Serverless is attractive for variable or idle workloads, but it can become more expensive than Provisioned compute when database activity is high for long portions of the day. As active time increases, per-second compute accumulation approaches—or exceeds—the fixed monthly cost of a Provisioned tier. This inefficiency arises when teams adopt Serverless as a default without assessing workload patterns. Databases with steady demand, predictable traffic, or long active periods often operate more cost-effectively on Provisioned compute. The economic break-even point depends on workload activity, and when that threshold is consistently exceeded, Provisioned becomes the more efficient option.
Serverless compute accrues cost based on active vCore-seconds, scaling with workload intensity. Provisioned compute charges a fixed hourly rate regardless of activity. For consistently active workloads, Serverless may produce higher cumulative cost than a fixed Provisioned configuration.
