> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.vavencloud.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Managed vs Self-Hosted Database: Which Should You Choose? - URL: https://blog.vavencloud.com/managed-vs-self-hosted-database/ - Published: 2026-10-16T11:02:20.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-16T11:08:25.000Z - Author: VavenCloud Team - Tags: Databases **Short answer:** choose a **managed database** if you want to spend your time on your app and nobody on your team has run a production database before. Choose a **self-hosted database** if you need control over the server underneath, a setup the provider doesn't offer, or you already have someone who runs databases for a living. This guide compares the two for MySQL and PostgreSQL, shows who does which job, and explains what a managed database on VavenCloud does and doesn't include. ## What do "self-hosted" and "managed" mean? - **Self-hosted:** you rent a server (a VPS), install MySQL or PostgreSQL yourself, and run everything: security, backups, tuning, monitoring and recovery. - **Managed:** the provider builds and configures the database server for you and gives you tools for the routine jobs. You still own your data, tables, queries and users. ![Table comparing who handles setup, backups, settings and restores for a self-hosted database and a managed database on VavenCloud](https://blog.vavencloud.com/content/images/2026/10/database-provisioning-steps.png) Who does what, for MySQL and PostgreSQL ## Self-hosted database: pros and cons **Pros** - Full control over the operating system, engine version and extensions. - You can run the database on the same server as your app to keep costs low. - You can set it up in any way you like, including unusual configurations. **Cons** - You are the database administrator. Updates, hardening and monitoring are your job. - Backups are only as good as the scripts you wrote and the restores you have tested. - When something breaks at night, you are the one who fixes it. ## Managed database: pros and cons **Pros** - Ready in minutes, set up the same way every time. - Backup schedules, firewall rules, graphs and key settings are in a dashboard. - Your team spends its time on the product instead of the database server. **Cons** - You work with the settings and engines the provider offers. - You pay for a plan size, even if you use less. - Some advanced features, like a standby copy of the database, depend on what the provider has built. ## How to decide | Choose managed if... | Choose self-hosted if... | | --------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | Nobody on your team has run a production database | You need custom extensions or operating system tuning | | You want to launch quickly | You need an engine or version the provider doesn't offer | | You want scheduled backups without writing scripts | You have a database administrator and your own automation | | Your app and database should be on separate servers | You need replication or failover that you design yourself | **Example scenario (illustrative, not a customer story):** a founder is building a first product. They know how to build the app but have never installed or backed up a database. They create a managed database in a few clicks, keep it private on their own network, set a daily backup, and get on with the product. Months later, when traffic grows, they move to a larger plan from the dashboard. ## How a managed database works on VavenCloud - **Engines:** MySQL (8.4 and 8.0) and PostgreSQL (18 and 17). - **Plans:** choose a plan size from Starter up to Pro, and a region. - **One server per database:** each database runs on its own server, sized from the plan. - **Public or private:** a public database is reachable only from the IP addresses you list. A private database is reachable only from inside your own private network, for example from your app servers. - **Login details:** shown in the dashboard when setup finishes, and sent to you by email. Each database also gets its own hostname. ![Five steps shown while a VavenCloud managed database is created: VM cloned, starting database, preparing private access, configuring credentials, ready](https://blog.vavencloud.com/content/images/2026/10/database-who-does-what.png) The dashboard shows each step while your database is built After it is running, you can: - Stop, start or reboot the database. - Change engine settings, such as maximum connections and memory settings. - Change the password. - Add, edit or remove the IP addresses that are allowed to connect. - Watch CPU, memory, disk and network graphs. - Take manual backups, or schedule daily or weekly backups and keep the newest 1 to 30. - Move to a larger plan. The database restarts while it is resized. ## Limits to know before you choose We would rather you know these now than find them later. - **Each database runs on a single server.** There is no standby copy yet, so scheduled backups matter. - **Restores go through our team.** To restore a database from a backup, open a support ticket. - **MySQL and PostgreSQL are the fully supported engines.** Other engines are not offered as managed databases today. ## Five habits that protect any database 1. Keep it private whenever your app runs on the same network. 2. If it must be public, allow only the IP addresses that need it. 3. Schedule backups and keep enough copies to go back several days. 4. Test a restore before you need one. 5. Keep the connection details in your app's secret storage, not in code. [See cloud services](https://vavencloud.com/cloud-services?ref=blog.vavencloud.com) ## Frequently asked questions ### Should I choose MySQL or PostgreSQL? Both are mature and widely used. MySQL is common with PHP and WordPress apps. PostgreSQL is popular for complex queries and advanced data types. If your framework or app recommends one, use that one. ### How often should I back up my database? Daily is a good starting point for most apps. Choose how many copies to keep based on how far back you may need to go. On VavenCloud you can keep between 1 and 30. ### Can my app connect to the database privately? Yes. A private database is reachable from the other resources on your private network in the same region, so your app servers can connect without going over the internet. ### Can I change the size later? Yes. You can move to a larger plan from the dashboard. The database restarts while it is resized. ### Who can reach my database? For a public database, only the IP addresses on your allowed list can connect to the database port. For a private database, only resources on your private network can. ## Keep reading - [Why websites crash during traffic spikes](https://blog.vavencloud.com/website-crashes-during-traffic-spike/) - [What to check before buying a VPS in India](https://blog.vavencloud.com/what-to-check-before-buying-vps-india/) **Not sure which setup fits your app?** Open a support ticket and describe what you are building. Our team will help you choose. [Talk to our team](https://vavencloud.com/contact?ref=blog.vavencloud.com)