# Embedded Postgres
Neon makes it easy to embed Postgres into your platform with one-second provisioning, autoscaling, and scale-to-zero, so each user gets an isolated database without the overhead. Databases are provisioned via API and fully integrated into your product, with no Neon signup or setup required by your users.
Learn how platforms embed Neon
Learn how [Retool manages 300k+ Postgres databases](https://neon.com/blog/how-retool-uses-retool-and-the-neon-api-to-manage-300k-postgres-databases) and [Koyeb offers serverless Postgres](https://www.koyeb.com/blog/serverless-postgres-public-preview) using Neon.
[Sign Up](https://console.neon.tech/signup)
## Why embed Neon?
Neon is uniquely built to scale Postgres fleets efficiently:
- **Instant provisioning**: Create a new Postgres database in under 1 second via API
- **Scale to zero**: Inactive databases scale to zero to save on compute cost
- **True isolation**: Each user gets their own dedicated Neon project with complete data separation
- **Autoscaling**: Databases scale compute resources automatically based on demand
- **Set quotas**: Set consumption limits per project to manage usage and costs
- **Track usage**: Track compute time, storage, and other metrics per project
## The project-per-user model
When integrating Neon into your platform, we strongly recommend a **project-per-user model** rather than branch-per-user or database-per-user models.
### What is a project?
In Neon, resources such as branches, databases, roles, computes, and backend services like object storage and functions are organized within a Neon [project](/guides/concepts-index). When a user signs up with Neon directly, they start by creating a project, which includes a default branch, database, role, and compute instance. We recommend the same approach for your integration.
### Why project-per-user?
- **Data isolation**: Each user's data is completely separate, ensuring the highest level of security and privacy. This also helps with compliance standards like GDPR.
- **Resource isolation**: One user's usage patterns or actions don't impact others. Each user has dedicated compute resources.
- **Easier limits and billing**: Neon's APIs for setting consumption limits and tracking usage work at the project level, making it straightforward to implement usage-based billing.
- **Regional compliance**: Each project can be deployed in a specific region, making it easy to host customer data closer to their location or meet data residency requirements.
- **Independent recovery**: Operations like instant [point-in-time restore](/guides/postgres-backup-restore-branch-restore) work at the branch level. In a project-per-user model, you can restore individual customer databases without impacting others.
- **Simpler to manage**: Following Neon's established project-based structure is easier than working against it. The Neon API is designed around this model.
#### note
The project-per-user model implements a database-per-tenant architecture. For a deeper dive into this approach and how Neon compares to traditional solutions like RDS, read [Data Isolation at Scale](https://neon.com/use-cases/database-per-tenant).
## Getting started
::::steps
:::step{title="Set up API access"}
To interact with the Neon platform, you'll need an API key:
1. Generate a Neon API key from your Neon account settings. See [Creating API keys](/guides/manage-operate-manage-api-keys#creating-api-keys).
2. Store the key securely in your environment variables.
3. Use the API key to authenticate requests to the Neon API.
For detailed API documentation, refer to the [Neon API Reference](/guides/ai-agents-on-neon-reference-api), which includes links to [Neon API examples](/guides/apis-sdks-reference-api-get-started).
Alternatively, use our official SDKs for easier integration:
- [TypeScript SDK](/guides/apis-sdks-reference-typescript-sdk)
- [Python SDK](/guides/apis-sdks-reference-python-sdk)
:::
:::step{title="Create projects for your users"}
Use the [Create project API](/guides/apis-sdks-reference-api-projects-create-project) to provision a new Postgres database for each user:
```bash
curl --request POST \
--url https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects \
--header 'Accept: application/json' \
--header "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data '{
"project": {
"name": "user-database-123",
"pg_version": 16,
"region_id": "aws-us-east-1"
}
}' | jq
```
The response includes connection details you can provide to your user. Projects are created in under 1 second.
#### Custom names
You can customize the default database and role names when creating a project. See the [Create project API docs](/guides/apis-sdks-reference-api-projects-create-project) for details.
:::
:::step{title="Set compute and scaling behavior"}
Configure how computes scale and when they suspend due to inactivity:
- `autoscaling_limit_min_cu`: Minimum compute size (default: 0.25 CU)
- `autoscaling_limit_max_cu`: Maximum compute size for autoscaling
- `suspend_timeout_seconds`: Inactivity period before compute suspends
Example setting a compute to scale between 1 and 4 CU with a 10-minute suspend timeout:
```bash
curl --request POST \
--url https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects \
--header 'Accept: application/json' \
--header "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data '{
"project": {
"default_endpoint_settings": {
"autoscaling_limit_min_cu": 1,
"autoscaling_limit_max_cu": 4,
"suspend_timeout_seconds": 600
},
"pg_version": 16
}
}'
```
For more on autoscaling, see [Autoscaling](/guides/postgres-introduction-autoscaling) and [Scale to zero](/guides/postgres-introduction-scale-to-zero).
:::
:::step{title="Configure consumption limits"}
Set limits on compute time, storage, and data transfer to control costs and implement your pricing tiers. You can configure these limits when creating a project or update them later.
Here's an example setting limits for a "starter" tier user:
```bash
curl --request POST \
--url https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects \
--header 'Accept: application/json' \
--header "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data '{
"project": {
"settings": {
"quota": {
"active_time_seconds": 36000,
"compute_time_seconds": 9000,
"written_data_bytes": 1000000000,
"data_transfer_bytes": 500000000,
"logical_size_bytes": 100000000
}
},
"name": "starter-tier-user",
"pg_version": 16
}
}'
```
When a quota is reached, the project's computes are automatically suspended until the next billing period or until you adjust the limits.
For detailed information about configuring limits, see [Configure consumption limits](/guides/building-on-neon-guides-consumption-limits).
Here's a fictional example of how you might structure your own pricing tiers using Neon's consumption quotas:
| Resource | Free Tier | Pro Tier | Enterprise |
| ----------------- | --------------- | --------------- | ---------- |
| Compute (min/max) | 0.25 / 0.25 CU | 0.25 / 2 CU | 1 / 8 CU |
| Active time | 100 hours/month | 750 hours/month | Unlimited |
| Storage | 512 MB | 10 GB | 100 GB+ |
| Data transfer | 5 GB | 50 GB | Custom |
For real-world examples, see how [Koyeb defines their database instance types and pricing](https://www.koyeb.com/docs/databases#database-instance-types-and-pricing).
:::
:::step{title="Monitor usage"}
Query consumption metrics to track usage across your projects and implement billing:
```bash
curl --request GET \
--url 'https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/consumption_history/v2/projects?org_id=$ORG_ID&from=2024-11-01T00:00:00Z&to=2024-11-30T23:59:59Z&granularity=daily&metrics=compute_unit_seconds,root_branch_bytes_month,child_branch_bytes_month,public_network_transfer_bytes' \
--header 'accept: application/json' \
--header "authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY"
```
The v2 project metrics endpoint returns billing-aligned metrics including compute, storage, and data transfer. To break usage down by branch within a project, use the [branch metrics endpoint](/guides/building-on-neon-guides-consumption-metrics#branch-metrics) (`GET /consumption_history/v2/branches`).
For details on querying metrics, see [Query consumption metrics](/guides/building-on-neon-guides-consumption-metrics).
:::
::::
## Key considerations
Before going to production, consider these important aspects:
### Connection limits
Be aware of the [connection limits](/guides/postgres-connect-connection-pooling#connection-limits-without-connection-pooling) associated with each compute size. Connection pooling allows for significantly more concurrent connections. If you expect a high number of connections, we recommend using a pooled connection string. To learn more, see [Connection pooling](/guides/postgres-connect-connection-pooling).
### Reserved names
Neon reserves certain names for roles and databases. See [Reserved role names](/guides/manage-operate-manage-roles#reserved-role-names) and [Reserved database names](/guides/manage-operate-manage-databases#reserved-database-names).
### Polling consumption data
- Consumption data updates approximately every 15 minutes
- Minimum recommended polling interval: 15 minutes
- Rate limit: \~30 requests per minute per account
- Polling does NOT wake suspended computes
See [Consumption polling](/guides/building-on-neon-guides-consumption-metrics#consumption-polling) for more details.
### Staying informed
Monitor these resources for updates that could impact your integration:
- [Neon Roadmap](/guides/postgres-introduction-roadmap) for recent deliveries and upcoming features
- [Neon Changelog](/guides/more-changelog) for product updates
- [Neon Status Page](https://neonstatus.com/) for platform status
- [RSS Feeds](/guides/postgres-reference-feeds) for all of the above
## Advanced features
### Isolated development environments
Neon's [branching](/guides/postgres-introduction-branching) feature lets your users create isolated copies of their database for development and testing. Branches are copy-on-write clones that initially share data with their parent, though storage costs accumulate as changes are made to the branch.
Each user can:
- Create instant database branches for testing
- Reset branches to production state
- Delete branches when done
This is particularly valuable for platforms where users need to test schema changes or experiment with data safely. Branching is fully supported by the [Neon API](/guides/ai-agents-on-neon-reference-api). For examples, see [Branching with the Neon API](/guides/manage-operate-manage-branches#branching-with-the-neon-api).
### Schema migrations
If you're managing the same schema across many user databases, consider using tools like:
- [Drizzle migrations](/guides/integrations-tooling-guides-drizzle-migrations)
- [Prisma migrations](/guides/integrations-tooling-guides-prisma-migrations)
- [Flyway](/guides/integrations-tooling-guides-flyway)
- [Liquibase](/guides/integrations-tooling-guides-liquibase)
## Integration support
We're here to help you build your integration:
- [
Neon API Reference Explore all available API endpoints](/guides/ai-agents-on-neon-reference-api)
- [ Talk to Sales Discuss your integration with our team](https://neon.com/contact-sales)
#### info
Integrators of Neon can contact their Neon representative directly for assistance with their integration.
## Related pages
- [Configure consumption limits](./building-on-neon-guides-consumption-limits.md)
- [Querying consumption metrics](./building-on-neon-guides-consumption-metrics.md)
- [Query consumption metrics (legacy)](./building-on-neon-guides-consumption-metrics-legacy.md)
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