pgEdge Starfleet: trial limits, paid branches and hosting
Starfleet is a Postgres platform with AI connection tools. Its managed trial needs no card, but the database stops on day15 unless you move to a paid route.
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What is pgEdge Starfleet?
Starfleet is a database platform for developers using standard Postgres. Its product page describes built-in MCP, RAG and REST services, similarity search and fast database branches. MCP connects compatible agents to tools. RAG means retrieving relevant information to support an AI answer. Neither makes an agent's database changes automatically correct.
A branch creates an isolated copy-on-write database for an experiment. It stores changes instead of duplicating every byte immediately. This can separate a test from a main database, but it still needs permissions, a budget and a deletion plan.
Four routes, different costs
The price page distinguishes free open-source components, Managed service, BYO Cloud and Self-Hosted supported deployments. Free source software still needs hosting, maintenance and any model-provider costs. The quoted self-hosted commercial route is not identical to downloading free code.
Managed starts at $25 per database per month. The listed Large and XL sizes are $99 and $249. At the archive reference rate of about ₹96.43 per US dollar, these are approximately ₹2,411, ₹9,547 and ₹24,012 monthly. They are rough estimates before any tax, card charges or changing currency rate, not Indian checkout totals.
The page says compute, storage, IOPS, egress, 45-day backups and AI services are included in the database's flat price. Optional extended retention and premium support cost extra. Branches are billed hourly while they exist, prorated from their size's monthly price. A free-looking temporary experiment can therefore create a separate branch bill.
The trial and hosting limits
The official offer is a 14-day trial with no credit card. The FAQ says the trial database is suspended on day15, backups are kept until day45 and adding a payment method in that window lets you resume. Only one trial per customer is allowed. No card means no automatic billing at the end, not a permanently running free database.
Managed currently launches in AWS US East-2, with more regions on the roadmap. BYO Cloud can run in your AWS, Google Cloud or Azure account in any region according to the price page; self-hosted runs where you install it. For Indian data-residency or latency needs, do not assume the managed route is hosted in India.
How to evaluate it
- Choose the deployment route and confirm current region, trial and pricing terms.
- Use a small synthetic or approved public dataset. Keep production records out of an unapproved trial.
- Create the database through the official route and inspect allowed network access and database roles.
- Enable only the AI services needed. Give an agent a read-only role before testing write permissions.
- Test queries, retrieval and access denial with known examples. Check answers against the underlying rows.
- If using branches, record their size and remove them when the test ends. Review actual charges.
- Export what you need and decide what to do before day15. Test backups and restore rather than assuming they work for your task.
Operational details matter
The database documentation says service connections, including MCP and RAG servers, count toward the connection allowance for the selected size. It also says a database cannot be resized while it has branches. Include those constraints in a pilot plan rather than discovering them during a deadline.
The vendor publishes security and compliance claims. This guide did not inspect audit reports or validate a deployment against Indian requirements. Confirm provider processing, credentials, backup location and support before connecting confidential organisational data.
What changed since the original post?
The 29 September post described a quick Postgres setup and the trial. This guide updates the INR conversion, explains paid branches, distinguishes open source from paid hosting and adds the US managed-region and suspension limits.
Frequently asked questions
Is managed hosting free forever?
No. It is a limited trial followed by paid hosting.
Will the trial bill automatically?
The FAQ says no card is needed and the database is suspended on day15.
Are branches free?
No. The listed managed branches are billed hourly.
Was a database created here?
No. This guide read public product and documentation sources.
Sources: Pricing, region and trial FAQ · Product and trial · Database limits. Checked 7 October 2026.