Side by side
Pgpool-II vs SPQR
Both stand on database proxy software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
Choose Pgpool-II if you need free PostgreSQL middleware with connection pooling, query distribution, and failover capabilities, and can run it yourself. Look elsewhere if GSSAPI authentication is required; enabling SSL also requires OpenSSL support and configuration.
Visit Pgpool-II Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted
SPQR offers PostgreSQL sharding with query routing and data balancing, while keeping deployment self-hosted. Its stated workload limits and reported performance drop are important considerations before adoption.
Visit SPQRThe facts
| Pgpool-II | SPQR | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted | API, Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | pgpool.net | docs.pg-sharding.tech |
| On database proxy software | #22 of 31 | #18 of 31 |
Pgpool-II: what it does well
- Free, self-hosted middleware for PostgreSQL.
- Reuses matching server connections to reduce connection overhead.
- Distributes SELECT queries across replicated database servers.
- Includes automatic failover, quorum, split-brain prevention, and Watchdog.
- Available in binary and source formats, with RPM packages for RHEL-compatible systems.
What to know first
- GSSAPI authentication is not supported.
- SSL is off by default and requires OpenSSL support.
- Debian and Ubuntu users are directed to PostgreSQL community packages.
- Unsupported major releases receive only possible best-effort critical fixes, with no formal binary packages.
SPQR: what it does well
- Supports single-column and composite sharding keys.
- Provides one-phase and two-phase commit strategies.
- Can use several managed PostgreSQL services.
- Free and distributed under the PostgreSQL license.
What to know first
- Not suitable for complex cross-shard queries.
- Not intended for OLAP workloads.
- FAQ reports a roughly 10–30% performance drop.
Alternatives to Pgpool-II Alternatives to SPQR The whole list