Gel, formerly known as EdgeDB, is an open-source data platform built on top of Postgres that replaces traditional tables with schema-defined types connected through graph-style links, letting developers traverse relationships without writing JOINs. It uses EdgeQL, a query language that combines SQL and GraphQL-style concepts with strict typing, and provides code generation and client libraries for full type safety across the stack. Beyond querying, Gel includes built-in authentication covering OAuth, passkeys, magic links, and email/password, plus integrated AI support with automatic embeddings and RAG endpoints. It can run locally with zero-config setup, be exported to plain Postgres, or run on the managed Gel Cloud service, which is AWS-powered and integrates with GitHub and Vercel; the project has around 14,000 GitHub stars and recently joined Vercel while remaining fully open source.
SurrealDB is a cloud‑native, distributed database that combines the flexibility of NoSQL with the power of SQL‑style querying. It delivers strong ACID guarantees while scaling horizontally for modern applications. Designed for developers and startups, SurrealDB offers seamless integration with popular languages and frameworks, making it easy to embed real‑time data capabilities into web and mobile services.
- Fully open source with an active community (around 14,000 GitHub stars)
- Built-in authentication removes the need for a separate auth service
- Strict typing and code generation reduce runtime data errors
- Free tier available on Gel Cloud for smaller workloads
- Combines NoSQL flexibility with familiar SQL syntax
- Built‑in real‑time subscription support
- Strong ACID compliance for distributed workloads
- Easy integration with major programming languages
- EdgeQL is a new query language, requiring a learning curve versus plain SQL
- Recent rebrand from EdgeDB to Gel may cause confusion when searching for resources
- Smaller ecosystem and community than mainstream Postgres or MySQL
- Ecosystem and community are smaller than established databases
- Advanced clustering setup can be complex for beginners
- Limited official GUI tools for data exploration
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataGel offers a typed graph‑relational DB with built‑in auth and AI on top of Postgres, while SurrealDB provides a flexible NoSQL store with SQL‑style queries and real‑time subscriptions.
Key differences
- •Query language: Gel uses EdgeQL (strictly typed, GraphQL‑SQL hybrid) vs SurrealDB’s SQL‑style NoSQL queries.
- •Data model: Gel is graph‑relational on Postgres; SurrealDB combines documents, graphs, and key‑value in a single NoSQL engine.
- •Built‑in features: Gel includes AI embeddings/RAG and code generation; SurrealDB focuses on real‑time WebSocket change feeds and horizontal sharding.
- •Ecosystem size: SurrealDB has more GitHub stars (32,749) than Gel (≈14,000) indicating a larger community.
- •Deployment options: Gel can export to plain Postgres or run on Gel Cloud; SurrealDB runs as a single binary for cloud or on‑premise.
Pricing & value
Both offer freemium tiers; no pricing details beyond free tier are provided.
Ease of use / learning curve
SurrealDB uses familiar SQL‑style syntax; Gel requires learning EdgeQL, a new strictly typed language.
Features & depth
Gel adds built‑in auth, AI embeddings, RAG endpoints, and multi‑language type‑safe client generation.
Integrations & ecosystem
SurrealDB lists more language SDKs and has higher GitHub star count, indicating broader community support.
Scalability
SurrealDB explicitly provides automatic horizontal sharding and replication for high‑traffic workloads.
Support
Gel offers tiered support (community Discord, email for Pro, priority for Enterprise) whereas SurrealDB lists only email and community forum.
Security & privacy
Gel includes built‑in authentication covering OAuth, passkeys, magic links, and email; SurrealDB mentions built‑in auth and RBAC but fewer specifics.
Choose Gel if…
Developers needing a typed graph DB with built‑in auth, AI tooling, and code generation.
Choose SurrealDB if…
Teams prioritizing real‑time subscriptions, horizontal scaling, and broader language SDK support.
Common questions
Can I migrate existing Postgres data into Gel?
Yes, Gel can export to plain Postgres and run locally with zero‑config setup.
Does SurrealDB support ACID transactions in a distributed cluster?
Yes, it is ACID‑compliant and provides automatic sharding and replication for distributed workloads.
Which product offers more built‑in authentication options?
Gel lists OAuth, passkeys, magic links, and email; SurrealDB mentions built‑in auth and RBAC but fewer specifics.