When you create a new instance, you must choose a Cloud SQL edition. The
edition you choose affects the [machine
series](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/machine-series-overview) and
[location](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/region-availability-overview) you can use for
your instance. For more information about the
requirements and decisions you must make before creating a new instance, see
[Plan and prepare overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/plan-prepare-overview).


Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL

editions use a tier-based pricing model. Each edition
provides different performance, availability, observability, and data protection
characteristics to support your business and application needs.
Cloud SQL offers the following editions:

- **Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition**: provides enhanced performance, availability, and observability to run applications. This edition also includes the core capabilities of Cloud SQL.
- **Cloud SQL Enterprise edition**: provides all core capabilities of Cloud SQL and is suitable for applications with less stringent availability and performance requirements.

For details about Cloud SQL editions and the enhancements offered by
the Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition, see
[Cloud SQL editions overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/editions-intro).

## Cloud SQL key features

The following table provides an overview of key feature enhancements available
in Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition compared to Cloud SQL Enterprise edition:

|   | **Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition** | **Cloud SQL Enterprise edition** |
|---|---|---|
| **[Database versions](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/db-versions)** | PostgreSQL 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 > [!NOTE] > **Note:** If the database version for your instance is PostgreSQL 16 or later, then the default Cloud SQL edition is Enterprise Plus. | PostgreSQL 9.6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| **[Availability SLA](https://cloud.google.com/sql/sla)** | 99.99% (includes maintenance) | 99.95% (excludes maintenance) |
| ***Performance*** |||
| **[Machine series](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/machine-series-overview)** | N2 C4A C4 | General purpose shared core General purpose dedicated core N4 |
| **[Machine configuration limits](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/instance-settings#machine-type-2ndgen)** | **N2 machine series** Up to 128 vCPU Up to 864 GB RAM 1:8 core:memory ratio **C4A machine series** Up to 72 vCPU Up to 576 GB RAM 1:8 core:memory ratio **C4 machine series** Up to 8 vCPU Up to 62 GB RAM | **General purpose shared core** 1 vCPU Up to 1.7 GB RAM 1:6.5 core:memory ratio **General purpose dedicated core** Up to 96 vCPU Up to 624 GB RAM 1:6.5 core:memory ratio **N4 machine series** Up to 80 vCPU Up to 624 GB RAM 1:8 core:memory ratio |
| **[Data cache](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/data-cache)** | Yes | No |
| **[Point-in-time log retention](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/backup-recovery/pitr)** | Up to 35 days | Up to 7 days |
| **[Read pools](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/about-read-pools)** | Yes | No |
| ***Availability*** |||
| **[Maintenance downtime](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/maintenance)** | [\< 1 second](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/maintenance#nearzero) | [\< 30 seconds](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/maintenance#maintenance-impact) |
| **[Planned operations downtime](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/maintenance#nearzero)** | Sub-second downtime | Few minutes |
| **[Advanced disaster recovery (DR)](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/use-advanced-disaster-recovery)** | Yes | No |
| **[Write endpoint for advanced disaster recovery (DR)](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/use-advanced-disaster-recovery)** | Yes | No |
| **[Write endpoint connectivity](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/connect-to-instance-using-write-endpoint)** | Yes | No |
| **[Managed Connection Pooling](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/managed-connection-pooling)** | Yes | No |
| ***Observability*** |||
| **[AI-assisted troubleshooting](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/observe-troubleshoot-with-ai)** | Yes | No |
| **[Query insights](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/using-query-insights)** | 30 day metric retention 1 MB query length 200 query plan sample maximum Wait event analysis Index advisor recommendations | 7 day metric retention 4500 bytes query length 20 query plan sample maximum |
| **[Enhanced recommenders](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/recommender-enterprise-plus)** | Yes | No |

## What's next

- [Plan and prepare](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/plan-prepare-overview) to create a new instance.
- [Cloud SQL editions
  overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/editions-intro).
- [Machine series overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/machine-series-overview).
- [Create a new instance](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/create-instance).