AWS RDS vs DynamoDB A Complete Comparison for 2025

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Key Features Comparison for 2025

Explore the differences between AWS RDS and DynamoDB.

Choosing between AWS RDS DynamoDB in 2025 depends on your project requirements. AWS RDS DynamoDB handled a massive number of API calls, reaching 151 million requests per second during Prime Day 2025, demonstrating exceptional speed and reliability. Review the table below to determine which AWS RDS DynamoDB service aligns with your objectives:

Consider performance, scalability, cost, and your specific use case to make the optimal choice.

aws rds dynamodb: Quick Comparison

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Direct Recommendation

When picking between aws rds dynamodb, think about what your app needs. If you need a database for organized data or business apps, Amazon RDS is a good pick. It works with popular relational engines like MySQL and PostgreSQL. You can use your SQL skills and tools with it.

If your app must handle lots of requests every second, DynamoDB is better. It is serverless and can grow as needed. You do not have to manage servers or worry about scaling. DynamoDB is great for gaming leaderboards or IoT data. It is also good for real-time analytics where speed is important.

Tip:
Pick Amazon RDS for organized, transactional data. Use DynamoDB for fast, flexible workloads.

Key Differences

You can see the main ways aws rds dynamodb are different in this table:

Performance tests show more differences:

Think about the architecture too. Amazon RDS is a relational database service. It supports complex queries, joins, and updates. It works best for OLTP apps with organized data. DynamoDB is a key-value NoSQL database. It is made for changing data and high I/O needs. DynamoDB can scale out easily and has a high SLA for uptime.

Here are some ways to use aws rds dynamodb:

• Feature store for banks to track transaction details

• Sequence or token generator for unique keys and safe records

• Object store for JSON files and logs

• Loan origination and processing

• Order management and routing with low wait times

• Transactional ledger databases for financial history

By looking at these factors, you can choose the right aws rds dynamodb service for your project. This helps you get the best speed, scaling, and cost for your app.

amazon rds and dynamodb: Overview

amazon rds

Amazon rds is good for cloud databases. It helps you set up and run databases easily. You do not need to worry about hardware or updates. Amazon rds works with many database engines. You can pick the one that fits your project best. It gives you backups and snapshots automatically. High availability features keep your data safe. You can connect rds to other AWS services for reports and analytics.

Here is a table with the main features of each database engine in amazon rds:

You can use rds for apps that need organized data. It is good for complex queries and strong consistency. If you want to use SQL and tables, rds has the tools you need. Many companies use rds for business systems, reports, and websites.

dynamodb

DynamoDB is a managed service for nosql databases. You do not need to manage servers. Scaling happens by itself. DynamoDB is serverless and grows with your needs. You can store and get data from anywhere. This makes dynamodb great for global apps.

DynamoDB has features to help with big workloads and keeping data available. Here is a table with some important features:

You can use dynamodb for nosql databases when you need fast access. It works well for flexible data and global reach. DynamoDB is good for gaming, IoT, and real-time analytics. If your app needs to handle lots of requests, dynamodb is a strong choice.

Tip: Use rds for organized, relational databases. Pick dynamodb for scalable, serverless nosql databases.

Data Model & Schema

rds: Relational Model

When you use rds, your data is in tables. Tables have rows and columns. Each table has a set plan for its data. You know what goes in each column. You can use sql databases to link tables together. For example, you can connect a customer table to an orders table. This setup keeps your data neat and correct.

rds helps you with transactions. You can run hard queries and join tables. You can set rules like foreign keys. If you need to track inventory or users, rds helps you stay organized. You can change your plan, but you must think ahead. The relational model works best if your data does not change shape a lot.

Tip: Pick rds if you want to use sql databases for business, reports, or systems that need strict rules.

dynamodb: NoSQL Model

DynamoDB uses a NoSQL model. You do not need a set plan for your tables. You can put different data types in one table. This makes it easy to build apps that change fast. You can add new fields to items without changing the whole table.

DynamoDB is good for apps that need to grow quickly. You can use it for gaming, IoT, or content sites. Global tables help keep data close to users everywhere. You get quick writes and reads. This is great for real-time apps.

Here is a table with DynamoDB’s NoSQL model advantages:

DynamoDB has some limits too:

If you want flexible data and global reach, DynamoDB is a good pick. If your app needs complex links, rds and sql databases may work better.

Deployment & Management

Setup & Automation

When you use rds, you get help setting up your database. You pick the engine and size you want. You can choose backup and security options. rds saves your data for you with automatic backups. You do not have to remember to do it yourself. Multi-AZ keeps your database working if one place fails. You can make your database bigger when you need more space.

DynamoDB is even easier to set up. You do not have to manage servers or hardware. The service takes care of scaling and watching your database. DynamoDB stays fast and quick, even with lots of users. You can go from a few users to millions without changing anything.

Here are ways both services help you with automation:

• rds does backups and keeps your data safe with security tools.

• DynamoDB grows by itself and keeps working fast.

• AWS Lambda works with rds or DynamoDB. Lambda can change data, update records, or run special jobs when your database changes.

Tip: DynamoDB is good if you want a database that grows with your app and needs little setup. rds is better if you want to control your database engine and backups.

Maintenance

You need to think about taking care of your database. With rds, you must tune and fix your database sometimes. You may need to change settings for better speed. AWS helps with hardware, updates, and backups for rds. But you still do some work.

DynamoDB is managed for you. You do not need to tune or fix anything. AWS does all the scaling, backups, and hardware jobs. You spend less time fixing things and more time building your app.

Here is a table that shows how much work each service needs:

Note: DynamoDB is best if you want to build your app and not worry about fixing your database. rds is better if you want to control and fine-tune your database.

Scalability & Performance

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Scaling Options

Amazon RDS and DynamoDB scale in different ways. Amazon RDS lets you make your database bigger or add more copies for reading. You can pick the best type of database for your job. DynamoDB is serverless, so you do not handle servers. It grows or shrinks by itself. This helps when lots of people use your app at once.

Here is a table that shows how much Amazon RDS can grow in 2025:

DynamoDB does not have set limits for storage or speed. You can save almost endless data. DynamoDB splits your data into parts to keep things fast. This makes DynamoDB great if your app will get much bigger.

Note: DynamoDB is more flexible if you want to grow fast. Amazon RDS is good for steady jobs with organized data.

Throughput & Latency

Your app needs to be quick for users. Amazon RDS gives strong speed for organized data. You can change settings to get better speed. It can reach up to 40,000 IOPS for each database. This helps when your app has lots of work to do.

DynamoDB is made for fast answers. It can take care of millions of requests every second. You do not need to worry about slow times when many people use it. DynamoDB keeps things fast as your data grows by splitting it up.

DynamoDB is good for apps that need answers right away. Amazon RDS is better if you need strong rules and hard questions. Both are fast, but DynamoDB is best when many people use your app at once.

Tip: Pick DynamoDB if you want fast answers and easy growth. Choose Amazon RDS if you need strong rules and organized questions.

Query Capabilities

rds: SQL Queries

When you use rds, you get the power of SQL. You can write queries to search, filter, and join data from many tables. This helps you answer complex questions about your data. For example, you can find all orders from a customer in one step. You can also use transactions to keep your data safe and correct.

Here is a table that shows what rds does well and where it has limits:

You can use rds for business reports and apps that need strong rules. However, rds may not work as fast as special databases for time-series data or big data. Some features, like column-store indexes, are missing. This means rds is not always the best for data warehousing or business intelligence.

Tip: Use rds if you need strong SQL support and want to run complex queries across many tables.

dynamodb: Query Patterns

dynamodb uses a different way to get data. You do not use SQL. Instead, you use key-value access and query patterns. You can get one item by its key or search for items with the same key. This makes dynamodb very fast for simple lookups.

dynamodb gives you indexing options to help you find data quickly. Global Secondary Indexes (GSIs) let you search by other fields, not just the main key. Local Secondary Indexes (LSIs) help you look at different parts of your data in the same group. These indexes make queries faster and reduce the need to scan the whole table.

• GSIs help you get data by different fields, making your app faster.

• LSIs let you see related data without extra work.

You should use dynamodb when you want speed and simple queries. If you need to ask complex questions or join many tables, rds is a better fit.

Note: Choose dynamodb for fast, simple queries and flexible data. Pick rds for advanced SQL queries and strong data rules.

Pricing & Cost

rds: Pricing

When you use Amazon RDS, you pay for several types of costs. You pay for the database instance you choose. This is called instance costs. You also pay for the amount of data you store, which are storage costs. If you run your database all day, every day, these costs add up. You may also see costs for backups, data transfer, and extra features. Amazon RDS lets you pick from different instance sizes, so you can control your costs based on your needs. You can use on-demand pricing, where you pay for what you use, or reserved pricing, where you commit for a longer time to save money.

Tip: If you want to keep costs low, start with a smaller instance and only scale up when your app grows.

dynamodb: Pricing

DynamoDB uses a different way to set costs. You pay for reading, writing, and storing data. You can pick on-demand capacity mode, which means you pay for each request. This helps if your app has changing traffic. You can also choose provisioned capacity mode, where you set how many reads and writes you expect. DynamoDB also has costs for optional features like backups, global tables, and data transfer out. You only pay for what you use, so you can manage your costs as your app changes.

• DynamoDB pricing factors:

  • Reading, writing, and storing data

  • Optional features such as backups and global tables

  • On-demand or provisioned capacity modes

Cost Scenarios

You should compare costs for small, medium, and large workloads. Here is a table to help you see the difference:

If you run a small app, Amazon RDS gives you predictable instance costs and storage costs. DynamoDB works well if your app has spikes in traffic, since you only pay for what you use. For large apps, DynamoDB can handle millions of requests, but costs may rise with heavy use. Always check your usage to keep costs under control.

Durability & Availability

Data Protection

You want your data to be safe and ready when needed. Amazon RDS and DynamoDB both work hard to protect your data. Amazon RDS uses backups and snapshots that happen by themselves. You can bring back your database to any time in the last seven days. This helps if you lose data or something goes wrong. DynamoDB copies your data to different places called Availability Zones. Your data stays safe even if one zone stops working.

Here is how each service keeps your data safe:

• Amazon RDS:

  • Makes backups and snapshots for you

  • Lets you restore your data from any time in seven days

  • Helps stop data loss

• DynamoDB:

  • Copies data to many Availability Zones

  • Has extra copies for safety

  • Keeps data safe if something breaks

Tip: Pick Amazon RDS if you want strong backups and can choose when to restore. Choose DynamoDB if you want easy safety with automatic copying.

High Availability

You need your database to work all the time, even if things break. Amazon RDS and DynamoDB both help with this, but in different ways. Amazon RDS uses Multi-AZ, so your database runs in more than one place. If one place fails, RDS switches to a backup with little wait. RDS also uses copies in other regions to help with big problems.

DynamoDB spreads your data and traffic over many servers. Your data sits on fast disks and gets copied to many zones. DynamoDB global tables keep your data matched up in different regions. This gives you high availability and quick access for users everywhere.

Note: Both services give you high availability. Amazon RDS lets you control backups and switching. DynamoDB gives you easy scaling and worldwide access for best uptime.

Security & Compliance

Encryption

You want your data to be safe. Amazon RDS and DynamoDB both use strong encryption. Amazon RDS uses AES-256 to protect data at rest. This covers backups, read replicas, and snapshots. You must turn on encryption when you make your database. You cannot add it later, so plan before you start.

DynamoDB does things a bit differently. It encrypts your data at rest by default. You can pick AWS-owned keys, AWS-managed keys, or customer-managed keys. This lets you control how your data is protected. Encryption works for tables, indexes, streams, and backups. Many people choose customer-managed keys for more control.

Both services keep your data safe when it moves. They use TLS 1.2 or higher for data in transit. This stops others from seeing your information. You can also use client-side encryption with DynamoDB for extra safety.

Here is a simple list of how each service uses encryption:

• Amazon RDS: Uses AES-256 for data at rest, must turn on at the start.

• DynamoDB: Encrypts data at rest by default, lets you pick key types.

• Both: Use TLS for data moving between your app and the service.

Tip: Always check your encryption settings before starting your database. This helps you keep your data safe.

Compliance

Sometimes you need your database to follow strict rules. Amazon RDS and DynamoDB support many compliance programs. These programs help you follow laws and standards.

You can use these services for health, money, or government jobs. Each service gives guides and help to set up your database for compliance. AWS has tools like AWS Config and AWS Security Hub to check your settings.

Note: Always look at the newest AWS compliance guides to make sure your setup is right.

Use Cases

When to Use rds

Pick Amazon RDS if your app needs a structured database. RDS works well for apps that need strong rules and hard questions. If your app does the same work every day, RDS gives steady speed and helps you control spending.

Amazon RDS is great for a CMS in a medium business. It keeps things running smooth when traffic does not change a lot. RDS works with many database engines. It costs less for jobs that are not too big, so it saves money.

Many companies use RDS for tools inside the business and for customer help. A new company can use Amazon RDS PostgreSQL for a ticket system. This kind of app gets steady speed and is easy to run.

• E-commerce apps: RDS keeps transactions safe and helps with rules.

• Mobile and online games: RDS runs the database, so you can build your game.

If your app needs SQL, joins, or transactions, RDS is a good pick. You get backups, high uptime, and support for many engines. This makes RDS work for lots of different apps.

When to Use dynamodb

DynamoDB is best for apps that need to be fast and flexible. If your app must handle millions of requests, DynamoDB grows by itself and stays quick.

You can use DynamoDB for any app that needs to move lots of data fast. Auto-scaling and global tables make it work for many jobs. If your app changes a lot or has users everywhere, DynamoDB gives you the speed and flexibility you want.

2025 Updates

rds: New Features

Amazon RDS has new features for 2025. These updates make it easier to manage your database. You get more control over how things work. The biggest change is switching from RDS Performance Insights to CloudWatch Database Insights. Now, you can see metrics for clusters and fleets. Before, you could only see single instances. This helps you understand your whole system better.

These features help you find problems faster. They keep your database working well. The new visualization tools show how your resources work together. Lock analysis helps if you use PostgreSQL and want to make things faster.

dynamodb: New Features

DynamoDB has new features in 2025 too. You can scale and manage your data in more ways. DynamoDB now has better global table replication. This keeps your data matched up in different regions with less waiting. Adaptive capacity controls help you handle changing workloads. You do not need to tune things by hand.

Some top DynamoDB features this year are:

• Adaptive capacity changes to match your traffic.

• Global table replication updates data faster everywhere.

• New monitoring tools show how your tables work in real time.

These features make DynamoDB even better for apps that need speed. You can build global apps and know your data is always up to date. The new monitoring tools help you watch performance and fix problems fast.

Note: The new features in Amazon RDS and DynamoDB help you pick the best service for your project. RDS gives you more tools if you want deep insights and control. DynamoDB makes it easy to grow if you need fast scaling and global reach.

Picking between Amazon RDS and DynamoDB depends on your data and how your app grows. Amazon RDS is good if your app needs strong rules or hard questions. DynamoDB is better for apps that need to be fast and flexible. You should look at new features and limits for 2025 too. For example, DynamoDB has a 400kb item size limit. This means you cannot store big objects or images in one item:

Think about what your project needs and check for updates before you choose.

FAQ

What is the main difference between Amazon RDS and DynamoDB on AWS?

Amazon RDS uses tables and SQL for organized data. DynamoDB is better for flexible data and key-value access. Both run on AWS, but DynamoDB is serverless and grows by itself. Amazon RDS lets you pick your database engine and have more control.

How does AWS handle data protection for Amazon RDS and DynamoDB?

AWS keeps your data safe with backups and snapshots in Amazon RDS. DynamoDB copies your data to many zones for safety. Both services protect your data in the cloud. You can get back lost data fast with these tools.

Which AWS service is better for real-time applications?

DynamoDB is best for real-time apps that need fast data and lots of requests. Amazon RDS is good for apps with hard questions and strong rules. AWS supports both, but DynamoDB can handle millions of requests each second.

Can I use both Amazon RDS and DynamoDB for cloud-based data storage?

You can use both on AWS to store data in the cloud. Amazon RDS keeps organized data, and DynamoDB handles flexible data. Many companies use both to fit different needs. AWS lets you connect them for better data management.

How do costs compare between Amazon RDS and DynamoDB on AWS?

With Amazon RDS, you pay for the database and storage you use. DynamoDB charges for reading, writing, and storing data. AWS gives you on-demand and reserved pricing choices. You pick what works best for your data and traffic.

Recommended reading

• SQL Optimization Course
• SQL optimization knowledge
• Database industry knowledge

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