Comparison: Aurora DSQL vs DuckDB

Modified date: Monday, June 30, 2025

Table of Contents

Introduction
General
Data Types
SQL
Storage and System
Benchmarking
Tools
Export Regulations
Internal
Internal - Optimizer
Internal - Runtime
Internal - Storage Engine

General

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition
intro	Aurora is a relational database management system (RDBMS) built for the cloud with full MySQL and PostgreSQL compatibility. DSQL is PostgreSQL compatible.	DuckDB is an in-process SQL OLAP database management system. Simple, feature-rich, fast & open source.	in their own words - but I reserved the rights to remove some bold claims like "the best", unless it is widely recognized.
vendor	Amazon AWS	DuckDB Lab
initial release		2018
latested version		1.3.0 "Ossivalis"	We don't put a release date here as the software is patching frequently. So tracking it is not much useful.
supported platforms		all major OS (Linux, macOS, Windows) and CPU (x86, ARM)	supported OS/CPU platforms
db-engines ranking		45	ranks from https://db-engines.com/en/ranking (06/25)
relational?		yes	Is it a relational database? (1) Most database are actually with some extensions, for example, nested data types, graph support, etc, which we usually called "multi-model". (2) Some of them are product family, meaning they have more than one database. Here we focus on the main one but explain others when needed.
open source?		yes	mainly the engine code
license		MIT
price: box software		0 free download
on-premise offering		yes	if no means you can't buy "box" software from them
cloud offering		yes: via MotherDuck MotherDuck is a cloud data warehouse platform that builds on top of DuckDB, an open-source analytical database. It provides a managed, serverless environment for storing, sharing, and collaborating on data while offering features like cloud storage, a web-based SQL IDE, and hybrid query execution (combining local and cloud processing).
technical doc		https://duckdb.org/docs/stable/

SQL

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition
base	PostgreSQL
SQL: standard complaince	high	high
max SQL length	undefined same as PostgreSQL with "StringInfo" container		maximal SQL statement length
PL: main	SQL + PL/PgSQL		main programming lanage: most database suports SQL because SQL is a well established standard. However, each database would like to extend SQL more or less.
PL: other language support	yes		PL lanaguage other than PL/SQL, like PL/Java, PL/Rust etc
SP: max parameters	100
UDF: max parameters	100
SQL: max parameters	65535		number of parameters in a PREPARED query
SQL: query hints	GUC only		if it allows use query hints to guide the optimizer
SQL: explicit locking	yes: row, page, table level		Locking is usually an internal matter - so does it allow explicit locking? What levels do they support?
Triggers?	yes		If support triggers
Triggers: scope	tables, views, foreign tables		What objects can have triggers
Triggers: type	BEFORE, AFTER, INSTEAD OF		Types of triggers supported
Object-Relational?	yes
Extension Mechanism	C programming, link with engine	DuckDB Extensions
vector search	no native		does it support vector search

Storage and System

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition
arch: server		Embedded	Embedded or traditional C/S?
arch: run in browser?		yes	It also known as a client-side database, is a database that is stored and managed within a user's web browser, rather than on a remote server.
ACID: durability		yes
Materialized View: support?		no

Benchmarking

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition
any official TPC benchmarks?		no	The TPC benchmark includes a set of tests simulating real-world scenarios to evaluate database performance.

Tools

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition
command line client		duckdb	it means "sql client" for database supporting SQL. For embedded atabase, the client includes the server together.

Export Regulations

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition
Jurisdiction		US	Which country controls export
ECCN		None	An Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) is a five-character alphanumeric code used to categorize items on the Commerce Control List (CCL) for export control purposes. Most database may fall into 5D992.c category, "mass market encryption", which means it has some ordinary encryption related code, for example, the SSL connection code.
Eligible License Exception / CCATS		Not required	A License Exception is an authorization that allows you to export or reexport items subject to the EAR without needing to obtain a specific export license, provided certain conditions are met. CCATS stands for Commodity Classification Automated Tracking System. The BIS assigns a CCATS number to products that it has classified under the Commerce Control List (CCL).
Encryption Components		SSL	Crypto functionality that triggers control

Internal

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition
Implementation language		C++ The entire code base is starting from scratch, with emulation C/S layer to PostgreSQL. But implmentation is C++.	A DBMS may use mulitple programming languages, for example, supports its stored procedure. The major programming language used to implement the engine.

Internal - Optimizer

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition

Internal - Runtime

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition

Internal - Storage Engine

Feature	Aurora DSQL	DuckDB	Definition
ACID: durability mechanism		WAL	How is it implements durability. Database's classic way is write ahead logging (WAL).