# Introduction to Managed Databases

> Learn about fully managed MySQL and PostgreSQL databases on Ploi Cloud.

Introduction to Managed Databases
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Ploi Cloud offers fully managed MySQL and PostgreSQL databases. We handle provisioning, backups, updates, and monitoring so you can focus on building your application.

### What are Managed Databases?

Managed databases are production-ready database instances hosted and maintained by Ploi Cloud. Unlike self-managed databases (such as the MySQL or PostgreSQL application services that run inside your application's container), managed databases run on dedicated infrastructure with built-in high availability, automatic backups, and performance monitoring.

### Key Features

- **Multiple engines:** Choose between MySQL and PostgreSQL
- **High availability:** Deploy with 1, 2, or 3 nodes for redundancy and failover
- **Automatic backups:** Daily backups with point-in-time recovery
- **Performance monitoring:** Built-in metrics for CPU, memory, disk, and query performance
- **IP access control:** Restrict access to specific IP addresses or ranges
- **Database users:** Create multiple users with different permissions
- **Logical databases:** Create multiple databases within a single instance
- **Multiple regions:** Deploy close to your applications worldwide
- **Scalable plans:** Upgrade CPU, RAM, and storage as your needs grow

### Managed Databases vs Application Services

Ploi Cloud offers two ways to run databases:

| Feature | Managed Databases | Application Services |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Dedicated, managed by UpCloud | Runs inside your app namespace |
| High availability | Multi-node with automatic failover | Single instance |
| Backups | Automatic daily backups | Manual |
| Monitoring | Built-in metrics and query stats | Basic pod metrics |
| Scaling | Upgrade plan independently | Tied to application resources |
| Best for | Production workloads | Development and small projects |

### Supported Engines

**MySQL** - The world's most popular open-source relational database. Ideal for web applications, e-commerce platforms, and content management systems.

**PostgreSQL** - A powerful, open-source object-relational database system. Great for complex queries, geospatial data, and applications requiring advanced SQL features.

### Pricing

Managed databases start from **EUR 14/month** for a single-node development instance. Plans are billed hourly, so you can scale up or down at any time. Pricing is the same for both MySQL and PostgreSQL.

See the [full pricing table](/features/managed-databases) on our features page.

### Getting Started

To deploy your first managed database:

1. Navigate to **Databases** in the sidebar
2. Click **Create database**
3. Choose your engine (MySQL or PostgreSQL)
4. Select a plan and region
5. Click **Create**

Your database will be provisioned within a few minutes. Continue reading to learn more about each step.