25519 signature verification and OCI artifact distribution. A built-in web console covers topology, plugins, chaos, shadow execution, and traffic replay. Authentication options include JWT, OAuth 2.0, LDAP, and API keys. HeliosProxy works with PostgreSQL 12+ and compatible databases, and supports Docker, Kubernetes, and standalone deployment. It is self-hosted and free under Apache 2.0.
Who it suits
HeliosProxy suits teams operating PostgreSQL or compatible databases that need configurable pooling, routing, caching, and failover. It is intended for self-hosted deployments and is available free under Apache 2.0.
What it does well
- Offers session, transaction, and statement pooling.
- Supports up to 100:1 connection multiplexing.
- Routes by replica lag and workload.
- Supports JWT, OAuth 2.0, LDAP, and API keys.
- Deploys with Docker, Kubernetes, or standalone.
What to know first
- Several kinds of session state are not restored after failover.
- Replay depends on conditions being suitable.
- Requires a self-hosted deployment.
Limits
During failover, SQL-level prepared statements, session temporary tables, open cursors, advisory locks, and extended-protocol SET statements are not restored. Read or transaction replay is available only when conditions allow.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| HeliosProxy | Open source under Apache 2.0 · 46 feature modules · Works with PostgreSQL-wire-compatible databases | Free |
As heliosdb.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://www.heliosdb.com/heliosproxy.html
- Choose a documented Docker, Kubernetes, or standalone deployment
- Deploy it in a self-hosted environment
- Connect it to PostgreSQL 12+ or a PostgreSQL-compatible backend
- Configure pooling, routing, authentication, and other proxy features as needed
Verdict
HeliosProxy combines pooling, routing, caching, and failover controls for PostgreSQL-compatible systems. Check which session state is lost during failover when deciding whether its replay behavior fits your workloads.
Questions
Is HeliosProxy free?
Yes. The listed plan costs nothing. HeliosProxy is open source under the Apache 2.0 license.
Which databases does HeliosProxy support?
It works with PostgreSQL 12+ and PostgreSQL-compatible backends, including Amazon RDS, Aurora, Cloud SQL, Azure Database, CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, TimescaleDB, Citus, and AlloyDB.
How can HeliosProxy be deployed?
The maker documents Docker, Kubernetes, and standalone deployment options. The deployment model is self-hosted.
What authentication methods does it support?
HeliosProxy supports JWT, OAuth 2.0, LDAP, and API-key authentication, with identity claim-to-database-role mapping.
Does session state survive failover?
Some state is not restored, including SQL-level prepared statements, session temporary tables, open cursors, advisory locks, and extended-protocol SET statements.
Where can users get support?
The company lists support at [email protected] and links to community support on Discord.
Facts from HeliosProxy's own pages
- Admin
- A built-in admin web console provides topology, plugin, chaos, shadow-execution, and traffic-replay panels, using the proxy's JWT or API-key admin authentication. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Caching
- Its cache has local-memory, Redis-backed, and semantic tiers, with cache invalidation on writes. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The maker documents Docker, Kubernetes, and standalone deployment options. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Failover
- Transaction Replay can re-home sessions to a new primary and offers optional read or transaction replay when conditions allow. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Failover limits
- SQL-level prepared statements, session temporary tables, open cursors, advisory locks, and extended-protocol SET statements are not restored across failover. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- It works with PostgreSQL 12+ and PostgreSQL-compatible backends including Amazon RDS, Aurora, Cloud SQL, Azure Database, CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, TimescaleDB, Citus, and AlloyDB. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- License
- HeliosProxy is open source under the Apache 2.0 license. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- The WASM plugin runtime has five hook points and supports Ed25519 signature verification and OCI artifact distribution. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Pooling
- It offers session, transaction, and statement pooling modes, with up to 100:1 connection multiplexing. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- HeliosProxy is a programmable PostgreSQL data-plane for connection routing, failover, traffic replay, and database upgrades. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Routing
- It supports lag-aware replica routing, workload-based routing, and circuit breaking for failing backends. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- The proxy supports JWT, OAuth 2.0, LDAP, and API-key authentication, with identity claim-to-database-role mapping. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The company lists a support contact at [email protected] and links to community support on Discord. · heliosdb.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where HeliosProxy stands on Freedom251
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