PolarDB
PolarDB is Alibaba Cloud’s cloud-native database, built for high-performance applications that need elastic scaling. It handles heavy workloads through shared storage architecture, automatic read-write splitting, and multi-master capabilities. The serverless option adjusts resources dynamically, making it suitable for apps with fluctuating traffic patterns where traditional fixed provisioning might cause bottlenecks or waste.
This setup fits teams already operating within the Alibaba Cloud ecosystem who prioritize scalability over cost predictability. The main trade-off is the lack of a free tier, meaning every instance incurs immediate charges under the pay-as-you-go model. You pay for the advanced elasticity and multi-master features from the first second, so budgeting for continuous usage is essential rather than optional.
- Free tier No
- Pricing Pay as you go
- Regions 8 · 4 continents
- SLA uptime 99.99%
- Compliance 10 certifications
- Provider health A
Decision score
Computed from catalog breadth, pricing, provider reliability (uptime & SLA), community signal, and ecosystem (compliance & regions). Weighted equally.
Capabilities
- Shared storage
- Read-write splitting
- Serverless
- Multi-master
Pricing structure Pay-as-you-go
Trust & reach via Alibaba Cloud
- C5
- CSA STAR
- FedRAMP
- GDPR
- HIPAA
- ISO 27001
- ISO 27017
- ISO 27018
- ISO 9001
- PCI DSS
- SOC 1 Type II
- SOC 2 Type II
- compute99.95%
- database99.95%
- networking99.95%
- storage99.99%
8 regions across 4 continents
- Asia
- Europe
- North America
- Oceania