Learning PostgreSQL
Students can practice table creation, inserts, joins, aggregation, and other SQL without setting up a local server.
Independent tool overview
Postgres Sandbox at a glance
postgres.new is a lightweight PostgreSQL sandbox that creates persistent local PGlite databases in your browser, making it useful for practicing SQL and testing small schemas without installing a server.
Visit the official Postgres Sandbox site ↗
- Best for
- SQL practice, quick query tests, and disposable PostgreSQL schemas
- Runs on
- PGlite in the browser
- Account required
- No
- Current price
- Free
- Data location
- Local browser storage
- AI assistant
- Not included in the current interface
Overview
What Postgres Sandbox is
The current postgres.new is a streamlined SQL playground powered by PGlite, a WebAssembly build of PostgreSQL. Enter a query and the app automatically creates a local database, then displays the result and keeps a query history.
Databases and their data live in the browser rather than on a hosted PostgreSQL server. You can create multiple databases, rename them, and return to them from the same browser, but they are tied to that browser's local storage and are not production deployments.
The name has some history: Supabase's original AI-assisted postgres.new project moved to database.build in 2024. The current postgres.new experience is a separate, simpler SQL-first sandbox and does not currently expose the original AI chat, CSV, chart, or deployment workflow.
Use cases
Who Postgres Sandbox is best for
The strongest fit depends on the job you need the product to complete, not the size of its feature list.
Testing a query quickly
Developers can reproduce a small schema and verify PostgreSQL syntax in a disposable environment.
Sketching small schemas
Create several local databases to experiment with table structures and constraints before moving SQL into a real project.
Browser-based demos
The simple interface works well for showing a query and result without asking viewers to install database software.
Capabilities
Core Postgres Sandbox features
Real PostgreSQL in WebAssembly
PGlite packages PostgreSQL for local browser execution rather than translating SQL into a different database engine.
Automatic database creation
Running the first query creates a new database automatically, reducing setup to a single SQL statement.
Multiple local databases
A sidebar lets you create, select, rename, and delete separate browser databases.
Persistent browser storage
Database files are stored through the browser so work can remain available across sessions on the same device and browser profile.
Query history and results
The interface keeps submitted SQL with its result or error, which makes iterative experimentation easy to follow.
No account setup
The sandbox opens directly to the SQL editor without requiring registration or a cloud database project.
Process
How the Postgres Sandbox workflow works
Step 1
Enter a PostgreSQL query
Start with schema SQL such as CREATE TABLE, or paste a query you want to test.
Step 2
Run it in the browser
Use the Run button or keyboard shortcut; the first query automatically creates a local database.
Step 3
Inspect the result
Review returned rows, affected-row counts, or PostgreSQL errors in the query history.
Step 4
Iterate or create another database
Adjust the SQL, keep building the current schema, or use the sidebar to start an isolated database.
Step 5
Move finished work elsewhere
Copy useful SQL into version control or a hosted database; do not treat the browser sandbox as a production system or durable backup.
Cost
Postgres Sandbox pricing and free plan
postgres.new is currently free to open and use, with no registration requirement or paid tiers presented in the app. It runs locally in the browser, so it is a sandbox rather than a hosted database plan.
Browser Sandbox
Free
Create and query local PGlite databases in the browser.
- No account required
- Multiple local databases
- Query history stored in the browser
- No hosted production database included
Pricing checked . Check current pricing at the source ↗
Assessment
Postgres Sandbox strengths and limitations
Where it stands out
- Starts immediately without an account or local PostgreSQL installation
- Uses a real PostgreSQL-derived engine through PGlite
- Supports multiple persistent databases in the same browser
- Simple interface is approachable for SQL learners and quick experiments
- Runs database queries locally rather than provisioning a remote server
What to consider
- Browser-local databases are not production deployments and are not reachable like a normal hosted PostgreSQL server
- Work is tied to the browser profile and can be lost when site data is cleared
- The current interface has no AI assistant, schema diagram, charting, CSV-import, collaboration, or cloud-deployment controls
- There is no visible export or backup workflow in the current app
- It is designed for small experiments, not concurrent users or production-scale workloads
Compare
Postgres Sandbox alternatives
The right alternative depends on the specific output, workflow, controls and budget your project requires.
Coding
AI2SQL
A custom GPT focused on translating requests into SQL queries.
Explore AI2SQL →Coding
Database Builder
A custom GPT for assistance with PostgreSQL database design and management.
Explore Database Builder →Business Operations
ChatGPT
A general AI assistant that can explain and generate SQL, though it does not provide the same built-in local database.
Explore ChatGPT →Questions
Postgres Sandbox FAQs
What is postgres.new?
postgres.new is a browser-based PostgreSQL sandbox. It uses PGlite to create and query local databases without requiring a PostgreSQL server installation.
Is postgres.new free?
Yes. The current app is available without registration and does not present a paid plan.
Where does postgres.new store my data?
The current app stores its database files and history in the browser. The data remains tied to that browser profile and may disappear if you clear site storage.
Is postgres.new the same as database.build?
No. Supabase's original AI-assisted postgres.new project was renamed database.build in 2024. The current postgres.new site is a simpler SQL-first PGlite sandbox.
Does the current postgres.new include an AI assistant?
No AI chat or natural-language database builder is visible in the current interface. It expects users to enter SQL directly.
Can I use postgres.new for a production database?
No. It is best treated as a local sandbox for learning and experimentation. Use a hosted PostgreSQL service with backups, authentication, monitoring, and network access for production.
Is PGlite really PostgreSQL?
PGlite is a WebAssembly build of PostgreSQL designed to run locally in browsers and JavaScript environments. It supports real PostgreSQL behavior, but its embedded single-user environment differs from a full production server.
Bottom line
Our Postgres Sandbox verdict
postgres.new is excellent for the moment between thinking of a SQL query and wanting to see it run. It is fast, free, and refreshingly simple, but its browser-local storage and minimal feature set make it a practice and prototyping tool—not a replacement for a hosted database or the more capable AI-assisted database.build.
Visit Postgres Sandbox website ↗
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