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Frequently asked questions

Does pocketPG modify my database?​

No. All monitoring connections use autocommit = True and read from system catalog views only. pocketPG never creates tables, indexes, extensions, or functions on your database. The one exception is owner-initiated maintenance (VACUUM, ANALYZE, REINDEX) which requires explicit confirmation.

What PostgreSQL versions are supported?​

PostgreSQL 10 and above, with PostgreSQL 12 or later recommended for the best experience. Some features require newer PostgreSQL versions or optional extensions:

  • Core monitoring works on all supported PostgreSQL versions with automatic fallbacks for older releases.
  • Query analysis, tuning signals, and WAL diagnostics improve on PostgreSQL 14+.
  • PostgreSQL 17+ provides additional autovacuum and I/O statistics views that pocketPG uses when available.
  • The codebase has verified fallbacks: pg_stat_bgwriter before PG 17's pg_stat_io, total_time before PG 13's total_exec_time, and pg_stat_wal for WAL rate estimation on PG 14+.

Do I need to install an agent?​

No. pocketPG connects directly to your PostgreSQL instance and runs read-only queries on demand. There is no background agent, no binary to install, and no schema to create.

What is pg_stat_statements and do I need it?​

pg_stat_statements is a PostgreSQL extension that tracks query execution statistics (calls, total time, rows, temp files, etc.). It is highly recommended — without it, the Queries tab, tail latency insights, extension recommendations, and several tuning signals (work_mem spill detection, prepared statements) are unavailable.

To enable it:

CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pg_stat_statements;

On most managed providers (RDS, Aiven, Azure), it is pre-installed or available via a configuration toggle.

How does shared instance billing work?​

Owner-pays model. The instance owner holds the subscription. Invited members get access at no extra cost. If the owner cancels, members lose access.

How much does pocketPG cost?​

$49/month per instance, with a 7-day free trial. No credit card required to start.

Yearly billing is available at $499/year (save ~15%). Multi-instance plans are available for teams with 5+ instances.

Pricing is per instance, not per database or per user. Shared instances are owner-pays — invited team members access the instance at no extra cost.

Can I use pocketPG with PgBouncer?​

Connect pocketPG directly to PostgreSQL, not through PgBouncer. PgBouncer's transaction-mode pooling can interfere with SET commands and pg_stat_statements queries. pocketPG manages its own lightweight connection pool.

How does pocketPG keep my credentials safe?​

Connection strings, SSH keys, and cloud provider credentials are encrypted at rest using Fernet (AES-128-CBC + HMAC-SHA256). Credentials are decrypted only for the duration of a request and never returned to the browser after save. See SECURITY.md for the full security architecture.

What data does pocketPG store?​

  • Connection credentials — stored server-side in the app database for saved instances. Members never see raw credentials.
  • Performance samples — recent samples may be stored locally and, for saved instances, server-side to support charts and history.
  • No query text — pocketPG reads query statistics from pg_stat_statements but does not store query text on its servers.

Is there a self-hosted option?​

Yes. pocketPG can be self-hosted using Docker Compose. See the SELFHOSTING.md guide in the repository for setup instructions.

Self-hosting requires your own accounts for Clerk (authentication), Paddle (payments), and Resend (email). The hosted version at pocketpg.com is the supported product with automated updates and managed infrastructure.

How do I cancel my subscription?​

Through the LemonSqueezy billing portal, accessible from the Account tab.